Dell Pasay badged site sold to Teleperformance

I was so shocked when I learned the news from 2 of my friends. I have heard of that rumor since last year, while I was still connected with the company. But, majority of us brushed the rumor aside, because it is impossible that an outsourced provider would buy a giant like Dell. But, the impossible just happened last Friday, when it was announced to the whole Dell community that Teleperformance is buying Dell Pasay to the tune of PHP200 million++. Paltry change compared to the annual earnings of Dell, which amounts to billions of dollars in revenue. Friday is always a good and bad day for Dell peeps, primarily because the pro: we get out paychecks every other Friday and the con: big, surprising announcements are usually done on Fridays. Alot has happened to Dell Pasay over the last 3 years, since it was established in 2006. I joined the company in January 2007, at that time it was such a big deal for me because I was offered the biggest paycheck I have ever received since I started working, and having the honor and privilege to work in one of the world's top companies. I met my now lifelong friends in Dell. I had the luxury of living just 5-10 minutes away from Mall of Asia (where Dell Pasay is). So many memories. I am happy to know that Dell QC (where most of my friends are now) is not included in the sale. I guess I'm lucky I'm no longer with the company when this happened, because for me, if I was still there, it's a big slap in the ass. I feel sorry for those who are still there, because this is like a shock and awe to the employees of Dell Pasay. The good thing is that, Teleperformance will still retain the employees of Dell Pasay, but was gracious enough to offer pay (half a month's basic salary for every year of tenure with the company) for the ones who wish to leave. This economic crisis that the world is experiencing definitely is a bitch. In hindsight, I feel blessed that I am no longer in Dell Pasay when this happened, but I will not forget the memories Dell Pasay gave me. So long, Dell Pasay, thanks for the memories.

Margarita Fores on Good Pasta

I love to cook, and one of my favorite dishes are pasta dishes like spaghetti, fettucine, carbonara, puttanesca, among others. One of my favorite chefs, the legendary Margarita Fores of Cibo, shared insights on how to cook and make good pasta dishes. Here's an article lifted from the Philippine Daily Inquirer website:

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Margarita Fores on good pasta

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:25:00 03/11/2009

Filed Under: Food, Lifestyle & Leisure

IT was an afternoon of lively demonstration, discovery and great-tasting pasta with chef and restaurateur Margarita Fores in the recent Café Scientifique at Bonifacio High Street, Taguig.

She demonstrated how science is involved in every aspect of pasta cooking, from the right boiling temperature of water when cooking the pasta to correct preparation of basil leaves for basic pesto sauce.

She also dispelled myths and misconceptions, such as throwing pasta against the wall to know if it is al dente or not, and the adding of oil to boiling pasta.

Providing scientific explanations was Maribel Garcia, curator of the soon-to-rise Mind Museum at Bonifacio Global City. Hosting the forum was Mitzi Borromeo, coordinator of Café Scientifique for the Philippines.

Fores recalled how, as a child, she was interested in biology and science experiments in school, but how it was only recently that she began to understand the science behind cooking, mainly through personal research and a visit to one of Italy’s largest pasta factories.

“After working with food for more than 20 years, it is only now that I am learning the science behind it. In a way, it is like learning in reverse,” she said.

Details

Unknown to many, cooking great pasta depends on seemingly inconsequential details, such as the boiling of pasta.

“Water must be boiling vigorously,” said Fores. If temperature drops when you put the pasta, cover the lid. When it briskly boils again, uncover it. “Don’t disturb the cooking of pasta,” she quoted the Italians. Meaning, do not stir. Let it boil and keep on tasting until you approach the time indicated on packaging.

Al dente is “to the tooth.” There is a white dot in the middle of the pasta when you bite into it.

Why add salt to water?

“The salt adds flavor to the water, and that makes the pasta tasty. No matter how much sauce you add to the pasta, if it is cooked without salt, it will be bland,” Fores explained.

Water with salt added should taste like seawater. When pasta is boiled, some flavor of the pasta is left in the water. This pasta water can then be used for thinning cold pasta sauce, or to boil another serving of pasta.

