{ February 2012 Issue }

• Is The World Coming To An End In 2012? • A Pinch Of Life

• The QI Talent Search • Valentine’s Day Is For Everyone

• All It Takes Is Love And Courage… • iNQUESTOLOGY!

• The Rope Of Hope: From Janitor To Manager • Press Charming

• QI Thailand Rolls Out The Red Carpet For Its 13th Anniversary

Hola everyone!

InQuest is finally he

re! I must say it was well worth th

e wait.

As we venture into the New Year, w

e believe a new perspe

ctive can chang

e the direction

of our

future for the bett

er. So, here we are w

ith a brand new

InQuest for 2012 with new

insights and

new ideas. Unlike th

e previous issues, you

will find a twist in th

e content this

season. Here’s

to the highligh

ts of this issu

e!

As we all know, this y

ear is called th

e Year of the D

ragon. Accordin

g to Chinese astrolog

y,

dragons are auspiciou

s and are the o

nly celestial an

imals among the 12 zodia

cs. Discover what

Chinese zodiac s

igns reveal abou

t you this year in ou

r special feature - InQuestolog

y!

We are also bring

ing together a b

ook review sectio

n. This time it is a

bout how Aveena, a girl

with a birth def

ect of the spin

e, copes and ove

rcomes challenges o

f not being abl

e to walk.

Read and get insp

ired!

If you are thinking ab

out how to spend your Valent

ine’s Day this year, th

en find out how you

and your better

half can make this

Valentine’s more memorable n

ot only for you

rselves but also

for the less fo

rtunate children b

y spending time at an

orphanage or bu

ying them gifts.

This is not forg

etting your respo

nses in our monthly c

olumn “Is The World Coming

To An End In 2012?” Thank yo

u for taking the

time to contact u

s and sharing y

our

feedback – we had s

o much fun looking throu

gh all of your respo

nses and can’t

wait

to share them. We will be ru

nning similar col

umns in the coming issu

es, so if you

missed out on th

is one, stay tu

ned for the nex

t InQuest column!

Just as every publicatio

n evolves with new

staff, this se

ason we have R

eba

Koleth, Copywriter fr

om the Digital Media & Brand M

anagement, Malaysia joining

us as the co-ed

itor. With all o

f us working together

as a team, we found a

special chemistry th

at we wouldn’t trade in f

or anything! Also, on

our own

for the first tim

e, we had the chanc

e to ‘step up’ and s

olidify the ident

ity

of the employee n

ewsletter. Keeping

its roots alive,

we continue to inc

orporate

new elements to suit you.

Of course, there would be no

newsletter without the pa

tience, persiste

nce,

and talent of th

e editorial boar

d and staff—I cannot

thank you enough.

Special thanks t

o…

Ramya Chandrasekaran

Vidya Madhavan

Yusri B. Din

Happy reading fol

ks!

{ February 2012 Issue }

• Is The World Coming To An End In 2012? • A Pinch Of Life

• The QI Talent Search • Valentine’s Day Is For Everyone

• All It Takes Is Love And Courage… • iNQUESTOLOGY!

• The Rope Of Hope: From Janitor To Manager • Press Charming

• QI Thailand Rolls Out The Red Carpet For Its 13th Anniversary

Hola everyone!

InQuest is finally he

re! I must say it was well worth th

e wait.

As we venture into the New Year, w

e believe a new perspe

ctive can chang

e the direction

of our

future for the bett

er. So, here we are w

ith a brand new

InQuest for 2012 with new

insights and

new ideas. Unlike th

e previous issues, you

will find a twist in th

e content this

season. Here’s

to the highligh

ts of this issu

e!

As we all know, this y

ear is called th

e Year of the D

ragon. Accordin

g to Chinese astrolog

y,

dragons are auspiciou

s and are the o

nly celestial an

imals among the 12 zodia

cs. Discover what

Chinese zodiac s

igns reveal abou

t you this year in ou

r special feature - InQuestolog

y!

We are also bring

ing together a b

ook review sectio

n. This time it is a

bout how Aveena, a girl

with a birth def

ect of the spin

e, copes and ove

rcomes challenges o

f not being abl

e to walk.

Read and get insp

ired!

