Prior to our youngest girl “Ymir Thea” moving to Singapore to work last year, she had a job with a large Japanese Electronics Firm on Subic Freeport, as an assistant administrator in the main office. Her supervisor tasked her with updating the company’s instruction manuals. She brought them home and worked on them, on our computer.
I asked her if she would like me to proof read them and correct the English. “Of course Daddy!” she exclaimed. As any former military person knows, writing manuals and instructions are what we do at every duty station.
She wrote in a very lengthy and flowery style, and all I did was condensed them and tighten them up. It took about four months for her to finish, and she submitted them to her supervisor. Two months later her supervisor received a commendation and a cash reward for all her hard work. My daughter got so upset she quit the job after five years.
When I talked to her and asked if she had informed the Boss from Japan that she was the one who re-wrote all of the manuals? She then explained to me that she was too shy to say anything. She didn’t get that trait from me!
She decided she wanted to work out of the Philippines, and picked Singapore to hunt for a job, which she found on the World Wide Web. Wow! That Al Gore again. I fronted her enough money to get there and live for three months to insure her well being. I also told her that if for any reason she wanted to come home, I’m only a phone call away. I had her send me, a hundred dollars a month to pay me back; I had my wife deposit the money into my daughter’s bank account every month. I’ll tell her about it someday.
She is working as a manager of a bicycle sales and supply store, I explained an old Navy trick for getting promoted, which is to teach your employees everything you know, and work yourself out of that job, leaving the boss with but one option left, to promote you. That advice was contrary to all that she had learned, while working in the Philippines. She was taught here to never tell her employees anything, but what they absolutely had to know, to do their job.
She followed my advice and trained her co-workers well, and is now the manager of three stores. She loves living and working in Singapore and has made many friends from all parts of the world. She refuses to band together with a click from home, yet still has many friends and college mates from the Philippines. But is still enjoying the rich cultural experience that is Singapore.
Her shyness is disappearing quickly, and she has become a strong independent young lady. That makes me very proud of her. Since she and her mother talk on the phone every day, (There is only so much independence one can stand) and that is fine with me, albeit the monthly cell phone charges are a tad high, the benefit is on our monthly plan with Globe we get a the newest style cell phone free every year.
When she was home on vacation a couple of months ago, we spoke about her reasons for why she made the move, and I asked “Did she really need the extra money she was making?” She just smiled at me. That’s when I knew; that all the time I’d spent with her and her sister talking about all the places in the world I’d been to and had seen when they were young had paid off.
She told me that it was more about the adventure, of making it on her own, and living in a foreign country.
Sometimes, our children listen to what we say.
Paul: Good for her! A very proud dad!
John;
Yes, I am proud of her, and pleased that she is living the life she has chosen. She did her job, and I did mine.
Heart warming indeed, Paul. Congratulations to Ymir Thea for breaking the “I’m only a Filipino, what can you expect” self-imposed second-class mode and striking out into the real world. I have a couple very pretty and and capable young nieces who need to read this article.
My message to all the Filipino readers, and loved ones and family members of Filipinos in our audience here is, “Yes you can”!
(it does help to strike the phrase “If Only” from your vocabulary, though.)
Thank you David;
I never lectured to the girls, I’d tell of places and people I’ve seen, and paint word pictures.
I put a framed world map on the wall, while talking and joking about places, I’d walk to the map and point it out to them. Only you can inspire your nieces, and I know you will. I told them it’s not your nationality that makes you successful, it’s your personality. But be proud of who you are.
Hi, Dave!
Oh yes, I CAN! And even when I’m here in my own coutry, the Philippines. 🙂
Great and inspiring story Paul! You did a good job teaching Ymir Thea!
Hi Bob;
But she did all the heavy lifting, she worked hard in school, and received the good grades (I never did that myself lol). After her leaving her job she worked hard to find her new job in Singapore by using the Internet and sending e-mail after e-mails with her resume. I told her if she found the job without using a agency (I’d been to Singapore and other places and the stories were horrific, that I’d heard) I would provide everything else she needed.
