The Road to Miss Xtera Universe 2014

One of my other job is being an Admin Officer for Xtera Outsourcing Management handling Recruitment and Events.

In one of the job interviews I conducted, an applicant once mentioned to me that the reason why she left the job because of being harassed as a transgender in her previous company. She even told me that she wanted to be in an environment or a workplace where discrimination is not being part of the job. And we took her in. And currently she's one of our top-sellers in Outbound campaign.

In a country where an anti-discrimination bill is way behind a basic reproductive health bill, the message to LGBTQs is that they should just suck up the hostility in work environments. It's already difficult to expect better treatment for gays in a society when women still do not get what they are due. It’s even more unimaginable that LGBT employees would get equal pay and benefits for equal work. Xtera pride itself of providing equal and fair treatment to all sexes and regardless of their preferences.

In our company, gay employees are valued not only because of their hard work, but also because they typically don't have families, have few or no children, and are the less likely to take leave from work due to an unplanned pregnancy or childcare issues. These lack of constraints make them more amenable to work the US hours required by our accounts. Many Filipino gay and lesbian professionals are independent from their parents, and most consider their workplaces more accepting than their home situations.

The percentage of LGBT employees in our company is so significant, making it important for us to have adequate representation of this minority. And to celebrate the equality and diversity, we are staging this Ms. Xtera Universe 2014.

It's still a long way to go before the Philippine government genuinely shows its LGBT taxpayers that they are equal to other citizens under law. But in a country where the private sector takes more credible initiative and whose moves make a more reliable impact on Filipinos' daily lives, I hope that through this platform, and our company policy for no discrimination; we are taking the move towards that elusive concept of equality in Philippine society.

As we celebrate diversity and equality, Xtera Management brings you the road to the 2014 Miss Xtera Universe crown.

The meeting with the official candidates and Xtera Events Committee at Army Navy Valero St, Makati City

Final Briefing and distribution of Acceptance fee. An official candidate each gets an allowance to help her prepare for expenses. Winner will take home Php15,000, runners up will receive PhP10,000 and consolation prize of PhP5,000 for non-winning contestants. We also have 5 minor awards to be given away with PhP3,000 each award.

Our 6 hopefuls along with the reigning Queen Kim Balia Aka Jennifer Torres who won this title last year during our Christmas Party where I also served as one of the hosts along with my colleague Venus

Let's meet our 6 Official Candidates:

Name: Gab Pujalte
Account: Gov.Sales Account Executive-LMU
A.K.A: Kelly Lopez

Resty Menasalbas
AKA: Katherine Petrova
Account: Triple A (Makati Site) Lead Gen Specialist

Jhaymie Allen Carbonera
LMU Account Executive
AKA: Victoria Arida

Owell Azelleb
LMU Gov Sales Account Executive
AKA: Maria Leila Lopez Garcia

Marvin Hinoguin
Triple A Account Executive
AKA: Jean Soriano Marcel

Kim Garcia
LMU Account Executive
AKA: Isabella Leonza

You can also vote for your favorite contestant to win the People's Choice Award by liking her photo on our Facebook page. Here's the link:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.782069385164925.1073741873.577808732257659&type=1

See you on October 11, 2014 for the grand coronation night of Miss Xtera Universe where I will serve as the pageant host.

Until then,

Bibo

Gwen's Harmony

Three years ago, one of my colleagues, Venus became pregnant but lost her daughter shortly after giving birth. The baby was named Gwyneth Harmony.

I am not a parent yet but I know that the death of a child is the most devastating loss. The order of nature teaches us na mas madali ihatid ng (mga) anak sa hantungan ang magulang kesa ang magulang ang maghahatid sa anak  sa hantungan.  You mourn the loss of his or her life, potential and future. Your life is forever changed. But for Venus it's not over; for her "You can get through the grief and come out the other side". Now on its 3rd year, she celebrates her daughter's birthday in the orphanage. And this year she decided to have it in Manila Boystown.

What makes it more special this year is that our company Xtera Outsourcing Services, as part our of our social responsibility sponsored the Feeding Program. We prepared food for the kids and some fun activities. And our company donated ( through the generosity of our Boss Ocel some amount) for their maintenance.

What an emotional and life-changing experience it was. See you next year for Gwen's Feeding Program Year 4.

Venus and her great way in honoring her child's memory. Through the company of the kids

Everyone was moved by the boys presentation. They sang the Tagalog Version of "Dance with my Father"

(All photos courtesy of Fredo Cortez)

Remember in spite of it all, it is possible to cope. You, your family, friends, co-workers and others can all do things that will help you make it through the loss of a child (or other significant loss) in shape to make a better tomorrow and able to care for those who remain. Always remember, those who remain need you as much as those who died.

Until then,

Bibo