If you are thinking ab

out how to spend your Valent

ine’s Day this year, th

en find out how you

and your better

half can make this

Valentine’s more memorable n

ot only for you

rselves but also

for the less fo

rtunate children b

y spending time at an

orphanage or bu

ying them gifts.

This is not forg

etting your respo

nses in our monthly c

olumn “Is The World Coming

To An End In 2012?” Thank yo

u for taking the

time to contact u

s and sharing y

our

feedback – we had s

o much fun looking throu

gh all of your respo

nses and can’t

wait

to share them. We will be ru

nning similar col

umns in the coming issu

es, so if you

missed out on th

is one, stay tu

ned for the nex

t InQuest column!

Just as every publicatio

n evolves with new

staff, this se

ason we have R

eba

Koleth, Copywriter fr

om the Digital Media & Brand M

anagement, Malaysia joining

us as the co-ed

itor. With all o

f us working together

as a team, we found a

special chemistry th

at we wouldn’t trade in f

or anything! Also, on

our own

for the first tim

e, we had the chanc

e to ‘step up’ and s

olidify the ident

ity

of the employee n

ewsletter. Keeping

its roots alive,

we continue to inc

orporate

new elements to suit you.

Of course, there would be no

newsletter without the pa

tience, persiste

nce,

and talent of th

e editorial boar

d and staff—I cannot

thank you enough.

Special thanks t

o…

Ramya Chandrasekaran

Vidya Madhavan

Yusri B. Din

Happy reading fol

ks!

The second would be ‘familial love’ for our family members who we

think are extra special. The last is ‘communal love’ which especially

includes those in our community who need to be uplifted.

All three are equally important but unfortunately,

‘communal love’ gets pushed behind while

the other two take precedence.

It’s time to remember that love is about giving and sacrifice. Valentine’s come once a year and as they say, it is a joy to receive but a greater joy to give.

So, let’s reach out to everyone as we celebrate the gift of love and happiness all around!

Yes, it is that time of year to tell that special someone that

you love them! What will it be this time, chocolates, perfume,

a romantic card or dinner for two at a fancy restaurant?

The people in your life need to be appreciated. However,

amidst all the celebration, we need to remember that

Valentine’s Day is for everyone, not just those in love.

This year, especially, save a place in your heart for the

underprivileged, unfortunate as well as the poor and needy

and those who are unloved.

A little bit goes a long way! Who knows, you might just

succeed in uplifting someone who is down and out and needs

to hear those three special words…

Love cuts across all religions. So, let’s reach out to those less

fortunate and brighten up their day simply by visiting them,

getting them little gifts or simply spending time with them.

If love could be divided, it would be into three. The first is

the ‘romantic love’. This is probably the most celebrated

kind of love out there today and one which is the most

commercialised.

Valentine’s Day Is For Everyone

This book is touching, moving and heart-warming. There are no other words for it. Aveena writes in such a way that we can empathise with her without feeling sorry for her. And that makes a world of difference. In fact, that may just be what she wants above anything else.

What is spina bifida? It is a birth defect of the spine. Aveena has it and has been living with it. This book is about how she copes and the challenges and trials that she has to endure not being able to walk. However, Aveena writes light-heartedly and cheerfully. You would think she is a normal teenager; and she is, just that she is wheelchair-bound.

Aveena makes the book funny, too, and uses simple language to express her feelings. There is no beating around the bush with her. She tells it like it is. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised reading this as it is candid without being rude or presumptuous.

The reflections from her parents, siblings and other family members are

also a delight to read. It seems that through Aveena, their lives are more meaningful and they view the world differently than others would. To them, it is all about positive thinking and the power of the mind.

This is a story about a special child with special needs. Not everybody can relate to this but everyone can learn from this. It’s about achieving your dreams, recognising your potential and never giving up. Now that’s something we can all benefit from!

It does not necessarily have a happy ending, but then not many real stories do. But it is from the heart and is bound to uplift you and encourage you to be a better person. Isn’t that what life is all about? For those of you who disagree, this book is still an eye-opener. At the least it gives you the hope that there’s a better tomorrow!

Aveena’s determination and perseverance in life is astounding and her message to everyone: believe in yourself – is the climax of her inspiring tale. This book is short, simple and to the point. Don’t miss reading it- it’s sure to brighten your day!

