Khen's Firsts

I was reminded of the church's giveaway for the Workers' General Assembly 2008. It's a calendar showcasing the first properties of the church: a guitar, light mixer, overhead projector and so on.

Now, I want to mention what are my firsts for this day.

November 9 (tomorrow), will be the opening of our event called the "PACEOS Christmas Pavilion," part of the Total Lifystyle Expo and Digital World at the World Trade Center. The Expo has approximately 200 exhibitors/booths selling different products such as cosmetics, cloths, bags, accessories, furniture, and lamps for the Total Lifestyle and printers, computers, electronic gadgets, appliances and cars for the Digital World. This will run for three consecutive days, meaning the event is until Sunday. And everyone is invited to come. It's free admission (sabay promote bah! hihi!).

In line with this, today is the Exhibitors' Ingress. Let me explain briefly what's going on during the Exhibitors' Ingress. Hhmmm...but I think it'll be better if I'll mention the Contractor's Ingress before this one ('cause contractor's ingress is prior to the exhibitors').

• Contractors' Ingress. By this time, the booths are set up, carpets on the floor (the entire hall is carpeted), electrical works and overall design is done by the booth contractor (a booth contractor company). That was yesterday.
• Exhibitor's Ingress. All the exhibitors will be coming in to display their products as well as to design their own booths. And my story will start here... (ang haba ng intro!)

Before an exhibitor enters the hall, he needs to register and fill out the forms: Pass In, Pass Out Form itemizing all the things he will bring inside; Waiver; and ID deposit slip. For those who will pay for the booth on site, I need to issue the O.R since I also do the collection. After accomplishing all the forms and settling the fees, sasamahan ko na sila sa booth nila and then, they'll set up.

- Wala namang problema sa bagay na ito, parang ang simple nga lang ng process. But the problem is nag-sabay sabay ng dating ang mga exhibitors at syempre ako lahat ang nag-aasikaso dahil ako lang naman ang staff ng PACEOS. I'm with the Global Link people (Global Link is the organizer of the entire event and is a member of PACEOS) but they can't entertain my exhibitors (PACEOS exhibitors) 'cause they're handling Total Lifestyle and Digital Exhibitors. Take note, eight people are in charge of the registration (for the Lifestyle and Digital). Sabi nga ni Ms. Tina, "mag-isa ka lang? kami nga walo na nahihirapan pa." So, Kumusta naman ako, nag-iisa! (ayun, ok naman, cool lang kahit nahihirapan...ganyan talaga 'pag may LORD sa puso!)

Now, what are my firsts?

- This is the first big event that I'll handle. I'm not into events naman kasi...remember I'm a communication graduate. hihi! Events like this one is more on marketing and management.

- This is my first Ingress. Since first time kong humawak ng event, first time ko rin maka-experience ng ingress. Indeed, it was exhausting! Lalo na 'pag wala si Lord, siguro makakasalita ka ng foul words sa sobrang inis. The people beside me, wala nang nasabi kundi s**t and the like (syempre pag nakatalikod na yung exhibitor ha).

- The event is my first major project. May mga events din naman akong na-handle over the past months pero those were only for the members of the association like general membership meetings with 40 to 50 pax.

- My first time to deal with exhibitors. For the Pavilion alone, we have 30 exhibitors. So, 30 silang nanggugulo sa'kin since Monday! Nandyan yung tatawagan ka maya't maya for clarifications, questions, etc. May kausap kang exhibitor tapos may tatawag sa cell mo, tapos may isa pang magrereklamo na exhibitor, etc. - All at a time - Kanina nga, sobrang galit yung isa naming exhibitor...pinagmukha naman nya kasing tiangge yung expo. As in nag-hang ng clothes sa may aisle and so on. When I approched her at sabihang bawal yun, nagsimula nang uminit ang ulo! Mag-baback out na daw sya. Hay! stressful ang makipagdeal sa mga pasaway na exhibitors! really! 'Di lang sya ang nag-iisang pasaway, marami sila. Some of the exhibitors naman, tomorrow pa raw sila mag-seset up..opening na kaya tomorrow! It's means hanggang bukas guguluhin nila ang mundo ko!

Though hindi pa tapos magset up ang ilang exhibitors, I left the hall by 6:00 and went straight to the office (at ito nga, nagpost muna ako...to rest and to unload!)

Nakakapagod pero masaya. I can't imagine that I was able to handle this one despite the fact that I'm doing everything on my own. Sabi nga ni Bola, one of my officemates but from other company, "Bilib ako sa'yo Karen, nakayanan mo mag-isa lahat yan! Lalo na ang Ingress...that's the most exhausting part of an event. Kung ako yan, magrereklamo talaga ako sa boss ko...sana man lang binigyan ka ng kasama kahit isa o kaya doblehin ang salary mo noh!" Well, I just smiled and said, "Thank God, He's my partner."

God enabled me to do things that are beyond my limits. I want to give Him all the glory and am not going to steal it from Him. Even ako sobrang na-amaze at masasabi kong, "Lord, that's You!" It takes months to organize an event. Like my collegues here (a group of 7), they are preparing for the 1st APHADA International Arts and Crafts Expo at SM X Convention Center on Nov.21-25. They are working for this since late July or early August. The Pavilion, on the other hand, was organized only for two weeks, in which 80% of the load is on my shoulder. That's what God can do!

This might be my first time when it comes to events but definitely it's not my first time to see how God works and to prove how faithful He is.

There are more stories to tell tomorrow until Sunday regarding this matter. But I know all of these stories will contain how God showed His power!

All the glory belongs to you Lord!