STAFF Jomar Barreda Coordinator/Layout Contributors Marvin Miranda Magerr Lubas Charmaine Gumabay
Tom Coote | September 4, 2010
Most materials used in this newsletter are 100% purely made and/or created by TRG|OBZ agents. If you want to be part of us, do not hesitate to contact us through: jomar.barreda@trgworld.com. VOLUME 001-Q12013 Something in my mind is missing. They found me outside Manila Zoo. “I wouldn’t go in there if I were you. It’s just full of animals in dirty cages” offered one of the two, middle aged Filipino women. I had no intention of going in. I was just walking by. “Where are you from?” they said. “Where are you going to? What’s your name? What do you do?” They introduced themselves. As they were going in the same direction as me, they offered to come along. They were tourists just like me and travelling around the Philippines. As we wandered towards the harbour, scanning for broken pavement and pulling sticky clothes from sweating backs, they quizzed me on my travelling plans. It turned out that they had also been planning a remarkably similar trip with their cousin, a child psychiatrist who was visiting from England. Out came the mobile phones and a meeting was swiftly arranged. The fans slowly churned damp air across the grimy back street cafe where we waited. By now, I was lost. When the mysterious cousin eventually arrived it turned out that she was of a similar age to the other two and had lived in London for several years. She seemed to be interested in me. They offered to take me into the labyrinthine local market. “Be careful” they warned “there are many thieves. Keep what you value close to you.” As darkness fell, we wandered through the maze of stalls and people, ever watchful of thieves who might take what we held close, or the deep, dark cracks that might take our balance and send us crashing down. It was decided that I would join them on a trip to the North. The eldest son of one of them would also be coming. My assent was assumed. They dropped me back at my guest house and arranged to meet me in the nearby square the next morning. I hadn’t known how to say no. I woke earlier than expected and waited in a coffee shop, unsure of what to do. They had seemed so pleased at the thought of me joining them. I hauled up my heavy bag, and made my way to the square. The eldest son rushed out to greet me, easily relieving me of my burden and guiding me towards the waiting ladies. We took a taxi to the bus station and then the bus heading north towards the Hundred Islands National Park. As we passed close to Mount Pinatubo, they told me of how the volcano had erupted in 1991, leaving around 800 dead. The sky had turned to black as 2000 square kilometers were buried under dark volcanic ash. Most had died when the roofs above their heads had collapsed under the weight. They told of the crucifixions in San Fernando; every Easter, willing victims would queue to have nine inch nails hammered through their out
stretched palms into towering wooden crosses. Many of the crucified would return year after year to feel again the pain of their saviour. On arrival, we found a budget hotel room to share, and caught motor bike taxis to the wharf. As darkness fell, we walked out into the water on concrete jetties covered in small, scuttling crabs. Further out lay giant clams, hiding in the depths, closed to the world. We bought still flapping fish and bottles of cheap gin and rum. Back at the room we mixed coke with the rum and tore flesh from the fish with our bare hands. They offered me the eyes. I declined, so they gouged them out expertly, and popped the still staring globes into their own open mouths. The next morning, we hired a small boat to take us around the Hundred Islands National Park. We spread out under the fierce white light, splashed through shoals of flickering fish and dived down, deep as we could go. After washing away the salt and the grime, we headed out for the evening. I needed money so went in search of an ATM. When we tracked one down they stood too close to me as I entered in my PIN – I didn’t feel that I could tell them to move away when they had helped me so much. Again, I was lost as we wandered through the dimly lit back streets in search of bars and entertainment. We stumbled though broken concrete and discarded cans to find our way into a dilapidated warehouse. Cheap plastic chairs and tables lay scattered around. At the far end was a make shift stage hosting the obligatory karaoke machine. Cokes and ice were ordered. When they arrived, they filled up our drinks with the cheap spirits we had bought by the wharf. I’m not really sure what happened the next day. I remember taking motor bike taxis (with side cars) to another cheap hotel. I don’t know where the hotel was or what else happened. The following day they took me further north to Baguio. We walked up to the view point and paddled around the lake. They tempted me with Balut. I peeled off the shell and bit through the egg and into the embryo. The tiny bones of the sacrificed chick, crunched between my teeth. The chicken merged with the egg. Suddenly, they announced that they must return. I must travel to Sagada on my own, to see the caves and hanging coffins. Our farewells were said. They would never forget. As the worn and battered bus struggled, side to side, ever upwards through the mountain heights, something once known was found again. A knowing hidden deep but still sensed. A search fulfilled.
