The Masquerade Is Over

February 24, Tuesday, 1:30pm. I’ve got to remember this date because this day, the masquerade is over.

I’ve given to the bank what they are after me, though it is not the full payment of my obligations, it is enough for them give me leniency by not pursuing the matter through legal avenues. Enough for me to take a step back and ask myself what I have done on my finances.

All the while I have been confident that I would be able to manage my finances smoothly. And that I would be able to pay my various financial obligations because I have the income.

Our culture has been a factor to my current predicament. OFW’s like me are almost always the “Bank” of our relatives left back home. The only difference is that you need to deposit in the bank to withdraw money, but in my case, the typical OFW, they only withdraw from you. In the bank you’ve got to pay your loans, but to a typical OFW, loans taken from him is not paid.

Our culture to help our relatives in need sometimes gets out of hand. To the point of providing them not only their needs but also their wants. The tendency to dig deep into your pockets when they cry for help is but normal. And when your pockets cannot withstand the constant dipping of your callus hands, you will turn to your credit cards, and then you start making loans just to give “loans”. Unconsciously, I am stepping into a quicksand of financial troubles.

Anyways, what’s done is done and I have no regrets whatever help I am able to extend to my relatives. The most important thing now is to pick-up the pieces and figure out how to get out from this quicksand. And the masquerade of “can afford” needs to be stopped and face the reality of “can’t afford” is the only way to handle this situation head-on.

My bank’s harassment has given me the wake-up call and made me realize how I messed up with my finances. I have decided to eliminate all my bad debts and leave all these financial stress behind me. I will not be again into such situation I was, begging the bank not to escalate my issues to legal means.

And to start building my road map to freedom from debt, I listed all our “debt instruments” and found out that we have 8 credit cards, 2 overdrafts, 3 personal loans with bank and 3 personal loans. That’s easy to calculate with all those single digits, but wait until I told you that all these are maxed-out. Then you will get overwhelmed with the figures.

Taking into account that all our credit cards are maxed-out, I realized that I am in debts of around Php 3,100,000.00… Humongous… Yes, I am a millionaire in debts. Ironically, this is what I earned during my 14 years of struggles abroad. The fruits of my sacrifices of being away from my loved ones. And technically, I have a negative networth. That means I owe everything I have, even the food I eat. Having said that, I blame no one but myself. This got to end.

Me and my wife have discussed my financial issues and have set our goal, which is the first step. As the famous adage says, “A journey starts with a small step”. Huge and difficult it may seem, I have no plans to run away from my debts. I will settle all these as long as it may take.

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Another Block On The Wall

It all started with a purchase request (PR) for 100mm thick hollow blocks for the walls. One of our site engineers, AH, initiated the PR requesting to order 2000pcs of 100mm thick hollow blocks. Basically, all PR passes through our department for cost coding and when this particular PR was handed to me, I became suspicious that the site is over ordering materials. At the back of my head I know that we still have such excess material on site, as I often visit the site to assess our progress for our monthly billing.

I asked our quantity surveyor, MI, to verify one more time our quantities for that particular area and we have verified that we only need 2130 hollow blocks. JZ has earlier provided us an inventory of all our blocks on site which shows that we still have +2500 100mm hollow blocks. Reserving the requirements for our other locations, we are only short of 369 blocks, making us to revise the requested quantity from 2000 down to 400 blocks.

Seeing the corrections in the PR, our purchaser once again verified the quantities with the Site Engineer if this is what he requires. AH was not pleased with the correction, insisting that he requires 2000pcs not 400. And so he cancelled the PR and issues a new one requesting, again, 2000pcs. Our procedure dictates that it will again pass through us, and again we stand firm on our calculations that we only need 400pcs.

Our deputy construction manager, JZ, called me up and asked why I am revising the quantities. I told him it is part of our job, to control our costs, and over ordering materials is impacting our costs. JZ explains that he already spoken with AH and AH requires 2000pcs. So I asked JZ where they are going to use all these 2000 blocks. JZ mumbles and said that they just need it, that’s it, and they already have spoken to the Project Manager and has authorized to proceed with the PR of 2000 blocks.