ALL IT TAKES IS LOVE AND COURAGE…

What’s Your Problem?K Aveena Devi

RYTHM House Publishing Sdn. Bhd.

105 pages

978-983-42167-9-5

Review By

The rope of hope

Reba Koleth

The gorgeous QI Celebs!

On the auspicious night of 6 January 2012, the red carpet was rolled

out for the QI Thailand staff in celebration of QI’s 13th Anniversary

held at The Renaissance Hotel, Bangkok. Exceeding expectations,

all the staff walked elegantly into the party in their gorgeous,

stylish outfits and turned the Renaissance Hotel into our very own

Hollywood and red carpet night. The night was even more

glamorous with flashing lights from our QI paparazzi

and the glitz and glitter of our QI celebs!

The much-awaited party started at 7 p.m. and 70 QI Thailand ‘stars’ were

warmly welcomed by our popular and entertaining presenters Bernhard Gaksch

(Bernie) and Bhakjira Tangchaitrakul (Lee). 17 newcomers were invited up on stage and

asked to entertain the crowd with a funny chicken dance. Then, our QNET Managing

Director Mr J.R. Mayer gave an opening speech followed by a special ‘We CARE’ video

presentation which summarised the charity auction organised a week earlier by the QI

Bangkok Social Club Committee to raise funds to support and sponsor the education of

underprivileged children. The highlight of the evening was a cooking show by Mr Mayer and

QI Services (Thailand) General Manager Thitikorn Chintavalakorn. Both of them revealed

their hidden talents by doing a cooking demonstration. The delicious dishes cooked were

also included in the on-

going charity auction and

many of the staff made

generous donations. The final

count of raised funds was proudly

announced which was a total figure of the

Bangkok team’s combined efforts…. a whopping

THB 30,000! Well done to all QI Thailand staff

for being so generous and turning the auction

into a great success.

QI Thailand Rolls Out the Red

Carpet for Its 13th Anniversary

The gorgeous QI Celebs!

On the auspicious night of 6 January 2012, the red carpet was rolled

out for the QI Thailand staff in celebration of QI’s 13th Anniversary

held at The Renaissance Hotel, Bangkok. Exceeding expectations,

all the staff walked elegantly into the party in their gorgeous,

stylish outfits and turned the Renaissance Hotel into our very own

Hollywood and red carpet night. The night was even more

glamorous with flashing lights from our QI paparazzi

and the glitz and glitter of our QI celebs!

The much-awaited party started at 7 p.m. and 70 QI Thailand ‘stars’ were

warmly welcomed by our popular and entertaining presenters Bernhard Gaksch

(Bernie) and Bhakjira Tangchaitrakul (Lee). 17 newcomers were invited up on stage and

asked to entertain the crowd with a funny chicken dance. Then, our QNET Managing

Director Mr J.R. Mayer gave an opening speech followed by a special ‘We CARE’ video

presentation which summarised the charity auction organised a week earlier by the QI

Bangkok Social Club Committee to raise funds to support and sponsor the education of

underprivileged children. The highlight of the evening was a cooking show by Mr Mayer and

QI Services (Thailand) General Manager Thitikorn Chintavalakorn. Both of them revealed

their hidden talents by doing a cooking demonstration. The delicious dishes cooked were

also included in the on-

going charity auction and

many of the staff made

generous donations. The final

count of raised funds was proudly

announced which was a total figure of the

Bangkok team’s combined efforts…. a whopping

THB 30,000! Well done to all QI Thailand staff

for being so generous and turning the auction

into a great success.

QI Thailand Rolls Out the Red

Carpet for Its 13th Anniversary

MCs of the day – Bernie and Lee QI Thailand’s newest members wow

the crowd with their chicken dance!

Special cooking demonstrations by QNET MD Mr JR Mayer

and QI Services (Thailand) GM Thitikorn Chintavalakorn.

As the night went on, staff enjoyed a fantastic vegetarian dinner and listened to

some great live music. After dinner, the presenters announced the ‘5-Years of

Service Anniversary Awards’ for our QI Bangkok staff Palat Limtasrethe, Bhakjira

Tangchaitrakul (Lee), Arisara Sindhusen (Bew), Bundit Wongsri (Lek), Nantaporn

Kulchai (Beer) and Napadol Boonlue (Fame). Congratulations to all awardees.