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The Bucket List: Y’all come to Mardi Gras with the family By Nina Kokotas Hahn Every month I’m sharing a destination from my overflowing travel bucket list. This February, it’s all about New Orleans—not just because the Baltimore Ravens just won the 2013 Super Bowl, but because Mardi Gras is now in full swing through Fat Tuesday on February 12. One of my fondest childhood memories are the many New Orleans vacations we took to visit family and celebrate Mardi Gras. A kid from Chicago, I had never seen parades manned by carnival “krewes” or grownups as excited as me about the colorful, tacky loot flying off the floats. I had also never been so proud of the many beads around my neck or in my colorful go-cup, vying year after year for the number one catcher of swag against my expert bead-snagging cousins. The jazz music was brassy and bold, the king cakes a sugary sweet relief from the impossible heat of Aunt Bev’s shrimp creole, the purple-gold-green color of everything so gaudy and grand. It was spectacular. Today, I’d love to share that same Mardi Gras experience with my own children. Now, I know you’re likely thinking drunken revelry and hoo-hahs flashed for beads is hardly a place for children. And, yep, that happens, especially in the French Quarter, which is absolutely, drop-down bananas during Mardi Gras. But radiate out from there to countless other familyfriendly carnival parades for the chance to show your family what Mardi Gras is all about.
If you do make it New Orleans with the kids for Mardi Gras, here are my tips for the fullpress family party:
Avoid the French Quarter: The scene is ridiculously crowded, even for the adults who want to be there. Instead, head to nearby Uptown and Metarie or even to the other side of Lake Ponchartrain for Mandeville, Covingtion and Chalmette. Get familiar with Mardi Gras history in advance: Did you know that Mardi Gras has been in existence in NOLA since 1857 and that the date changes yearly in connection with Ash Wednesday? Read up and share with the kids or stop by Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World for behind-the-scenes tours of float making and more. For the love of NOLA, eat king cake: bakeries all over the city sell this Mardi Gras staple, including Sucre, Cake Café, Randazzo’s Bakery and even Tastee Donut! Download the Mardi Gras parade app: the new Experience Mardi Gras app lets you track a parade a day in real time. Trust me, you want this info so you can avoid traffic and know exactly by when and where you need to be on a route. Know the value of your parade treasure: small, singular-colored strands aren’t nearly as cool or sought-after as more elaborate metallic and multi-colored beads with objects. Krewe-specific, limited-edition beads and plush toys as well as glass beads and fiber optic beads are among the hottest finds. If you are taking young kids to the Uptown area, the best bet is to find a restaurant or business that sells wristbands to allow for use of the stands and clean bathrooms for kids. Otherwise, potty time is a nightmare. If you don’t do that, you can buy a Mardi Gras ladder—it’s a secure seat on top of a ladder (with wheels for transport). Personally we avoid Uptown too—large crowds and increased gun crime the past few years. My kids like day and nighttime parades. We try to get close to beginning of route, otherwise the waiting is too much for them!
Nina Kokotas Hahn is a travel writer and Chicago journalist whose work appears in Chicagomagazine, HuffPost Travel and Condé Nast’s HotelChatter. Globetrotting since infancy, she’s the daughter of a travel agent and considers thrill seeking part of the DNA.
