The Beep: Premier Issue | December 2015 by The Beep

FROM THE CEO

’m so excited to see the The Beep launch and delighted to be able to share my thoughts and reflections. As the calendar year comes to a close, it is natural to reflect on the year that has been and the year ahead. 2015 was a big year for Beepo: our first birthday celebration, the fit-out and move-into our new premises at Building 9, bringing on new clients from New Zealand, Hong Kong, Germany, as well as Australia, and our new brand was created. We started the year with just over a hundred in the team, and in November celebrated our 200 milestone. We have been focused on finding the best professional talents in the region and creating a work environment which is fun, productive and supportive. I’m very focused on continual improvement, and our regular customer and staff satisfaction surveys have shown that we are doing well, however, I acknowledge we also have room to improve. We look forward to rolling out some new initiatives with more staff events, fun activities and benefits for Beepo staff in the New Year.

on the incredible support of our clients. Many of them have expanded offshore for the first time this year and are themselves learning about what it takes to integrate Philippines and Australian teams. Our clients are on a journey and I am grateful that our clients do see Beepo as their partner.

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We are not in the outsourcing business, we are in the people business. It is the people that make Beepo such a wonderful place to work. I have always said that we are not in the outsourcing business, we are in the people business. It is the people that make Beepo such a wonderful place to work. When we are happy, supported, focused and work as a team, we can then deliver fantastic service to our clients. It is also important to reflect

WHY THE BEEP?

chose to name the newsletter ‘The Beep’ because when we hear a vehicle blow the horn—the long BEEEEEP as it may sound like— it gets our attention and makes us aware when we need to stop or move. Just like with Beepo, the newsletter will give us attention, information and knowledge on what’s happening in the company just like the events, accomplishments, career opportunities, success and also the people within the company itself. Beepo gives opportunity to everyone who wants to work with us and The Beep represents the ramping success and the endless achievement of the company.

Neil Arvin C. Puri Data Reconciliation Staff, OIG

So if I could sum up the last 12 months from a personal point of view, it has definitely been a year of learning, improving and also embracing challenge and change. I am exceptionally proud of everything we have achieved and I hope you are, too. I encourage you to take a moment and reflect on your personal successes this year, and set some goals for the year ahead. Mark and I are blessed and very fortunate to have each and every one of you on our team. May I take this opportunity to wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday season.

Aimee Engelmann Chief Executive Officer

FROM THE SVP

reetings to my new family at Beepo!

As we wrap up this year, and I complete my first month with Beepo, I’m very excited to work with you all in the coming 2016. As we roll out to the New Year, we have lots of exciting news. My short term immediate focus will be to help onboard and expand Beepo’s footprint globally, offering both UK and North American Beepo services. We’re currently in discussions right now with perspective clients seeking Beepo services, as well bringing onboard one of Australia’s top online retailers which we would be covering 24/6 operations, 3 shifts. (Inbound Customer Care, Helpdesk and Customer Chat). Things on the work: I’m currently working with HR on a new and improved monthly and quarterly employee recognition program. Developing and implementing new innovative technologies, processes and Beepo service offerings.

Launching our Beepo “Chill Out Zone” in January (funky cool colors, sofa lounge, surround sound music, ping-pong table, darts, soccer game, chess, surrounded by cool palm trees and bamboo). This “Chill Out Zone” is made exclusively for YOU, to just relax and chill out. I’m both excited and optimistic with our strategic business strategy and growth plans slated for 2016, along with potential customers and new product rollouts; internship onboarding program teaming up with local universities; tapping into the amazing towns within in the province; restructuring and updating of employee benefits with HR; and developing and launching of an employee career pathing program. As we wind down 2015, it’s the perfect time of the year to reflect on our company’s success stories, accomplishments and spend some quality time with our loved ones and families as we are truly blessed and grateful. Leaving you off with a friendly holiday quote: “Mankind is a great, an immense family... This is proved by what we feel in our hearts at Christmas.” ― Pope John XXIII Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! Cheers,

Timothy Witucki

Senior Vice President / General Manager

FROM THE EIC

or The Beep team a.k.a newsletter team, making a start is making a mark. Allow me to tell you why. In this industry like ours, our topmost priority would always be our clients. Just like how the core of Beepo’s sun-like logo is represented—they are the reason for our existence. Regardless of the urgency, their needs must always come first. When we were called to pioneer an employee magazine, we were thrilled, but honestly, also felt a slight reluctance. First, the the idea of writing for an employee newsletter is not the prime reason why we are here at Beepo; second, being endowed with thoughts of mismanaging our time for our clients; and third, the possibility of added tasks meddling with our priorities at work. But later on we figured, unless someone boldly steps up to grab the challenge of writing for Beepo, there can never be an employee newsletter. This also attests Lao Tzu’s words, “The journey to a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Starting from scratch can be tough, but it’s the only way to get to where you aspire to be. There will be birth pains, for sure, but we know hard work will soon be worth it. While these things could have initially wavered our decision to start a newsletter that will be beneficial for us in the team (the editorial body by fostering the writers in us) and the Beepo employees (by creating a medium to voice out interesting stories that remain unheard), our determination to be catalysts of balancing professional and personal lives through writing remains firm

and steadfast. The stories in The Beep are the stories of everyone at Beepo. The Beep is a collection of thoughts and emotions combined into a masterpiece that would embody and immortalise the experiences of each Beepo member of this generation. This is their magazine as much as ours, although we claim any shortcomings as our own. We acknowledge the others whose help and wisdom make these pages better than they would otherwise have been.

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The stories in The Beep are the stories of everyone at Beepo. The Beep is a collection of thoughts and emotions combined into a masterpiece that would embody and immortalise the experiences of each Beepo member of this generation. I am honored to present the exciting mixture of the The Beep’s premier (and Christmas) issue: remarkable ideals, bizarre interests, exhilarating human stories, crazy-to-insane ideas, and witty thoughts that you may or may not believe coming from the same person you never imagined to carry on within themselves. It’s not everyday that we get to steal some minutes with the Beepo CEO Aimee Engelmann to talk matters not about

business, but of herself; Learn about the most interesting things your colleagues do on their rest days; Determine which type of coworker are you making your daily business with; Learn from the experience from a personal journal in surviving yaya problems; Climb your way to the top of the mountain with an itinerary for trekking Mt. Tarak Ridge; Interesting flicks to look forward to this month; Tips in wisely allocating your 13th month pay (ones that make it seem possible to feel it last longer in your hands than usual); A healthy (or not-so-healthy) guide to properly plan your weekly meals at work; and much more. Being part of the vessel to bring you these wonderful pieces pump us relentlessly to continue making this mark. It gave us a more profound purpose to serve not only the clients, but also the people of this community at Beepo. We look forward to play scribes again in the quarter-months to come as we continuously document your stories and experiences. Welcome to The Beep. Merry Christmas and God bless everyone at Beepo!

Keempee Q. Tolentino Editor In Chief

ABOUT THE COVER

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF KEEMPEE Q. TOLENTINO ASSOCIATE EDITOR JERICHO P. GATIP MANAGING EDITOR JOSEFA MARIE D. NAVARRO GRAPHICS / LAYOUT EDITOR PATRICK LOUIE J. PILAPIL CIRCULATIONS MANAGER ANNA DOMINIQUE H. DACILLO WRITERS PAULINE A. MALIJAN MYRON GLENN S. FERNANDO RICA JAN P. OCAMPO MICHELLE G. DE JESUS

The Beep is the official employee newsletter of Beepo. This newsletter is released quarterly to publish employee stories, experiences, and ideas. Beepo is an Australian outsourcing company based in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines focused on serving Aussie and other foreign clients through multitudes of Pinoy offshore talents.

The main asset of Beepo is its people. This cover is set to become an archetype of our core values focused with Beepo’s greatest resources—our people. The company’s framework for everyday work is designed to make each employee love their work.

Photo courtesy of Borj Meneses

LIFESTYLE

TEXT BY XANTI XAVIER C. GONZALEZ ILLUSTRATION BY KARLA CINDY M. FUERTEZ

ow that you’re settled comfortably in your seat and ready to take on the world of Business Process Outsourcing and the joys of work-life balance, it’s time to get acquainted with the people you’ll be spending nine hours of your workweek with. This industry will introduce you to a lot different, if not sometimes crazy, personalities. So, without further ado, here are the five people you’ll meet at work: 1. The One Everyone Loves

2. The Wallflower

Here comes the sun! This ray of sunshine always seems to have an infectious smile, is always in a good mood and generally, well, happy—they make you think of rainbows and hope. You like talking to them because they’re great conversationalists and are always on the same page with you. They walk around rubbing elbows with all the guys and gals and have an arsenal of jokes that makes the gloomy day more bearable.

On a thirst-quenching break, you might happen to bump into someone trying to avoid your eyes at the water station. Even when you know all along that it was gonna go downhill, you still try to strike up a conversation. And well, they only give you a confused half-smile and run away back to their desks. For all you know, they’ve been around longer than you have but no one really seems to know them. All you are now left with when you see them again are more awkward half-smiles during bathroom breaks.

3. The Know-It-All These guys have the answers to all the questions of the universe. Okay, that was an exaggeration but you get the point, yes? The Know-It-Alls are ones that have all the facts and your go-to guys for home remedies and love advice. They’re also the ones you go to for critique and ask about some work problems, even when you’re on different teams. Another version of the knowit-all is the one who has all the juiciest gossips!

4. The New Hire

5. The Inspiration

They’re the ones wondering When they walk by, you look what this new environment has up without fail, but it’s not to offer them and what they because you’re interested can offer to it. If they’re in a in dating any of them. It’s group, they usually keep to because seeing them themselves in a small huddle actually motivates you to talking in hushed tones. work harder and meet all Then again, there are those your deadlines a month who make friends effortlessly before they’ll actually kill and have everyone on their you. Almost similar to the phonebook on the very first One Everyone Loves, they day. They add a new flavour to have the right things to say the already fantastic teams but, yeah, let’s when you’re down. They’re the ones you aspire not bully them into buying breakfast every to be and have all the qualities you look for in single day. yourself whether it’s about work or your personal life.

Know someone who hits close to home?

