They are Lions, hear them roar

Wednesday July 30

We had spent the Tuesday putting together a checkpoint presentation to review with the client so that was completed in time. Our teammate Brian was a hurting unit (7 out of 12 people have been sick at some point since we started but he was able to soldier on through Tuesday and in to our meetings on the Wednesday.

We have the opportunity to meet the Director of IT, Arnold Arcillas and his top guy Jaime on Wednesday morning. He is a very eloquent and discusses some of the things he would like to accomplish while acknowledging the challenges the city faces dealing with their fast growth. He is determined that over time they will be able to meet the demands one step at a time. We talk about the possibilities of what a new system might allow them to do while confirming what they have and resources they could apply.

Arnold at the kickoff meeting earlier in the assignment

It is a good meeting and we are thankful for the time.  Meetings can be hard to come by at times and schedules always change so we were appreciative.  We then met our contact Paulo to review the presentation. He makes a few suggestions but is on board for how we are proposing to spend our time.

Now it is time to head off to The Lion Awards for Business. We had received an invite the night before that we were expected there and they have arranged for us to have a table. Brian heads home to convalesce and a few others are nursing colds so 8 of us make it. The Lion Awards is the cities' way of saying thanks to the top tax paying residents and businesses.  Now I don't know about you, but I have never been formally thanked for paying taxes (as much of a privilege as it is to do so) Not sure I would want to go on stage to advertise if I was THE top person but it is a nice touch.  :-) They are certainly appreciative to those who pay the $$'s to keep things going.

They certainly do it up. They have a live band before the the awards, which entertains the early guests....early being relative since the event was to kick off by 5:30 and the mayor arrives to kick it off at 6:30. That's OK when you are entertained!

Martin rocking a suit

Those girls could really sing

Smaller team pic with Paulo and Ermin

Though the show started later, they wasted no time getting through the awards. I would say about 50 Lion awards given out and yes they were little Lion statues. If you got a a Lifetime Achievement award guess what you got? A bigger Lion!

After the awards were handed out the crowd was treated to some additional entertainment.  Zsa Zsa Padilla is a Filipino Celebrity and TV star.  We had noticed her sitting int the back and there was a man who looked like a body guard fanning her. Paulo leaned over and told us who she was. 

Dinner was served after the entertainment; an excellent buffet meal. We left the place around 9:30. but not before Paulo got a picture with the star. Didn't I say he was "A man of Action"? 

Paulo and Zsa Zsa Padilla

Back at the hotel I remember it is almost my wife Annette's Birthday(well almost since I am a day ahead). Time for quick Skype and catch up at home.  Almost 2 weeks done already!




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