ING AAP 2006

ING Insurance held its annual Agency Award Presentation on 6th May 2006. As usual, I was part of the usherette committee as I have been part of it since my dad was appointed the Organizing Chairperson in year 2001.

Meetings, briefings and rehearsals were held 2 months before the actual event and every friday for the past two months I went to ING Headquater in KL Jalan Raja Chulan for the trainning.

On 6th May, Saturday morning, the whole usherette committee arrived in Sunway Convention Centre at 8:30am for a full and final rehearsal. As expected, not everyone was punctual as some stayed far from Sunway. I was lucky because all I need to do was just walk over but anyhow, mom sent me that morning since I have to bring quite a lot of stuffs, i.e. my costume, shoes, towel, extra clothings and etc.

8:30am

Everyone looked sleepy..

The stage was not done yet because there was an event the day before and the event company could not get hold of the hall until early that day

The tables were not done yet either.

Without further delay, we began our full rehearsal because based on past experiences, we will always run out of time.

9:00am

Briefing

Rehearsal

Backstage.

This year due to renovation work carried out by Sunway, we cannot use the "actual" backstage which is seriously more spacious. As a result, the event company have to set up partitions to come out with a walkway for our backstage. This will be where the award recipients lined up before they go on stage to collect their award.

The hall from the stage.

Rehearsal was carried out until 12 noon before we have to go for our lunch, according to schedule. Similarly, we had our buffet lunch in Atrium Cafe, Sunway Pyramid Tower Hotel.

12 Noon

A section was reserved for us.

The buffet was delicious..

They served yummy looking dessert. I didn't taste any of those because I don't want to fill my stomach too much. hehe!

So in the end, I only settled for this..

Simple and filling.

1:30pm

The make-up and hair-do room

Hair section

After foundation

First part of the eyeshadow.

This year, the theme of the make up was dramatic. When I was told about the theme, I thought it would be some really dramatic stuffs, perhaps some haute couture makeup. In the end, I was kind of disappointed because it was only very normal smoky eye makeup. Yikes!

Almost done...

She was the one who did my hair. I really liked it~

Ta-Dah!

My mom said this picture don't look like me. The red lipstick wasn't my choice. The makeup director insisted on red lipstick so to make it more closer towards the "dramatic" theme.

The hairdresser gave my hair a temporary curl and it looked really nice! I was thinking if I should get the curls done permanently since I'm trying to grow my hair. It's now at this stage that it's so frustrating because it looks horrible down and I have to spend time to style my hair everytime I go out. So tell me what you think ok?

3:00pm

Everyone's makeup was done at this time and we are all required to go down to the main hall to check out the respective tables that were under our supervision. We have to know the location of those VIPs' tables so it will be easier for us to grab the awardees in the middle of the event for their next segment.

It was that time that the dancers will have the stage to themselves for the final rehearsal.

Dancers rehearsal and lighting test.

Golleo, our mascot.

By 4:30pm, all of us were ready at our assigned station and I was assigned to the awardees briefing room where we will brief awardees through the event and refreshments were served.

After that, our day started! We have to leave all of our belongings into the makeup room and the room will be locked. Thus, I didn't get to take any more pictures of the night, but anyway I was really busy as well because I was in charged of all the big group awardees.

6:00pm

Awardees entrance

This year the function's opening was cool. I was at the awardees holding room backstage where there was a TV installed for us to watch what's happening on stage. Previously, the function opening was always the same where the chairman, president and other VIPs proceed on stage to insert some flag or press some button to officiate the event. This year, the event company came out with the idea to use football matches.

ING's greatest competitions are mainly from other insurance company such as Great Eastern, Prudential, AIA and many other insurance companies. Therefore, to show that ING is better than the rest, a football match was used to bring out the message.

Brazil Football Academy which is based here in Malaysia was hired to do the job. Kids from the academy put on jerseys with indications that they represent each of the insurance companies. They came on stage and started a match only later to have ING president Dato' Chris Davies, as the referee to come out with a whistle and a red card to eliminate all other "players" expect player ING.

Then, ING Chairman, Tengku Abdullah came on stage, blew his whistle and Dato' Chris Davies performed his penalty kick and scored, and with that the event was officially opened.

Apart from that, waiters were also dressed in jerseys, unlike their usual black and white uniforms.

The event was scheduled to end at about 10:30pm, plus minus until 11:30pm like previous years.

The first and second segment of the event went smoothly as planned, also with performances by Malaysian Idol first runner up Nita. She sang beautifully.

However! The guy who was in charged of the lucky draw (a chance to win BMW or Myvi) totally ruined it~ In the end the event ended at 12:30 midnight, way beyond the schedule.