LIFESTYLE

TEXT BY GIZEL M. SALABAO

tress is something we’re all very familiar with, even those of us in the far reaches of the zombie-ridden world of the graveyard shift. It is an inevitable part of the working life. No matter how calm or patient you are, there will come a time when work gets to you and you just want to jump on your desk, pull your hair out and scream at the top of your lungs.

1. Eat a Banana or a Potato When you’re stressed, potassium levels in your body go down. Have a banana or a potato (French Fries, baby! But probably the ones from KFC because they still have the skin on) during lunch or breaks to replenish potassium levels. 2. Re-live Your Childhood and Play a Game Going out for a quick break? Instead of the usual cigarettes, why not get your spare flip-flops (or thongs, if you want to be Aussie about it) and use it to play Tumbang Preso in the parking lot? If that’s not your style, how about Jump Rope, Piko (hopscotch) or Patintero? Just because you’re officially an adult working in an office doesn’t mean you don’t have the right to use 15 minutes of your time pretending to be 10 again—therapeutically so. 3. Get a Plant/Go Outside and Be One with Nature Various studies indicate that having plants inside the workplace improve the health and mood of the office workers. Indoor plants, in particular, have positive effects against sick building syndrome, a condition that affects office workers who are cooped up inside buildings and are exposed to a vastly “artificial” environment.

The good news is you can find ways to prevent stress from reaching drastically insane levels. But what’s that you say— yoga? Coffee? Cigarette breaks? Psh. That’s old news! There are tons of other creative (and some scientifically proven) ways of shaking off stress. Here are just some of them:

So whenever you feel a headache coming on, simply go outside and spend time where there’s grass. Have a walk around to clear your mind, it will help you feel loads better after.

So the next time you feel the bulk of your workload, Google the term “Nautilus shell” and just stare at the images for the next two minutes. Just don’t Google “Nautilus” and you might see this in a different, Lovecraftian point of view.

This little insight right here might also encourage some people to consider having plants inside the office, for the benefit of the employees. (Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge. Please?)

6. Clean Something Clutter adds to stress. Granted, our desks are already under a Clean Desk Policy but there will still be some clutter here and there, especially if you’re the “creative” type. And it’s not just clutter that can grind your gears but the dust and dirt as well. So the next time you’re feeling pressured, just grab a cloth and start wiping away.

4. Eat Sweets (but only a few, or just one) A study by University of Cincinnati found that eating or drinking sweets can reduce stress levels because it regulates the production of a stress-related hormone called glucocorticoid.

7. Laughter Yoga The old adage, laughter is the best medicine wouldn’t have survived this long if it wasn’t true. But instead of whispering a random joke to the person next to you and laughing as softly as possible so as not to incur the wrath of the person taking a client call in front of you, perhaps you can suggest laughter yoga to your team leader. It’s basically forced laughter but has the same effects as spontaneous laughter.

But before diving into a swimming pool filled with Halloween treats whenever you’re feeling stressed, remember that having too much of something can be harmful too. Have one or two pieces of candy or chocolate in the afternoon if you feel like you need something to help calm you down. 5. Stare at a Nautilus Shell A study from the University of Oregon showed visual complex fractal patterns have a positive effect on one’s physiological condition. In other words, awesome and coollooking patterns make us feel better.

What you need to do is to form a group (possible best to do this someplace safe, like the carpark) and force yourselves to laugh. Although, admittedly, the ridiculousness of

forcing yourselves to laugh for no reason can already result in just plain-but-way-more-fun laugh. But, hey,as long as the stress goes away, it can also be a great team building exercise! 8. Kiss They say eating chocolate is good for you. Eating some releases hormones called endorphins that make you feel better, but do you know what’s better than having chocolate? Puckering up. Kissing is a surprisingly (or maybe not?) good way to relieve stress. Not only does it help release endorphins and other chemicals in your brain that combat stress and depression, but it also develops a bond and a sense of connectedness between partners. So if you’re watching your weight but keen on feeling better after a stressful day, lock lips with someone special (and willing, of course… best not to do it in the office too). And there you have it, just a few creative and simple ways you can beat the stress. But the best way to relieve stress is to set aside time for yourself to just relax, have fun or spend time with the people who matter most. It’s a worthwhile investment.

LIFESTYLE

TEXT BY XANTI XAVIER C. GONZALEZ

’ve always been one to reinvent myself. I would often think about how I can change a certain thing that didn’t work, whether it was about work or my personal life. So when people talk about their best practices, my ears perk up, ready to listen.

This helps me look at the problem that has been hovering for the past hour from another perspective and find a better solution. Also, I gain a fresh idea or a sentence on how I want to write something as a content writer for my client.

We all want to be more productive, right? Here are some tried and tested ways to increase work rate. You may or may not agree with the following headlines because of how unconventional (unorthodox even) they sound. Regular employees would normally do the opposite but we can try and see if these steps will work for us.

PROCRASTINATE

DO NOT MULTITASK There are inevitable times when work volume really pile up and it’s not because you’re not pushing yourself enough, there’s just too much work. Most would recommend multitasking to make sure you have a hand on everything. The thing is, the more you try and do everything all at once, the less you actually accomplish. Ask your manager which tasks need to get done first so you would know which one to prioritise. Just remember to do one thing after the other. In the end, you’ll see that you’ve done more. WORK LESS When you think you can’t handle anymore brainwork for the day, let it go for a bit and step away. Taking a break is really simple. It relieves you from stress and gives your mind some time to recover. I take the usual 15-minute break especially in the morning to run away from it all, but I also take quick, short breaks after an accomplished task or when I’m stumped.

This may sound counter-productive as most people would advise us to do the opposite. They say that you should kill your giants first thing in the morning but then, when we accomplish the most important task, we can get cocky and say that we don’t need to do anything else since. This, in effect, puts the smaller, though equally important tasks, waiting in your to-do list. When we are dreading to do that one large task, it’s okay to procrastinate. Do the smaller things first and when you run out of things to accomplish, you’ll have to face that task. And when you do this, you’ll find that there’s so much you’ve already done. SAY NO It’s always important for you to impress your point of contact but when you start saying yes to everything, you’ll be drowning in a sea full of things you can’t do. Don’t go biting off more than you can chew. Say yes to starting something new when you are ready; not when you have other pending things waiting. We’d actually be more appreciated by getting things done than accepting everything and later on finding out that we cannot deliver. See? Like I said, you may agree or you might think these ideas deserve the sacking. When you have some spare time, try one of them to see the benefits they could bring you!

LIFESTYLE

TEXT BY MYRON GLENN S. FERNANDO

veryday, we experience different and new things in life. You may think that you’ve already programmed yourself into a routine just because you do the same darn thing day-by-day, or see the same people three months ago. But a new day means a new life, and a new life means vast and endless possibilities.

even thought of doing and enjoying your work for a whole different reason that you might have been over-looking all this time? No? Well then let me enlighten you and help you understand what I mean.

As employees, we are not new to the feeling of boredom and burnout. We clock day-in and dayout doing tasks, duties and responsibilities like a broken record, no freedom and we can’t really do anything about it because we’re paid to do what we do. So what happens is that we’re urged to either be stuck in a rut or learn to enjoy what we do, but whichever it is, we soak up our blood vessels with caffeine or tea just to help us get through the day. In the end it’s not really about whether you like your job or not, it’s who or what you’re doing it for.

Hello. My name is Myron and I’m part of the Recruitment Team. I’ve been working for Beepo for almost three months now and yes I’m very much enjoying my work not just because of the personal fulfillment of my wants and dreams, but what my work gives me a chance to do―offer a job.

People do something for a reason, especially with work, people work for a reason. It may be personal like for the sake of the family or for the future, sometimes for personal gain and worth. Who doesn’t want to earn, right? You’d get to buy all the food and gadgets you’ve ever wanted, you’d get to travel and experience and most importantly you’re setting yourself for a brighter and better tomorrow. But have you ever considered or maybe

Let’s use me as an example:

I’ve called a number of candidates for the past month. With each call, I always start with an opening spiel that I’ve practiced numerous times over and over until it sounded real to me. What the person on the other line says after it either makes me feel “meh” or excited because I have a prospect again. But sometimes, just sometimes, they say something that makes me feel warm inside, something that caught me unprepared the first time I heard it, something that made my work worth it... “Thank you, I’m actually looking for a job”.

It’s just a simple sentence, I know. Probably you won’t or can’t even appreciate it but pause for a moment and think about it, we’ve all experienced what it’s like to look for a job. Do you remember when you were looking to land your first job? I bet you sent your resume to all job openings you “think” you qualify, sort of a desperate move if you may say. But it didn’t matter because all you wanted was to get a job. Hearing a candidate say those words to me brings me joy, it makes me love my work and gives me a certain feeling of fulfillment because I know how they feel and that I could be the reason for them to get to work again; that I could change their lives for the better, for me that’s incredible. Not a lot of people get to help in such a subtle way, but here I am doing it. I may be only helping one person but the ripple effect is vast and unpredictable, a simple offer could change the course of their lives. The candidate’s own reasons for working—may it be to help with the family expenses of for personal gain—doesn’t really matter to me; what matters is that I was able to give them a chance, and sometimes that’s all they really need. That makes what I do worth doing, what’s yours?