Another popular myth Fores dispelled was that of adding oil while cooking pasta. “Some people do this to prevent the pasta from sticking together. But I found out in Italy that you are not supposed to do that because this will make the pasta oily and prevent the sauce from coating it properly. The result will be flavorless pasta.”

Instead, for the pasta not to stick together, it should not be left to cool. Your sauce or ingredients should be ready while the pasta is boiling. Even draining the pasta right after boiling should not take long.

Leaving some of the pasta water dripping from the strainer, toss the pasta immediately to the sauce and mix using wooden fork or thongs.

Fores gave generous servings of Cibo’s bestsellers: Pesto Genovese (classic basil pesto from Genova), a special concoction which was a hit among the audience; the Farfalle alla Genovese (ribbon-shaped pasta with sauteed mushroom, Pesto Genovese and cream); Spaghettini al Pomodoro Crudo (spaghettini in raw marinated tomatoes with garlic and sweet basil); and the Fettucine al Bolognese.

With each dish, Fores talked about ingredients, from pasta to cheese, good local and foreign brands of pasta and cream, the difference between fresh and dry pasta and how to cook them, the authentic Italian way of preparing sauces and mixing them with pasta, and how to garnish pasta dishes.

Informal gathering

Café Scientifique is an informal gathering in bars, pubs and cafés between the science community and the public. Scientists and science writers are invited to share knowledge and insights on a topic to get the discussions going.

Since it started in the UK 10 years ago, it has spread to as far as Japan, Pakistan, New Zealand and Singapore. The movement is now in Manila and has been going around establishments.

What's Up, Nicole?

I'm sorry, I am so not getting this girl. She accuses an American soldier for rape, the GI was convicted, and now she's recanting her statement and she's now claiming that she may have consented to have sex with the poor soldier. Oh well, she has already created a stir with her sensational rape case, and now she wants to steer clear of the issue. May God have mercy on her confused soul. Article lifted from the Philstar.com website


'My conscience bothered me' By Edu Punay Updated March 18, 2009 12:00 AM
Photo taken Dec. 4, 2006 shows Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith being escorted to a Makati court for the ruling on his rape case.
MANILA, Philippines - The Filipina who had accused a US Marine of raping her and had at one time become the rallying point in the effort to abrogate the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement is now singing a different tune.
Saying she was bothered by her conscience, Nicole recanted her testimony and signed a sworn affidavit that she wasn’t sure if she was indeed raped by the accused.
Smith’s lawyer, Jose Justianiano, submitted the affidavit dated March 12 to the Court of Appeals. He said his client has satisfied the civil aspect of his conviction and indemnified Nicole.
“My conscience continues to bother me realizing that I may have in fact been so friendly and intimate with Daniel Smith at the Neptune Club that he was led to believe that I was amenable to having sex or that we simply just got carried away. I would rather risk public outrage than do nothing to help in ensuring that justice is served,” she said in her five-page affidavit.
Nicole said she wondered how she could recall her testimony that Smith kissed her lips and neck and held her breast inside the van, when witnesses told the court that she passed out and looked unconscious when he took her to the van.
“How could I have resisted his advances given this condition? Daniel Smith and I were alone on the third row of the van, which had limited space and I do not recall anyone inside the van who held my hand or any part of my body. What I can recall is that there was very loud music and shouting inside the van,” she explained.
“With the events at the Neptune Club in mind, I keep asking myself, if Daniel Smith wanted to rape me, why would he carry me out of the Neptune Club using the main entrance in full view of the security guard and the other customers. Why would the van park right in front of Neptune Club? Why would Daniel Smith and his companions bring me to the sea wall of Alaba Pier and casually leave this area that was well-lighted and with many people roaming around?” she added.
The victim, who reportedly flew to the US after receiving P100,000 for damages from Smith and terminating the services of her lawyer, also believes that if she was really raped by Smith, “he and his companions would have dumped me instead in a dimly lit area along the highway going to Alaba Pier to avoid detection.”
Officials said they weren’t sure if Nicole’s recantation would be given weight in the pending appeal of Smith at the CA.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales said yesterday Smith’s lawyer can ask the CA to declare a mistrial and the fiscal can move for the dismissal of the case on the ground that the evidence is weak.
He clarified, however, that he is not aware of Nicole’s recant and will study it once he gets hold of a copy.
Her statement was reportedly added to Smith’s appeal, which was already submitted for resolution.
This development came after the reported phone call of US President Barrack Obama to President Arroyo over the weekend where the two leaders assured continuation of their partnerships – specifically the Visiting Forces Agreement.
Smith, a participant in the RP-US Balikatan military exercise, was found guilty of raping Nicole on Nov. 1, 2005 and was sentenced to reclusion perpetua or a minimum of 20 years to a maximum of 40 years imprisonment by Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 139 presiding judge Benjamin Pozo.
The US soldier has filed a petition before the CA seeking the reversal of the lower court’s decision.
The appellate court has yet to issue a decision on Smith’s appeal after three justices inhibited themselves from handling the case for various reasons.
Last month, the Supreme Court ordered that Smith be placed under Philippine custody while the governments of the Philippines and the US renegotiate the terms of the Marine’s detention, which should be “under Philippine authorities.”
Malacañang has already reportedly declared that Smith could remain in the US embassy pending finality of his rape conviction.