Long Weekend Guide to 2013: Presidents Day Two-day weekends are for suckers. Here at Orbitz, we are firm believers in making every minute of your time off from work count—and that means taking as many three-day weekends as you can possibly get away with. As the Official Travel Site of the Long Weekend, we know how nice it is to get the heck out of town for a few days, and with our Long Weekend Guide to 2013 we’re here to help you do just that. Can you handle nine mini-vacations? Wait, let’s clarify that: Can you handle ridiculous amounts of fun? We think you’re up to the challenge. This Month: Presidents Day, Feb. 16-18 By Guy V. Cimbalo Ah, Presidents Day. For some, it’s an opportunity to remember lesser lights of the executive office like James K. Polk and Chester A. Arthur. For others, it’s a three-day weekend. If you’re planning to get away for the holiday, why not maintain a thematic consistency and visit somewhere with a presidential history? Here are a few of our recommendations. Orlando What better way to celebrate el dia de los Presidentes , as it’s known in Spain, than at the Hall of Presidents in Disney World? Spend time in the company of all 43 American presidents eerily recreated as Animatronic presidents uncannily delivering some of their finest moments. When Stepford Jimmy Carter starts bemoaning the national malaise, the whole family will thrill with delight—and may actually learn something. Miami In October of 2012, a Secret Service agent charged with guarding Barack Obama was found passed out on a Miami sidewalk after a night on the town. While the details of the rogue agent haven’t been made public, we know it’s never difficult to fall into a drunken stupor when you’re enjoying Miami’s famed nightlife. We’ve been there, too.
Houston During its brief tenure as an independent nation, the Republic of Texas elected some presidents of its own—four in fact. Our personal favorite has to be David G. Burnet, who challenged Sam Houston to a duel twice and wore one hell of a chin beard. For more official presidential fare, the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum is a mere 90 minutes away. San Francisco Even the hotels in San Francisco have a long history of bipartisan bickering. The Fairmont has played home to Democratic presidents Truman, Kennedy and Clinton. While the St. Francis hotel, just a few blocks away, is favored by Republicans. Gerald Ford was almost shot as he left the hotel in 1975, and Ronald Reagan was a regular guest.
Honolulu There’s speculation that Barack Obama could house his eventual presidential library in Hawaii—the president’s well-documented, though moronically contested, place of birth. (Though we kinda doubt it.) The island’s perfumed air would surely mottle the precious papers and memorabilia of Obama’s tenure in office. And more to the point, we find it very hard to believe that anyone in Hawaii would forgo the New York Naturally, New York has played home to endless presidential history—the birthplace of beach so they could read up on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, as awesome as that sounds. Teddy Roosevelt, the Chester A. Arthur House, and Ulysses Grant’s tomb (really) are all in city limits. But why trod tired ground when you can hire a Barack Obama imperAtlantic City sonator like Maxwell Priceand make some history of your own? Erstwhile presidential candidate Donald Trump has his name gilded on three Atlantic City hotspots—the Trump Taj Mahal Casino, Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino and New Orleans Trump Marina Hotel Casino. The Boardwalk was also host to the 1964 Democratic Visit the city with a rich history of JFK assassination lore. Visit the site where the Convention: Book a presidential suite and raise a three-olive martini to the ghost of conspiracy was plotted by ex-CIA agent Guy Bannister. See the home of former New Orleans D.A. Jim Garrison who reopened the investigation into Kennedy’s death. Or you LBJ, who was nominated that year. can just check out the French Quarter—we hear it’s quite nice.
Written by Charmaine Gumabay I've always been a fan of traveling. It gives you this feeling of incomparable excitement, pleasure and learning. But with the coming holidays, you would really think twice before planning an out of town trip with your friends or families. Not only would you risk not having any gifts to give your godchildren and relatives, the weather is not really at its friendliest too. Trips for me are sometimes this go-where-the-wind takes you experience. And if you're like me who needs a break every now then, there's no need for too much planning cause Manila always has it all. We went to Manila Ocean Park late last year, a marine themed park. It's definitely a perfect entertainment for families. It features marine life shows and exhibits. The Sea Lion performance is the best and so far my favorite. You may also want to go to Manila Zoo. If taste of history is what you're after, try going to National Museum of the Philippines walking distance from other historic sites such as Rizal Park and Fort Santiago. Corregidor Island is also a nice place to see. Manila also has an interesting history when it comes to music. Manila sound, started in the latter part of 1960s to mid 1970s, popularized by the pop rock band Hotdog. Music the was used as a tool for protests against Pres. Ferdinand Marcos and to cheer people up because of the depression martial law had caused. It is indeed pretty obvious that one does not need to go somewhere far to have fun. There's always a lot to see in Manila.