LIFESTYLE

TEXT BY PAULINE A. MALIJAN

am no financial guru. But I have been doing something with my Christmas bonus that’s better than just spending it on things that I can’t even remember. It was an advice I received from my mom when I became one myself. When she was still working, she received a flyer from a lady in the supermarket promoting a pre-need plan that you can pay monthly with your credit card. It’s a small amount, you won’t even feel it. A few years later, she received a claim advice in the mail for a 6-digit sum! She kind of forgotten about it already. Isn’t that great? How will you spend your 13th month this year? Here are 5 ideas: 1. Get a ‘Pre-need Plan’ I pay mine annually with my Christmas bonuses. There are plans payable from 5-10 years, depending on how much you can afford to shell out. I prefer this better than monthly bills because during Christmas season, I always end up shopping for things I don’t even need. I’m currently on my last annual installment, and 10 years from now, like my mom, I’ll be receiving mail with a claim advice to pick-up my check worth six digits. 2. Pay-off your debts or bills in full—especially if it incurs a finance charge (like credit card bills, loans, etc). 3. Pay for education or eligibility If you have children, you can pay for their tuition in full for the next school year. If you have no children or dependents, invest in education and enrol in selfimprovement courses such as guitar lessons, baking classes, or business start-up seminars. You can also take a civil service exam, an IELTS, get a driver’s license, or a passport. You may not need them right now, but it will definitely broaden your skills, eligibilities and find more of their purpose later on. 4. Invest in quality items Buy yourself a nice pair of shoes for work, a suitcase in case you travel, a sturdy everyday bag, or upgrade your kitchenwares and appliances. For women, buy a good brand of make-up, a set of Marks & Spencer underwear or branded swimwear. For men, get yourself a nice watch or a Swiss knife. Always go for quality—don’t buy items just because they’re on sale. 5. Travel Make good memories with your loved ones at remarkable destinations. 10

LIFESTYLE

hat do I want for Christmas? Cash. Just give me cash!

Don’t you just love it when you receive a gift from someone, especially on Christmas? Your face lights up as you unwrap the box, the excitement grows as you tear each corner having a glimpse of what could be an Ipad, only to find that it’s just a new pair of socks. Sounds familiar? Don’t get me wrong, socks are completely appreciated, and not to mention necessary. Here I give you the common gifts we receive (and also give) during the holiday season:

1.The ‘Bath & Body’ gift collection

Lotion? Check! Body scrub? Present! Perfume? Ah, there it is! You’ve memorised what’s included in the set as the probability of receiving this during the holiday season is legitimately high. People opt for this gift as it looks fancy and of course, the set has lots of things in it! To our dismay, the products will just sit on our bathroom sink for let’s say… months. Hello, expiry date!

2. The kitchenware gift

TEXT BY JOSEFA MARIE D. NAVARRO

This is probably from your Tita Baby, or your mom. Like the Bath & Body gift, this will just chill inside your sink cabinets, you know, for that fateful time you decide to host a party which is never. At least you got lots of (clean) dishes! Pun intended.

3. The underwear gift set

I admire those people who include this on their to-buy gift list, not just for the holidays, but for different occasions. I mean, it takes a lot of guts to confidently know the size of the person you’re gifting! Salute!

4. The Gift… Certificate

This is also called “the lazy gift”. This is your choice if the person is picky, so you let him/her decide—the world would be a better place. Sodexo GCs go very far and no one’s going to say no to Starbucks GCs!

5. The Obligatory Gift

Essentials in the workplace that you get from your workmates: Pens, keychains, notebooks, planner and/or calendar. One or all of the above magically pop on your desk during the last day of work before the holiday break. A way to say thanks for keeping your cool that day he/she forgot the deadline, for smiling when you bump with each other but never say a single word, or for being a generous lunch buddy.

6. Brownies, fruit cakes, pastries or sweets

Thank heavens for friends who know how to bake! These can be added to your Christmas Noche Buena feast for that extra pile of desserts. PS: Don’t mind the holiday weight and just enjoy! Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, you know that it is the most magical time of the year! You get extra pay, extra days off to spend time with your loved ones and of course, gifts that make you feel special. Regardless of which you get from the list this year, remember to say thanks! 11

LIFESTYLE

TEXT BY PAULINE A. MALIJAN

oming from a big family, both of my parents had to be away all day at work. I was always left in the house with my little sister and two hardworking yayas (nannies). They would always feed and put us to sleep. They were nice and polite, and we fondly called them Ate Ningning and GingGing, like the characters in a kiddie TV show Batibot. However, things have changed. Yayas these days have become very demanding. I once met a yaya who requests for her own bedroom. She said she wouldn’t accept the job if I don’t prepare one for her. I also had another yaya who wouldn’t go back to our place with my sleeping child, because she was still exchanging music with a guy friend through Bluetooth, using the cellphone that I gave her to contact me in cases of emergency. And so goes the long list of my “horrible yaya” stories... I can talk about it all day. But I would rather not. So how could a parent like me, and many others raise a child and go to work at the same time? I asked around and these are the responses that I got: “I opted for a home-based job as an Online English Teacher.” “Currently, I do not have a yaya for my son but I do have my parents to help. In the morning I get my son ready for school but leave ahead of time. My parents simply get my son on the school bus that picks him up 20 minutes after I leave for work.” 12

“Because my son is out from school at 3:30, I enrolled him at tutoring classes until 5:30 so I can pick him up after work and we can go home together. In case of emergencies I have my parents pick him up from school, otherwise I will have to take an emergency leave from work.” “For school payments, the business office is open on Saturdays which is convenient since I do not have to take a leave to pay tuition. Every parent has a different situation, some are more fortunate than the others. They key here is to make your schedules compliment each other. Finding activities for my son to do after class allow me to pick him up after work, plus I do not have to worry about so much homework when we get home. On days that he is out early from school, my parents are always home to wait on him.” “I take turns with my sister, or my best friend when it comes to watching our children. If we have errands, we schedule it, and there is someone responsible to watch our children including their meals. That way we can accomplish more things in less time, and our children will have playtime while the parents are away.” As parents we’re all just trying to do the best we can. If you have a hard time juggling work and parenting, you are not alone. There are times when it’s hard. But we need to relish the responsibility.

LIFESTYLE

TEXT BY TATIANA ROSE R. PATTERSON

y mother used to say that one of the best ways to save on groceries is to buy in bulk. Since I ventured into the online world of buy and sell, I realised just how true that was. I have spent years on online shopping, even opening up my own online store at one point. This is much similar to how re-sellers get into the business. They buy in bulk for wholesale price and sell them individually at retail price. If you know your way around the market, you can still purchase items at reasonable amounts without the additional overhead that stores patch on. Here is where Economom comes in, our first featured store! This online shop was a discovery I made last year on Facebook that has now evolved into an actual physical store. At Economom, you can purchase a wide variety of daily essentials like soap, shampoo, body wash and even sanitary napkins. They also have household cleaning solvents, dishwashing liquid, fabric conditioner and soap powder. If you are lucky enough, you might find some lotion available at the store as well. What makes them so affordable, you ask? Economom sells Unilever and Procter & Gamble products that are repacked from their “branded” original packaging. These are items directly obtained from the factory and sealed in plastic bottles or clear plastic containers. Be aware though that these items may have slight discoloration, some even dusty because of storage though this has not caused any negative effects on usage. I have personally purchased quite a number of products from them and have no complaints. You have to remember though that you are “buying in bulk”

so liquid items are usually sold by the liter and solids by the kilo. Just to give you an idea about the prices, the store sells items in retail and wholesale. For a dishwashing liquid, it normally costs about P65 per liter in retail and P60 in wholesale; Detergent powder, P65 per kilo in retail, P60 wholesale; Fabric conditioner, P55 per liter in retail, P65 wholesale; Bath soap, P200 per kilo in retail, P190 wholesale; Shampoo, P90 per kilo in retail, P85 wholesale; and hair conditioner, P95 per liter in retail, P90 wholesale. Take note that Economom requires a minimum of P1,000 purchase before being able to purchase in wholesale price. Although these amounts may change from time to time, the prices are significantly cheaper than those sold in grocery stores. I have already shared this discovery with many friends and co-workers who can attest to the quality of the products sold. It is quite easy to pass by the store if you will be exiting Clark Freeport through the Main Gate. It is located at A. Santos Street near popular establishments such as the Swiss Chalet and Wild Orchid. So if you are looking for affordable commodities, try shopping at Economom!

FB Page: www.facebook.com/theeconomom Viber/Text: 09163906583 Physical Address: 2546 A. Santos Street, Balibago Angeles City

PROFILE

dmit it. We are all guilty of judging people from their looks.

“Oh that new girl with the heavy makeup? I bet she’s high maintenance.” “Jane, the skinny girl? They say she’s anorexic!” The saying “Don’t judge the book by it’s cover” has been receiving a lot of speculations from the Beepo Newsletter editorial team lately. We tend to look and base our opinion towards a person just by merely looking from the outside, not from their personalities, their manners nor even their quirks. Our curiosity strikes and we came up with the idea of looking through (literally) the bags of chosen Beepo employees. We believe that the bag represents the person, aside from his/her physical appearance. We asked our Team Leaders a few questions to know what kind of things they put inside their bags.

TEXT BY JOSEFA MARIE D. NAVARRO

Who’s the weirdest of them all? You be the judge:

WHAT ARE THE THINGS IN YOUR BAG? MITCH:

“Three pouches (considered wallet), umbrella, hand towel, tissue, wipes, phone charger, battery bank, alcohol, body spray, mint candy.”

CHRISTY:

“Medicine kit (my life saver), cellphone, mobile charger, power bank, book (Stupid is Forever), notebook, black hair brush, perfume, keys, IDs, toothpaste, toothbrush, feminine product, mouthwash, compact press powder/loose powder, lipsticks, lip gloss, eyeliner, mascara, hand lotion, hand sanitizer, photos, ballpen, nail cutter, twissor, receipts, hair clips/pony tail.”

JOTHAM:

“Earphones, mobile phone, tablet, charger, power bank, wallet, USB, card reader, USB cables, comb, wax, pen, paper, keys, movie tickets, shades, glue, toothbrush, toothpaste, alcohol, pocket wifi.”

NAOMI:

“Cellphone, wipes, ballpen, wallet, alcohol, lighter, tissue, coin purse, rosary, Bluetooth headset, charger, nail cutter.”

MICHELLE:

“I am using a pink horizontal Lacoste tote bag. This is my favorite bag amongst my other bags because of its size and color. There are things of some sort inside my bag: transparent make-up pouch, black purse (contains IDs, ATM cards and receipts, pictures and earphones), umbrella, charger, green pouch which bring during break time (contains my to-go things - mobile phone, cigarette pack, lighter, cash/coin box, lip balm and powder), hand sanitizer, cologne, perfume, handkerchief, Sanrio rubber band, comb, flashlight, ballpen.”

PROFILE JEFFREY:

“I don’t usually carry a bag but If I do, here are the things that will be in there: hair wax, headset, lots of coins, pen, toothbrush, toothpaste, action camera, selfie pod.”

MITCH:

“Photos of my kids.”