The black sheep, a mid thirties balding man was hired by the event company. Gosh I tell you, he behaved as though he was one of the VIP, walking around in his black suit, carrying his suitcase, always talking to his assistant beside and he never smiled to anyone of the usherettes. Sheeesh! Anyhow, in the end he was the one everyone loathed, because he ruined all our hardword to pull off a great night! Everything that night was superb expect for his stupid lucky draw!

During the lucky draw segment, he called out those who were lucky enough to be chosen to take part in the contest. Then he proceeded to ask each of the contestants questions which were practically stupid and useless!

After which, the shortlisted contestants were required to use their creativity to draw. Firstly, he prepared mahjong paper drawn with 12 half-moon shape.

Then the contestants are required to create 12 different drawings continuing from the half-moon shape, complete with description. Well, the contestants did well because they even drew a tomb, soldier's hat, turtle and igloo out of it.

But the problem was, how can you judge something that was based on individual's creativity? There's no definite judgement as to whose drawings were correct nor wrong. In the end, this part of the lucky draw that took most of the time gave somewhat equal marks to everyone. What was the point then?

The black sheep dragged one hour for this part of the lucky draw only to have the contestants given equal marks. Stupid right?

Oh yes, he used an hour for it! Which was initially only scheduled to be 30 minutes to be done and over with. This creativity test was not end of it. The black sheep still have to shortlist the contestants to one final one and he has to spin the wheel of fortune only to decide if he gets the BMW or the Myvi.

He has already exceeded the time appointed to him by an hour and many people have already started complained. The usherettes and awardees waiting at the awardees holding room have been waiting for the past hour for the next award and we were getting jumpy because the awardees were starting to leave the room.

Then one of the emcees went on stage to ask the black sheep to hurry the game and get done with it but to our horror, he said, "We will stop here for now and I shall come back later to annouce the winner."

OMG!! How more stupid can he gets?

The last award segment continued and I hurriedly gathered all the awardees and formed them in line, according to sequence to take their award.

By plan, the last big group was suppose to stay on stage and the grand award winner will enter the hall by the main entrance. I was assigned to remain on stage together with another ING colleague, Rachel to control the traffic on stage. Suddenly, the emcee announced, "Thank you, you may now leave the stage."

Rachel and I were stunned! I stood on stage, blanked for a while thinking what we should do. Before we could even decide, the awardees left the stage by themselve and all we could manage for last minute was to follow the flow.

Then, the award presenter, ING chairman YAM Tengku Abdullah was called back to seat.

All of these, just to get that damn black sheep back on stage again to announce the winner. Sonofabitch!

When we heard that the black sheep was back on stage, Rachel and I just couldn't forgive him! We rehearsed so much for this segment because big group, the important group was always difficult to handle. URgh~

After he FINALLY announced the winner, which was suppose to be 2 hours ago, the grand award winner who has been waiting at the stage was only called on stage. Once again, Tengku was called on stage to present the award.

By that time, half of the hall was emptied because people started leaving when it was past 11:30pm. Imagine the finale, no one was on stage where previous years it was too packed! The usherettes have to urged all those left to go on stage for the finale. Even so, the stage still looked empty.

By the time the usherettes went back up to the makeup room to change and collect our bags, the organizing chairperson with the emcee called the black sheep and the event company person-in-charge up to the room and they sounded the black sheep.

We the usherettes just sat in the room and listened. Bwahahaha!

Oh well, by the time I changed and left Sunway Convention Centre it was already 1:30am. I was there for 17 hours! and 10 hours of which I was on heels. Painful ~ >.< ~

After the event back in the makeup room, tired, hungry, sleepy, drained, exhausted and feet aching! My makeup also smudged after a long day.

So that's how my hair looked like with the temporary curl. Should I go get a permanent curl like this? I guess it will not be as high maintenance as how my hair is now. At least I won't have to style my hair everytime I go out.

But, does it make me look older? Tell me!

Got Brush?

Got Brush?

Everyone has a different and distinctive pattern and way of brushing his/her teeth. How do you do yours everyday?

I'll show you how I do it.

First of all, you have to get your "tools" together.

I go for Darlie toothpaste and Aquafresh Toothbrush

Then, you put the toothpaste onto the brush like this,

How much you want your toothpaste to be is of course entirely up to you

After that, sprinkle some water on it

Then you are all set to brush your teeth!

My way of doing it is what you can see from the video below.

(For this post itself, I think I brushed my teeth more than I need to for a day. Gosh too much of toothpaste hurts so badly!)

My dad once read from a book where it says that a person brush his/her teeth in the same pattern or routine everyday without realizing it.

You may not believe it but you can try to video yourself for two days and compare.

I tried to remember how I brush my teeth and after my comparison I think what my dad read was true.

After which, you will have to spit the bubbles out of your mouth.

Clean your toothbrush

I like this picture so much! lol..

Then you gargle and rinse your mouth

And then you are all set to show off your fresh, white and clean teeth!