That’s it?, I said, “just because he needs it?”. I was wondering how can an engineer just sucks his finger, point at his temple and looks up to the sky and says “Oh, I need 2000 blocks”. …. Amazing.

I told JZ, “No, I am not going to sign. If we need to discuss this with the Project Manager, call your guy and we’ll discuss with the PM.” And I revised again the PR to 400pcs and scribble a note that AH, JZ and me will discuss with the PM.

This morning, they called me in the PM’s office. As I went inside, JZ and AH is already there. The PM opens the discussion by asking how much does we really require. AH is quick to say 2000pcs. So I asked how much area we are talking about. Obviously AH has done his homework this time saying the exact area which the 2000pcs could have cover. But he forgot about his wastage… not clever enough.

So I said, “that means we only need 400 blocks to order given the materials we still have on site based on the inventory provided to us earlier”. AH was surprised but seems ready for an answer. He said the inventory was wrong, we do not have +2500 blocks on site. I said “JZ has given me this inventory and the same inventory was reported to the PM. Are you telling me now that your guys made a mistake in the inventory or you’re telling me that the deputy construction manager is not checking what he is reporting to the PM”.

AH was obviously put in a difficult position, so he chose to blame the site supervisor for making a wrong inventory and he confirms that they don’t have 2500 blocks on site.

The PM decided to proceed with the 2000 blocks to order. I rest my case as they have “justified” their requirements.

But I am not ready to submit, just like that. I trust MI calculations, but I doubt the site supervisor has made a mistake in counting a 2500 block, that is huge and you just can’t simply overlooked that. I ask MI to go to site and check all the 100mm hollow blocks, get the site supervisor to count with him. MI came back and reported that we still have 1800 blocks on site.

I went to the PM and told him what we found out and stress that we don’t need to order so much. The PM is mad for the continuous misinformation going on, so he called up the Construction Manager (BG) and the Deputy Construction Manager (JZ) to discuss again the issue once and for all.

To cut the chase short, I have justified that we only need 400 blocks and everyone have agreed, though, BG is not agreeing he is overruled by the PM. Eventually, it was decided to order 1000 blocks being the minimum order. Everyone agreed and had closed the issue.

But BG is not done yet, raising the issue why I need to cross out the PR and scribble a note on it. Raising the issue about my scribbling a note on the PR is irrelevant as the case has been resolved. But I choose to answer back BG, I told him that it is our job to check quantities, and his men are insisting to order wrongly.

“But why, why you scribble a big note on the PR”, said BG.

I told him, “BG I am doing my work. Have you done your work? Have you checked what you are signing for? BG you are signing blindly. Let me do my work and you do yours”.

Mad as a lion, he said to the PM, “JL I cannot work like this, you send me back to UK right now. If Jhun does not apologize to me, I am not working anymore. You send me back to UK.”

“BG I am not going to apologize to you”. Then I excuse myself out from the PM’s room.

The PM just sits on his chair, letting BG throws his tantrums.

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Workload Unloaded

As a follow-up on my earlier post, workloads overloads, I am happy to post that I am able to unload some of our workloads, with the help of my team of course. Our task of putting all the PR’s (Purchase Request) for our Project has been completed. Although we slipped 3 days from our target date, we managed to hit the ball out from our court.

The 3 day slippage was due to MI’s work attitude. He is still used to his former superior’s management which I am trying to change from him. He is used to not care about target dates. He lacks commitments to his deliverables. If you ask him when can he deliver a task, he will likely give you an “open date”. Like, “This is very easy, I can give you in one or two days”. But he doesn’t dare to give you a specific date. Let’s say the second day is on Monday, and you tell him “Ok then, give it to me on Monday”. As sure as the sun rises tomorrow, he’ll say “If I can finish it, I’ll give it to you”. And then, as certain as Tuesday follows Monday, he will give it to you on Tuesday the earliest. Then you will start wondering if MI understands the word “commitment”.