“Receipts, gas receipts, grocery receipts, fast-food receipts. I can’t even read the items and amount anymore.”

REGIE:

JOTHAM:

REGIE:

“House keys, pen, post-its, rosary, USB, powerbank, sunglasses, old coin, few 10 cents.”

IF YOU WERE TO CHOOSE ONE, WHAT WOULD BE THE THING YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN’T LEAVE WITHOUT? MITCH:

“My three year old umbrella.”

CHRISTY:

“Money.”

“My rosary from a loved one.”

MICHELLE:

JEFFREY:

“My SD card from an old phone. It contains lots of memories.”

CHRISTY:

“Old coin. It was given to me by my late grandfather when I was still five years old. He said it’s my lucky charm and that coin will bring me to the moon.”

“Wallet.”

NAOMI:

“My wallet because it has my driver’s license and money of course.”

WHAT’S THE OLDEST ITEM IN YOUR BAG?

MICHELLE:

MITCH:

“My green pouch.”

JEFFREY:

“Well my action camera, I really love taking random pictures and videos.”

REGIE:

“My house keys. I can’t imagine sleeping outside of my own apartment.”

WHAT IS THE MOST SENTIMENTAL POSSESSION IN YOUR BAG?

WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST THING YOU PACK IN YOUR BAG?

“My mobile phone and the pictures inside the black purse.”

REGIE:

JOTHAM:

“Ten cents , I find it valuable and find inspiration to it when my wallet or my pocket have nothing.”

NAOMI:

“Money pouch.”

“Medicine kit (my life saver).”

JEFFREY:

NAOMI:

“Nail cutter.”

MICHELLE:

“A picture of mine when I was one year old.”

JEFFREY:

NAOMI:

“Post-its.”

MICHELLE:

“The oldest item in my bag is the flashlight, it was given to me by my dad in the ‘90s. My dad says I should have one since I go to the university early in the morning and goes home late at night.” 15

“Feminine product, if this is surprising at all for a woman!”

“Toy figure.”

“Unreliable pens, not writing when you need them.”

MICHELLE: “Flashlight. :)”

JEFFREY:

“I used to bring with me a lip balm, but I thought it was not very manly so I stop carrying it with me.”

REGGIE:

“Argh, Can’t think of any. Hahaha!”

“My rosary, surprising since I forgot how to use it.”

REGGIE:

I admit, this was a lot of fun.

“It happened only once, and will not happen again. My wife asked me to bring her own kikay kit and put it in my bag. We went to a mall, got this security-frisk from the guards and they asked to open my bag. They saw nothing but this black suspicious looking black bag and asked me to open it, and voila, what they saw are lipsticks, blush on, powder, a sanitary napkin, not one but three, and all sorts of kikay stuff. Imagine what the guard told me “Ay, sorry ma’am?!”. “What

“Text messages.”

CHRISTY:

NAOMI:

“Chopstick at one time.”

JOTHAM:

“A handful of safety pins with different sizes.”

CHRISTY: JOTHAM:

“Receipts.”

MITCH:

JOTHAM:

“Twissor.”

CHRISTY:

WHAT’S THE MOST SURPRISING THING YOU CARRY?

MITCH:

“None that I can think of.”

“One of my pouches.”

the .....” Well, I just said “Okay lang po kuya” (with a wink) then walked away. That is the most weirdest thing that I had pack in my bag.”

Now I ask you, how long are you keeping that gum inside your bag? Be honest.

TEXT BY KEEMPEE Q. TOLENTINO

ruth be told, the function of a Chief Executive Officer is not a mystery to all―even if we haven’t been CEOs ourselves. The role of a CEO is a dead serious job because major decisions about the business lie in their hands. This is certainly why they have to juggle around different hats to ensure that everything is in place. You may have exchanged chats with her on Skype, conversed with her on the phone, or came across her with a smile during her What are the things inside your bag that you can’t go out without? Wallet by Marc Jacobs, a travel size Rexona Deodorant, Eclipse Mints, make-up bag by Ted Baker, car keys, hand sanitizer, Beepo business cards, pens, hair comb, hair clips, tissues, and nail file. If you weren’t a CEO, what career do you think you would be in? I think I’d also love to be a business coach involved in leadership coaching; and an internet broadcaster―doing interviews with business owners and putting up a program around them. If you were to change your name, what would it be? I quite like my middle name― Johanna. I like it because it’s a connection to my heritage, which is Dutch. If you were asked to decide the ending of the Titanic movie, how would you do it? I would have aliens come down from the space and they would laser the ship back together and save everyone. It’s a happy ending. (laughter) What is the biggest challenge about being a CEO? Biggest challenge for me is deciding where to focus my time. I think it’s challenging because I want to help with everything, but I also have to manage my time.

occasional visits. Admit it or not, what you and her talked about were probably 95 percent about the business and five percent about how each other were doing. Now it’s time to turn those figures around! So without further ado, let’s get inside the world of Beepo’s groovy CEO, Aimee Engelmann―in an up-close and a slam book fashion like never before.

supportive of fighting or whatever, but because of her attitude towards life. She’s takes responsibility for her own actions for her goals, for what she wants to do and how she wants to do it. And she’s a very, very strong female role model as well. She’s got some really cool ways of thinking about being successful and being a female in a male-dominated environment.

What are the best things about being a CEO? I think one of the best things is working with great people. The other thing is being the boss (laughter), because I’ve worked for myself for so long and have my businesses for nearly 9 years now. I like being in control. I like seeing the results of my hard work, so when I look back after a year or two, I kind of say “I’ve helped to make this happen.”

Which comic superhero would you like to identify yourself with? Superwoman. She wears cool boots and has looong legs.

When have you been most satisfied with your life? I’d probably say now, because I have quite of fulfilled a lot; my husband Mark and I have a great partnership, and we got two little boys who are just hilarious―like my little three and a half year-old. He wakes up in the morning, comes into the bathroom and says “Mommy! Mommy! I need to poo!” (laughter). He pretty much does that everyday, it’s like the first thing he does, he tells us he needs to poo. And funny stuff like this that three year-olds do. The other thing is, I’ve recently moved closer to the beach, so we moved out of the city a little bit and into the area where we’re spending more time outdoors, at the park, at the beach on the weekends. So I think now, I’m feeling very satisfied because I feel quite balanced.

What is your biggest passion in life? To constantly learn and to spend time with my family. Learning and selfdevelopment and spending time with my boys and Mark. What was the naughtiest thing you have done? When I was in my 20s, I drove my car late at night when I really shouldn’t be driving. I sped round the corner in the wet weather, so I was driving too fast and crashed into a car, and there was no one in it. I crashed into a parked car and then I left straight away. I was scared and so, I fled the scene of the crime (laughter). But then the next day, I felt really bad about leaving and so I went back and I left a note, then I got in contact with the owner of the car and paid for the repairs. That was pretty naughty because I really shouldn’t be driving that time. I probably didn’t have to leave the house but I did.

Who is your role model? I have role models that changed over time, but at the moment I really like watching and reading a lot about Ronda Rousey, a female UFC champion. I like her not because I’m 16

What was the sweetest thing you have done for your husband? Probably when he was turning 30, I secretly called his boss when he was employed and I arranged for him to have a couple of days off at work that he didn’t know about, then picked him up from work and planned the weekend away to celebrate his 30th. So I think that’s the sweetest thing that I’ve done because he didn’t really like being at work (laughter), he’s pretty happy that I organized his time off with his boss. If you could wear Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak for a day, what are the things you would you do as an invisible person? I’ve probably come to Beepo for a day (laughter) and check on everyone. Then I’d go to my son’s kindergarten to watch him. Or I’d go to a movie set and watch what was being done behind the scenes. What is the greatest life lesson you have learned? Approaching everything in life with positivity and humour. What is the one thing that you would love to do but haven’t done so far? One thing Mark and I often talk about is living in the Greek Islands―like living there for six months so it’s like taking off. I think I’d like to do that.

TEXT BY KEEMPEE Q. TOLENTINO

fter visiting Philippines for a business trip in 2013, Australian entrepreneur Aimee Engelmann heed the calling to establish an outsourcing business that will not only foster the potentials of Filipino talents, but will provide a helping hand to fellow Aussie entrepreneurs in achieving business success. As they say, the rest is history. Being the former CEO of TLS Marketing, a marketing agency in Australia, Aimee was previously a client of three different offshoring firms in the Philippines (one in Angeles City, two in Manila). From there, she felt the need to help Australian businesses be successful in creating a team in the Philippines. She participated Mike’s Manila Tours in 2013―a touring program in the country for Australian entrepreneurs hosted by Australian speaker and businessman, Mike O’Hagan. The business trip eventually inspired Aimee to set up her own outsourcing business in the Philippines. Aimee and her husband Mark considered several choices for the name of an outsourcing company, like Virtual Teams Offshore and Virtual Working Offshore Talents, among others. Finally, “Beepo” was the last pick of both playing from the words Business Process Outsourcing. “It’s always hard to find a business name that has a domain available, we have to be creative these days so―Beepo was a play on that acronym,” shares Aimee during a podcast interview with Josh Cobb of Stepps.

The first Beepo logo resembled a green pie chart (which was also the first Beepo color motif). The separated pie from the circle represented the part of the business being outsourced at Beepo. The eight company core values were also identified: Agility, Respect, Sophistication, Continuous Improvement, Vision, Integrity, Teamwork, and Client Focus. Beepo started its operations in March 2014 at the previous office of My Cloud People (presently The Outsourced Accountant) in Philexcel Business Park, Clark Freeport Zone. Few seats at the back row of the office were rented by Aimee, thus

sharing space with My Cloud People. Among the first Beepo clients were TLS Marketing and Brio, a marketing and graphic designing agency. The first batch of Beepo recruits included Marilou Gundran (HR Officer), Remy Timbol (HR Manager), Gizel Salabao (Social Media Marketing Officer), Armand Lazaro (IT Officer), Ana Norwina Guevarra (Executive Assistant), Paul Perez (parttimer), Michelle Ann Punzalan (Commission Reconciliation), El John Lopez (Web Developer), Nico Villanueva (Graphic Designer), Kristine Aleli Melecio (Admin and Online Marketing Assistant), Jinky Saripe (Senior Graphic Designer), Monica Galang (HR Officer), and Hart Dizon (Training and Development Specialist).

