But first, let’s provide you with a little fanservice… by the beautiful Asean ladies (who are also @AirAsia’s Flight Attendants!) who are wearing unique Asean outfits!

Can you guys guess which girl is from which country? Haha. By the way, more photos can be found on my Facebook Page.

In any case, it started out really as a conversation between me and @kathyjah, who works at AirAsia asean. I strictly believe that there are more people to learn from outside of Malaysia, the exposure is something we need to broaden our minds. At Young Corporate Malaysians (@YCMS) and @UKEC’s #MSLS, we are finding that some of the speakers were on repeat and soon, we’d run out of people to learn from.

Then a thought came to me: why not go Asean? Learning about patterns you never knew existed in different markets, potential for your biz to go cross country where the market potential still exists, trading unique founding skills that could be useful for your own endeavors – all this could be done with further collaboration between the 10 countries. Besides, we’re so near each other. Really.

That’s when I thought, hey, @Socialgrooves could work out a CSR initiative to grow a community of Aseans who are Asean-aware and with strength of numbers, we could very well be a pressure group of sorts to demand the best for the people. Governments and their politics can sometimes interfere with their populist approach, so it is really up to us, the people of Asean, to be in this together.

That’s how @Aseanita was born! The idea was agreed by both ourselves & AirAsia asean, and with volunteering efforts from people like @lorrainesiew and @akiraceo, we ran a month long campaign that got surprising response from the Asean community (hereby referred to as Aseans) themselves. We even work together with an existing ASEAN Community who has a whopping 56k community on their Facebook page, and that’s saying something! Though our numbers may be a stark difference, we believe that by creating a personality like Aseanita as your average Asean girl who explores the notion of ASEAN, it may relate well to people who aren’t familiar with the term – and that’s a start to begin with

Anyway so I was invited to be at the launch of @AirAsia’s asean office in Jakarta, and that’s a really huge thing cause @TonyFernandes basically flew media people from all over the Asean region to come over and pay homage to the quirky office. At the same time, he also had this huge meeting with all (almost!) of AirAsia’s CEOs on the same morning, which is what you see above!

That, my friends, is like a Roundtable of sorts of all the important people in the lowcost aviation industry, where most of them are already public listed, and must have quite a high networth okay! (yea, like the one I did on Obama and the Knight of the WWW)

So since I was there, like any other thick-faced blogger, might as well camwhore with ALL of them, kan?
Starting with Tony Fernandes himself, Group CEO of AirAsia, of course! This man here is a giant, only second to the great Sir Richard Branson. He’s an inspiration to many, and believe me, working with him makes you believe that you can do ANYTHING!

Oh and for the record, this is what he said about Aseanita… ^_____^

QUOTE – Tan Sri @TonyFernandes

Then of course you have the most recent CEO of AirAsia Malaysia, @AireenOmar. For Tony to trust her in managing Malaysia’s operations, she must be no normal person!

Next up is V. Logan, who was at that point the Country Manager for AirAsia Singapore until Tony told him two minutes before his speech that he’s been promoted to the CEO of AirAsia Singapore. Congratulations, LOL!

Ah, the host of the day, Pak Dharmadi, CEO (President Director, they call it) of AirAsia Indonesia. Humble and down to earth, this is the one guy I’d like to invite over to Malaysia to give a talk at YCM and SEC. Boleh sih?

What would we be without  Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of AirAsia Thailand. Certainly no cheap Krabi & Bangkok trips

Familiar man? Yeap, the popular @AzranOsmanRani, CEO of AirAsia X. Why X ah you ask? I also don’t know how to answer… *cues X-files music*

Oh and finally, my gateway to Japan himself, Kazuyuki Iwakata, CEO of AirAsia Japan that was recently launched. Congratulations to him, hope you can fly me to Japan where I’ve always dreamt to be, because of my love with the Japan culture and food ^___________________^

Okay so that was all of the bigwigs combined! While I was doing that, poor Katherine has to work so hard. Sometimes I’m amazed how she got this far… and yet, act like a complete klutz sometimes ._.

