Tips on Domains

I think I have to share and note down my meager knowledge on different domains, before I totally forget again lol.

There are so much more factors to it for each of them, I will just state a few liners.

Point of Sale and Retail and Shipments
This is where I spent the initial almost 4 years of slavery with, a consumer good giant. Basically from a data warehouse point of view, this is none other than reporting of fact and dimension data: in layman terms: sales vs customer vs product kind of thing. SAP Barcode comes into play, different ways of computing for bundled products and promotion, etc. The level of granularity depends on how you want the information to be stored in the warehouse (star schema, dimensional, etc) and the analysis on what metrics to compute of which the top management people are actually tracking and dying to read and monitor. Basic KPI index on ROI, turnover would be among the favorites.

Telecoms
I spent almost 1.5 years on and off a telco company. Simply put there are 2 lines of businesses, the prepaid and postpaid. UDR (usage detail records) will be tracked, to the details like for a customer, how many local and international calls did he make, when (peak or non peak hours) was the call made, demographics, VAS (value added services) like voice call, 3g, incoming, call waiting, data plan, etc and equally important and volatile are the sim states which could be active, expired, terminated, reconnected. Datawarehousing sounds cool, but it is just a fancy tool for Marketing and Sales executive people to dwell and do their fancy forecasts and analysis. (I overuse the word fancy).

Banking: Forex
Ok finally working on an end-user forex trading application, as they say, where the money is, financial market focus. There are different ways of trading: I will state a few
Spots - trading today where settlement is 2 days from now.
Forwards – trading at a future date
Swaps – 2 streams of trading, a near leg and far leg. It could be even or uneven swap
Orders – putting of orders where you specify your own rate, once the market hits your rate, orders get executed as a trade

Aggegrated trading – for fancy trading for bulk trades of high volumes, minimum usually at 1M for an instruction. An instruction can be further broken down into orders, of which the orders further generate a deal. Some basic terms:
Buy & Sell – you are a market taker, taking in whatever rate the market has
Bid & Offer – you are a market maker, if there is nothing to sweep, you can specify the rate and market where you want to put a limit order in.

Market data adapters would be exchanges like Reuters, Bloomberg, etc which are liquidity sources. If a trader places 10M, it can be executed (risk is hedged by the bank) like 5M@1.03 goes to Reuters, 3M goes to Bloomberg @1.05, 2M goes to CME@1.06.

Some more fancy strategies:
Iceberg – as the name implies, you can have a shown amount and a hidden amount when you place your trade. This way the market won’t have a clear perception of what you place.

Sniper – you can put an open instruction at a rate you want. Once the market hits your rates, it continuous snipes for more orders until the instruction amount gets filled.

Just a side note, after working for forex, I get to be asked a common question, so ‘what do you recommend people to trade’. I once get mocked by an outsider folk for not giving a specific currency to recommend. Let me just set the record:
1) the bank’s forex trading application is for high net worth individuals (financial assets not including primary residence should exceed $1M USD) who do bulk trading. I don’t think it is applicable to common people who do small-time trading

2) whatever currency (ccy) you trade, the bank will never lose, it just hedges the risk outside, it will never keep a long position on a certain ccy. It will only earn, and never lose money. So whether it’s 10M JPY or 10M EUR or 10M USD, it doesn’t make much difference to me from my side of the barn. Perhaps it’s not part of the workstream I am involved in. Do not ask me for insider trading tips, if I do have, I’d be quitting job and practicing trading myself.

People tend to over-exaggerate things. Some people would consider trading as the next booming instrument to take over the world’s financial market. Everyone wants a slice of it and dip their a** into it, makes it sound like they are doing something extremely perplex and high-profile. From a practical standpoint, I can say from my few months, trading is like a glorified gambling casino console hehe.

