ONDEKOZA
Earl Of D
I was so boring when I accidentally found a clip in You Tube about Ondekoza (demon drum group), sometimes it also referred as “Za Ondekoza”. It is a Japanese troupe specializing in Taiko drums (a percussion instrument). I was so amazed with their spirit, dedication, discipline, self sacrifice and passion in playing the taiko drums, the rhythm and ritual are amazing; and most important how they appreciate and promoted their culture to be known worldwide. There are lot of sources for you to understand better on Ondekoza.


Ondekoza was formed in 1969 under the direction of its founder, Den Tagayasu. The group was originally created on the Japanese island of Sado, where a group of young men and women gathered to follow the ideals of Den Tagayasu. Since then Ondekoza has expanded across Japan and the rest of the world, popularizing taiko along the way. They are widely recognized as one of groups to have set the groundwork for taiko as a performance art.


At the foundation of Ondekoza’s activity is the principle of “Sogakuron”- that “running and drumming are one, and a reflection of the drama and energy of life”. For more information on Ondekoza, you can visit their official website and Wikipedia.

I hope you'll enjoy the clips as I am !




It's important that someone celebrate our existence... People are the only mirror we have to see ourselves in. The domain of all meaning. All virtue, all evil, are contained only in people. There is none in the universe at large. Solitary confinement is a punishment in every human culture.
Lois McMaster Bujold, "Mirror Dance", 1994


 

If you look through all the different cultures. Right from the earliest, earliest days with the animistic religions, we have sought to have some kind of explanation for our life, for our being, that is outside of our humanity.
Jane Goodall (1934 - )
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TEAM BUILDING @ KOTA KINABALU, SABAH
Earl Of D
On 18-21 Apr ’11, I had a chance to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the Land below the Wind, state of Sabah. I has attended 4 days 3 nights team-building program with all partners in Sarawak. This program has been planned for almost a year. My Regional Office has been entrusted to organize the program; which I have been appointed as a Team Leader. I’ve been assisted by 2 most reliable, hardworking and trusted colleagues. Thanks my friends!!

The program has been organized in Nexus Resort Spa, Karambunai, Sabah. Day 1 of the program is all about meeting and information sharing among the partners. All of us has shared on the operation best practices and achievement, but that excite me the most during Day 1 is jacket distribution. I felt the jacket which has been embroidered with all the partners logos and "Integrated.....Suppliers Committee" made us like an elite group (self proclaimed). Hehehehe..

During lunch, we has been served with a set lunch with a kiddie meal portion. Everybody look puzzled and surprised. I manage to made a complaint to the hotel F&B and they has compensate by adding 1 more extra menu during our evening tea break - banana cake. After the evening session finished, one of our partner request to have a special briefing to our Head of Department. The sharing session is all about planning process and cycle. Later, we had an internal section meeting due to all the executives and the boss were in Karambunai. We had discussed on the status of our big project which I am currently the team leader. For the first time, we had a heart to heart meeting!

In the night we had a BBQ dinner. It was awesome!! More than 16 menus been served but the venue arranged by the hotel was unbelievable - car porch. Everybody seem to forget about what happen during the lunch. Its kind of boring at first, cause everybody seem so quite. As usual as a good host I suggested to play a simple game. Charade!! Than the environment change. Everybody had a good time. 








Day 2 is all about physical activities. We departed from hotel @ 0730 to Jesselton Pier, KK. Than we departed to Bunga Raya Island Resort, Gaya Island by 2 boats to accommodate 25pax of us. It really a breath taking 15min journey to see such a beauty landscape that Malaysia has to offer. After having light refreshment, we set to go for the activities planned for us. We've been divided equally into 3 groups and decided to name our team as Ultraman Taro 3. The rest are Wild Boar and Ular Dalam Botol. All our instructors which been led by Ms. Jennifer (Sorry if I spell your name incorrectly) are friendly, patiently and well trained.