My Top 10 needs (according to Google; just type your name + needs. Ex: Toshi Needs)

These are my top 10 needs according to Google:

1. needs to give more for their customer's money

2. needs anymore hype (?)

3. needs more screen time (as if I've always been infront of the camera)

4. needs to do something with my life before I call it quits with music (hahaha)

5. needs to teach someone in Seattle how to make fried rice like he does (who am I, Nobu? Hehehe)

6. needs the recipe for the directions to bake the cake (now I wanna be either Rachael Ray, Nigella, Martha or Barefoot Contessa)

7. need to be able to control his breath throughout a song to avoid losing it halfway through a song (yup, I know, right?

8. to study for the long exam in Filipino and BioLab (I'm over and done with college, 5 years ago today if I'm not mistaken)

9. needs and desrves to be the winner (of? American Idol? Miss Universe? Deal or No Deal? Pinoy Big Brother? hahaha!)

10. needs to be back in the show (Hhmm, paging ABS-CBN? hahaha!)

Good Love Gone Bad (The Rihanna-Chris Brown teleserye)

Looks like we will never hear the end of Rihanna & Chris Brown's tumultuous love affair. Their story is like a teleserye unravelling the twists and turns of it's plot. I just hope that this issue gets resolved, and Rihanna should've learned her lesson by now: Since she's older than Chris, she should be the one to "take a bow" from their relationship, like her famous hit song.

Rihanna's hell ride through Hollywood began when she intercepted a booty call to her boyfriend from a rival.

"A three page text message" from a woman Chris Brown had "a previous sexual relationship with" popped up on his cell phone as the singer drove home with Rihanna by his side from a pre-Grammy Awards party.

"A verbal argument ensued" that quickly escalated out of control, with Brown delivering a brutal and bloody beatdown of Rihanna as they hurtled through L.A. in a silver Lamborghini, according to a shocking affidavit.

"Now I'm really going to kill you," Brown screamed as he socked the sultry, 21-year-old singer with his right hand while he kept his left hand on the wheel, prosecutors allege.

"The assault caused [Rihanna's] mouth to fill with blood and blood to spatter all over her clothing and the interior of the vehicle," the papers state.

When Rihanna tried to use his phone to call for help, Brown pulled over and put her in a headlock "and she began to lose consciousness," the court affidavit filed yesterday states.

Desperate to survive, Rihanna fought back and she "began attempting to gouge his eyes in an attempt to free herself."

Brown was quicker.

"Brown bit her left ring and middle fingers and then released her," the papers state. "While Brown continued to punch her, she turned around and placed her back against the passenger door. She brought her knees to her chest, placing her feet against Brown's body and began pushing him away."

Rihanna's ordeal didn't end until she "began screaming for help and Brown exited the vehicle" in the city's tony Hancock Park neighborhood.

By then, Rihanna's face was covered with bruises that would shock and sicken her fans when the police photo leaked out. And the reputation of Brown, a 19-year-old pretty boy crooner, was about to be ruined.

Brown's fists began flying just after 12:25 a.m. on Feb. 8, when Rihanna spotted the flirty text message on Brown's cell from a woman prosecutors did not I.D.