It’s always handy to know a few of the acronyms and jargons and feel like an expert. As they say, when you can’t convince, confuse. :p

Options Trading

Options Trading Intro-Seminar
Date: Dec 6 (Thurs)
Speaker: Mirriam Macwilliams



Details (copied from brochure)
Profile: Mirriam MacWilliams
Chief Options Trainer of Wealth Mentors. She is a self-made millionaire. She made over US$2million in less than two years in the stock market with a starting capital of only US$10,000. A corporate high-flyer at the peak of her career as National Director of Education of an investment club in US, Mirriam gave up a jet-setting job and a six-figure annual salary for a little known and predominantly male-dominated area of options trading. She teaches strategies used by professional fund managers. Her forte is turning complex subjects into easy-to-follow step-by-step strategies that anyone can learn and use right away. She is the only wealth coach featured in over 7 episodes of Channel NewsAsia’s Prime Time Morning TV series where she shared her extensive knowledge of wealth creation.

What Will You Learn:
• How to multiply your wealth from the comfort of your home.
• Importance of picking the right stocks and knowing when to enter and exit
• How to achieve high returns with minimum risks
• Make profits regardless of market direction
• No need to analyze reports and news
• How you can assess a company’s fundamentals in 30 seconds!
• How to get powerful trading tools at zero cost


My take:
Trading is a very interesting and enticing thing to learn, but the course fee is really too expensive. It's more than enough for me to tour Europe! I dont know if people can really make money out of this. But it's really cool how Mirriam Macwilliams turned 10K USD to 2M USD in 2 years with just trading options.

Their website is full of testimonials of those who made money, even for those who has no financial background, housewives included, my goodness! They made 200% in a week's time. I was really swooped by their ads and attracted to sign up. I still have hesitations in mind, so I just let it pass, anyway seminar occurs every 4 months.

The seminar promises of teaching effective strategies on how to trade profitably. At the back of my mind, I was thinking, what will happen if everyone uses Mirriam's strategies, doesnt it have an effect in stock prices? I mean if majority are practicing the same tactics, there should be some negation? Or is it the other way around, making it more profitable. Wheew it's complicated hehe.

On the contrary, I tried researching for feedbacks in general for options trading seminars. Some are positive, while some call it a scam, rubbing people of huge amount of money but leaving them all the more confused with trade jargons. I really dont know.

I remembered one nice quote from Aaron (The CEO):
Luck is not random, it favors the prepared. ---Well said.

Funny incident:
That night after the intro-seminar, I was again in my deep thoughts mode, thinking about the things Mirriam said. From Hotel Furama to my home is probably a 1-hour ride (MRT+bus). It was only when I reach my place that I saw that the name tag given during the seminar was still pinned on my dress, good thing I have a jacket on that might have hidden some part of it - i hope. (Probably fellow commuters that night might have been glancing at me) Parang gusto kong makilala ako ng buong mundo, haha ewww.

Western Cooking Workshop

Western Cooking Workshop (ala Wok with Yan)
Date: Dec 4 (Tues)
Chef: Richard Aw



What made me enroll in this 1-day course is because of the extra-ordinary menu. They have Roast Turkey with Stuffing and Chocolate Mousse. See, I always fancy the uncommon things :p Haha as if it's easy to find turkeys back in Manila. Turkeys always remind me of Mr Bean (if you've watched the Thanksgiving episode where he inserted his head inside the giant turkey). :)

The over-all experience:
1) I feel like I was watching Wok With Yan live! The chef is a Singaporean Chinese and has a cheeful look which really resembles Mr Yan. There is a wide mirror at the top of the demo area, for the audience to see what's cooking. (see, it's exactly like the live cooking shows you watch on TV)

2) I see a bunch of housewives, office workers, matronas, it's amusing to see them raising their hands to ask questions, standing up to go near the chef demo table every now and then, touching the ingredients, using phone cameras to take pictures. Kakatuwa silang panoorin.

3) There's free taste for all the attendees after every dish has been cooked! Funny thing was all the attendees seemed to be 'prepared' with food containers in their bags. Mukhng SOP ata yan d2. And lucky me, that day I brought baon to office so I had empty food containers as well haha. Sumptuous dinner ta-pao for me! :)


4) Regarding the food:

Roast Turkey - goodness, I don't know why it's so juicy. The chef only rubbed salt and pepper and roasted it in oven.


