Back at home

After more than 24 hours traveling I am finally back home. I am already missing my CSC team members. They all are more than colleagues to me; I prefer to call them as my friends.

And of course I already miss Bacolod, the sun and all smiling people.

The whole CSC experience in Bacolod was amazing; that is something I will remember for my whole life!

A fire in Barangay (District) 19

The last weekend there was a fire in one of the poorest areas of Bacolod; in Barangay (District) 19 which is very close to our hotel. Houses in the area are built on very light material, like pieces of wood and corrugated plate. All in all, 62 residences were destroyed and 17 people died. Candle caused the fire… People did not own too much but everything was destroyed.

We visited the place and left some rise and sardines for the victims. In addition we bought a huge amount of candies and gave those to the children playing in the street. It took couple of seconds and then the candies were gone. Not much but at least we were able to bring the smile to the children’s face.

Time to start to say Good Byes

Back to Business; on Tuesday we had the seminar day for the students in University of St. La Salle. I had a huge audience to listen my almost three hour presentation. In the room there was place for 260 people and there were not too many empty seats; I think there were almost 200 people listening. I hope that they found the topic useful!

On Wednesday we had one extra seminar day. Duke and Alina were presenting their topics at the University. Gisele and I met local business people who were not able to participate to the first seminar day and gave our presentations to them. In the afternoon I had a change to visit one of the call centers here in Bacolod. It was very interesting to see how and hear how they operate!

On Tuesday evening we had a wonderful and a bit sad farewell party at house of Mr. & Mrs. Dumancas hosted by our client BNeFIT. I have had so wonderful time here and I have had to change to get to know extraordinary people so it is not easy to say good bye.

Mrs. Loida from West Negros University

Of course once again the food was excellent; grilled pork (a whole pig), sea food paella, desert…

We prepared a slideshow with pictures to show our clients what all we have been expiring here. After watching that it was time for karaoke! People in here love to sing karaoke and also couple of people from our team had a courage to sign. It was very nice evening!

Karaoke!

The weekend at the paradise island

Imagine; the weekend at the private owned island with sun, white beaches, snorkeling, swimming, good food and boat trips to sun set just for our team none else at the island! Can you ask more?!?

We had an amazing weekend at Danjugan Island which is the paradise island! The days we spent laying at the white beaches, enjoying of the sun and swimming. By snorkeling you were able to see different kind of fishes. In the evening we had a change to have a boat trip and enjoy the sun set. Three wonderful meals a day and two snacks… Then go to sleep under mosquito net and hear the voice of the nature. Life cannot be better!

• Lying in the Sulu Sea, 3km west of Negros Occidental, Danjugan Island (1.5km by 0.5km) rises steeply to 80m and is covered in rainforest - home to a nesting pair of sea eagles, rare pigeons and doves, threatened Tabon scrubfowls and coconut crabs, fruit and insect bats and many other wildlife species that struggle to exist in themainland.


• There are five lagoons: three landlocked and two flooded at high tide and colonised by coral and reef fish species.


• Danjugan is fringed with turtle-nesting beaches and surrounded by diverse coral reefs.


• The PRRCFI received the Best Managed Reef Award last 2001 in protecting the exceptionally-rich coral reef that surrounds Danjugan Island.
  (http://www.prrcf.org/about_danjugan.html)
  

Addicted to massage

An hour massage and the price is 3-5,5€, sounds tempting? Just after we arrived to Bacolod Maricar recommended Spa called O’Fisher Spa to us and I have been visiting the place since!

They have multiple different kinds of massages; Swedish is the regular one but my favorite is Pinoy Hilot. Pinoy Hilot is local massage style where they use thumbs and you can feel that someone is massaging you. I have also tried Shiatsu one and I almost screamed! The masseuse was a tiny lady but she pressed and stretched me I seriously thought that they have changed the masseuse... But afterwards it felt great; it do not remember the time my back has been this well!

I highly recommend! What is better than have full body massage after the work day ;)

The day in the sun

Today Duke and I visited a small white-sand island close to Sagay City called Carben Reef. The drive took about two hours and the boat trip to the island 30 minutes. During the ride we had a change to see more the country side and sugarcane fields. In the fields they are not using machines like tractors but human labor and water buffalos.




During the car drive we also run into “united countries” schoolchild - parade. They were caring flags of various countries and in the “coach” was sitting Miss of the Country. Unfortunately I was not able to take a picture from Miss Finland. So below is picture of Miss Sweden and Filipino schoolchildren carrying Finnish flags.

Carben reef was wonderful! Actually there was one other group in the island at the same time but they left a bit after we arrived so we had the whole island just for us :) And the water was so warm! I did not spend too much time in the sun but I am a bit red… The sun in here is so much stronger than in Europe.

Seminar day for Faculty

Today we had next XceleRate 2009 seminar day for the faculty. I was not presenting but I was present to listen to the presentations and available to help if needed.
Below is the agenda of the seminar day.

Isabelle opening the seminar

Sunil presenting