The first activity required us to wear a snorkelling gear and run while holding an egg with a spoon. It really tough to run on a beach with a pair of flippers, but it was a fun experienced. Then our second activity is kayaking which required each team to kayak about 500m from the beach and return. Most of the girls were awing and “drooling” to see our male instructor topless during this activity. Firm up my theories I started to take picture with one of the instructor and everybody started to take picture with him. Pity him! For those who don’t have the guts to take the photo with the instructor, they requested the pictures to be shared with them later. (Hope you will not angry with me Mr. K) Hehehehe…

Third activity required us to work as a team and the game called Back to Back. This game required us to sit back to back with a partner and stand up without holding hands and touch the ground. It seem easy but why don’t you try it, then you’ll know how difficult it is. After all the planned activities have been executed, we had our time to swim and enjoy water activity. I had a chance to snorkelling, kayak and surf. It’s really tough to balance my self on the surfing board, but with helped and encouragement from my colleagues and instructors. I managed it!!
After we clean ourselves and had our lunch. It is time for us to depart from the island to the mainland. Our next agenda is complementary massage at Austral Beauty Centre by our travel agent. Due to the limitation of masseurs and facilities we need to split our group into 2. While the first group had their massage, the second group had a chance to window shopping at KK city especially the Philippines Market. 2 hours later, the bus picks us up and it is our time to enjoy the massage and the first group to enjoy their shopping time.

At the spa while waiting my turn to be massaged, I managed to have my foot scrub (this is not complementary) with reasonable price. After 45min waiting it’s my turn to have a body massage. It feels so nice and relaxing especially after all the activities done in the island, and it reminds me of Holliday Villa Hotels and Resorts tag line “Let us manja you!” (Manja means pamper). Around 7pm, the bus picks us up for our dinner at Floating Seafood Market Restaurant. During this time I had a severe migraine which forces me to throw up all the food I consumed. As far as I remember from my colleagues responded, all the foods were delicious and fresh. We also been entertained with 1 Malaysia Cultural & Variety Shows and my migraine were killing me.

On the way back, I took the opportunity to thank all my colleagues and participants for their active and open minded participation. I’m really glad to have an opportunity to work with them. So, that was it, the summary of my life during the team building which took 4 days and 3 nights. Ciao!!
*All the pictures attached courtesy from Ms. E.T
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ANYTHING THAT CAN GO WRONG WILL GO WRONG
Earl Of D
I’m so boring at this particular of time; which currently our special project team having a meeting with our VP. This meeting is to update our VP on our special big project. The outcome of this meeting will determine either it is GO or NO GO for this project execution date. This meeting mainly to gauge whether we are ready or not for the project. In the middle of the meeting I received a massage on incoming email. The topic attract my attention “ANYTHING THAT CAN GO WRONG WILL GO WRONG” which reminds me on the ongoing meeting.

Our team leader were trying to cover as much as he can from the beginning of the meeting to impress our VP that he should nothing to worry, everything will be run smoothly. In reality it is opposite from picturesque display. In fact for your info, he called all team leaders for a meeting yesterday (Sunday). He was strategizing on the approach to be made during the meeting. All the info to show the opposite from what he expected will be nicely hidden.

This meeting was nearly ended, there are so many safety, reliability and integrity issue been brought up to surface via Q&A session. Our team leader face expression has changed!! His plan failed!! All the negative issues have been exposed and our VP started to ask one by one the team leaders on their level of confidence to execute the project. All the team leaders (including me) did not confidence on the execution part. We even ask for extension period. Surprisingly 1=0 said his unit is ready; which most of the team leaders disagree base on our observation and interviewed with his team members. I’m quite angry and disappointed with him, when he even tried to update our VP on my unit while he knows nothing about it.

Base on the meeting today, it seems the execution of the project will be deferred. I’m not sure for how long, but most of us hope and pray it will be extended for another 6 months. At one point, I do pity my team leader and 1=0 but as I mentioned earlier ANYTHING THAT CAN GO WRONG WILL GO WRONG…
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MY LADY BOSS..
Earl Of D
Sorry guys for not updating my blog recently. Well, there are several events happened to me which I would like to share with all of you.  Recently, I have watched a Malay film title Lady Boss (2005) staring Ning Baizura, Saiful Apek, Erra Fazira and Yusry KRU (all are Malaysian artists).  This film is a about Shiela a daughter of a successful entrepreneur in Malaysia. She has very strong personalities such as workaholic, efficient, strict and ego. She always pushes herself and her staff to the highest limit which she believes the only limit is the sky. Well, I not really wanted to talk about the film but while watching this film it reminds me of someone at my workplace. My Lady Boss! I’m going to share with you about my recent experience with her. The first event I would like to share with all of you!