The finale of the night was when Mr Mayer announced the top three lucky draw

winners. The winners were Sutisa Selkhun (Nid) who won THB 15,000, Bhakjira

Tangchaitrakul (Lee) who won HKD 3,000 (from Mr Richard Zinkiewicz) and lastly, Ilya

Kalashnikov who won a romantic getaway for two people to the luxurious Prana Resorts

& Spa, Koh Samui for three days and two nights, plus return air tickets from BONVO.

It was certainly one of the most glamorous and fun parties that we have ever had. By the

end of the night, everyone had big smiles on their faces! This memorable event could

not have happened without our generous sponsors, our Mayer and our QI Bangkok

Social Club Committee team comprising of Namolpan (Jinny), Jesada (Job), Suvimon

(Mon), Thamonwan (Apple), Nantaporn (Beer), Bhakjira (Lee), Neungrutai (Neung),

Srisumeth (Som), Surawat (Tob) and Viraphol (Phol). Thanks for making this event

truly unforgettable!

Some of the QI Thailand staff who bid and

won special prizes at the charity auction!

Congratulations to the top three lucky winners!

by Chanatthanan

MCs of the day – Bernie and Lee QI Thailand’s newest members wow

the crowd with their chicken dance!

Special cooking demonstrations by QNET MD Mr JR Mayer

and QI Services (Thailand) GM Thitikorn Chintavalakorn.

As the night went on, staff enjoyed a fantastic vegetarian dinner and listened to

some great live music. After dinner, the presenters announced the ‘5-Years of

Service Anniversary Awards’ for our QI Bangkok staff Palat Limtasrethe, Bhakjira

Tangchaitrakul (Lee), Arisara Sindhusen (Bew), Bundit Wongsri (Lek), Nantaporn

Kulchai (Beer) and Napadol Boonlue (Fame). Congratulations to all awardees.

The finale of the night was when Mr Mayer announced the top three lucky draw

winners. The winners were Sutisa Selkhun (Nid) who won THB 15,000, Bhakjira

Tangchaitrakul (Lee) who won HKD 3,000 (from Mr Richard Zinkiewicz) and lastly, Ilya

Kalashnikov who won a romantic getaway for two people to the luxurious Prana Resorts

& Spa, Koh Samui for three days and two nights, plus return air tickets from BONVO.

It was certainly one of the most glamorous and fun parties that we have ever had. By the

end of the night, everyone had big smiles on their faces! This memorable event could

not have happened without our generous sponsors, our Mayer and our QI Bangkok

Social Club Committee team comprising of Namolpan (Jinny), Jesada (Job), Suvimon

(Mon), Thamonwan (Apple), Nantaporn (Beer), Bhakjira (Lee), Neungrutai (Neung),

Srisumeth (Som), Surawat (Tob) and Viraphol (Phol). Thanks for making this event

truly unforgettable!

Some of the QI Thailand staff who bid and

won special prizes at the charity auction!

Congratulations to the top three lucky winners!

by Chanatthanan

Press CharmingI’ve always loved Hong Kong – its energy, vibe and culture are

like nothing found in any other city. So imagine my excitement

when I was asked to travel there to manage an informal luncheon

with the Hong Kong press. It was practically a dream come true for

me! Immediately, I started scouring through my wardrobe to pick

out clothes I should bring with me. After all, how many chances do

I get to wear winter outfits and stylish boots? Seriously, looking at

my luggage, you would have thought I was going for a week and not

three days.

But first, there was the important task of coordinating the media

luncheon. The lunch was organised in conjunction with the

Chinese New Year holiday and its main purpose was to introduce

the company to the local press. And boy, were there a whole lot

of things to do. First, there were documents on the company that

needed to be prepared for the media. Then, of course, we had to

brief our spokespeople who were probably even more excited than

I was. I had a whole lot of help from my awesome colleagues in

Hong Kong, and the PR agency we had hired there. Lastly but most

importantly, there was the task of picking out my outfit for the lunch.

Okay, I’m kidding, maybe second most important. Most important

was making sure everything went according to plan.

