biz n buzz

The new Gender students in our department are getting ready for next week’s big event in the campus. In line with this year’s International Women’s Day celebration. I remember 2 years back they had an awesome performance of Les Monologues du Vagin in AIT Cafe. I hope to join one of the activities below. Let’s see if I could make it.

–

THE ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

GOLDEN JUBILEE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN (1959 - 2009)

In Partnership with
GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES (GDS) Field of Study
Proudly launches the

1st AIT GJFC - GDS Essay Writing/Photo Essay Contest

in celebration of the International Women’s Day on March 8, 2008.

Essay Theme: How can men and women work together for change?

Guidelines:

1. Essay writing contest
- Entry will be judged on the basis of relevance, coherence and
clarity of message
- Essay should be between 300 to 500 words.
- Placing a title to the entry is preferred but not required
- Font size: 11 -12 Arial/New Times Roman
- Deadline of Submission is on March 3, 2008

2. Photo essay
- Photo should be original and taken within AIT or from field research
- Photo should be of good resolution for printing purposes
- A photo caption should be provided
- Photo will be judged according to style, relevance and message
- Deadline of submission is on March 3, 2008

Who may participate: The Essay/Photo sections is open to all AIT
students. AIT staff may submit entries for the Photo essay section only.

What’s at stake:
Prizes/certificates will be awarded to selected essays and will be
published/exhibited during the March 8 event.

For your information and submission of entries, please email them to
aitgender@gmail.com. You may also submit printed essays at the GDS
Dept., 2nd Floor, SERD Bldg.

Here’s the buzz about the tennis racquet that interest me lately. I’m talking about Head Flexpoint (FXP) Radical Team. It is considered part of the HEAD Team which is a new product line for frequent players who are serious about tennis. As you can see in the photo below is has two flexpoints in the middle of the racquet which contracts as the player hits the ball.

HEAD Team is a line for players who want the main performance characteristics and design of HEAD’s pro tour models in products that help them make the most of their particular swing style.

FXP Radical Team - For frequent players who love the game will enjoy the FXP Radical Team. A similar design to Andre’s Flexpoint Radical with a lighter weight, larger headsize and a more open pattern. It’s everything you like in the tour version with the extra advantage you want to keep your game the best that it can be.

It’s on 50 % sale in Super Sports, Future Park Rangsit. Originally 10,000+ baht which is now sold at 5,100 baht with free tennis jacket worth 780 baht.

Head Flexpoint Radical Team
Details of FXP Radical Team in the photo:
Beam: 21,5 mm
Head size: 102 sq. in.
Weight: 9.9 oz / 280 g (50 g more heavier than my current Ti S4 extended)
Balance: 335 mm / 1 / 3” HL
Length: Standard, 27”
Colors: black/orange
Gripsize: 1-5 or 4 3/8
String Pattern: 18/19
String Tension: 54
Swingstyle: S1

See how the Head swing styles vary from L6 L4 L3 L1 S1 S2 S4 S5 S6 to S10 as reflected on the frame of Head rackets. Below you can identify what type of stroke you need to follow and what appropriate racket would fit your style.

Here’s the latest buzz regarding POEA Memorandum Circular No. 4 that had rocked our country (Philippines) recently. It brought such great relief for me. Good enough to shed light to the many hopefuls.

Sharing you an email I have received earlier from the Philippine Embassy here in Thailand. Stating the suspension of MC No. 4. But for how long? Months, years, forever? I hope the following order would dwell more on the advantages than the disadvantages that it will create if implemented.

Dear Kababayans,

To carry out the Presidential directive, the implementation of POEA
Memorandum Circular No. 4 is hereby immediately suspended until
further orders. Accordingly, direct hired workers will be processed
in accordance with the POEA rules existing prior to MC No. 4, series
of 2007. (Extract from POEA Memorandum Circular No. 01 series of 2008,
signed by POEA Administrator Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, 14 February
2008.)

Please disseminate to your network of Filipino friends and workers alike.

Sincerely yours,

For the Ambassador:

MR. RONELL B. SANTOS
First Secretary and Consul
Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines
760 Sukhumvit Road, Soi 30/1 Soi Philippines
Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Tel. +(66-2) 259 0139/40
Fax +(66-2) 259 2809
http://www.philembassy-bangkok.net

Related post last week:
Unrealistic Memorandum for OFWs

This year’s second eclipse will take place tonight (in other parts of the world) around past 10 in the morning here in Thailand. I’d better check on NASA website again for the finality of its appearance. A total of four eclipses will happen this year.

1st- 2008 Feb 07: Annular Solar Eclipse
2nd- 2008 Feb 21: Total Lunar Eclipse
3rd- 2008 Aug 01: Total Solar Eclipse
4th- 2008 Aug 16: Partial Lunar Eclipse

Thailand time is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+7). The total lunar eclipse will take place at 3:01 am GMT + 7 hours= 10:01 am. Expected visibility of the eclipse will be on these four geographic regions in the Pacific, Americas, Europe and Africa that will last for 51 minutes. Scientists predicts that the moon will transform into a vivid red or orange during the total phase since there wasn’t any volcanic activity that took place lately.