Turkey stuffings served with gravy and cranberry sauce and Mashed potato - the stuffings composed mainly of ground chicken and turkey liver and the seasonings. The gravy has XO sauce, bay leaf and MRT (funny term by the chef, stands for marjoram, rosemary, thyme). All together they make a perfect combination.


Chocolate Mousse - the process is so tedious, you keep on whipping while maintaining a gradually cooling temperature. Taste is nice. But if you ask me to make one, I think I'd rather pay 40php for a slice from Red Ribbon than going through the whole process hehehe. I heard that mousse is one of the most difficult to make in the pastry world

Kudos to Chef Richard Aw. I think I'll attend some more of his classes if I have the time. :)

The Science of Getting Rich

Science of Getting Rich (SGR)
Date: Dec 3 (Mon)
Speaker: Dr. Mel Gill



I attended an intro-seminar about 'The Science of Getting Rich'. It's a book written by Wallace Walters in 1909 and is now re-packaged into a 3-day course by a well-known writer/psychiatrist named Dr Mel Gill.

The learnings of this might be contrary to some beliefs (primarily Christian principles). But anyway, try to pick up something positive, I dont suggest researching deeply on it too much. Just keep an open mind.

Before I start, I just remember a quote I saw in TV before and I feel like putting it here :). It's rather a question. What would you do if someone is holding a knife in front of you? .... I'll answer the same question at the end of this entry.

Dr Mel Gill is a very good speaker. Someone who can sustain my attention span for 2 long hours, this is really something commendable as I didnt doze off a bit. And it's not often that a speaker can make me scribble down notes. :)

The subject matter is quite interesting as it is trying to find a common ground between science and the things that happen around us. Sometimes there are basic principles in life that we forget, and it's good that something like this comes along the way to remind us. Here are the perky comments:

1) Molecular Theory
Everything is energy. Physical matter is vibration.
E=mc2,mass is proportional to energy.
All thoughts are vibration or frequencies.
Thoughts and matter interact. Desires and memories are thought forms.
You can control your thoughts and motion.

Basically it means whatever is happening around you is just a form of energy. And you interact with everything in a sub-atomic manner and therefore you create your own reality.

2) Quantum Physics
Heisengberg Uncertainty Principle - expectations change the result of experiment.
Your brain is powerful and it can interact with everyting in a sub-atomic manner. It is never at rest even if you're asleep. It has the capacity to learn 17 languages.

3) Law of Attraction
You can attract in whatever you want, money, love, relationship, by using correctly the positive energy within you.
It's what you're thinking.
1% of population is getting 96% of the wealth - and this is not accident. There is science in this.

4) Practical Application
-Let your thoughts control your emotions which in turn will control your behaviours
-Look at the mirror and tell yourself 'life ahead is full of possibilities'
-Positive thoughts are 100X more powerful than negative thoughts
-Millionaire consciousness - they see everything as a challenge. They do things common people wouldnt do. They dare to find solutions to problems. And this makes them successful.
-Success is not really all about money. Inner happiness is the key to success
-Bring yourself in alignment with what you want.
-Find something that fuels good that resonates with your heart.
-How to lead a miserable life - count your troubles, name them one by one, at the breakfast table.
-Follow your bliss.

I just posted those not so 'off' statements. Though I think religious parties will be frieking on the whole subject matter because it sounds 'New Age', they dont believe there's God, it's all about 'You' changing your own destiny, you in control of everything. I agree with some points, but somehow I still choose to think that God does exist. Something for your judgment. Again, I am NOT a follower nor promoting this.

Going back to my previous statement about what I will do when I see someone holding a knife in front of me.

In my mind, my answer is run. I dont wanna get killed.

Not sure if you have the same answer?.....

The rest of the speech goes something like this.

