Lepanto National High School Graduation 2012 (part 3)

After the graduation ceremony, everyone goes home to eat with the family and to entertain their own visitors. However it is also our culture to go around houses of the graduates to partake some of their food that they prepared. I would say it is a culture that has been passed down to many generations. I think this has started during my grandparents time. hahaha

 Its fun to see my kin as well as it is fun to see these kids grow up. It is also wonderful to see everyone laughing together, teasing, and telling stories. Catching up is really momentous.

 We have an extended family. Everyone, lives in the neighborhood and so its easier to call everyone during this time of the year.

 Since graduation for us is almost an all night activity. We again gathered the following morning to have our breakfast. This usually happens.

 So the other family members who didn't make it through the night could still catch up and so the fun continues.

Lepanto National High School Graduation 2012 (part 2)

When everyone is actually busy cooking. (Thanks Mom, Jan, Auntie Leah, etc) They actually continued cooking while I went to take some pictures of my sister during the commencement exercise.

 During the commencement exercise I suddenly remember my high school graduation day. Its pretty intense and exciting. I suddenly missed those days when I was just like these kids. hahaha

 I still remember before, the access to the automatic filmed camera's are really expensive and so there are only few people who has the privileged to actually capture those special moments. Nowadays, Digital cameras are actually almost everywhere and it is relatively affordable and sometimes you don't even have to print those photo's because you can edit and add some color or effects virtually.

 So in special occasion like this everyone can have those smiles so genuine to be captured and circulated virtually. It is very easy to be downloaded and transferred.

 So, my sister, my cousins and I had so much fun taking pictures without worrying about running out of film. We just worry if the camera runs out of battery.

My sister and Mrs Palod

 We run take pictures from all side of the hall and stage. We actually didn't care as long as we could take photo.

 How I wish we had this technology before.LOL

Even my grand ma strike a pose even though she is already tired. I think she loves it. Its her grand daughters graduation day anyway.

Acquiring or Acquired

Is your company you are working for being Acquired or is it Acquiring?

In a corporate world, employee normally hear about the word "ACQUIRE" and normally people panic. They panic about many things like what is it for me? Am I loosing my job? Will I still enjoy the benefits I am enjoying by my current company? etc

For me, it is a usual corporate set up. I should say its part of their game to buy and sell part or the whole company itself. But what about for people working for the company.

We can talk here about the technicalities of the merger and acquisition process. However though I wanted to share some of my insights about the said topic.

1. Should I worry about my job stability? My answer would be "NO" not unless you smell something fishy. Depending on the reason of the buying company. Its either they are buying because they are venturing on that part of the business. If this is the case then an employee shouldn't be worrying.What if the company already has an existing same business as the one you are working for? Still my answer is no. An employee shouldn't be worrying because the possible reason for buying it maybe for expansion. If by any chance there is redundancy in the working environment then the company could either pay you a severans package or transfer you to a different department.
2. Benefits: there is no way they are removing your benefits. Benefits are required by law so the acquiring company will still provide those benefit. They can't also decrease your salary not unless you agree.
3. One more thing to consider, a company is not going to sell the whole or part of the company if it is not performing in the market. Say for example... in a company whose main product is beer but their soda product is performing really well. Of course the company will sell the soda brand to re-invent their beer and or more focused on beer to keep it on the track.

So if I am on someone else's shoe who knew that their company they are working for is being acquired:

• I will talk to my first and second level manager. I am sure they are willing to shed more information because it will affect them as well. Get their insight and weigh things out yourself.
• In decision making whether you jump off the edge of the bridge make sure you made your homework. Don't rush your decision making get as much information as you can. Don't make decision until you would know who is buying your company.
• Expect changes and you should be open to changes. It is hard but you should be optimistic and positive about changes. Your positivity about the changes will free you from the day to day stress and over thinking about the acquisition. Don't invite negativity. Negativity and being close to changes is a key ingredients of you being burnt out and eventually leaving the company you are working for.

Lepanto National High School Graduation Day 2012 (part 1)

 Last March, I went home to my birthplace. I seldom go home and most of the time I usually go home when there's special occassion. The only reason behind that is, its too far from my work place. I have to be on the road for at least 9 to 10 hours. That is if I am lucky enough to catch a van or bus when I reach Baguio City.

 So, I went home to celebrate my little sister's graduation day in high school. I am excited for the fact that my youngest sibling is graduating high school and of course to see my cousins that I haven't seen for the longest time.

It's nice to be back home. Its totally refreshing plus of course the fact that pollution is lesser there compared here in Manila. So days gone by so fast and so easy... At the graduation day it self we are all busy cleaning the house to cooking and preparing the whole house for the big night all happening at the same time.

 The good thing about this kind of activity is that it draws everyone to be moving and working to make sure there's food to share after the graduation ceremony.

 I am fascinated because that culture within the family has stayed. My aunts, cousin, my mom, my brothers and my sister everyone is helping one another. From cooking to cleaning to washing the dishes. Nothing has changed actually.

 I guess the only thing that changes is that we grew in number. There were cousins that it is our first time to meet or those toddlers when I left now they are ladies and gentlemen already. Gosh that's how long I've been gone. hahahaha