On 20 Mar ’11, our section received a meeting invitation from our HQ to brief our VP on our status and commitment before meeting with other partners and customers. This meeting was organized on 31 Mar ’11 @ 04.30pm in KL. I had rejected the meeting because I has a meeting in Miri from 28 – 31 Mar’ 11 which our team believed (me and my two other colleagues) this meeting was also important. The meeting in Miri has been planned a month earlier with our partner, which I’m the team leader. On 29 Mar ‘11, my section boss, Mr. X, has gone to KL for another meeting. Since he was in KL, our team proposed for him to attend the meeting with VP. The next day he replied our mail by writing
I’m in Miri now unfortunately too late for the mail and I may not be available this week cause we have a program at Bintulu on the 1 April 2011 and our GM is also coming ..as for the pack I have not seen it personally but will check with the team on the contain..
After sending this email on 30 Mar ‘11, he manage to made a courtesy call to me and instruct me to go to KL on the same day by sending another email as follows

Earl OF D,

Please make yourself available for VP briefing, your colleagues can continue with the program..

I protested and informed him that all flights to KL are already full. I also mentioned the current program we attended is crucial and the progress of knowledge transfer been closely monitored by our VP. He accepted and we asked him to call Lady Boss to inform her. He said OK!

Next morning (the very same day to have a meeting with our VP) my colleague received a call from one of the manager. He asked one of us to go to KL for the meeting on 11.25am flight which I knew it is fully booked because I made an enquiry yesterday. So my team decided to make a call to our Lady Boss which both of us believes Mr. X has informed her yesterday. Still remember sharp at 08.31am she pick-up my call and we informed her about the issue. Suddenly, her “temperature” arouses and she scolds us badly like we couldn’t care less about the meeting. She even mentioned that currently only a junior executive been sent by another section. Me and my colleagues looking at each other with a surprise look and thought. 
Aren't we junior executive too!!

When she started to blame our team and not Mr. X, we really pissed off. After hang up I made a call to travel agency and I'm lucky there is only one sit available due to one of the passenger cancelled last minute. I reached KLCC around 02.00pm and straight away to join my colleague at Lvl 4, KL Convention Centre to meet our Lady Boss. My heart was pounding so fast! and did not know what to expect! Finally, Lady Boss appeared and when she saw me she just smiling and asking for high five. She acts like nothing happen and I speechless!

We managed to brief VP accordingly and she satisfied with my performance. After the meeting she approached me and said that is why I want one of you to be here because I did not know what to update! I also took this opportunity to update her on my project team (mentioned about this project in previous post) current progress. I managed to have heart to heart talk on a certain issue which I believe it is crucial and critical for the project. Our VP came out of no where and ask us to look into all the safety issues listed pertaining to the project. 

We will delayed the final execution project if the company need to take all the liabilities and responsibilities. All these issues must be resolved accordingly!

We nodded and speechless while looking to each other. Another issue to be highlighted for our regional office management!! 
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LOA AND LOV
Earl Of D

Starting 1 April 2011 all Regional Offices need to be restructured under new aspiration and direction of our Vice President. This restructuring exercise is made to meet the current business demand and essential to stream line all the regions. I would say this is a big scale exercise which involved the whole structure of regional offices. This exercise wills definitely involved Limit of Authority (LOA)and Line of Visibility (LOV).

The limits LOA designated to specify positions of responsibility within the Company and to establish the types and maximum amount of obligations that may be reviewed, endorsed and approved by individuals. The approval of commitments and transactions outlined in this policy must always be made by the parties that have been designated the responsibility for final approval.

The LOV is a processes of an organization and/or business area showing how the processes are organized cross-functionally. In a LOV diagram cross-functional processes flow horizontally across several functions and/or departments. It shows the relationship between the functions.