'So you think this is a bad person, a murderer, a robber, a snatcher, or perhaps a rapist holding a knife, standing in front of you.
A knife seems to give you a shuddering feeling isn't it.
People tend to think things their way, the negative way first. There is nothing wrong with a knife. It depends on how you use it.
Knives aren't just used to take someone's lives.
A doctor uses a knife during surgeries to make his patient's life longer.
A chef uses a knife to cook your favorite dish.
A soldier uses knives or similar weapons to protect his country from harm.
Why havent you thought about doctors, chefs and soldiers, and you just remember the murderers?

Just two things: most of the things are not absolute negatives. And dont always think of negatives, see the whole picture first.

That is something striking, at least for me. Eye-opener.

So whatever comes your way, keep an open mind. Discern for yourself what is good and you may retain those. The rest you may just throw away. Makes sense to me. :)

Additional info:
How I get to know this seminar?
I was in MRT, and the person beside me is reading a newspaper. I happened to glance upon the ad and then I memorized the website and searched for it when I reached office. In short, nakisilip lng sa dyaryo ng iba hehe. Life is full of coincidence. :)

Did I take the course?
No I didnt :), the 3day course costs 3300 USD by the way, and they're offering at a discounted price of 1700SGD for that night only. They do have cool ads. See this one below which I copied from the brochure. How amusing to relate the course fee with doughnuts and coffee.

Excerpt from the ad:
The Science of Getting Rich (SGR) is a full 33hours of a exciting seminar conducted over 3 days. Many International training companies charge $10,500 for this training, but for you, you will not have to pay $10,500 or $8500 or $6500 or even $4500 for this incredible experience. Your investment for this life-changing and transformative seminsar is only $3247. Let's put this in perspective - for the 16 weeks of this program, thhis is a little over $1.20 per hour - less than the cost of a doughnut and coffee! Would you be willing to puy your coffee money toward this life-changing experience?

Personal Make-up Workshop

To be exact, my passion for learning was revived sometime mid-November. Since it's near holiday season, I couldn't find any new courses opening up. I just browsed thru the net and signed up for interesting workshops/seminars.
More fun coming up :)

Personal Make-up Workshop :p
Date: Dec 1 (Sat)



Yeah right, let's start with something no-brainer hehe. :p I joined a private make-up workshop with several Singaporeans and Indians somewhere in Stamford House in City Hall area. Funny was that I was chosen to be the demo model (my goodness ibang level!). Reason I think is because I was the only fair-complexioned Asian with double eyelids (talukap in Tagalog), they can experiment with more eyeshadow effects. Cool, that just made my day hehe! For info, Chinese really put a great DEAL about the double eyelid thing.. to the extent that they will plaster some flesh-colored tapes in the eyelid area to create the flap effect. And for info, yeah I have double eyelids, hindi lng ata halata minsan haha. Anyway, this was really a fun learning experience.

Sharing some of the tips:
1) for skin care, normally forehead will have dead skin cells and will cause uneven skin tone meaning forehead area has a darker shade compared to face area, you have to use exfoliant scrub weekly (exfoliants contain small particles that will lightly abrade off your dead skin cells)

2) before applying make-up, you have to apply moisturizer and eyecream. (this I didnt know) Its a no-no to apply make-up directly to skin because the particles will cause aging. make sure also that your make-up stuff contains only natural oils.

3) applying loose powder makes your make-up last longer

4) the most crucial in make-up is drawing your eyebrows. There should be a peak in the curve, somewhere 45deg of the corner part of your eyeball.

5) for eyecolor, be adventurous, experiment with different tones/layers.