SMILE !! =)

P/S: Inspired by the advertisement Got Milk? The idea came to me when I was brushing my teeth when I was having my shower. The main purpose is to show this picture, that is similar to the one in Got Milk? advertisement. LOL. I like it!

GOT MILK ?

GOT BRUSH ?

**Photos were not edited, only resized.

Away!

Sorry for not posting as frequent as before.

I have been editing pictures from the recent ING Agency Award Presentation 2006 and shall blog about it when I am back from Redang.

Yeap! Going to Redang tomorrow with the family and mom's colleague family. My mom and I will be driving alternatively throughout the estimated 8 hours journey, God bless us. Got my tanning oil with me and hope I won't have to come back disappointed again. Just got the information from mom that we will be staying in Berjaya Hotel Resort. Good?

Grace got hold of her friend's digital camera and I shall take loads of photos to blog. Might see many of Grace and my faces, haha.

Went out with Adrian today (11th May) to celebrate his 27th birthday, which is on 12th May. Too bad I won't be in KL.

Happy Birthday sweetie!

Would you rather..

Option 1

Take on a life that has been preplanned and decided for you?, or

Option 2

Make and create a life of your own?




That is the dilemma I'm facing right now.

This morning when my mom woke me up to move my car away from the gate, she told me to get ready tonight for a product trainning (on insurance) in Klang. I didn't know about it before today and she didn't come to my room to ask me, but to inform me that I am going tonight.

I've mentioned many times before that my mom has decided that I will be her business successor without first asking for my opinion. I never liked the idea of that because firstly, I am not really interested in a career in the insurance industry and secondly I strongly dislike the way she is making decision for me without asking me in the first place.

When she did that again in this morning, I was furious because I really didn't like it. I told her I don't want to go.

I suppose you wouldn't have guessed what she did to MAKE me go.

"I want to train you early so you can start the business part time when you're studying. If you don't want to go then I'll have to cut your allowance. You can go work and find money for yourself".

That's what she said.

She threatened me, again.

Yes, again. It wasn't the first time. Whenever I don't do things according to her way, she threatens me. Usually by saying that she will stop paying for my tuition fees.

I has been thinking the whole morning.

Should I go tonight, or shouldn't I?

There are so many consequences that I have to consider.

If I go, I will be like a puppet, stringed to her hand, moving in every direction she intends to manipulate. If I go, it will be a sign for her to continue her manipulation even more aggressively.

However, if I insist on not going tonight, she will cut my allowance, which is RM200 a month, and at the same time ban me from going out, even though it's not as if I can go out often now too.

If I refuse to go, I'll hear the same thing again.

"You're useless. Your dad left the business to us and I have worked so hard to pass on the business to you and you don't want to take it."

"You think everyone has the opportunity to enjoy such smooth life? You are lucky that you already have a business awaiting for you even before you graduate."

"You don't know how to do anything. All you know is to spend money and go out."

"You are an useless, ungrateful, unfilial girl!"

"From now onwards, you stay at home everyday apart from going to college. No more going out with Adrian. You cannot go out without my permission."

Those are what I have to go through everytime.

And everytime I cry, cry and cry.

What should I do?

Should I go tonight and be puppet around with my life?

Or should I insist on not going and rebel, stand for myself and suffer the consequences?



She never asks if I would like to have a career in the insurance industry.

She never asks for my opinion.

She once said, "I don't care whether you like it or not...."


Should I?


Shouldn't I?



p/s: She just called and told grace to inform me (again!) to be ready by 7pm tonight.

+++++ Update +++++

In the end, I went.

+++++ Update +++++

ING AAP 2006

Just got back from ING Agency Award Presentation Night.

I'm now too tired to blog because I was at the Pyramid Convention Centre since 8:30am.

The event though has a great theme and concept with fresh and fantastic ideas on the opening ceremony, it was affected by the lucky draw segment that has delayed the whole programme and caused last minute changes in the programme cue.

The last minute changes brought drastic effects as it involves the Chairman of ING, YAM Tengku Abdullah.

Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Organizing Chairperson and many other committee leaders were so furious they ordered a meeting right after the event, even though it was already 12:30 midnight.

It was scheduled to end at 10:30pm, plus minus to be 11:00pm but it ended at 12:30 midnight, all because of the fault of ONE MAN.

Stay tuned for more on the interesting opening ceremony and first half segment of the event.

Loads of photos to be uploaded as well.

I have to go remove my make up, soak my feet in warm water and off to have a good night sleep.

Goodnight! =)

Changes

As mentioned earlier, I was suppose to start my second year 1st semester today but upon checking my timetable again online, I found out that there was a change in my Journalism class timetable. It was initially on every Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:30am-1pm (which is my only class on Tuesday and Thursday), but it was rescheduled to Monday and Wednesday, 2:00pm-3:30pm. Therefore, that gives me a day off from college, which includes today.