Bluewire Media on “Web Marketing That Works”, a podcast about marketing strategies that shared how Beepo grew 0-150 employees in less than a year; 11 June 2015, Microsoft.com interviews Aimee about the cloud technology―”Discover how to unlock your business potential with the cloud”; 27 June 2015, Aimee was interviewed by Josh Cobb of Stepps (real estate podcast in Australia) about “How outsourcing can help rapidly scale your real estate business”; and 15 August 2015, Glenn Norris of the Courier Mail interviews Aimee on how outsourcing provides an option not only for multinationals, but for small to medium businesses as well, and how the industry is projected to grow at $24.8 billion within the year.

In 1 April 2014, Beepo moved into its own office space at Business Center 6, Philexcel, Clark. Aimee was nominated for Owner Manager of the Year at the Australian Institute of Management Excellence Awards 2014 in 2 September. In the same month, Aimee was invited as a guest at 105.5 FM to introduce Beepo and job opportunities to radio listeners. Amongst the notable celebrations Beepo has had was the 2014 Halloween, which was also the first team building party of the group, hosted by Adrian Guevarra and Joseph Pasamonte. The celebration was organised, too, for the 90-day accomplishments of the first quarter―seating over 100 candidates, signing in of 12 new Australian clients and activation of a second Fiber Internet provider. On 5 December, “Love Your Work” caravan was launched for job seekers in pursuit of 20 roles for the company. The first job fair was held at Marquee Mall, Angeles City and was followed by another at Chowking Clark Main Gate, Angeles City. A roaring 220% achievement versus target of 50 headcount was achieved onboarding 160 before the end of 2014. To date, Aimee has been representing and introducing Beepo as an outsourcing company in media interviews to job seekers and potential clients. Her notable interviews include: 6 April 2015, Aimee was interviewed for a podcast with Ben Love and Ben Dampney of The Small Business Technology Show on Business Process Outsourcing and the power of Virtual Assistants; 14 May 2015, Aimee chats with Toby Jenkins of

Beepo was represented by Client Experience Manager Hart Dizon and former Communications Officer Chonaisa Simbulan in a radio interview at 105.5 FM for Beepo’s first year, talking about the company culture, values, lifestyle, and job openings. Aside from the interviews, attention to print and online media was given to Beepo in 20 June 2015, as an Australian BPO company inside Clark Freeport that expands its operations on local broadsheets and newspapers including the Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, SunStar Pampanga, and Central Luzon Daily.

Beepo’s first year was officially celebrated in a party last 16 April 2015 at the Century Hotel, Balibago, Angeles City where Hart Dizon was also awarded Beepo’s first Most Valuable Professional.

scratch and tales of humble beginnings, and is working really hard to continuously satisfy and delight its outsourcing clients. Currently, Beepo has a total of 72 clients and 200 employees in the Philippines. The 200th milestone in employee headcount was proudly achieved and celebrated last November.

On 21 May 2015, Beepo moved its business operations to its own building facility at Business Center 9, Philexcel, Clark. Shortly after, on 27 May, Unveiled―a rebranding party was organised to launch the new Beepo logo resembling a sun (conceptualised by Kevin Finn, Creative Director of TheSumOf) and changed the colour motif from green to orange. The company slogan “For Your Success” was also introduced to the employees. Reaching out to the community was also one of 2015’s highlight for Beepo as the company initiated a community relations program at the Bahay Pag-ibig home for the aged, City of San Fernando, Pampanga last 30 June. Old company shirts were donated by

employees to the elderly sheltered by the home care. Among the most awaited projects this year also was Beepo Academy, the first academy training for Australian entrepreneurs held last 18-20 August. The conference was held at the Beepo headquarters, attended by speakers and delegates from Australia. During the same week, the new Beepo building was inaugurated on 21 August by Aimee Engelmann and was blessed by Rev. Fr. Andres Dragon. All employees were encouraged to wear red as a sign of support. Like all other stories of success, Beepo started from

While there are more things yet to come for Beepo, the company continuously strives to become a benchmark of excellence for the BPO industry; and for almost two years, takes pride in becoming a home to multitude of talents that are outsourced by Australia and other countries worldwide.

ith his bright and cheery smile and a commanding yet friendly voice that catches everyone’s attention—I’m sure by now everyone has an idea who he is. We didn’t know much about him until the word was spread throughout the office that he will be assuming the position as Beepo’s new General Manager. For about two months now, he’s been going around joining morning huddles, calling out meetings and getting to know everyone. We certainly have first impressions about this man that we need to affirm as we get to know him closer. Let me take you to a glimpse in the life of one of Beepo’s new leaders, give it up for [Drum rolls]... Timothy Witucki! Words that best describe Tim Energetic and passionate. I think if you ask my friends, family, co-workers I always try to break that energy level, high morale. You’re gonna see that when you get to know me that I’m pretty upbeat, I’m always smiling, I’m always happy. You’ll get that from anyone that knows me. I’m always high-energy, lots of fun. I like to work smart and play hard. What motivates you to get out of the bed in the morning? Being passionate about trying to live everyday to the fullest. My family here (Philippines) motivates me to get out of bed in the morning. I have a newborn son who has just turned three months and I enjoy what I do as far as

work. I’m passionate about the business that I’m in and helping people and building businesses that turn out to be successful. In an alternate universe, what would Tim’s job be right now? I think I’d be a mediator, like a communication specialist for the different planets. I will be negotiating and mediating the various groups on the various planets. Keeping peace or trying to reduce the war. What do you think is the most difficult part of being a General Manager? Some people thrive on pressure, and I do. There’s always a lot of pressure involved in making quick and decisive decisions as a GM. There’s a lot of responsibility and accountability for the people that work underneath you so you have to set examples and standards for them. Making sure that the clients are kept in line with what they are expecting us to do in delivering our services and products. We provide a safe and working environment for our employments for our employees. And the best part? The best part of my job I think is seeing people excited to come to work like me. I really enjoy early morning huddles. It’s probably my favorite part. Seeing everyone come together as one team. Knowing our goal each and every day is to get excited and passionate to deliver that high-touch, whiteglove service to wow our clients every day, creating a nice working environment for our employees and seeing them grow. How would you define leadership? A person that is able to guide and direct individuals as one group to succeed in their business and roles to progressively move forward and deliver results. Being a good coach and guidance. Leadership is someone that can be responsible and accountable for their actions and be a good role model for the people they are guiding.

“

What piece of advice can you share with aspiring General Managers? You have to be flexible, open-minded, patient, sensitive to employees’ needs and requests. I think that’s some of the key ingredients for being a General Manager / Senior Vice President level. You have to know the various roles and responsibilities and the type of organization that you’re working with and get to know the people. Understand what your company does and being on the ground with your sleeves rolled up and being excited to go to work. You have to be passionate about what you do. If you’re not passionate, then it’s probably not the right thing for you because then it becomes fun. Is there any quotation that you live by everyday? “I try again, I live everyday like there’s no tomorrow”. I live everyday. I’m very passionate about life and I realize that you never know what tomorrow’s going to bring. You have to be really passionate about life and embrace it. You have to enjoy every minute of life because you just don’t know what’s next ahead of you, your path, where you’re gonna be. Why did you join Beepo? Aimee and her husband Mark are great and very smart people. They know where they’re headed and so it’s good synergy and a good opportunity to come aboard. That’s why I joined—because I looked at what I was going to do next as far as projects and it was the most appealing part to me. It also gave me the opportunity to get out of the city. Most of my projects have been city-based in Manila and I decided that this was a good time to get out more in the province and out of the city so the timing was good and here I am in Clark to launch the phase 2 of Beepo. Given his role, I am aware that I have just stolen 30 precious minutes from his busy calendar and I am grateful that he allowed us to enter his world even just for a while. His enthusiasm and excitement surely sparks up our motivation to do well and keep moving forward―a vision of greatness he shares with Aimee and Mark that will make Beepo one of the best in its industry.

I live everyday. I’m very passionate about life and I realize that you never know what tomorrow’s going to bring. You have to be really passionate about life and embrace it. You have to enjoy every minute of life because you just don’t know what’s next ahead of you, your path, where you’re gonna be.

TEXT BY MYRON GLENN S. FERNANDO PHOTO BY AKEEMSON F. GONZALES 20

TEXT BY MICHELLE G. DE JESUS & JERICHO P. GATIP

ne day I decided to walk around the perimeters of our office, moving through the aisles, corners, workstations. Then a question kept on boggling over my head— what is Beepo’s greatest asset? It’s people. Yes! Beepo’s greatest acquisition is the quality and superb pool of talents. Aside from the state-of-the-art workplace, technologically advanced equipment and all the tangible assets Beepo have acquired, the people

An Appointment Setter / Lead Generation staff, married with one child, Tine is interested in travelling, watching movies, playing with her daughter and organising events. Her guiding words in life is spoken in Latin words Ora Et Labora which means “Pray and Work”. WHERE DO YOU USUALLY GO TO OR WHAT PARTICULAR ACTIVITY DO YOU DO AFTER SHIFT?

I usually go home straight after work and spend time with my daughter. WHAT DO YOU DO TO DE-STRESS?

I spend time with my family and sometimes go to the mall. WHERE WOULD YOU MOST LIKELY SPEND YOUR EXTRA MONEY?

It will always be on food. HOW DO YOU HAVE FUN?

I spend quality time with my family. IF YOU WERE NOT TINE, WHO WOULD YOU WISH TO BE AND WHY?

I would want to be Oprah Winfrey because her being born in poverty and the considerable hardships she experienced in life didn’t hinder her to become successful. Consequently, she is now one of the richest women in America.

who runs and grows the company keeps it moving forward and higher. But, who are these people? What do they do? Why are they here? Delving deeper to the life of the usual and typical faces you see each day will give you the opportunity to connect better. The prerequisite of teamwork is familiarity to each of the members of the team as it would open the

doors of bonds, linkages and relationships— as these are the building blocks of every organisation’s gameplay towards the long-term success. Too bad we cannot make you to enter the life of all the employees, but here are four of Beepo’s people who shared a day in their lives being a part of our strong team.