Personally, I still prefer very light make-up. I looked strange after the workshop haha. :)

Realization: A New Passion

"I've been in denial for too long, one day I just realized I've been loving it and that I was wrong" :)

Whenever people ask me if I have plans to study, I always answer firmly with a 'No'. True. :p I always have this feeling like 'nalugi' or 'naka-quota na' for studying an extra year in college. And this extra year seems gruelling, that time my friends and my sisters got to enjoy all they want to do, while I might be somewhere else finishing theses. And studying this extra year didnt earn me anything nor did it give me a higher starting pay (and quite ironic - seems like whatever degree you take, 80% seems to end up in IT for practical reasons because IT provides a more decent pay in Manila)

Before I came to SG, people have been asking me if I plan to pursue MBA in SG. SG probably is the best country in Asia with well-known post-graduate schools. I still answered a firm 'No', I dont see myself studying. I know of several people who have flown to US or UK for MBA but still plans for long term settlement in Manila. My, i was thinking, how many local corporations can afford to shell out KK pesos to hire MBA holders back in Philippines? I remembered answering humorously, 'no i dont have plans to study, because practically speaking, if an MBA degree wont be able to add trailing zeroes (to the right of course) of my current salary, I won't bother anymore. I might as well use my time and money on other essential stuff'. :p

Few months ago, I attended a bible study session. We were asked to map our life's goals in the next 5 years. I dont know I just scribbled something spontaneuosly like 'acquiring new skills'. I was asked to explain afterwards, I said it's because I believe 'life is a continuous learning process, whether it's a business course, a sport or a music course, I still consider it as a skill that that is worth learning'. Then somebody commented 'hey I like what your wrote about life, it's encouraging'. Then I noticed the others were also smiling back at me. I suddenly had a nice feeling about myself, 'wow was it something great I just said'? hehehe

Right then I had some sort of flashbacks. I remembered in a Theology subject back in college, we were asked to create a blueprint of our whole life - it's like starting from childhood to education stage to career stage to marriage stage even up to death stage like what do you want to be written in your orbituary. I remembered I scribbled the same thing in marriage stage. I put there I want to be a housewife (which earned a few good laughs from my friends, haha who doesnt want to be a bum if given the chance dba :p) BUT I also added 'but not STAGNANT..' because I want to have this process of improving myself in different ways.

Funny that with those things in mind, I dont remember exerting any deliberate effort to learn something new after college. Apart from work and IT certification, I really havent acquired any extra skill. Well yeah I managed to enroll in a piano course and driving course, but I havent mastered or even learned on a decent level :p. To be honest, everyone seems to be always too busy in my previous company, and it's not exaggerated that you wont have time to pee in the busiest of days when project deadlines are piling up. My weekends were just devoted to REST, a rare (quarter or bi-annual frequency) out-of-town trip, perhaps some time to bond with family and close friends, and worst, sometimes on-call for work, loser me. :(

So what has strucked me in this long unawakend 'sleep'. After all the bungisngis encouragement from a few close friends, I finally started to have this passion for learning again. Most of it, I would have to give 'special credit' to a close friend who sent several 'disturbing' messages. Sinabihan ako ng 'sayang ang talino mo'. Goodness, I was like 'am I really wasting any talents, I dont remember being smart anymore, I feel that all my brain cells are not functioning already'. Seems like I was partly braindrained, I lost the enthusiasm. I was also inspired by a hausmate, a hot mama of 2 kids (hot mama because she taught me my first make-up skills hehe), a pharmacist by profession. She's so passionate about taking advanced studies related to micro-biotechnology abroad. I was like 'gosh this person is 14years older than me and yet she's more motivated to learn new stuff than anyone I know'.

Probably I really should make good use of my time in SG on worthwhile things, especially that I dont intend to stay long. Okay enough of the road trips and gimiks, let's learn something new. :)

But I STILL dont want to take up MBA hehe. I dont plan to kill myself studying and working at the same time. One of the reasons I went here is for work-life balance, and I dont plan to spoil that. :p I just want to take a few short courses that are purely of my INTEREST, regardless whether it does or does NOT add any value to my resume. Paradigm shift. Slight improvement. :)

This time I just want to learn, to follow where my heart tells me to. Striken by the learning bug. Gotta keep the fire burning while it still is. :)





Not everyone has the capacity to change a hardheaded person like me. In case you do, please dont exercise this brainwash thing on me, because I am vulnerable at times and will give in if you entice me to do so. :)