And, thank god, it did. Mr Richard Zinkiewicz, as the main

spokesperson, was ever the charming and engaging host. He had

the usually reserved media participating in conversations and joking

along with him. They walked away with a great impression of QI

and its business lines, and with an even greater impression of the

people working for it. And, did I mention, the food was a hit too?

Vegetarian, of course, but even the most consummate meat eater

wouldn’t complain because it was so delicious. The journalists were

busy oohing and aahing as each dish was served and immediately

whipped out their smartphones to take photos. And here I was

thinking that’s something unique to Singapore.

So, all in all, the luncheon was pretty successful.

The press were charmed and even requested

follow-up interviews. Here’s to more positive

press in Hong Kong!

My trip wasn’t all too bad either. I didn’t get

to shop much but I’m not complaining. I

got to meet the really fun people working

in the Hong Kong office, made invaluable

contacts with the Hong Kong media and

got to enjoy the city I love so much.

by Teshwinder Kaur

Review By

From Janitor to Manager

Rudi Gunawan has been with QNet for nearly nine years. When he joined the Surabaya branch office in April 2004, he came on board as a janitor with big ambitions. After working hard to save up, he is finally pursuing a dream of his.

Today, Rudi is a student at Bhayangkara University’s Faculty of Economy, taking a course in Management. For him, it is important to grow as a person and learn as much as possible in many fields of interest.

When asked why he works so hard, he says, “I need to expand my horizons to make a better living.” Perhaps someday, in the not too distant future, he will rise to the ranks of a manager at QNet.

Rudi happens to be the only male staff at the Surabaya office, where he is affectionately regarded as a sort of guardian to the three female Network Support Officers also working there. The girls have grown quite fond of Rudi and rely on him a great deal. Beyond janitorial services, Rudi helps out with the set-up of presentation equipment, inspection of deliveries to the office, and even adopts the role of photographer during company events.

But hands off, ladies, Rudi is taken! That is another big change for him since joining QNet: he has signed away his bachelorhood and is now a happily married man.

Aside from being a dedicated worker and family man, Rudi also has a soft spot for caregiving. Last October, he celebrated his birthday with QNet Indonesia staff and the children of Yayasan Yatim Piatu Rif’atus Shohilah. The team brought gifts of groceries and good cheer to the children’s home, where they were warmly welcomed by the little ones. Rudi’s birthday was spent getting to know these kids, who come from Surabaya and other surrounding towns.

The visit to Rif’atus Shohilah both amazed and inspired Rudi. “I was moved by the optimistic attitude of the children,” he said with a smile. “I’m so glad I got the chance to spend my birthday with them.”

With big dreams and a big heart, we’re expecting equally big things for Rudi Gunawan. The sky’s the limit!

The rope of hope

by Li San Choong

by Varsha Shankar

A Pinch of LifeIt was dusk and I was standing by the window, gliding my finger over the wind chime, as I treated my ears to the soft, mellow sound of the meticulously-cut bamboos. The birds that were now heading back to their homes joined in, chirping, contributing their bit to a symphony created by an amateur. I smiled a smile which conveyed happiness, a smile which conveyed gratitude towards the beautiful creatures for letting me be a part of their world. A world full of melodies. This was bliss.

As my eyes followed the flock of birds bidding me adieu for the day, I saw the sunset. It was that time of the day when the sky was God©s canvas; so many colours blending so well, so mesmerising. For a moment I thought how horrendous it would be to wear a dress with so many colours on it. Alas, there could be only one artist with such a talent: God. I could see everyone rushing back to their abodes, hurrying to be with their loved ones. The city was grinding to a halt. The day was coming to an END.

End! I was one day closer to death. The thought of death brought tears to my eyes. Suddenly nothing seemed beautiful. The wind chime sounded like metals colliding, the chirping turned into clatters, the sunset was no longer pleasing and the sky, no longer beautiful. Everything around reminded me of ¡ the end©.

I touched the scarf which was covering my head and felt my scalp. I had lost all my hair in the past month due to cancer. The only beautiful thing I possessed was snatched away from me against my will. This invoked rage within me, a maddening anger. ¡ Destruction© was the only thought on my mind. I had to vent my anger somehow, I wanted to cry, cry out loud. I grabbed a glass of water and smashed it on the floor, the shattering sound calming me down.