R&B royalty, they were dressed to the nines - he in black leather, she in a strapless gown - and they were heading back from music mogul Clive Davis' bash.

Angry accusations turned into shouts and then screams until Brown had enough and pulled over and tried to kick Rihanna out of the car.

Rihanna was wearing a seat belt, so Brown "shoved her head against the passenger window of the vehicle causing an approximate one inch raised circular contusion," the papers say.

Then it got really ugly.

Rihanna, who court papers identified as Robyn F. - her real name is Robyn Fenty - "turned to face Brown and he punched her in the left eye with his right hand.

"I'm going to beat the s--t out of you when we get home," Brown screamed. "You wait and see!"

But he didn't wait to get home and rained down blows on the Barbados-born beauty as he drove.

Trapped, Rihanna grabbed her cell phone and called her personal assistant Jennifer Rosales for help.

"Rosales did not answer the telephone but while her voicemail greeting was playing" Rihanna pretended she was on the line, the affidavit states.

"I'm on my way home," Rihanna said. "Make sure the cops are there when I get there."

Those words were like pouring gasoline on a fire.

"You just did the stupidist thing ever!" Brown exploded. "Now I'm really going to kill you."

Brown, the papers state, "resumed punching Robyn F. and she interlocked her fingers behind her head and brought her elbows forward to protect her face."

Still driving, Brown delivered a "barrage of punches" that bruised her arms.

When Rihanna tried to text message another assistant, Melissa Forde, Brown grabbed her cell phone and "threw it out of the window onto an unknown street."

Rihanna then spied Brown's cell phone "sitting in his lap."

"She picked up the cellular phone" but Brown again was quicker.

"Before she could make a call he placed her in a headlock with his right hand," the papers revealed. "Brown pulled Robyn F. close to him and bit her on the left ear. She was able to feel the vehicle swerving from right to left as Brown sped away."

Suddenly, Brown stopped the Lamborghini, turned off the engine, "removed the key from the ignition and sat on it," the papers state. "He then placed her in a headlock positioning the front of her throat between his biceps and forearm."

Then, Brown "began applying pressure."

The alleged attack lasted just minutes and by 12:55 a.m., police - alerted by neighbors who heard her screams - were questioning Rihanna.

Forde told cops that Brown called her at 1 a.m. "as if nothing had happened." She said he hung up after she told him that Rihanna was talking to cops.

Eighteen hours later, Brown finally surrendered.

Chico and Delamar's Daily Top 10: August 26, 2008 → The Top Ten Traffic Moments

Here's another interesting Top 10 topic from Chico and Delamar:


