Jan
21-25 - Bangkok, Thailand
This was the point
in my career that I crossed over from in-country project staff to regional
consultancy (at least in Asia-Pacific), from operations to pre-sales. I was
employed by FreeBalance for more than 3 years now; already a record-breaker
knowing that I normally stayed with the company for a max of 2 years. Maybe
because most projects have 2-year lifespan, except when extended. Our company
has reorganized its APAC team and I suddenly become a member of the Project
Management Advisory Services or PMAS.
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Me in formal wear
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Now, a
business opportunity was being followed in Thailand. Since there was no one in
the region yet with experience in pre-sales activities, I was sent to observe
with an experienced company: VP Kamran and Master Trainer Kemajl. My 4 days in
Bangkok was purely networking and building partnerships. And it was my
apprenticeship program.
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VP and Mrs Kamran and Kemajl
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I
stayed at Marriott Hotel on my first night and transferred to Rembrandt Hotel
for the rest of the night. It was so because I was the one paying for my hotel
rooms when the headquarters failed to reserve rooms for me in advance.
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Suit up!
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It was not everyday that we have official meetings, and not the whole day either. So, VP Kamran gave Kemajl and me timeoff to roam around. We spent one whole day to stroll around and we reached many tourist destinations on foot.
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The Giant Swing
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Temple of the Golden Mount
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Kemajl in a Temple
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| Phra Sumen Fort |
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The UN ESCAP
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| Equestrian Statue of King Rama V |
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Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall
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Throne Hall
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Dusit Zoo
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Chitralada Villa Royal Residence
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Victory Monument
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Jul
21-25 - Vientiane, Laos
My
next assignment overseas was in Vientiane with the team of consultants from
around the FreeBalance world. We were salvaging a project in the country of Lao
PDR. We were in full force, headed by 2 VPs: VP Kamran (Sales) and VP Gerard (Services).
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During the product presentation
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The whole week's level of effort was exhausting. Here, I was part of the functional team, with Vlora and Malaiphone, that revisited the system configurations. This however was the venue for
me to learn more deeply about the FreeBalance product.
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Sleepless days and nights to prepare
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In the end, I found myself at the centerstage presenting the solution concepts and functions.
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Team's pose after the event
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When all official events concluded, and the others already flew home, four of us (Jeet, Vlora, Malai and myself) that remained went on to a riverside where locals frequent, including our local consultant, Malai who served as our guide and driver that day. The site is filled with floating restaurants with karaoke machines. We got one and I hollered the whole roundtrip of cruising, eating, singing and dancing.
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Jeet, Vlora, Malai and me
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One of the floating restaurants cruising under the bridge
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Mandatory pose at the venue
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Tea break
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Sep 1-5 - Vientiane, Laos
I was on personal vacation that time when I got the emergency call to visit Laos. I flew direct from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Vientianne. The intent was to get readily available when the client would call for meeting and another demo.
No calls received, so my trip was cut short. And I was heading home to the Philippines.
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One of the food trips was meeting fellow Filipinos with friend Brian
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But spending nights at hawkers' street cannot be missed; one night was spent with Jeet and Malai, the others were all by myself.
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Finally got the chance to visit the main landmark of Laos in Vientianne.
This That Luang Golden Temple is printed in Laos money, Kip.
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