Anyway, this was my experience at the launch- 10 gorgeous flags representing the countries of Asean, which are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam in alphabetical order. Do you know how I remembered? I had to watch the Olympics walk and wait for each of the country to pass and take a screenshot of it for Aseanita’s Olympics album. Anything for #teamAsean!

There was also lots of goodie bags. All for the media & some bloggers from all over the region. What else to expect from an Airline company that focuses on Asean, huh? *gilap kasut*

The customary ribbon cutting. Cheesy, but gets the work done for the media.

I like this picture of Kat doing last minute editing. She looks so cool and pwettyyyy

And this picture where she’s side by side with Tony. With all the press taking pictures… of him, or her?

Some 100 key media people from the 10 countries. Talk about OTT huh?

Ah back to the original picture above, except this was taken at a very nice angle. Not easy to do this okay, had to act like one of those professional media guys! Anyway, just some excerpt below of what Tony said about Aseanita…

 “This campaign is an affirmation of AirAsia’s commitment to Asean.  It is the first major initiative undertaken by our new regional base in Jakarta. One of our major goals it to help promote and project  the Asean  image and brand.  Asean is our home, we have invested our resources here and we intend to grow here.  We will always give the support needed to strengthen the region,” said Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia.

Further to that, he said this about Asean as a whole too

“AirAsia asean would prepare the group for the implementation of the Asean Open Skies policy and the Asean Economic Community.”

“AirAsia asean will help ensure that our voice, our concerns and our appeals are heard much more clearly in the corridors of power with ASEAN. One of the reasons for locating the office in Jakarta is to help us engage more closely with the Asean Secretariat, which is headquartered here,”

By focusing on regional growth, AirAsia expands its market base to 600 million people and brings Asean closer – within four-hour flight radii – to mega populations in neighboring giants China and India as well as in Japan and Korea. The Asean region, Northeast Asia and South Asia have a combined population of 3 billion people, or 43% of the world’s population.

AirAsia’s commitment to Asean goes beyond its network of destinations. It has provided employment to 10,000 individuals from across Asean and flown more than 140 million guests since its launch as a low-cost airline in 2001. It has championed the region in various projects, including in sports and youth development, on the global stage. Last month, AirAsia asean debuted Aseanita, a female Asean caricature, online to promote the region via popular social media channels and serve as a guide to the region. Aseanita has so far garnered more than 2,700 likes on Facebook (facebook.com/Aseanita), where she engages an average of 500 fans daily. Aseanita also encourages discussions regarding Asean on Twitter (@Aseanita), where she has close to 250 followers.

If anything, my vision for Asean is pretty much aligned to his, therefore it makes total sense to continue our CSR campaign together in hope to gather more volunteers who will act on behalf of Aseanita to attend ASEAN-related events and share them with the community, along with any opportunities to participate or collaborate. That is the aim in totality! 

 Ah but it’s time to go home, since it’s a working day and all. Another super cool experience is that I get to fly back with Tony and Azran, and you can imagine the stir they created in the aircraft haha. One day, though, I really hope to fly young leaders together with him, to experience what I did, and to learn from him as well. Don’t know if it will happen, but I can dream, can’t I? 

And that was the end of it! All in all the great people at AirAsia asean including Katherine, Raman and team took great care of me and I had such a great time in Jakarta and being in the office, seeing how these people work and learning from them. I owe it to my team at @Socialgrooves as well as volunteers for without them, Aseanita wouldn’t have happened. In fact, all the fantastic coverage wouldn’t have happened, even on the Wall Street Journal (Indonesian version) too, oh boy…