A Project Coordinator for Helensvale Technology Group. He is single says and ready to mingle. His interests include watching NBA games and playing basketball or table tennis. His guiding words in life are “You must have constant, improving actions daily.”

A Loan Processor for SF Wealth. She is single. Her interests include anything that involves arts/crafts and music. Her guiding words in life is “Positive vibes only!”

WHERE DO YOU USUALLY GO TO OR WHAT PARTICULAR ACTIVITY DO YOU DO AFTER SHIFT?

I usually go straight home after shift, get some rest, watch American reality TV series or just bike outside around the subdivision.

WHERE DO YOU USUALLY GO TO OR WHAT PARTICULAR ACTIVITY DO YOU DO AFTER SHIFT?

Either I play basketball, go to the gym or tweak websites. WHAT DO STRESS?

YOU

WHAT DO STRESS?

DE-

YOU

DE-

I listen to music to feel good and relaxed. I also remind myself to always smile and laugh more.

If time permits, I exercise or do self-meditation. Or I simply sleep when I don’t have time.

WHERE WOULD YOU MOST LIKELY SPEND YOUR EXTRA MONEY?

I spend it on food.

I usually buy Jersey clothes, rubber shoes and gadgets. I also eat out and invest on an insurance company.

HOW DO YOU HAVE FUN?

One of my most favorite things to do to have fun is to hang out with friends, watch horror movies and laugh at each other’s reactions.

HOW DO YOU HAVE FUN?

Aside from watching NBA games and playing my favourites sports like basketball or table tennis, I also participate in community services.

IF YOU WERE NOT ROME, WHO WOULD YOU WISH TO BE AND WHY?

I would want to be one of the richest women so I could travel around the world with my loved ones. But modesty aside, I still would choose to be myself (but a better version I guess).

IF YOU WERE NOT GELO, WHO WOULD YOU WISH TO BE AND WHY?

I want to be a stand-up comedian and a band vocalist so I can easily build relationships with people. I also want to be a financial coach and a preacher so I could earn people’s trust and in turn, they will openly listen to what I say. Lastly, I want to be wolverine as well for me to live longer and do more good stuff. 21

A Lead Gen staff for NTT Data, Amber is currently single and is interested in surfing the Internet. Her guiding words in life are, “The world does not need to know your pain, what the world wanted to see is how you have stood the tests of life.” WHERE DO YOU USUALLY GO TO OR WHAT PARTICULAR ACTIVITY DO YOU DO AFTER SHIFT?

I am a home buddy so most of the time, I go home straight after shift or at times, I just pass by the mall to check out some stuff. WHAT DO STRESS?

YOU

DE-

Coffee is my stress buster. I don’t have a preferred coffee shop where I spend most of my time, I’m fine for as long as it serves a good coffee. WHERE WOULD YOU MOST LIKELY SPEND YOUR EXTRA MONEY?

As we grow old, we learn our priorities like the value of saving. Whenever I save some extra money, I use it for my family by bringing food or something that they like. HOW DO YOU HAVE FUN?

Being surrounded by friends and having conversations with them is considered fun for me. IF YOU WERE NOT AMBER, WHO WOULD YOU WISH TO BE AND WHY?

Everyone of us is uniquely created from each other and one cannot mimic the other. I would still choose to stay to be who I am now. With the values, faith, morals that I have, I know that I am already living my life with a purpose. One just needs to stand by the rule of life, what goes around comes around and what comes up must go down.

TEXT BY RICA JAN P. OCAMPO

as it ever crossed your mind whilst staring at your colleagues and wondered deeply about who they really are? Who are they when the clock strikes four? We all know that a personality shown inside the workplace is not the total package. Get to know some of the people you just had eye contact for like five seconds in Beepo. Meet these two persons you thought you already knew much about.

he most sophisticated and considerably one of the beautiful faces of Beepo, Donna Bella Ferrer, Admin Officer. We all know that she is our frontliner to all of our clients who are visiting our office in Clark. She takes care each of them from their flight bookings up to their everyday meals. We all know that she is also responsible for taking charge of the facilities and other stuff inside the company. However, what we don’t know about her is that she is fond of travelling to the greatest miles. She describes herself as an adventurous person who has been to five provinces in the Philippines and seven different countries all over the globe. When asked why she loves to travel, “Traveling makes me richer,” she said, not in the sense of money but, “With the experiences knowing other countries’ culture, food and of course the people.” She gets to travel annually. “The world is a

eet Melanie Cao, the Client Services Officer of EXS Capital turned acoustic singer of Beepo. Aside from playing the guitar (which is related to her singing), she loves to paint, especially trees. Melanie graduated with the Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Because of her love for arts, she took a second degree and enrolled in Fine Arts. Unfortunately, her father passed away and she was forced to give up her course and decided to work. She has to sustain her family’s needs in order to live. However, her love for painting never ended there. Even though she never got the chance to finish her second degree, she still joined art contests in the previous companies she worked for. In fact, she was even assigned to design their Site Director’s Office.

She never stopped learning. As she is now a woman with a fine career, she never left her hobby and finds time to develop her skills. Last year, she took a one-on-one painting lessons with an artist, for acrylic and oil. With her spare time, she continues her painting by appreciating nature. We all know her as the woman who knows melody and tune, the one that plays the guitar and hum with a sweet voice. However, no one ever knows that after work, she’s a fine artist that knows how to play the music of the brush. She is indeed born a painter, not just by art but also by soul.

Multiple attitude and emotions make up a complete human being. So, I guess the quotation, “what you see is what you get” is not really what you get after all.

book. And, those who do not travel read only one page. Every year, you have to go to a place that you’ve never been before. Explore,” said Donna. She also gets to spend more quality time with her adorable son, Karl Andrew, as she brings him with her most of the time. When asked if it has ever crossed her mind being afraid of the things she would discover throughout her trip, she bravely answered, “I’m not afraid. Instead, I feel more excited to know about different cultures and everything.” She also commented on wanting to go back to the places she’s been. To date, Donna visited Cebu, Baguio, Ilocos, La Union and Subic. She has also travelled the ends of the world by visiting countries like South Korea, Singapore, Hongkong, China and Dubai but also in United States of America and United Kingdom. Let’s see where her traveling interests take her next.

TEXT BY JERICHO P. GATIP

rom lunchboxes to pantry reservations to lunch-outs, there is a battle between what you want to eat versus what you will actually eat. There will come a time when your grace before meals prayer will include a “chicken again, Lord” or you would search the web to find out if there is El Niño because your food is as dry as… your ex. Kidding! They say “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” But I will revise it: If you fail to plan, you plan to starve. So, here’s the plan, leche plan.

To start your week right and strong, this meal will boost your energy with the protein-rich meat, fiber and nutrients from the veggies and lycopene-filled tomato sauce.

Take a break from your meat consumption and get some fish for lunch. May it be fried, grilled, steamed or souped, it will always be a great idea. There is nothing fishy about it.

Drink Orange Juice

Drink Chocolate drink. Vendo, here we go again.

Dessert Chocolate Cake

Dessert Pastillas. (Sorry, Aldub. This is not cheating, I promise)

To remain faithful with our childhood mantra Sa Jollibee Bida ang Saya, let’s set Friday as the Chickenjoy day. Just make sure to get rid of the chicken skin. As Popoy would say, “Bash, that’s cholesterol.”

The warm soup will boost your alertness and creativity for the entire day. This ginger stew will provide enough nutrients to maintain a healthy lifestyle while enjoying the food we eat.

Drink Coke. To complete the Value Meal mock up

Drink Just Water. Healthy Living Tuesday

Dessert Peach Mango Pie, of course (Note: this is not a paid advertisement)

Dessert Fruits. Again, Healthy Living Tuesday

After a week-long lunch away from home, cook some I’ve-been-craving-for-this kind of food to share with your family. After all, we are all believers of the saying The family that eats together, stays together.

Lunch out day. Time to drive to the nearest food stalls— Burger King, Mcdonald’s, Spanglish and a lot more. Just make sure you won’t incur overbreaks.

Drink Coke. *Insert happiness here*

Drink Coffee: Starbucks (Bonus: Stairway to Planner)

Dessert Bake a cake or some cookies

Dessert No need. Frappe has whipped cream and chocolate

Family Day! After church, don’t be a thrifty spender and take your family to a treat. Drink A good coffee shop and stories to tell Dessert Ice cream is a good idea

TEXT BY JERICHO P. GATIP

FOOD

ith the ramping boom Maginhawa Streat has brought in the taste buds of the metro people, we seem to question the heavens and say, why deprive us of having the same street here in Pampanga? Maginhawa is a street-long destination in Quezon City where food hubs, classy restaurants and foodie havens reside. It presents a variety of food options to

How to get there? Option A: If you live the RK (Rich Kid) in you and you can drive: From Beepo Office, drive to NLEX. Enter thru Dau tollgate. Take the Balintawak exit and pass through A. Bonifacio Avenue. Take turn along SM North EDSA going to Philcoa. Use your parking skills as you reach Maginhawa. If you do not possess this skills, you better jump to Option B.

food-lovers and food-bloggers. The place is the top destination for foodtrip getaways. But hope never ends. Thanks to the expressway and with just over an hour, you will reach Metro Manila and get to experience the heaven-on-earth food and views.

THE ISCREAMIST

Option B: If you are a fan of public transpo: From Beepo Office, take a jeep going to Maingate. Take a jeep going to Dau Terminal Ride a bus to Quezon City. (Pasay, Cubao or Avenida) Tell the bus assistant to drop you along SM North EDSA. From there, take a taxi going to Maginhawa Street.

ATE FE’S KITCHEN

echsilog. Yes, lech. But this doesn’t mean leche, Sinangag Itlog. Lechsilog is the famous lechon dish of this stall as it may sound appropriate to your lecheng ex, exfriend, ex-nightmare or even ex-crush. Try it for only 60 pesos. The price is not leche, right? Lechsilog. Yes, lech. But this doesn’t mean Leche, Sinangag Itlog. Lechsilog is the famous lechon dish of this stall as it may sound appropriate to your lecheng ex, ex-friend, exnightmare or even ex-crush. Try it for only 60 pesos. The price is not leche, right?

f you are a fan of the Alchemist and you are a fan of ice cream, plus you are a lover of chemistry, don’t secondguess. Nail this one-stop shop for your chemistry lesson/dessert time. They serve smores which comes with a serving of liquid nitrogen which will cause your smores to freeze instantly when dipped. They serve a variety of sweets and cold desserts you and the scientist within you would surely love.