Hi Paul – Without a good father (and mother) to teach her, and instill a sense of hard work in her.. she never would have done those things! Step up and accept credit for your role in her success, Paul! You deserve it!
Awww. Bob;
I see your point and thank you, now I just hope I don’t injure my arm patting myself on the back. (LOL)
You gotta be careful about that back patting, Paul… it can indeed be dangerous on the arms! 😉
Paul,
I strive in my life to avoid anger. But I find this emotion rising when I hear of your daughter’s callous treatment by the electronics firm which she had dedicated herself to. This is inexcusable and immoral on their part. The outright theft of her talent. That supervisor got himself a short term gain. But that company will become the big looser in the end. Her contribution of her talent is now lost to them forever. She did the only thing that was available to her. This must have been a very hard decision for her to make.
Congratulations to her and to you in her new career. New horizons have already opened. From her experiences she will have the backbone to take on new challenges.
Jade
Paul,
dammitt, I’m still angered by the underhanded treatment your daughter received from that electronics company. When I am running a project I always give credit to anyone who deserves it. Especially when a person particularly stands out above the rest.There is no point in being glory-hound; it catches up with you.
Jade
Jade;
Slow down my friend, I too was angered at first, until I learned that the company had nothing to do with it. It was her fellow countryman who did it to her, to garner a promotion. Now that I think about I could almost thank them, for our daughter is now earning way more money than the cheat, and living the life most dream about. So Jade; Who won????
Hey Paul,
This came close to my personal experience so it touched a still raw nerve. My first job in Florida was with GTE Lenkurt, a subsidiary of General Telephone. There was once a grandson of a company vice president whom I worked with. He never washed his hair. He stunk. I worked a project to 95% completion, then he was put in charge and got the accolades for a perfect turn key start-up! After a few too many of these experiences I quit. He is probably vice president of something now. I hope he learned to wash his hair!
With Strong and Heartfelt Sympathy,
Jade
Every closing of a door opens another one to brighter horizons.
Jade;
Believe me, we had people like that grandson on ships also, both Navy and Merchant Marine. They do well for awhile, then it kicks in. “Cream floats, Turds Sink” Life will always complete the circle.
Paul,
I would like to congradulate Ymir Thea on a job well done! In both cases! It is great to hear she is doing well! I know you have to be very proud of her!
Steve;
Thank you for understanding that is was Ymir Thea who deserves the congratulations, she made me proud when she bounced back from a bad situation and went forth to excel. A father could ask for nothing more.
Awww Paul! Thank you and thank Bob for sharing your wonderful stories about your kids. This just made my day…regards to Mayang!
Mita;
I’m pleased it made your day, our girls have made my life, and my granddaughter… well that’s a brand new chapter.
Very nice Paul! You must be very proud.
Mark;
To be sure I am, and equally with her married sister YoHanna Mae who also is a joy to my life.
Good on ya Paul, ‘specially like the part about the $ she (owes & ) sends back to u….thats the way you teach responsibility with love !!
Brian;
She now knows what I did with her money, and she thanked me. My father did things like that for me, so I pass it on.
Hi Paul – Send my BZ to Ymir Thea in Singapore via the bamboo grapevine. 😉
Too many similarities in our personal stories of international-interpersonal relationships. I taught my wife the promotion trick, too, and she made her way up the banking ladder to the position she had always wanted. Now, however, I’m the only mushroom she cultivates.
Yes, in the Philippines, “Knowledge is Power” is more than an educational slogan. It’s a creed for job security. I’ve seen many employees trying to learn and do the jobs of others as well as their own. The idea is “becoming promotable.” The result, though, is someone losing a job.
The beneficiary of nepotism is always safe regardless of talent. The “self-made go-to guy” places his job in jeopardy if he learns the job of nepotism’s beneficiary and makes that beneficiary look bad on the job. Cross too many fellow employees, and a “connected” employee sees to it the “go-to guy” doesn’t show up for work one day.
While Noynoy has started with the BI, there are still many, many rocks to look under. Hopefully, the rock tipping — an early-in-the-term sport of new administrations — will continue much longer than prior episodes, and replacements will be hired for their abilities and talents, not who they know or pay.