• On Tribun Kaltim, Indonesia – AirAsia Perkenalkan Aseanita
• On MyFew.net – Airasia Asean Officially Launched In Jakarta
• On Kishori Lal – AirAsia asean is throwing its support to Aseanita
• On TravelBuck.net, Indonesia – Aseanita, Menjadikan ASEAN Menjadi Satu Keluarga
• On TribunJogja.com – AirAsia Kenalkan Figur Aseanita
• On EGlobalTravelMedia.com.au, Australia – Reaffirming AirAsia asean’s commitment to Asean
• On Newswit.com, Thailand – http://www.newswit.com/.life/2012-07-17/fa80efc9b6df04b96ddb753b01d11d9a/
• On blogs:
  PlacesandFoods.com – Aseanita for Asean 45th Anniversary
  AzizLaikar – http://azizlaikar.blogspot.com/2012/08/aseanita.html
  HasrulHassan.com – Giveaway Share, Dream and Fly | Percuma 2 Tiket Air Asian Untuk Destinasi Asian Setiap Hari!
  CheeChingy.com – Happy 45th ASEAN Day!!
• More Indonesian press release news links:
  http://www.tribunnews.com/2012/07/16/komitmen-airasia-asean-terhadap-asean
  http://www.investor.co.id/infrastructure/airasia-luncurkan-aseanita-kampanyekan-asean-community/40597
  http://beritasurabaya.net/i
  ndex_sub.php?category=7&id=6957&tags=Komitmen-AirAsia-Asean-Lewat-Aseanita
  http://www.medanbisnisdaily.com/news/read/2012/07/16/106330/komitmen_airasia_asean_terhadap_asean/#.UAPxr_WJS4I

WHY ASEAN?

Imagine that your voice can impact the lives of not just your fellow citizens, but 600 million people.

This is the strength of Asean. A 600m strong, wealthy community with a GDP of USD2.1trn that is becoming increasingly well-connected through mobile internet and the low cost carrier revolution in air travel. With Asean, you can share your passion, creativity, and ideas with a much bigger and diverse community. Those who influence are those who can inspire others.

Asean has come this far in 45 years, from 5 countries to 10. Asean Day is an occasion to celebrate the success of our visionary Founders who sought to forge a new future with Asean. They inspired a legacy of peace and socio-economic co-operation in Asean. This legacy lives on and continues to grow, 45 years on.

The time has come to realize the futures of our communities are inextricably linked to one another, interwoven in a tapestry of shared dreams and destinies. The time has come to realize that we are not just people of 1 country, but 1 region. We are Asean.

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Well I can’ t be bothered to explain, but one of the finalist here is none other than my colleague Katherine Ng! Seeing her look so beautiful up on the stage, I can’t help but feel the pride of being with her from the moment she settled down in KL from Australia up till now, knowing all the big names, being famous and popular and all that… All I can hope is that she won’t forget me after she’s made a name of herself!

Gorgeous ain’t she? And guess what: She’s an investment banker. Yea baby, an INVESTMENT BANKER! The other candidates may have come from their various background but this girl, Kat Ng, is all beauty and brains!

Well, not JUST beauty and brains though. I don’t think I need to elaborate, just don’t drool too much onto your keyboard :p

The TOP 4 finalist were chosen, unfortunately she wasn’t the the winner, but guess what… She’s forever a winner in my heart

It was Yvonne Sim instead, and given her bubbly nature I suppose it’s not very surprising is it?

There you go, FHM’s Girl Next Door 2010. Expect to see her photoshoots in magazine all around you.

All other candidates were winners too. Here they are getting something for dedicating so much time into this project done annually.

It’s a chance for average girls to come out and show  the world who they are. Some did a good job, like Julia Moh and Jesmine Yap.

Then again I’m probably biased cause I only know these girls out of the rest… cause they are friendly!

Well Kat, always a winner I say. Thank God you decided to try this out even though knowing you were going to have a hard time juggling between work and this! Kudos

The girls all in a row. I know it may not be up to your standards, but it’s not easy being in these girls’ position. If you want to talk so much, why don’t you get out there and try it for yourself

Thanks Esther for coming along with me to the event to support Kat. Could always count on you for your support!

Oh and I have to share this with you! Turns out that previous GnD finalist Kellie Yap knows about me when we got introduced by Esther, and I tell you I just melted lol! A geek like me does not deserve that kind of compliment (I consider compliment la, what’s ur problem! :P) so thanks a lot, you don’t know it but you’ve made my day!