THE SNACK SHACK

FRIULI

f you are on a super tight budget but don’t want to go low on quality, get a burger from this very famous stop at Maginhawa— The Snack Shack. For only 70 Pesos. Yes 70 Pesos, you can have your quarter pound burger. Just expect the line queue to be extremely long.

SANCHO CHURRERIA

f you cannot let go your Italian cravings, this is the perfect spot for you. They serve the best pizza and pasta along Maginhawa. They have Pizza Margherita, Viva Venezia which are both 200 below each. And Tuna Mushroom Spaghetti for over a hundred pesos only. If you would like to satisfy your senses without causing too much pain to your budget, this is the place to go.

f you are on the go and can’t stay for long, grab this awesome snack with you. Elegance and sweetness can be for take-away with their classy packaging. They have Spanish Churros with rich chocolate dip. All for around 80 pesos only.

Photo credits: happyfoodies.com, rappler.com, looloo.com, spot.ph, wheninmanila.com, geoffreview.com, homegrown.ph

TEXT BY PAULINE A. MALIJAN

side from Kangaroos, Opera House, Barmah Hats, and the rich culture of Aussies, Australia or ‘Straya (as how they locally say it) is indeed a land worth visiting because of its remarkable history and people. Join the ride as I take you around the Australian adventure that Hart and I were favoured to experience. Welcome to the land Down Under! PHOTOS BY PAULINE A. MALIJAN AND HART G. DIZON

AUSTRALIA IN MY BUCKET

hen I was a child, I read in a book that giant tarantulas‒bigger than a man’s hand, are found in Australia. Being arachnophobic and can’t even look at pictures of spiders (especially the hairy ones), the word Australia always reminded me of these creepy crawlers. Thanks to the movie Finding Nemo, I started reading again about the land Down Under, this time about coral reefs and many other interesting facts. Following this trip of mine, I have had questions in my mind even before I set my foot on the Aussie grounds, to which I was able to retrieve the answers after the journey.

Q: If you will go back to Australia, what would you like to see or experience again? I love ‘Straya! I would definitely come back for the place, the people, the culture. More Shopping. Too bad I didn’t stay long enough to find a souvenir shirt that says P Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney. More Tours. I also would like to see the different states: 1. Australian Outback in Westraya (Western Australia): Australia has such a massive open space, though at the back of my head I’m wishing that I won’t see any form of arachnids. 2. Melbourne, Victoria: They say Victoria could have three different weather in one day. You can wake up 26

with a rainy morning, get lots of sun at noon and feel really cold at night. 3. Sydney, New South Wales: I read that Sydney is a totally different city. Cost of living could be higher, but Sydneysiders still can enjoy the chicness and personality of the city without really spending much, by taking a walk along the coastlines to Sydney’s most iconic beaches like Bondi; going to art galleries and museums, picnics, or watch a New Year’s Fireworks display. 4. Gold Coast, Queensland: This place is a piece of heaven. Imagine the lavish shopping area of Greenbelt, Makati and the pristine white beach of Boracay combined. More Wagyu beef.

TRAVEL Q: What is the best food that you have tasted on this trip? Jetty’s South Bank’s Black Angus Fillet: smoked bacon, fondant potato, Swiss brown mushrooms, charred broccolini and dijon mustard; and Gold Band Snapper at Calamvale: Steamed boneless fillets finished with a lemon butter cream sauce served with asparagus, cherry tomatoes and lotus potato.

Q: An Aussie word that you have picked up and started using? I like to blend in, so I’ve been using these words: Morning tea and afternoon tea― which we call here snacks or merienda Mobile instead of saying cellphone Straight away, in Filipino, “todo na!” “Are you happy to….”, instead of saying, “Is it ok to…”

Q: What pasalubong or presents did you bring home to your family? Sippah - straws with little beads inside so your plain milk tastes better. I also got a box of Tim Tams; souvenir items like fridge magnets; little koalas with a

shirt that says Australia; and a kangaroo with a “piggybacking” koala stuffed toy for my son. I bought some Moccona’s (brand) too, their coffee is really good! Q: How would you define the Aussie people? The people that I have met in Australia work really hard during work hours. They are very focussed and very competent; they don’t waste time, but they are also fun to be with. They are fond of drinking a lot of beer and wine at the time they call beer o’clock. Aussies also have strong adherence to their values and take very good care of their families, which I really admire. Q: What was the weirdest thing you’ve learned about Australia? There are 4 things that I didn’t know about Australia until I actually visited. Summer Christmas - It’s not weird, but it’s still quite different to be warm during Christmas time and go to the beach. Sun comes out too early, and stays on too late - On different states, the sunrise could be 4:30 in the morning, and sunset at 9:00 in the evening. Tipping in restaurants - They don’t give tips, not required, because they are paid well enough. Truck drivers with trailers drive as fast as regular cars. I really hold my breath sometimes and pray it doesn’t tip over on a curve. Q: What misconception of yours about Australia had changed after the trip? That there is to more to see other than arachnids and the reefs. Q: What struck you most about travelling Australia? Their culture is awesome. Need I say more?

A TRIP FOR THE HART

ho would ever imagine that hard work translates to an Australian trip? While I was busy training and learning from our clients in Brisbane, and indulging the wanderlust in me, Client Experience Manager Hart Dizon was also privileged to experience ‘Straya as an incentive for being hailed Beepo’s Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in 2014. The MVP Award is an annual initiative by Beepo, awarded to exceptional employees as a testament to how the company values their people and recognizes their contributions. As he was also on the verge of enjoying the land Down Under, I made sure to keep a tight grip on my pen to also record his personal journal. PM: Best food that you have tasted on this trip? HD: Steak at Brekky Creek, and Roast Beef in The Farm at Byron Bay PM: An Aussie word that you have picked up and started using? HD: Far out! (Can be used to say excellent, depending on the usage. It can also be used to describe something too much.)

PM: What pasalubong (presents) did you bring home to your family? HD: Bought them couple shirts which I always do when I travel. Bought my mom her favorite cashew nuts and dish matic.

We don’t have this in the Philippines so I thought of getting one for my Ima. And for the rest of my family, TimTams and TimTams! I also bought them something which I had wrapped and will hand them in Christmas Day—exciting! PM: If you will go back to AU, what would you like to see/experience again? Hart: I’d like to spend more time exploring Brisbane especially the beaches in the Gold Coast. Also, I would go back to Sydney whilst I enjoy a cup of coffee in Darling Harbour, and do nothing at Bondi Beach. These two cities have their own taste to offer to all travellers and tourists! Maybe Melbourne on the next trip but I’d love to go back for personal time. I had so much fun on both cities! PM: Any work advice or best practice tips for employees and some inspiration to be successful in their own careers? Hart: Love your work. They say work smart, not work hard. But hard work always pays off, and I believe that all the good things in life we need to work hard for. Can’t wait to know who will be the next Beepo MVP to receive the same experience! Australia is indeed in my bucket list, and little did I know that this trip will happen after a year and a half of working for Beepo and its client—def’ rocked my world!

TRAVEL

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY KEEMPEE Q. TOLENTINO

hy do people climb mountains? At least for my friends and I—to pump our adrenalines and test the limits of our bodies, to reach the top and perhaps carelessly scream like nobody’s watching, and to get ourselves some break from the pressuring routines in the city. What fascinates me about trekking is the idea of being able to set foot on the peak spot where a lot of people do not usually even dare to try for themselves. A perfect line to describe this is from Doug Hansen of 2015 movie Everest, when asked why he’d like to climb the mountain—to which he replied, “Because I can. Because, to be able to climb that high and see that kind of beauty that nobody ever sees, it’ll be a crime not to.” Deciding to go to Mt. Tarak Ridge on a day hike was a risk for us all, especially none of us has ever been there and a few of my companions were even first-time hikers. Mt. Tarak Ridge is situated in Mariveles, Bataan. The name of the mountain was derived from words Tabak which means “hunting knife” and Tarik, meaning “steep”. It’s highest peak reaches up to 1,130 Metres Above Sea Level (MASL). 28

10 Must-Haves During Trek 1. Wear proper hiking attire 2. One big backpack (rather multiple, small bags) 3. Lots of bottled water or energy drinks 4. Extra set of clothes 5. First aid kit 6. Toiletries (tissues, wet wipes, alcohol, sanitizers, etc.) 7. Camera 8. Flashlight 9. Breakfast, lunch, snacks like chips, bread, and energy bars 10. Prayers Itinerary 4:00 AM - Dau Bus Terminal 7:00AM - Brgy. Alas-asin Barangay Hall, Mariveles, Bataan 7:30 AM - Nanay Cording’s Hut 7:45 AM - Start of the trek 10:30 AM - Papaya River 11:30 AM - Resume the trek 1:00 PM - Summit of Tarak Ridge 2:00 PM - Trekking back to Papaya 3:30 PM - Bathing at the Papaya River 4:00 PM - Trekking back to the mainland 7:00 PM - Mainland

TRAVEL

Getting there f you are driving, it will only take almost two hours to get there. You may easily pass through the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) leading to the Roman Superhighway (Bataan Provincial Expressway) going to Mariveles, Bataan. But if you prefer to do an adventure, you may ride buses going to Mariveles. It may take up to three hours to get there by commuting. As of November 2015, Bataan Transit charges P202 per head for the ticket.