MI also lacks direction and initiatives. I need to always look over him and keep him occupied. He is like a paper shredder, it won’t work if you don’t feed a paper and it only shreds the papers you feed into it.

I hope that I can change MI’s work attitude. How’s to motivate him, to make him more proactive in our works and have sense of commitment to his works will be a challenge.

Anyways, my next priority on my workloads is to close out our Bill of Quantities that will be based on the Final Design Drawings. By closing this out, it will allow us to bill the Client on the respective pay item in our Contract. Our main goal for this exercise is to bill the Client for the respective pay item by March 2009. I have set to complete this exercise by 21 March 2009.

Good luck to me and my team.

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Locked-in

On Thursdays, I usually cook for dinner quite early at about 4pm. Firstly because I need to go to our worship service at 6pm. Secondly, my housemates sometimes also needs to go to their church for some activities. That’s why we take an early dinner before we go our ways.

I volunteered myself to cook on Thursdays and Fridays because during the rest of the week, I come home late from work. By the time I reach home Mamang has already prepared dinner. So, Thursdays and Fridays is my kitchen duty.

Today I cook early, by 5:15pm I’ve taken my dinner. My housemates did not join me this time as they are not going out today. After my dinner I went upstairs to prepare myself to church. Arrange my hymn book, prepare my offerings, iron my clothes and took a quick shower.

It is 6:05 and I am a little late now. I am supposed to go out by 6pm because it would take me about 20 minutes to walk from home to our place of worship. Just in time to change and drop by at the finance department which will just open at 6:35pm. At 6:45pm we must all be in for some vocalizations.

6:08pm, I am still in my room. Why and what’s taking me longer this time, I don’t know why. I am set to go… rushing to the door…. Opps… my hymn book, I almost forgot. I am ready now.

I reach the door lever and turn it as I pull it towards me… It’s jammed…

6:10pm.. I am stuck and cannot go out from my room, I am locked-in. No, I must go out… I need to go to church, I cannot be locked-in.

I grab the door handle and turn the lever one more time… Nothing is happening. Another try, this time I pull the lever handle forcefully.... too bad, it gave way, the handle came off… I am stuck in my room and it’s already 6:12…By this time my housemates downstairs heard the commotions on my door. They came upstairs rushing to rescue me.

They also try to turn the door lever from outside… still the door did not budge. Mamang asking the two if they have a duplicate key… they don’t have. I said that it is not the key which is wrong but the door lever.

6:14pm now, I am really getting late and getting frustrated. Sir Fred is also trying to shake up the door lever, but it is very stubborn. Of all the days, why Thursday. I need to go to church today.

6:15pm. I am not giving up… I slot-in the door lever that came off back into the lockset. Turn and pull, turn and pull…. Come on….turn and pull…. It opened…. I’m free…. My housemates are laughing. The door lockset is a mess. I told Mamang that I’ll fix it when I come back after my worship service… I need to go now I am late. I left my housemates in front of my broken door…I said bye…

6:20pm now I am really running late. Thanks God, as I came out from our complex gate a taxi passes by, I flagged it down. There are passengers behind the taxi but the taxi stopped. I told him I am rushing and before I can say another word he said he’ll drop me first. So, I took the ride and manage to reach our church just in time.

When I arrive home by 11pm, my door is already fixed. My housemates may have called the maintenance to fix it. I hope it won’t give me another trouble tomorrow as I need to go out by 6am, to church.

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Stereotyping The Filipinos

A stereotype, by definition from wikipedia, is a preconceived idea that attributes certain characteristics (in general) to all the members of class or set. The term is often used with a negative connotation when referring to an oversimplified, exaggerated, or demeaning assumption that a particular individual possesses the characteristics associated with the class due to his or her membership in it. Stereotypes can be used to deny individuals respect or legitimacy based on their membership in that group.

Have you ever been stereotyped?

I am quite sure that at least once or twice, a fellow Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) like me have been stereotyped. An OFW have there own experience of this form of prejudice.

