I was in Makati today, my company's head office at the PBCom Towers, for a meeting on critical spare parts. The objective of the program is that, all the company's plants in the Philippines (Lafarge have 7 cement plants here: 2 in Rizal, 2 in Bulacan, 1 in Bataan, 1 in Cebu and 1 in Iligan) must have a common database of equipment and available spare parts which could serve as a reference during emergencies. This would greatly lessen downtime, control maintenance costs and eventually improve the company's reliability, one of the business unit's objective, second to safety.
I was actually in lieu of our Maintenance Division Manager who happens to be in Baguio City as part of the delegate to accept an award for the company as the Safest Cement Plant in the Phils for this year (award given by the Mines & Geosciences Bureau). And President Arroyo, herself, will be the one to personally hand the award.
The meeting was good and it ended until 12 o'clock noon. The Reliability Consulant, Mr. Weston, a Canadian, asked us to join him for a lunch before we heed to our respective homes. Eight of us walked in to this little restaurant, had a seat and scan the menu. So, i thought this is an italian restaurant since the words from the menu were in itaian and i don't even understand a single word. The waiter in a bow tie was about to take our individual orders and i said that i don't understand the menu. I politely asked what's for lunch and he eagerly replied with italian- sounding words that made me look like a fool. Well, it made me smile and again politely asked him to say it in simple terms. Then he replied: "the first one is a roasted beef, 2nd one is a fish in special sauce, and the last choice would be some prawns...soooo...
We had salad in sesame oil for the appetizer and the main course...i had a slice of fish with rice. Last one was a slice of pineapple (fresh from the can) with cream for dessert. The best part was with the bill...Mr. Weston, with no expression on his face, got the bill and hand his credit card. When everything was settled, i can't help myself but ask my colleage, who was seating right beside him and had a peek on the bill, how much was in it. He uttered it was more than 8 thousand pesos. If i were the one who would pay that bill, i would surely faint...for a food like that which costs more that a thousand pesos per plate.
That was bullshit...i thought that this was not a very special day just to have a lunch that costs that much. Maski di ako ang nagbayad, nanghihinayang talaga ako...sa hirap ng buhay ngayon. Aling Nena, the neighbor's carenderia cook, could prepare a food much better than that just for a few pesos. Oh, well.
I was actually in lieu of our Maintenance Division Manager who happens to be in Baguio City as part of the delegate to accept an award for the company as the Safest Cement Plant in the Phils for this year (award given by the Mines & Geosciences Bureau). And President Arroyo, herself, will be the one to personally hand the award.
The meeting was good and it ended until 12 o'clock noon. The Reliability Consulant, Mr. Weston, a Canadian, asked us to join him for a lunch before we heed to our respective homes. Eight of us walked in to this little restaurant, had a seat and scan the menu. So, i thought this is an italian restaurant since the words from the menu were in itaian and i don't even understand a single word. The waiter in a bow tie was about to take our individual orders and i said that i don't understand the menu. I politely asked what's for lunch and he eagerly replied with italian- sounding words that made me look like a fool. Well, it made me smile and again politely asked him to say it in simple terms. Then he replied: "the first one is a roasted beef, 2nd one is a fish in special sauce, and the last choice would be some prawns...soooo...
We had salad in sesame oil for the appetizer and the main course...i had a slice of fish with rice. Last one was a slice of pineapple (fresh from the can) with cream for dessert. The best part was with the bill...Mr. Weston, with no expression on his face, got the bill and hand his credit card. When everything was settled, i can't help myself but ask my colleage, who was seating right beside him and had a peek on the bill, how much was in it. He uttered it was more than 8 thousand pesos. If i were the one who would pay that bill, i would surely faint...for a food like that which costs more that a thousand pesos per plate.
That was bullshit...i thought that this was not a very special day just to have a lunch that costs that much. Maski di ako ang nagbayad, nanghihinayang talaga ako...sa hirap ng buhay ngayon. Aling Nena, the neighbor's carenderia cook, could prepare a food much better than that just for a few pesos. Oh, well.
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