Jump-off point Once you set foot on the grounds of Bataan, your jump-off point would be the Alas-asin Barangay Hall. You will have to pay a registration fee of P40 before starting the trek. This is also where you may find a guide to accompany you within the day. In our case, we paid our 17-year old guide P900 for a hiking companion. For firsttime hikers at Tarak Ridge, it may be necessary to hire a guide, although stone marks along the trail were installed to guide the mountain climbers, it’s always safe and handy to have them beside us during the adventure. Right before starting the trek, a small hut owned

by a certain Nanay Cording which appears to be an information booth was where we logged our names and contact details. Nanay Cording is a fun and jovial local of the place who gives friendly advice to people before pushing through with the hike. She also offers wooden trekking poles for P20 as rental fee. The Trek From Nanay Cording’s house, we started walking towards a flat road which officially started our trek. It led us to different roads of rocks, large weeds and grasses, and muddy grounds. After almost three hours, we could hear torrents of water as we walked closer. Finally, we reached Papaya River where we took a break and ate our lunch. It was clearly a refreshing sight and sensation to eat tocino, chicharon, tomato, salted eggs, among others, while being able to hear the flow of natural water nearby. (Tip: It helped that we brought a small blanket to place our food while taking our lunch.) We continued our journey to the top after our short break. The climb felt bulkier this time as we’ve just been from a lunch break and a quick rest. But even if our feet started to feel uneasy, our persistence to reach the top pushed us forward and upward. Finally, persistence pays off as we reached the Tarak Ridge summit. Strong and cool winds welcomed us as we caught the breathtaking view of the panorama. The amazing view of jagged rocks and rocky terrain along the green mountains rewarded the exhaustion my friends and I felt as we climbed all the way to the top. Being on the top actually gives you the vantage point to the islands of Corregidor, Manila Bay, and Cavite. It is also the place where overnight campers install their tents. After some minutes of chillaxing and capturing Instagram-worthy photos, we finally decided to resume walking and trek back. An hour is surely not enough to appreciate the brilliance of God’s creation on 29

the summit, but as day hikers, we also had to consider time so we wouldn’t pursue the trail in darkness before sun gets down. Going back, we were misled by the idea that it would be easier for us to go back since we were already familiarised with the trail, but little did we know how hurtful it was for us to pursue walking as our feet were pained by the hours of hike. Trekking poles, or even just long, sturdy sticks helped us lose some weight pressure along the trail. We took a dip onto the water of the Papaya River and found it so cool and chilly—but absolutely rejuvenated us from the hours of trekking. The water from the stream is also safe for drinking so it was the perfect time for us to refill our emptied drinking bottles. Trekking back became a more difficult activity because of the weariness we felt during that time. We had the biggest relief when we have seen lights of houses and heard the sound of vehicles as we approached the mainland at Barangay Alas-asin. It must be madness that we all share a common love for what we did in spite of what we’ve been through. But trekking mountains does more than giving you body pains and Instagramworthy photos, it provides you the fulfillment of being able to conquer your way up and beat all the odds that not everyone has the brevity of doing so.

ENTERTAINMENT

TEXT BY JERICHO GATIP

But the one million dollar question goes like, How to do it right?

Forbes says watching a movie can effectively fight stress by 36%. So, if you are in the middle of wandering where your life is being directed, you better catch a good movie and regenerate the good vibes that fell off from your glands.

Cinema industry had already reached its peak here in nearby-Clark area. Five-minute drive from Beepo headquarters is SM City Clark’s IMAX Technology Cinema. But that is if you are fresh from payday influence. But if you are on a dying-wallet-budget situation, you better choose to have it the regular way. Along Balibago is the Robinson’s Place Cinema World and if you would like have it the Ayala way— there is a Metro Cinema at Marquee Mall.

fter a week-long workload encounter, movie comes as a great idea. Popcorn, check. Soda, check. Movie pass, check. And of course, pick your movie buddy— a. your cuddle lover b. your one-strongsquad or c. [Error 404: Page Not Found] none of the above, me-time!

But wait. For those who would like to spend a very low budget for a cinema experience, there is a forty-pesos movie at Jenra Mall, Angeles. Tip: Keep yourself ready for unwanted and unanticipated situations. After picking the best movie place, pick the movie that won’t make you scream to fear or won’t make you shed tears. I’m sure you don’t want to do the malling part with eyes freshfrom-the-cry. But what movie is in for the season?

ENTERTAINMENT

A Second Chance With the painstaking success of One More Chance last 2007, treat your heart again with unlimited pain and bottomless tears. Popoy and Basha, starred by romantic-genre-top-of-the-line artists John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo continues their tragic-to-hoping love story with this movie sequel. The prequel film became a non-debatable hit because of its realistic representation of a Filipino love warrior. Will love, will be pained, will endure, will try again, repeat until applicable. Slowfade. Black out. Things to bring: Tissue, handkerchief, towel for extreme tears-shedding. Sunglasses to cover up your hey-I-just-cried eyes after the film. And mefenamic acid to ease the pain. You can also bring your ex and say â&#x20AC;&#x153;Are you ready for a second chance?â&#x20AC;?

The Mocking Jay: Part 2 Katniss Everdeen, the Girl On Fire! If you are a dystopian type of person, The Mockingjay Part 2 is the best suited film for you. It is the last installment of The Hunger Games series: The Hunger Games (2012), The Catching Fire (2013), The Mockingjay: Part 1 (2014). Things to bring: Food. Hunger, remember? Your friends, as tributes. Your papers to the Capitol. And of course, your Mockingjay pin.

My Bebe Love #KiligPaMore Are you ready for your Tamang Panahon? Kalyeserye phenomenal couple Aldub will hit the big screen for the Metro Manila Film Festival 2015 together with the ex-Enteng Kabisote Star Vic Sotto and the Tanging Ina Ai Ai Delas Alas. Things to bring: Anything except pastillas.

he Barbarian King has called an order to find the 10 missing celebrities of the kingdom. The Wizards, together with Healers, sent the Dragons to search for these 10 clones from each empire. After the endless attacks and battles, they were found and will be hailed, forever. Now they are here, to be offered to our Barbarian King. Paneled by representatives from Beepo admin (2), employees (2), and The Beep (1), prepare to meet Beepoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top celebrity lookalikes!

OPINION

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SANTA IF HE ASKS YOU, “WERE YOU NAUGHTY OR NICE THIS YEAR?”

IF YOU WILL JOIN THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL RACE, WHICH AREA(S) WILL YOU PRIORITISE MOST IN YOUR POLITICAL PLATFORMS?

“Even nicer. :)”- Mitch Punzalan, Client Experience Officer, Project Team

“DOH.” - Mitch Punzalan, Client Experience Officer, Project Team

“I always tell Santa every year that I was nice even though I’ve been naughty because if I do, I won’t get any gifts for Christmas... not that I haven’t gotten any already all-year-round for being naughty.” - Myron Glenn Fernando, Recruitment Assistant, Beepo “I was naughty and nice but it’s okay, right? Even the sun fails to shine, sometimes. :)” - Kathleen Maniti, Recruitment Executive, Beepo “I’m so NICE of being so NAUGHTY :) because Santa is so naughty of asking me the same question yearly!” - Jonahlyn Roberto, Accountant, OIG “Awesome, because nice is not enough to describe me. Anyway, I don’t believe in Santa.” Joseph Pasamonte, Sale Admin, Active Stride “Of course nice! :-) I still have the kid spirit inside me, so Santa knows my wish already. Hopefully my wish is granted.” - Christina Serteza, CE Team Leader, Beepo “Dream house :) naughty :)” - Kristine Pineda, Service Executive, Lead Generation “I think I am nice this year. I had never been late going to work compared to before when I was still on an home-based job.” - Jayson David, Wordpress Developer, Project Team “Depends... Is Santa available for a Catch-up?” - Chonaisa Simbulan, Marketing Campaign Manager, NTT DATA “I was naughty and nice.” - Jotham Austria, CE Team Leader, Beepo

“The youth—the way the youth nowadays act and behave is very alarming. 14 year-olds or even younger are twerking and getting pregnant, blabbering about #walangforever (The heck? Do your assignment first) and most importantly they’re becoming stupider and stupider and stupider, their imagination and creative thinking is not for art or passion anymore but getting laid and being in a relationship. And if that doesn’t get addressed, we’re going to have an ‘Eowhz Phowez’ president in the future.” - Myron Glenn Fernando, Recruitment Assistant, Beepo “I will focus on Tax, Education, Roads and Highways, Housing, and Employment. No further elaboration. I am sure I will not win, anyway.” - Kathleen Maniti, Recruitment Executive, Beepo “JUSTICE SYSTEM...so that I can answer the question ‘nasan ang hustisya?’” - Jonahlyn Roberto, Accountant, OIG “I will bring back death penalty and kill all the corrupt government officials. Tax the rich and increase the income of the middle class. Restore peace and order. Eradicate illegal drugs. Provide free education from elementary to college.” - Joseph Pasamonte, Sale Admin, Active Stride “Education: remove K-12 and improve the quality of education by providing more schools and competent teachers. Improve the compensation and benefits of teachers to provide quality education; 34

Health: improve Government hospital facilities to better serve the people. Propose a medicine bill to make the purchase of medicines affordable to all. Employment: train newly grads that will cater to the needs of the industry. Attract more investors to invest in the country to create more jobs and remove corruption.” - Christina Serteza, CE Team Leader, CE Team “Help typhoon victims.” - Kristine Pineda, Service Executive, Lead Generation “I think IT/Internet should be prioritized and improve technical vocational education like TESDA and Agriculture. A strong IT/Internet can generate more jobs and also those who can’t afford going to college can still get a decent job if they are trained in TESDA for a lower training, or maybe free education. Also we should support Farmers with modern trainings and modern equipments/transportation (Maybe modern trains across the Philippines) so we are not dependent on imports.” - Jayson David, Wordpress Developer, Project Team “The environment. Children and women. Studies show that with the current state of global warming, we have reached a point of no return in the devastating effects of environmental degradation. Children and women are among the most vulnerable to the effects of global warming and the government needs to enforce better risk-management.” - Chonaisa Simbulan, Marketing Campaign Manager, NTT DATA “I will lower tax rates for ITR. I will put Binay in jail. I will provide a systematic distribution of free land. God gave the earth for free, there is no need for high taxes and land titles.” - Jotham Austria, CE Team Leader, Beepo

et out of your workplace borders and pay extra attention to the unseen. Become an instrument to motivate. Become an archetype of excellence, passion and hardwork. Inspire others and transcend. The Beep is excited to have you. We are looking for:

or to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)