Pertaining to this exercise, I just received an assignment about restructuring LOA and LOV for my section. My head section supposed to lead this assignment, but somehow he managed to delegate to me! The main reason is currently I am a team leader for a big project which I’ve mentioned earlier in my last post. I supposed to restructure and strengthen my section functions. What worries me is not about the restructuring but the LOA and LOV. I’m afraid the decision made today will bring a big impact to the organization in future. What should I do?
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Human Behaviour
Earl Of D
I am always amazed how human react to a certain situations and conditions. This reaction sometimes relates to morality and survival.  There were so many theories and philosophies about human behaviour resulted from hundred years of observation and study. In modern world the theories and philosophies of human behaviour been backed up by scientific evidence. However, we hardly come to a unanimous conclusion when it touched human behaviour compared to other fields of study. 
 
The concepts of morality usually resolve around good and evil. Human actions are either good, bad or indifferent, depending on the relationship of the act having moral perfection and fullness by the object of the actions. An act is good when it agrees to the dictates of right reason or the rules of morality. An act is bad when it disagrees with the dictates of right reason or the rules of morality. An act is indifferent when it stands no positive relation to the dictates of the right reason or the rules or morality.

Ethical theory: An Anthology; Russ Shafer-Landau

I just watched a movie title 127 hours stars by James Franco. The movie is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston’s remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arms and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days, he examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage to amputate his right hand when he needs to choose between life and death.  I am not going to give any in depth comments on the movie cause I am neither film critics nor movie experts. But one thing for sure I love about the movie is how do human behave and think for survival.

It same goes with our day to day life maybe some of us realize and some don’t, we always fight for our existence in this world. Our existence and survival depends on how we strategize and fight. One of the good examples is how my superior still survived in this dynamic corporate world. Yesterday, I’ve been scold because I lacked of soft skills and need to improve it further. Today, out of sudden she understands my frustration and she’s giving her full support towards me and we were talking about the same issue for those two days. The way she behaved from this situation, we can make a simple conclusion how she managed to survive in this world. Did you get what I meant?

In conclusion, human behaviour will always being an open end issues or topics to discuss. Theories generated base on who, environment and samples. But one thing for sure human behave will always interrelated with existence and survival. I’m not only referring to my superior but also myself. 

Fight! Fight! Fight!
 
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MEMORIES REMAIN!
Earl Of D
For the past 5 days, I've been listening to Anuar Zain (Malaysia artist) latest song Sedetik Lebih (OST Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa). Its really a nice song and I love the melody so much. Surprisingly, this song also have an English version. I found out while searching the video clips. The English version called Memories Remain. Honestly, I love the English version lyric better than Bahasa Malaysia. Enjoy!

Bahasa Melayu Version (Sedetik Lebih)



English Version ( Memories Remain)



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DO YOU BELIEVE IN ICT?
Earl Of D
2 days ago I had a VC (Video Conference) from my current location to my regional office. We supposed to have 3 way VC which also include KL side. Due to some limitation (Yet to be determined either knowledge or technology!!) I end up waiting for first session VC (KL side and Regional Office) to be completed and they will update me during the second session (Regional Office and my current location). What a joke!

While waiting for the second session VC to start, my mind started to brood over on the information and communication technology (ICT) facilities surrounding me. I started to realize that my office ICT infra and facilities can be considered merely average compared to our competitors and partners. Of course I’m not comparing with my previous organization which equipped with advance technology this era could offer.  The simplest analogy I can describe as merely average is while others started to look into 3D LED TV, we still in search of best LCD TV in the market.

Today, I had attended a weekly progress update meeting for my project. FYI, currently our company has been entrusted to execute one big project. When it’s my time to update the team, then my boss asked me about a PI System that need to be installed for our project.

“Is this system is nice to have? If it is something nice to have I believe our management won’t approve it!” 
 "Can we not install the system?
"How much is the cost? Just install the minimal requirements"  

At this point of time, I started to reminisce the first moment I had a discussion with our ICT Division Senior Manager pertaining to the PI System. One of his statement which I remember (more or less)
 
“Do you realize our organization only allocated around 10% - 20% budget for ICT. It’s including installing, maintaining, replacing and etc for ICT facilities and infrastructure. While others (competitors and partners) allocated up to 40% – 70%”

We also touched on several ICT issues. Both of us agreed the company is in right direction & strategy to achieve the company mission, but we could not figure out the equation to success if ICT has been left behind in this era of globalization where information suppose to be at the tip of your finger.