All the luck for the eclipse hunters! I know your cameras are now set to capture this significant phenomenon.

I’m no expert in this racquet sport but I’ll try to explain my new findings in the simplest manner. This is about the satisfaction I get using Nike Free 7.0. I have already used it twice on the hard court. The barefoot sensation, flexibility and speed are the best I got so far. I love it…I super like the feel of using it in the court.

On my earlier blog I have mentioned that from Nike Free website (inside -The Evolution>> 7.0 >> Learn from the expert) this shoes are fine for tennis. I didn’t knew that they meant only tennis training.

If you feel you’re playing this sport like athletes do then quit thinking you’ll do better with it. Let me give you one reason why. This shoes doesn’t have good support for the ankle like other tennis shoes can do.

It reminded me of the unforgettable experience my friend had when she tried to learn tennis 3 years ago. Unfortunately the ligaments on her left ankle got torn so the doctor had to let it heal by placing a cement cast which lasted for a couple of months or so.

The ankle sprain and ankle instability are some of the common conditions that tennis players often encounter. But I’m no tournament player either. So that means I can use this shoes as long as I’m conscious enough not to run hard or else it will get ripped off in no time. Or maybe I must try considering the use of Aircast. This way I could support my ankle to prevent it from any injury.

Me and T had a little walk in Future Park before we proceeded to the Fitness First.  We were too early for the class so we decided to check the latest apparells in Super Sports. Looking at T’s shoes I told him that he better scout for a new replacement so he won’t slip in the tennis court again.  The tracks were already smooth like volleyball that it can’t hold much on the hard court. 

While helping him out, I got attracted to the grey, purple and white combination of the new arrival in Nike women’s section. Then I tried how it feels wear light shoes and it really feels like floating in the air.  I fell in love with it in a matter of 1 minute. Wearing Nike Free 7.0 is comparably similar to wearing Crocs, made up mostly of spandex.  Only then it is fully covered and with cotton materials that fits just right for a workout exercise.  I may not have a bouquet of flowers however this purple thing is definitely the most practical gift I have ever received for Valentines. *wide grin*

I had to post this even if it’s late as I have been grateful to the owner of this shop who have not only made my day but for my family and most specially for the celebrants Ll & Jj. Cebu is obviously miles away from Thailand and there’s no way I could ever imagine sending fresh surprises to my loved ones not unless through a miracle. And indeed a miracle happened! Therese had just opened her Cakes, Pastries and Catering services in Cebu which she rightfully named Kusina Habana (KH). So I placed my order by sending a Personal Message at KH homepage. Afterwhich, I discussed few details with the owner herself (Therese) by YM. We were both giddy to make the final decision. And when it was done, I found out that it was so much easy paying her my dues through Paypal account. The world is really getting smaller. I just hope there’s also the same service that I could get in Bacolod.

Latest French entertainment buzz in Bangkok.  I got this email awhile ago and thought it’s worth sharing for people who has a keen interest with this genre. This would be perfect to enjoy the weekend with someone you love.

*****************

The Alliance francaise of Bangkok proudly presents:

Paris Mozart Trio
Wednesday 20 February 2008 at 7.30 pm.
Auditorium of the Alliance Francaise of Bangkok

Regarded as one of the best groups of the new generation of chamber musicians, the Paris Mozart Trio has established itself in the purest tradition of classical music and aims to provide a genuine and heartfelt interpretation. The trio has performed in Europe, the United States, Canada and Asia, with a diverse repertoire. At their concert at the Alliance Francaise in Bangkok, the three musicians will offer a programme beginning with Haydn and Beethoven. The concert will end with Mozart’s String Trio Kv 563, renowned as one of the greatest works in chamber music.

This Memo would definitely drive many Overseas Filipino Workers mad in sympathy to the hopeful newbies on the ISSUE of bonds for direct hires. This is seemingly worst than Malu Fernandez episode. Memorandum No. 4 of the POEA specifically addresses the case of potential OFWs. It imposes guidelines to employers who wish to hire Filipino workers which is undesirably getting impractical unless the employer comply on these two specific requirements of:
1. Performance Bond worth three months salary
2. Repatriation Bond worth 5,000 US Dollars

Great! So IF my visa expires today and let’s say for two months I’m jobless, eventually for the time being I will stay here in Thailand as a tourist. By the time the Institute hires me again on April, under the skilled worker category in Memo #4, will I be subjected to this law when I go home to apply for a new visa and pay some dues at the POEA? The big Question here is– will my current employer risk this much hassle for me? Maybe I’m just overreacting but for sure this spells TROUBLE. I hate to speculate any further over such unrealistic order. But I’d rather hope that this office would stop suppressing the chances of every qualified individual with equal rights for a better life.

I have signed the PETITION in decrying this new memorandum. This order is definitely not feasible.