Although it seemed to be a small change but this change has occupied my only free time and the only possible time for lunch on every Mondays and Wednesdays. Have a look at my current timetable, which will be for the rest of the semester of a duration of 4 months.

Monday and Wednesday

9:30am - 11:00am ----- Mass Media Communication (Mr. Ken)
11:00am - 12:30pm --- Introduction to Public Relations (Ms. Daliza)
12:30pm - 2:00pm ---- Visual Communication (Mr. Teh)
2:00pm - 3:30pm ----- Introduction to Journalism (Mr. Ken)
3:30pm - 6:00pm ----- Design & Layout (Mr. Teh)

My classes start at 9:30am, end at 6pm with no break in between. I will be rushing for my next class even before one finishes. Furthermore, look at the lecturers I will be facing. I will be facing two same lecturers twice in a day, twice a week. Bah....

Also, look at the subjects I'm taking. Visual communication and Design & Layout are both year two subjects where as Mass Media Communication, Intro to PR, Intro to Journalism are year one, 1st semester subjects. What a combination right?!

Well, that is because I was not able to take these subjects on my previous semesters because the timetable always managed to clash with my other subjects.

So now I'm already preparing myself to face freshies in those year one classes. I'll be the most senior in the class! OMG.

I guess this semester will serve as a good time to lose those extra pounds aye? No time for lunch at all!

Anyway, since class was rescheduled, I took some time to laze on the bed before getting ready for ING. Purposely asked Grace to tag along as I was planning to bring her to Lim Kok Wing in the afternoon to enquire about her course.

The trip to ING didn't take long. I was there for the costume fitting for the upcoming Annual Award Presentation (AAP) night which will be held in the Sunway Convention Centre on 6th May 2006. The costume fits OK though the top was a tad too short, it showed my belly button. Since this is a company event thus the costume has to be appropriately conservative, so it was sent back for alteration.

I has since been a part of the AAP committee starting year 2001 when my father was offered a position in ING, and with that the Organizing Chairperson of the company's annual event. Every year the event carries a different theme, usually taken from the foreign trip incentive destination.

In year 2001 where Aetna was taken over by ING, the theme of the event was the Netherlands, the origin country of ING. Therefore, our costumes were the Dutchlady.

Year 2002 with the foreign trip incentive destination to Egypt, the guests were taken back to the time of ancient Egypt and the usherettes were transformed into Egyptian Goddess.

Year 2003, to celebrate the collaboration between ING and Aetna, "Grand and Class" were the main essence of the annual event. With that, we were dressed in gowns in deep blue, the color of ING (blue and orange).

AAP 2003, with Dad.

Dad was fighting against cancer from year 1998 and especially in year 2003, his body was weakened by various rounds of radiotheraphy and chemotheraphy that he was unable to attend the event.

Year 2004, the event brought together cultures of various countries and traditional costumes were used as the event costume.

AAP 2004

I was given the Virgin Islands and I have no idea why mermaid was the traditional costume. Perhaps the costume rental shop didn't have anything for Virgin Islands. Anyhow, as you can see from the picture, I was still having my waist length hair.

Also in year 2004, I attended the event with mom, without Dad. Dad was no longer able to serve the company as he was called back to God's home after 7 years of battle with cancer.

Last year, with great demand from the management, gown was once again chosen to be the event costume as it looks great on pictures.

AAP 2005

Click for larger size, I'm in the middle, next to the giant caucasian.

Sidenote, I cut my waist length hair after the 2004 event and has seen opted for short cropped hairstyle. Currently in the process of growing my hair and it is now in the most frustrating length that it's too ugly to let it down but too short to tie it up.

This year, in conjuction with the World Cup fever, the event costume will be of the Brazil Samba. The ladies will be in a two piece, black halter bareback top with tiered skirt of the Germany flag color, Red, Gold and Black. As for the gentlemen, they will be in white ruffled shirt, black slack pants with gold (maybe red) tuxedo belt.

I have no picture of the current costume yet but I will definitely blog about the event and hopefully I can get hold of a digicam. The past years I was able to get the pictures because my brother helped out in the event as the event photographer. However, now that he is in UK doing biotechnology, my source of photos is gone.

So now I can just hope that Grace's friend can lend me his camera. Mom has been wanting to buy one for decades now but never seem to materialized. *shrug*

LA-LA-LA-LA! Can't wait to go class tomorrow. Been too bored for too long already.

I seriously hope there will be no ice-breaking aka self-introducing session. Hate it all the time!

Imagine I have to say, "Hi everyone, I'm Christine, current president of the SSLA (School of Social Science and Liberal Arts) Student Association and I'm in my second year, first semester."

But the whole class are students who came in to UCSI for the first time for their first class.

Yikes!