😉
Hi Paul;
My last tour was a Commarsasy in P.R., I relived a E-8 (he never made chief) who grew up in Manila and was a micro manager. My first month while I was trying to locate the restroom, all my Navy guys (3 CPO’s) would bother me all day with things they should be taking care of, since I knew why I never got angry.
Then I hit my Popeye Factor: “That’s Alls I cans stands, any I cans stand no more!” I came up with… They ask the question. I respond “The Senior Chief was having a drink last night on his balcony, a seaguel landed on the 22nd floor, pecked him in the eyes, he jumped up and fell to Luquillo Beach and died, he’s not here so what would you do? After a week they knew that I just wanted them to be CPO’s, and that’s all they wanted to be.
Can you believe I spelled Commisary wrong????
Being a cycling enthusiast I say- wow she landed a great job, especially since she has worked up to over-seeing multiple shops. Folks at LBS (local bike shop) int he US do not earn especially well, unless they’re one of the top dogs. And it sounds like she is at a high level. Congrats to her-and you; a lot to be proud of in that story.
Curious of her cycling past, if any, as in the US, many start as a beginning mechanic or possibly, if very lucky, floor sales, then work up if they are the very best.
Pete;
Here’s the funny part, she never owned a bike, when I asked when she was young she declined. But here degree is in business management and marketing. I explained to her that the item she sells is of no concern, I could sell someone a Lear Jet if I could get the monthly payments right. She has a nice bike now, remember Singapore is pretty much flat, unlike the Philippines.
Paul,
When I was in Singapore in the summer of 2001 when my wife Daisy and I met. We went to Singapore’s East Coast Park and rented a tandem bicycle to ride as Daisy at the time was not confident on a single person bicycle. We had a wonderful time that Sunday afternoon.
“Daisy, Daisy, Give me your answer, do, I’m half crazy, all for the love of you. We won’t have stylish marriage. I can’t afford a carriage. But you’ll look sweet, upon the seat,
of a bicycle built for two.”
I sing this song to her sometimes on the phone and in person.
She is the only one who appreciates my attempt at singing!
jade
Paul,
When I was in Singapore in 2001, I met my wife Daisy. We went to Singapore’s East Coast Park. There they have a long 15km bicycle path along the waterfront. We rented a tandem bicycle there as at the time Daisy was not confident on a single person bicycle. We had a wonderful time that beautiful Sunday afternoon.
Daisy, Daisy,
Give me your answer, do,
I’m half crazy,
All for the love of you.
It won’t be a stylish marriage,
I can’t afford a carriage,
But you’ll look sweet,
Upon the seat
Of a bicycle built for two.
I sing this song to her on the phone and sometimes to her in person.
She is the only one who appreciates my attempt at singing.
Jade
Hi Jade;
Believe it or not for some reason I know that song. Maria is my wife’s real name but all call her Mayang, plenty of Maria songs but Mayang not so much. Keep singing to your wife, it’s special for you both!
Hey Paul,
I worked with one of those apple polishers while working for Boeing. He was always taking my Ideas and hard work, and running with them. I mentioned it once to one of the team members, and he told me he already knew. Sometimes its just that obvious.
I wish your daughter the best of luck.
Hi Hudson;
My point exactly, turds only last a short time. Then their flushed. In the Navy we used to say; “Luck is like water, we make our own!”
If there is a next time, and something like this happens again, I’m going to have some fun…I will feed them bad information, and make them look like a damned fool hehehe.
Hudson;
Good plan, I’ve done that same thing. I’m such a evil guy!
Hi, Paul:
Here’s a different spin regarding Ymir Thea’s resentment over her boss getting all the credit for the good work she has done on re-writing the company’s instruction manuals. It happens almost every time and almost everywhere. In war, the lowly grunt who does all the fighting and the dying is largely unknown, but his commanding officer, the general, gets all the credit and recognition for the victory. They call it the chain of command.
In civilian life, the engineer employee who invented intermittent wipers was merely doing his job for which he was being compensated. He received no public recognition for his invention, but the company he worked for did and made millions of dollars, if not billions, out of his own invention. The patent for the intermittent wiper legally belonged to the company, not to the employee who invented it, as clearly spelled out in the employment contract. It’s a gross injustice, but that’s just how the system works.