Working here in Doha, I had experienced being stereotyped… in my face, by a fellow OFW. That happened three weeks ago.

I reported to our other Project on that day, assisting them in formalizing our variation claims. I have been reporting in that Project for about two weeks then, but I am only spending my Saturdays to Mondays on this Project. The rest of the week is spent at my original Project.

It was about lunch and everyone had shifted to a lower gear. This Filipino colleague casually approached me and he asked if I am a Filipino. It is not that I don’t look like a Filipino, but maybe because he seldom sees me and if he ever sees me I don’t loiter around, but rather too preoccupied with my own work. Or he seldom hears me and if ever he hears me speak he has second thoughts. Most of my colleagues say that my accent is different with the rest of my Filipino colleagues.

I affirmed to him that I am a Filipino. And so we had a casual conversation, where are you from, when did you start with the company, …usual stuff.

He asked me if I was hired direct from Philippines. I told him that I was recruited from Singapore. Then he asked why I left Singapore, it is a very nice country and salarywise must also be better. I just smiled. And he continues, “Maybe you left Singapore because you have many wives over there and you are hiding from them that’s why you left Singapore”.

I was shocked from what he said. I was just stereotyped. Do I look like a sex-craved maniac? Maybe he is trying to relate me to his ways or some, if not most, of the OFW’s be it men or women. I pity him, he was barking at the wrong tree, such thing has no place in my moral orientation.

I just smiled at him, but this time my eyebrows are meeting each other. He may have sensed that what he just said was offensive. Quite a way to have your first conversation with someone you just met, huh…

My wife has also a fair share of stereotyping. During the late 90’s in Singapore, for locals if they see a Filipina, she must be a domestic helper. Many times my wife was mistaken for a domestic helper.

My wife once followed by an Indian expat. She took a bus after work that would take her more than half hour to reach home, it was already about 11:30pm. At the bus, my wife noticed this Indian staring at her. Then he came nearer trying to engage my wife to a conversation. Ignoring him throughout the trip, he is really persistent. Then he became loud, blurting inappropriate things about Filipinas. Sensing that this guy would not give in, my wife called me to meet her at the bus stop. To make sure that this Indian guy would find what he is looking for, my wife started to respond to him with a slight smile when she is just a bus stop away. She managed to lure the guy to alight from the bus when she alighted, just in time when I was approaching the bus stop. When my wife saw me, it was her turn to be “loud” to this Indian guy. I confronted the Indian guy and he kissed my knuckles tumbling him down on the bus stop floor. He scampered up and ran like a headless chicken.

I was once asked, with resentment, by a Singaporean taxi driver. “Why Filipinas likes Indians or Bangladeshi?”

“Why do you ask?” I replied.

“I have more money than those Indians or Bangladeshis but they have Filipina girlfriends and I don’t”, he said. I keep quiet, keeping to myself I said, “Maybe because you don’t share your money”.

The friendly nature of Filipinas sometimes is being misinterpreted as “easy-to-get” Filipinas. Sometimes I blame those Filipinas who are up-to-no-good. They have multiple boyfriends, some are even married back home but still entertain boyfriends when abroad. Some are also involved in the sex trade. Some are even both married but have consensual relationships when they are away from home.

These are some of the negative traits of OFW’s that causes the stereotyping of the Filipinos. The sad thing is that those who are innocent, living honestly, morally, faithfully are being unjustly dragged into this stereotyping.

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Ops...They Did It Again

Ops, they did it again…

Remember my post about this illustrious bank that I am attached with?? They did it again… the harassment.

Yesterday, I received a call from the bank again, this time the one at the other line claims that she is from the banks legal department. Oh, so clever, I think this bank has a lot of things under its sleeves to harass its customers.

I tried to reason out with the lady saying; “Thanks for reminding me, but I already spoken to your guy at the recovery department and he understand my situation and he has given me more time to settle my obligations, I already paid the amount I have promised with your guy”.

“No, it is not enough, you are not allowed to drag your obligations too long”, said the lady.

