It's still the same shiznit that we're doing for the business development unit of the ECCP. *sigh* So there's not much I can tell you, instead i'll give you a day-to-day account. haha.

Monday:
i was absent. heehee. :) the molar, the one that  i had root canal done, needed to have some stuff done. A huge part of my molar chipped off so i had to go to my dentist. I was there the whole afternoon. Sorry Gelo. :(

Tuesday:
Gelo and I had to finish our individual work, he was working on his teabag company list. I on the other hand, was still doing some research on the coal-fired power plants in the Philippines. That took up the whole morning. Our boss was also in a seminar the whole day. In the afternoon, we were tasked to fax letters to important government offices for a meeting. I realized that trunk lines are utterly USELESS if no one answers the phone at all. One of the employees brought food for the whole company, it was her birthday apparently. I remembered that i was talking to her the whole day without even greeting her. I didn't know! Haha. Our boss, Mr. Alba surprised us with his "news". We had a new task. We need to create a list of all Philippine businesses. ALL. I ended my day wide-eyed and speechless and already thinking of ways how to accomplish the task seamlessly and fast.

Wednesday:
To make our lives easier, we accessed the soft copy of the DTI list of all registered businesses. That accounts for 13, 506 businesses already. whew.
Went to Rockwell after, alone, to retrieve my dazed and confused self in the midst of retail shopping, Coffee bean and books! I lalalove it.

Thursday:
LABOR DAY. This is the first time that i truly experienced and appreciated labor day, the one day that workers can relax from the daily LABORS of work. HAHAHAHAHAHA. In the true spirit of Labor day, Mom and i went to the spa!

Friday:
I was suddenly called by Sir to do something for him. The April 2008 factsheet of the Philippines. SURPRISE!! I never thought it could cost me a lot of time looking for statistics and stuff. Also, i observed that we can't easily obtain updated data. I guess the government agencies are that slow in updating statistics. I was so pressed for time because i had to leave at 2pm because I had to pick up my cousins who have never been to the Philippines. I couldn't find the data needed for Thailand. ARGH. HAHA. And then I really had to leave, (i left at 2:30pm) Gelo took over and finished what i could not find about Thailand.

WEEKEND: THE BEST WEEKEND GETAWAY. :) off to the beach!

General Comments/ Suggestions:

-Take time to really read stuff you're tasked to do. It does help. I did not know some of the things i was putting in the fact sheet, like LIBOR/SIBOR, GIR. I googled the terms and found out that these are necessary indicators that determine the progress of our economy. :)

-Use all the resources available. They are there to aid you in the laboring process. (i.e soft copy of the DTI list i love you).

-Treat yourself to something. It may be as simple as sitting down at fullybooked surrounded by books or just buying goodies from manang, the merienda vendor of the building.

-Widen your horizons. Since I am on I.R. track, i know nothing about business and stuff, but working at the business development unit has helped me learn new things that i can i apply in diplomatic relations and also in the workings of international affairs.

-Be patient. It pays off to be patient with people and the internet. Waiting patiently while you were put on hold by the person you were calling would magically result to setting up a definite meeting with the agency or department. HAHAHA. Also, waiting patiently for the internet webpage you are opening may lead to finding the key data that you have been looking for the whole morning.:)

-When you're stressed out, stand up and walk around for 30 seconds and stretch your legs. It does help. :) Drinking lots of water does wonders too.

Ione Abergele E. Salud
European Chamber of Commerce

For the past three weeks, (gelo, maynard and i started a tad bit earlier than the rest of the gang at eccp), gelo and i have been doing the same thing, though with different clients, we've been researching contacts and opportunities for European businesses to venture here in our country. We're always making new databases, calling all the business contacts, answering queries of European businesses about trade regulations and procedures and researching about the products and also of Philippine businesses. It's the same thing every week for us, new clients, new research, new tasks.

This week, Gelo and I are working on a German company that produces coal-dosing machinery. They are hoping for power plants in the Philippines to buy their dosing equipment. Other than that, another German company specializing in tea bags, is looking for a distributor for them to penetrate the Philippine market. I am also eager for another company, Natura Brasil, to establish their business in our country. This one is not new to me since my tita would send me goods such as bath soaps, lotions, make-up of Natura from Barcelona.

Problems and challenges encountered:
    -I hated being transferred (calls) from one secretary to another and then them telling you that they are not the company you were looking for. Ten minutes of precious time wasted.
    -I would regularly have eye-strain. Thou shall not stare at the computer for five straight hours. haha
    -Government offices are not helpful. AT ALL. This is a problem because sometimes, the information you need would only come from them.
    -My boss is not the most clear person to talk to. He can say something now, and then say something else later. He confuses me most of the time.
    -Some people in the office are noisy enough for you to get distracted from what you're doing.
    -The phone directory is not the most reliable thing in the world.
    -Gelo being sick :( It's hard to have the full concentration of your boss' irks on you alone. Thus, it led me to be his personal secretary, having to contact people, reserving hotel rooms for our European clients.

Knowledge applied:
    -My people skills. haha. Whenever i would call someone on the phone, i tried to use my pleasant voice.
    -I learned how to use the fax machine for international faxing.
    -I applied my "research" skills, finding even the smallest important detail in the most narrowest corner. Thank you Google.
    -I also applied my "works-best-when-under-pressure" skills. Although this may be a different environment, i do a lot better when i am pressured by my boss.

General Comments and Suggestions:

    -It's awfully cold in the office and extremely hot outside, try to drink a lot of water to avoid any sickness or diseases.
    -Do not forget to smile. The boss would like you more.
    -Go the extra mile. Other than doing your job, do something extra, like when your boss tells you to inquire about hotel rates, ask for more information necessary for the guest like, what type of bed would the room have, would it include airport transfers and access to the internet.
    -Be warm to your colleagues, other than the interns.
    -Here in the ECCP, you are under one boss, but you have to follow also what the other bosses are telling you.
    -Do not piss the bitchy receptionist. HAHA.