By the same token, however, if the system malfunctions, it’s the person at the top who usually gets the ax while the subordinate whose work caused the malfunction goes scot-free. The Patriot Act example easily comes to mind. The public backlash over the constitutionality of some features of the Patriot Act led to the disgraceful banishment of former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales from public view. The principal author of the Act itself, John Yoo, then just another government lawyer in the Justice Dept., is still around today still rubbing elbows with the powers that be in Washington.
The honorable thing that Ymir Thea’s Filipino boss should have done when he submitted the revised manual to Tokyo was to explain to HIS Japanese bosses that the manual was largely the work of a subordinate and that proper recognition and award should be made to the subordinate.
John;
So true, it’s just the way of the world, and I know of no one who has not had a similar case of this happening to them. (and I also knew who those who did it.) While in the Navy I developed a strong bulls–t detector, and knew within a short time who was trying to take credit for the work of another. I’d seek out the one who accomplished the work and praise them. And the other… Let’s say I never saw him at the Chiefs Club as they were never promoted. My girl came out the winner, she’s living her dream and is as happy as a clam!
I would like to see the look on her old bosses face in the Philippines when the home office in Japan ask him to do the next manual for them. I have a feeling sooner or later he will be caught in his deceit.
Tom;
The Japanese boss had attended three parties at my house, he did find out who really did the work and let that other person go. The company called my girl and offered her a higher position, but she declined, she was set on her adventure to Singapore. I still have a drink with him once in a while at the Club by the Subic Marina.
Hey Paul,
Great and inspiring story, I know you and the wife are very proud and should be.
Thanks for sharing..
Danny 🙂
Hi Danny;
And thank you for your kind words, we are most proud of both her and her sister. They were great kids and now are fine adults.
Hi, Paul!
Great story!
Your daughter indeed can be an inspiration to all of our ‘kababayans’ out there in the world.
I hope someday, I’ll have a daughter like her, too! Cheers! 🙂
Hello JR;
That is a wish I hope comes true for you! No greater pleasure on earth than to see ones child excel in life.
How true, Paul and thanks! 🙂
Paul I am late to this story as we have been on the road making a little adventure of our own. I have to tell you that your story warmed my heart and made me think of my little daughter who will turn the ripe old age of three next month. She copies her mother so much and says the same things I say and it makes me smile. Your story makes me realize I had better clean up my language a little better. Ron
Hi Ron;
It’s been awhile. Both my young ladies are grown up now, but my granddaughter is mine to spoil as I did her mother. I’d do it all again, as it was wonderful!!!
Hi paul,
This american girl REALLY took the real adventure!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCbG_X3S0zQ&feature=player_embedded
Dans;
I think you’re right.
Looks like she learning how to hand washer her clothes……no washering a machine there at the mother in laws? Must be true love!
Dan;
My first wife thought it was better to just buy new cloths, than to wash them. But bless her heart, she has so many ex-husbands that her last names read like she was Spanish Royalty.
Hi Paul,
Being brought up in a very strict conservative family,i was also shy and naive in my younger years,and suffered the same fate as Ymir Thea,with others taking credit for my work or ideas.
However,i to soon learn’t to blow my own trumpet lol.
Singapore is very dear to my heart,i love that country,and have very fond memories of being based there,in total 5yrs,during my Royal Navy days.I first visited pre economic miracle days when it was very 3rd world,in many ways similar to RP.I always choose it as a stop over point.
Unfortunately,its way way to expensive to retire there, 2nd only to Japan for cost of living,but Davao City is only a short hop for a visit.
regards,Chas.
Hi Chas;
My ship’s all tied up at the Royal Naval Base, (Sometimes at the hook and watertaxi to Clifford Pier) I too was there in the early day, it’s like night and day from those days till now.
My Girl has gotten’ stronger than she was, and I’m happy for that. Her and two girls she went to collage with are flatmates, and keep the costs down. I never had a bad time in Singapore, and if cheaper, I might also have retired there. Stay well Shipmate!