“That’s all I can afford to pay at this time and I am only relying from my monthly salary, I also need to send some for my family back home. I will pay up again when I receive my next month’s salary”, I responded.

“As I said, it is not enough and you must find a way to settle at least half of it otherwise we have no choice but to recover your dues through legal means”, the lady reiterates.

I have given up that I would be able to talk through with her and get her to understand my situation. It is like talking to a brickwall. Her mind is close and she is determined with her purpose, to harass their customer….Heartless…

Again, I don’t want to be in “trouble with the law”, not in this part of the world if you know what I mean. So, I just swallowed any pride left in me and beg her to give me sometime to raise the money to pay. I asked her to give me two weeks but she only agrees to wait for me until 25 February.

This time I realized how I messed up with my finances. And this situation had been causing so much stress and strain between me and my wife.

Anyways, the goon in a suit has again succeeded in harassing its customer. I have made up my mind that I will put my efforts to settle all my obligations with this bank, break loose from its shackles and never again be of any dealings with this bank for the rest of my life.

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Away From Home: Sandstorm in Doha

This morning as I reached the Site for work, the weather seems to be pleasant. With a cool morning breeze, the steel stairs going up to the second level of our site office was drenched with morning dew. I took a long deep breath of fresh air before I enter one of the two entrances to the second floor of the site office.

As I walk through the hallway and passing by the pantry, the tea boy greeted me with a good morning. He is quick to serve me a hot coffee which is perfect just for the cool morning. I enjoy a cup of coffee every morning as I make a quick run through of the online news and into my email inbox. The air is still cool and the coffee aroma had just conditioned me for the long day ahead.

By half past ten in the morning, our office was starting to smell like dust. By eleven in the morning, the natural light coming in from the window and the glazing of the door entrance had turned rusty hue. The hallway had turned dimmer.

By this time, I am having a little bit of difficulty in breathing because of the stuffiness of the air and the smell of dust. I am beginning to choke and begin to cough heavy due to this unpleasant and irritating dusty air.

I stepped out to the hallway and was surprised that I cannot see our adjacent building which you can normally see in the clear day.

It then occurred to me that I am experiencing the worst sandstorm I’ve ever had since I came to Qatar one year and 4 months ago,

This, the sandstorm, has continued till now as I am posting about it into my blog.

I wish this sandstorm just goes away.

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Workloads Overloads

I am overwhelmed with the workloads at hand. Not to mention that I am also getting involved with our other Projects.

Especially now, at the current stage of our Project, we only have five months to complete the Project. And a lot of things that had been overlooked previously have started coming out to the surface. Unfortunately, these kinds of issues are impacting us negatively in terms of our progress. Some of these issues are clashing with our catch up plans that revisiting our catch up plans is getting more often to take into considerations such issues.

Currently, my priority now is to clear all materials which still need to be procured. Surprised? At this stage of the Project we are still procuring. Yeah, I am also surprised. Apparently, the department that was supposed to be looking into these matters had been remiss. And their attitude only manifests how they’ve been handling our Project. Such attitude is evident in one of their response to the internal office correspondence addressed to them that I initiated where I was checking the status of subcontractors and suppliers needed for our Project.

All the while the site team was waiting for that department to confirm or conclude and award the subcontractors for our Project. When it was becoming critical to get these subcontractors on board and we are yet to receive confirmation from that department for a finalized subcontract agreement. That was when I checked the status of the Subcontractors , and all hell break loose. They have tons of reasons and it all goes down to, “Oh, sorry but we were waiting for your site team to give us information to conclude these subcontracts”. When in fact, the informations they needed had been provided to them.

Simply put “they are washing their hands” or “hitting the ball to the other court”. Classic…

And so I end up clearing these materials to be sub-out or purchased, and my team only has two weeks to clear it. Or let say, “hitting back the ball to the other court”..hehehe…

And at the same time, I am yet to submit our monthly statement, chase for payment certificates and payments with the consultants and clients, certify payment to subcontractors, chase payment certificates and payments for our other project, provide support to our Head Office Commercial Manager, provide support to our Contracts.