5 travel tips to make business travel more bearable By Mark Chesnut
Some people love traveling for work. Some people hate it. Many are ambivalent. But most everyone agrees that it’s important to make the experience as pleasant—or at least asbearable—as possible. Here are a few tricks I’ve picked up over the years. 1. Bring ear plugs or headphones, everywhere. With the increasing popularity of mobile entertainment devices (not to mention the increasing loudness of the traveling public), you can never be guaranteed the peace and quiet you deserve, whether sitting in business class on a plane or checking into the club-level floor at a nice hotel. Ear plugs or noise-cancelling headphones can be a lifesaver. 2. Stay loyal. Even if you’re not a super-frequent flyer—and even if you find the process of redeeming frequent-flyer awards excruciating—pick an airline and stick with it. Reaching any kind of elite-level membership can bring benefits including priority boarding, free luggage checks, mileage bonuses and upgrades. The same goes with hotel chains; loyalty can get you better rooms. In both cases, it may be worth paying a bit more on one trip, if you’ll then get valuable perks for the entire coming year. 3. Get carded. Shopping around for an airline affinity card can also bring benefits like priority boarding and free checked luggage. Even if a gold card is more expensive, when you weigh the cost against what you spend on bag fees, an affinity card can easily pay for itself after just a couple flights. 4. Bring work and entertainment. Use the time spent on flights or waiting for meetings in hotel lobbies to be productive, but also to give your mind a break. And remember that you may not always be able to log onto mobile devices, so having something in print can still be a good thing. 5. Be nice. Sometimes, hassles can’t be avoided. And sometimes, those hassles aren’t anyone’s fault—or at least not the fault of the harried customer service representative standing in front of you. Take a breath, smile, and keep going. (And, of course, Orbitz Travel Alerts and Customer Support can provide additional help in avoiding problems.)
Mark Chesnut is a travel writer, editor and publisher of LatinFlyer.com, which focuses on travel to Latin America. He’s been a travel addict since he was a kid, and a travel writer since 1994.
These are just opinions…meaning…not a fact :-) (While I’m on aux 6, I asked some of my colleagues and here are their answers) 1) What will you do if you were asked by one of your superior to do something you know its impossible to do? -If you had been ask for what you think is an impossible task, wahhhhhhh!!!! dont panic! dont freak out and act negatively. Just close your eyes,inhale,exhale,squeeze the stress ball and throw it on his face NOT!..........NEGOTIATE like an adult:-) remember in the office they call it "PROFESSIONALISM" 2.)Any treats/freebies for me? -Don't expect rewards because you will just be frustrated along the way. Don't expect rewards for just doing what you're suppose to do no matter how good you do your job everyday(roll eyes)...sometimes they give gc's from starbucks, sm,etc..Go! get it! :-) Anyway, the reward for doing your best everyday at work is career opportunities for you, do not look at your work as a place to earn money,look at it as place to improve yourself too :-)right? right!!! 3)How to please your superior: -"BAWAL MAG-ABSENT!" (don't be absent!) because of LBM, fever, headache, migraine, toothache, backpain,food poison, or other alibi that you can think of..because every second counts in our business,kasi pag absent ka malaking kawalan yun sa mga kasamahan mo and sa company, you are now working in a team where in your full cooperation is expected..anyway you can always use your healthcard to keep you healthy along the way..regarding performance you need to get to know very well the tools and resources that are available for you to do your job well and get that sale. at first, magiging matanong ka at expect na magmumuka kang tanga kakatanong pero wala pang batas na bawal magtanong so magtanong ka lang:-) but again,your questions should not always be the same, you should remember the answer because most of the time those will be the most frequent call types you will encounter during your shift. 4.)How to get perfect attendance? -Drink vitamins! Always check your schedule! We understand its not always work, we also need to reward ourselves and have fun specially on our payday,there's shopping, night out and stuff, but please don't drink if you know
Q/A and some tips on how to be a good call
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