Oh geez, this tita can no longer keep up with the millennials. My friend B and I were convinced by the Filipino journo friends we had drinks with last Friday…to stay up past 3 am. I was so trashed the following day that I only got to do my grocery shopping at 3 pm.
I wanted to put that kind of chandelier in my future bathroom
There were so many conferences this past week, which allowed fellow Pinoy journos to gather in one place and exchange chismis. These were former Bloomberg TV Philippines/TV5/Businessworld people. One is an anchor/SEAsia reporter for CNBC, the other one is already a senior producer/editor/journo at CNA, and another is a Bloomberg reporter transferring now to their Jakarta office from Manila bureau. Others are from MSN and a commodities trade magazine.
We all had the same complaints: WE CANNOT HIRE IN SINGAPORE. ZERO TALENT.
Two of these people here I have already poached in the past. Of course they wouldn’t jump ship because they’re already the same level as me. The others are really meant for broadcast. So basically we’re all competing for a very small pool of unqualified locals because we’re all having problems with MoM barriers. What I found out is that they can go around the limitations by hiring at S-Pass levels and just hit the maximum payscale at that level so they can get people from abroad. Unfortunately, I cannot do that since 1) we’re an MNC so it’s harder for me because of reputational risks; 2) we’ve already hit our quota.
And of course, there is no way I can hire a local PR or citizen. For the PR, they are so much sought after that I cannot afford them. For the citizens…mehhhhhh. I will just kill myself by imposing this kind of headache if I hire local.
I told my bosses that there is no way I can fulfill London’s orders so I’m poaching from our HK bureau and sold SG so much to her. She’s flying in September to cover two conferences and if she likes it, I will facilitate her transfer. I can tell I will not be loved by the HK bureau chief/current manager.
I can also try poaching from our Australia bureau…
I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
I’m a coffee runner since the world began. For some reason my good friend G and my brother-and-SIL tandem like the local Gold Roast coffee here. So here I am, in danger of going overweight on my baggage.
There is also a nearby reflexology place. This is the reason why I like staying in places like Lavender; neighborhoods like this have affordable options.
I fell asleep there while I had the 90 mins foot and back reflexology combo.
So my my good friend, who transferred here during the lockdowns of 2020, and I agreed to meet here so we can have nice talk amid the fireworks and the lights show. Her studio is a chaos right now because her mom and sister had been staying there for a week now or so. Plus of course, we wouldn’t be able to talk about sensitive stuff because they’re around.
She had been my best friend in elementary and I was always at their house because my piano teacher lived nearby. So every Saturday after my lessons, I walked over to her house to hang. We kind of drifted apart in second year high school because we thought we’re too cool for each other to hang out together. She joined the rich kids clique while I joined another popular kids clique. But we later realized it was stupid (teenagers…) We were still in each other’s lives though and all throughout our 32 years of friendship, we were always just a phone call away.
It has been more than 5 years since we saw each other face-to-face but we talk almost everyday on FB Messenger that’s why it didn’t feel like we haven’t seen each other that long. I’m the one who knows EVERYTHING about her life post-separation from her husband. Like every graphic detail. LOL.
I’m helping her now find another law firm doing M&As here in SG because her current one sucks. It’s a local so no wonder.
It’s kind of funny. They have an oversupply of lawyers and bankers here while there is a dearth of journos since there is no free press here.
Ok, I must take a shower now and attend church at 10 am.