It is getting stressful that I don’t know which one to finish. Take note, I said; “which one to finish”. It means at least I have started, so, I am working. It is different when you say you don’t know what to start. That means you have not started. Notice the difference?

Tomorrow, I need to ask our Project Manager to excuse me from assisting our other Project in their variation claims which I have been doing for a month now. I already have so much to handle in our own Project.

My workload is overloaded.

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Driving in Doha

Two days ago, as we were traversing the road along the cornice and coming from one of our Project and on our way to the other project, the traffic is a bit jammed. As we approach the last round-about, we discovered the culprit of the traffic mess that just delayed our trip.

It was a car on the inner lane of the round-about trying to squeeze herself into the oncoming traffic. Instead of driving with the flow, the car is being driven clockwise on the round-about against the traffic flow.

Round-about by the way, is famous here in Doha. What I heard actually is that it is famous all around Middle East. Round-about is a road junction where there is a circular island in the middle of the junction. When maneuvering a round-about, the driver only relies from his own judgments and driving skills. Specially during earlier days, because these round-abouts does not have any traffic signals. Only during the last second quarter of last year that the traffic authorities started installing traffic signals at round-abouts.

As we pass by the culprit, I managed to have a peek on the driver, it was a lady driver. Then I thought how in the earth this lady had her license. I certainly would not drive against the traffic at a round-about, I would not be that stupid.

But the fact remains, she has her driving license, I don’t. That’s what made me furious, I can drive, I can safely drive but the police just don’t want me pass. I have taken my driving test six times, yes you heard it right, six (6) times and everytime they always fail me. Even if I thought I was driving ok during the test, but when they announce the result, I still failed. They don’t even bother to tell me what’s wrong with my driving, they just fail me. My last driving instructor even told me that I would certainly pass, 100%, but still the traffic police failed me.

But this lady they let her have her driving license. That is so unfair.

Oookkkk!! So… this is just a clear manifestation that there is no wrong with my driving, but there must be something wrong with the examiner. How can they pass that lady and fail me.

Anyway, not having my driving license is a blessing in disguise in a way that I would certainly buy my own car if I have my driving license. At that time, I am determined to buy my own car when I got my license. But on a hindsight, it is much better to just use a company car. And if you so decided to leave, you don’t have much of a hassle in disposing your car and settling your car loan with the bank. The issues about some expatriates being “stranded” in Doha because of unsettled financial obligations also makes me think twice. They are barred to leave Doha.

But of course, I still have my plans to pursue for my driving license. Transport (own) is a necessity here in Doha. Public transport is not reliable.

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The Mafias have no say

Yesterday as I was going through my daily grinds at our other project that I am asked to assist, I received a call from a bank agent regarding my outstanding bills. I have to say, the mafias have no say.

After stating his scripted introduction, he asked when I am able to pay my outstanding bills. As I am not able to give him definite date I casually said, “Next week I will be making some payment”.

You won’t believe what the man on the other line has to say. “I’ll make you a deal. You pay half of your outstanding tomorrow or else we will refer you to the police and let the police call you”. As much as I am surprised it sounded funny to me.

Firstly, I’ve never heard of any bank agent would use such threat to its customer, much more to experience it first hand.

Secondly, it sounded funny to me because as if the agent is so desperate to a point that he mentions the police just to make you pay.

So, I said, “Ok, bye”. Shrugging off what had just happened.

As I was browsing the web last night, I thought of calling the hotline on my credit card to make some complaint of such behavior by their agent. I managed to talk to a customer service and as an introduction to my purpose of complaining, I asked if it is their practice to threat their customers by reporting them to the police if they don’t pay in a given date. Surprisingly again, the customer service said “Yes”.

I said “What?”

“Why are you asking sir?”

“I just had a call this morning from your bank agent telling me that he will refer me to the police if I don’t pay half of my outstanding by tomorrow. Why is it necessary to refer me to the police if I am paying”?

He then requested my details for him to check.