Traffic is the bane of every driver in Metro Manila. From my end of the city, it’s now C5 at any time of the day. The thingamajig they’re constructing at the Kalayaan intersection is driving every driver nuts! And we don’t even know if that monstrosity will even help the traffic situation when it finally gets built. I’ve always said I hated driving. But I guess upon closer inspection, it’s really the traffic that I hate.
August 26, 2008 → The Top Ten Traffic Moments
1. Homer - My lolo was one lucky person. He was stuck in traffic in the northbound lane on the SLEX. Right next to the airport, an airplane overshot the runway and settled on the highway. He was the last car missed by the plane.
2. Kirei - During traffic along EDSA, my best friend and I found ourselves behind a military truck. I waved at the soldiers, smiled, and blew them a kiss. A couple of soldiers waved back while the others smiled. Sobrang hiya ng best friend ko. So I told her, kahit sa ganung paraan man lang, mapabaunan ko sila ng konting saya bago sila sumabak sa digmaan.
3. Specialist - I was along c5 on my way to the office. After the Katipunan flyover, I saw a plastic bag thrown from the shanties. It almost hit the car in front of me. It splattered and I saw that it was filled with human poop.
4. Riverbanks - Our car and the car in front of us were flagged down by an MMDA person each. The car in front sped off after talking to the MMDA, then that guy talked to our MMDA. Apparently, the girl in front was Kris Aquino, and she told the MMDA that we were with her. If that was really her, then thanks, Ms. Kris!
5. Dru - I was listening to my ipod as I crossed the street. Then this truck almost ran me over. When I looked up, it was a truck of condoms!
6. XtraRice - As I was making sabit sa likod ng jeep (I’m a girl), the car right behind me started honking. When I looked, who should it be? My crush.
7. SC - I was stuck in trafic 0n a jeep somewhere in Blumentritt, when a w0man suddenly screamed, her ear bleeding. Apparently may humabl0t ng earrings niya, a guy 0n a bike.
8. Astroboy - I saw this car sticker on a car in fr0nt of me in traffic: "WARNING: children playng outside the car can cause accidents and adults playing inside the car can cause children!"
9. Carlo - When we were stuck in traffic in Cavite, we decided to ask a jeepney driver what was causing the congestion. The driver replied,"Kasi may umano sa ano diyan sa may ano eh."
10. Marcus - One rainy August afternoon in 1998, I left the office in Pasig at 4:30pm and reached Alabang at 5am the next. We spent the whole night crawling in traffic along SLEX.
11. Racer - An MMDA flagged down a friend who was on a motorcycle. My friend said, "Ano pong violation?" The MMDA answered, "Wala naman, pa-angkas lang. Trafik eh."
12. SC - While stuck in traffic in a taxi who happened to be listening to RX, I texted you guys to tell manong driver na pakilakasan ang aircon kasi nagmamantika na ko sa likod. Without talking, he did.
13. SPY Shadow - Our military vicar was apprehended by a highway patrol for beating the red light. But the officer, who was a Catholic, let him go when he recognized the priest, and said "Father, ingat na lang kayo doon sa next intersection kasi hindi po mga Katoliko ang mga assigned doon!"
14. Astroboy - One night, my sister had to take a taxi h0me. Nung malapit na siya, she tapped the driver’s sh0ulder then he screamed! He said after, "Pasensiya na po, 25 years kasi ak0ng driver sa punerarya. Di ako sanay na kinakalabit ng pasahero."
15. Na name - While stuck in traffic on a bridge, may dad suddenly screamed, "May tumalon!" Apparently a lady committed suicide by jumping off.
16. Sayuri - We were not moving along Roxas blvd, when suddenly a motorcade on the other lane stopped right alongside of us. My son rolled down his window to see the commotion, then the limo that the police were escorting rolled down the windows, and who should peek out - Michael Jackson! He handed his sampaguita necklace to my son.
17. Jose de vengenge - One time in a bus, the conductor shouted, "O sige, pasok lang, maluwag yan kasi laging ginagamit!"

Fans stunned by Rihanna-Chris Brown reconciliation

By ReutersFebruary 28, 2009 1:00 PM PST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Fans of singers Chris Brown and Rihanna expressed dismay on Saturday at reports the couple had reunited just three weeks after Brown was alleged to have assaulted her.

Celebrity magazines People and Us Weekly said that the R&B stars were spending time together at the Miami home of hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs -- and that Rihanna 's father was supporting her decision.

"I love my daughter with whatever road she takes. I'm behind her win or lose. I will be supportive. If that's the road she wants to choose, I'm behind her," Rihanna 's dad Ronald Fenty told Us Weekly from his Barbados home.

Fans could scarcely believe the news that came a week after a picture, showing the 21-year-old "Umbrella" singer with bruises to her face and swollen lips, was leaked on the Internet.

"All the abusive men are celebrating," Highroller33138 wrote in a posting on the MTV.com website. "It sets a terrible example for women everywhere. Rihanna really disappointed me."

"Stupid, really stupid. ... I hate women like this," wrote ladyofthelake in a posting on TVGuide.com.

On Friday People quoted an unidentified source saying the couple, who had been dating for about a year, were back together.

"They care for each other. While Chris is reflective and saddened about what happened, he is really happy to be with the woman he loves," the source told People.

Representatives of Brown, 19, a clean-cut teen idol whose hits include "Run It!", declined comment on the reports. Rihanna 's publicist did not return calls seeking comment.

Los Angeles prosecutors have yet to decide whether to file charges against Brown after his arrest on February 8 on suspicion of making criminal threats against a woman.

The alleged assault on the eve of the Grammy Awards caused both stars to cancel their scheduled appearances. Brown issued a statement a week after the incident saying he was "sorry and saddened" and seeking counseling.