Well, that is, until you took so long to approve my Friend Request on FB la. I knew it was all a lie. Ok just kidding hehe, well met dear Kellie Yap!

And one last picture to show u my smirking face, with yet another Yap clan, Jesmine. I know her from way back, but she forgotten… Then again I forgotten what transpired back then, but whatever it is the event was fully of momentous occasion, so much that it was truly a day to remember for the year 2010.

Well, apart from the #yorais thingie la :p

The post Wawaweewa @ FHM Girls Next Door Finale Parteh!! appeared first on Spinzer - Blogger, Entrepreneur, Celebrity Manager.

As per usual, an obligatory shot of the girls with their surroundings. If I’m not wrong it was their first time on that street, touted as one of the busiest night life in KL. I had the honour to show them around (though I was lacking the night life experience, gotta give me a chance lar, I just got back from London aight!)

Deutsche house with their beautiful lights and interesting interiors. One day I’d like to get in to further research the place. Oh, did you know I’m into interior design as well? Betcha didn’t know that

Here’s a better look at the girls. One of them is actually my colleague! Now this should quell the rumours that Investment Bankers aren’t cool AND hot people (what an oxymoron!)

When we arrived at Cloth & Clef, it barely started. Guess 11pm isn’t what you call “on time”, rather, the party only starts past midnight! Which was kinda an issue for us, since we both have to work the very next day Here’s Kat posing with the wall.

We made it a point for each of us to do it too. Here’s Sharon’s pose. And unfortunately for you (or fortunate for some!) I’m not going to publish mine, cause it’s horrible! Instead, please guide your eyesight on this wonderful photo of me and Eng Hian, which I think is the best photo of me up till now! A close up on the post to come, I promise

Hahahahahahahha!! Anyway, let’s get on to the main gist of this post lol. Sorry for my impromptu vanity shot.

Since we were too early we decided to get ourselves some drinks and grub. Havannah was our best bet, munching on their pizza and sipping cocktails sharing stories proved to be a great time waster until midnight calls! We couldn’t resist taking photo with the christmas tree though. Lol. So yea you should know that this happened quite some time ago. Like, last year

We did hang out in other pubs just to take a look at the design, and here’s 21 (or something like that) for you: a cafe full of mirrors, heaven for all vain people!
Three of us inclusive. Can you spot me in this photo? Or are you too easily distracted by gorgeous faces

A little time left to spare allowed us to take a few artistic shots. Here’s Sharon being a model for stairs background!

And here’s Kat doing her thang! She’s pro hip & hop yo, I kid you not!

I took a dare to shoot this particular shot… Leaving your camera on somebody’s car, exposed for the world to see and with a snatchability score of 9 out of 10 isn’t something you want to do everyday, but at least we got a group shot coming in nicely!

Anyway we went back to Cloth & Clef and found out some group of people were already gathering inside. Luckily for us it wasn’t too stuffy and we managed to get a few shots of ourselves. Like, literally. Here’s Kat trying to blind me. (but came out with some cool effect, no?)

We were on the roll. We took a mugshot ourselves. Pretty clever eh? Ignore the pimple. NOW!

The event itself finally took place well past midnight. Music were spinning, rapping was going on (and there we were, at awe with what our own Malaysian can do at a competition like this!) and the crowd, a mix of international and local coolios, were rocking up the place!

Even Kat swears the Singaporeans don’t do as well as we do!

At the end of it all, some Indian hero took the winning spot, and I have to say he was good, if not for all the swear words he put in each line of his rap. The DJ who organised it was none other than the man himself up there. Kat took the opportunity to hang out late for this photo, and I’m sure she’ll keep it for years to come

So that was really it. We went home pretty late, took a quick bath and fortunately woke up for work the next day, and the both of us inconspicuously blended into our workplace, looking for the world as a typical ordinary investment banker, ready to slave into our work, without so much a flicker of interest from our colleagues that we were secretly major hiphoppers by night

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Oh, I just needed to publish this photo. Ingenious really. It’s called “Twin Half Boiled Egg on Toast”. Get it right next time, Michy dear

Yummy?

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