“Sir, you have outstanding and you paid less than the minimum”.

“Yes I know I have and I paid less than the minimum for two months now and the bank is charging me on my late payments, would that justify such kind of harassment?”

“Sir, please call our recovery department and talk to them about your case, if not you will have more problem”.

Another form of threat / harassment, whatever you call it… I gave up and ended my call.

I then checked in this popular forum in the region, Qatar Living, if there is a similar case as mine. To my surprise, it is actually very common especially to the bank I am attached with.

So many stories that would shock you and you will regret that you have business with this bank. Like the police holding you up at the airport when you are about to depart. Like the police still holding you up even after you had paid your obligations just because the bank forgot to withdraw their complaints to the police when you already cleared your dues.

I don’t want to go through with all these troubles and embarrassment so I decided to call the bank agent and asked for more time as I normally get my salary on the 7th of every month.

Out of this world, only in the Arab world and the mafias have nothing to say to these goons in a suit….

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A Dose Of His Own Medicine

Some people are too arrogant that they don’t let anything to pass without sarcastically side-commenting. But if they happen to be at the other person’s shoes, they will react even worst than how they acted in the first place. Such kind of person I am wanting to give a dose of his own medicine.

One person that fits to my description above is JC, our English MEP Manager (?).

I have noticed this one kind of a character he is since the first time he attended one of our internal meetings. He has always have something to say, regardless if he is off-the-issue, whenever someone has raised an issue or replied to an issue or someone is supporting your issue.

Quite surprisingly, JC always hit hard on my countrymen specially IV our Project Engineer. JZ, our Deputy Construction Manager, is also getting the queerly ire from JC. What is very obvious to me is that he never agrees to any position/point that my Filipino colleagues take. He always takes the other end of the stick just to have the chance to put down my fellows. JC is lucky, despite his untoward attitude they always try to respond to him with a smile.

I don’t understand his attitude towards my colleagues. I can’t say that he is a racist or discriminatory against “us”, because he is married to a Filipina.

OOOHHHH!!! Now I get it. Maybe because he never wins over his wife and he cannot do anything to get back at his wife. So, he takes his frustration towards his Filipino colleagues. (Wicked thoughts).

Anyway, yesterday in our internal meeting I am raising an issue about one of our subcontractors. Due to the subcontractor’s lack of progress, they are now affecting our own progress, I was suggesting taking over some of their works in order for us to progress our own works and at the same time putting pressure to the subcontractor that we mean business.

Our Project Manager explains that we are not in a position to further finance our subcontractor’s works. I insist the idea of taking over a portion of their work and about to explain that we are not in anyway to finance the subcontractor’s work because, firstly, we will just take over in terms of labor. We have the extra workers, in any case, we are paying the workers, why not use them more productively? And the cost incurred in providing the subcontractor’s labor works will be recovered from him. So, there is no financing involved.

Secondly, even if we say we take over “everything”, that means providing labor and materials. In that case, there is financing involved. But end of the day, the portion we executed will be omitted from the subcontractor’s scope. And that mean we are cutting our loss by 100% for every portion we take over.

It is a win-win formula, right.

But before I can explain myself, our “hero” JC, suddenly interrupts and makes his usual manners towards my race saying, “You are not listening”.

Wrong pick JC. I will not reply you with a smile.

I said: “I am listening, don’t tell me I am not listening”. But before things escalate, the Project Manager intervenes and ended the discussion on the issue.

And so, we move on.

When one of JC’s engineers asked if the brackets for the CCTV’s are under our scope. I told them that this has been a recurring issue and we have maintained our position that it is not our scope.

At that instance, I saw an opportunity to give JC a dose of his own medicine.

I continued, “Your MEP manager should know if it is under our scope, is he not reading our contract?”

He is so pissed-off that after the meeting he waited for me by the door and said “I need to have a word with you young man” pointing at my face. “Anytime old man”, was my response.

I was waiting for him to follow me to my office but I think the Project Manager called him to cool down.

That is how this type of person reacts when he have a “Dose of his own medicine”.

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