In our case where we have branches all around the world with diversity of modus operandi, I would say YES, ICT should be part of the equation!

Technology is dominated by two types of people those who understand what they do not manage, and those who manage what they do not understand.
- Putt's Law -



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BOSSES
Earl Of D
Finally, I managed to switch on my laptop after 2 days trying!! I've been borrowing laptop from my friends for these 2 days just to clean up and archive my mails. Thanks bro! (cause no sis willing to lend their laptop) Sorry to those mail that been bounced for past 2 days.  I'm currently impatiently waiting for new laptop (it still company's laptop though). 

I just realized, my font are to small when I preview my post. I need to adjust back...no worries I'll do it later. I just finished read my close friend blog and he wrote about his superior. I do understand how he felt especially when it relates to UNRELIABLE SUPERIOR. Who doesn't? I'm currently experience it!! My remedies to ensure I keep my composure is I keep telling myself, just chill and relax..you has experienced before with previous boss. Current boss is nothing compared to previous one. Giggling...

Sometimes, it makes me wonder "Is this a normal scenario in big corporate like I'm working now?", "Is this the right attitude should be portrayed, when be a global champion is the company mission?" and "What is the criteria to be promoted?". All these question has been mingling in my head. I do agree the top management has made a paradigm shift to ensure the sustainability and stability of the company. All these efforts can be clearly seen and felt such as  re-structuring, empowerment, expanding and many more. But the main question is, do middle management fully understand and not wrongly interpreted the aspiration and direction given by the top management?

An empowered organization is one in which individuals have the knowledge, skill, desire, and opportunity to personally succeed in a way that leads to collective organizational success.
- Stephen Covey -


I do acknowledge the existence of the office politic in every organization. Be it either in Malaysia, Switzerland, Africa, United States, Middle East, Asia and etc. Everywhere has it! The main issues is either its bring growth or downturn to the company. One of the common culture (virus) in office politics that we have here is pointing figures (Put the blame on others and took credit for yourself). Sadly, this virus not only infected my sub-ordinate but has spread over to my superior. Due to this, I must admit all the decisions made by him just to resolve the issues temporarily and to ensure all the big boss keep out from breathing at his neck. 

The worst scenario is when there are issues arise, he always not around for consultation even ideas. Several occasions we've (me and my colleagues) been forced to make a decision on behalf of the company which we also need to bear the responsibility and consequences. At the end of each year, he'll be appraising us like he is always there with us throughout the year. For this year I've been punished because I'm not fully concentrate in exercising my core job, while at the same time I've been officially assigned by the top management to lead one of the big project. Sigh....







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A BRAND NEW DAY
Earl Of D
Greeting Friends...

Finally, I managed to type something in my new blog. Some of my friends asked me "Why now? Why not earlier?". Well the answer is quite simple actually. I've met a wonderful friends and I want to share my journey with them with you.

There is wonderful proverb in Malay that I want to share with you which motivated me to start my blog. A proverb which I believe will change your perspective and view about others.
"Tak Kenal Maka Tak Cinta" (you will never love something if you do not know it)
This proverb tells us how we often see people in one perspective and a bit prejudiced without knowing them first. We always make an analysis and interpretations based on what we read, saw and felt about others. It is like a tip of an iceberg, we judge base on what we see on the surface, and to make it worst it sometimes might lead to what we want to see! Well if you have the courage to dive deeper, you'll be surprised what you may encounter!   

Like other normal human being, my life journey in this world began at the moment I started to inhale my first oxygen via my cute little nose after 9 months and 10 days in my mom's womb. Thanks Mom! All along the way I has met a various character of human being; which sometimes made me happy, sad, frustrated, hatred and many more. All this experience, has made me what I am today and I am proud of it!

I do realize some of you may know me, and some of you may not. However, I would take this opportunity to wish all of you Happy Reading!


Great people talk about ideas,
Average people talk about things,
Small people talk about others, and
Legends never talk, they send SMS.
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