I was now crouching under the table, like a kid trying to fool his friends. I was trying to fool death, an effort which would bear no fruit. It was then that my mother came running into my room. She was frantically looking for me, calling out my name. Spotting my silhouette she joined me under the table and hugged me tight, assuring me that everything would be fine. I could feel the fear in her, the fear of her losing her only child, her fear of breaking down in front of me. She wanted me to live, to be with her always. But she was helpless. She would see me die, crawling towards death day after day. I realised how strong she was. She had more to lose, whereas I had only life. My miseries had an end but hers would remain with her till eternity.

I was ashamed of myself, tears rolling down my face. She broke her clasp and kissed my forehead, giving me a smile. She was not ashamed of me. I wanted to be like her. I wanted to see the positive, wanted to share the same trust she had. I wanted to live. I decided I would no longer cry; no longer waste a second thought about my misfortune. I would simply thank God for what I had. From the very next day, I woke up early and watered the plants, fed the pets, painted my mother©s veil. I was alive again. I was happy and content. It surprised me that a small change could make so much difference. I was the same, everything was the same.But the glass was now half full and not half empty.

I was free from fear and so was my mother.

Press CharmingI’ve always loved Hong Kong – its energy, vibe and culture are

like nothing found in any other city. So imagine my excitement

when I was asked to travel there to manage an informal luncheon

with the Hong Kong press. It was practically a dream come true for

me! Immediately, I started scouring through my wardrobe to pick

out clothes I should bring with me. After all, how many chances do

I get to wear winter outfits and stylish boots? Seriously, looking at

my luggage, you would have thought I was going for a week and not

three days.

But first, there was the important task of coordinating the media

luncheon. The lunch was organised in conjunction with the

Chinese New Year holiday and its main purpose was to introduce

the company to the local press. And boy, were there a whole lot

of things to do. First, there were documents on the company that

needed to be prepared for the media. Then, of course, we had to

brief our spokespeople who were probably even more excited than

I was. I had a whole lot of help from my awesome colleagues in

Hong Kong, and the PR agency we had hired there. Lastly but most

importantly, there was the task of picking out my outfit for the lunch.

Okay, I’m kidding, maybe second most important. Most important

was making sure everything went according to plan.

And, thank god, it did. Mr Richard Zinkiewicz, as the main

spokesperson, was ever the charming and engaging host. He had

the usually reserved media participating in conversations and joking

along with him. They walked away with a great impression of QI

and its business lines, and with an even greater impression of the

people working for it. And, did I mention, the food was a hit too?

Vegetarian, of course, but even the most consummate meat eater

wouldn’t complain because it was so delicious. The journalists were

busy oohing and aahing as each dish was served and immediately

whipped out their smartphones to take photos. And here I was

thinking that’s something unique to Singapore.

So, all in all, the luncheon was pretty successful.

The press were charmed and even requested

follow-up interviews. Here’s to more positive

press in Hong Kong!

My trip wasn’t all too bad either. I didn’t get

to shop much but I’m not complaining. I

got to meet the really fun people working

in the Hong Kong office, made invaluable

contacts with the Hong Kong media and

got to enjoy the city I love so much.

by Teshwinder Kaur

Review By

From Janitor to Manager

Rudi Gunawan has been with QNet for nearly nine years. When he joined the Surabaya branch office in April 2004, he came on board as a janitor with big ambitions. After working hard to save up, he is finally pursuing a dream of his.

Today, Rudi is a student at Bhayangkara University’s Faculty of Economy, taking a course in Management. For him, it is important to grow as a person and learn as much as possible in many fields of interest.

When asked why he works so hard, he says, “I need to expand my horizons to make a better living.” Perhaps someday, in the not too distant future, he will rise to the ranks of a manager at QNet.

Rudi happens to be the only male staff at the Surabaya office, where he is affectionately regarded as a sort of guardian to the three female Network Support Officers also working there. The girls have grown quite fond of Rudi and rely on him a great deal. Beyond janitorial services, Rudi helps out with the set-up of presentation equipment, inspection of deliveries to the office, and even adopts the role of photographer during company events.

But hands off, ladies, Rudi is taken! That is another big change for him since joining QNet: he has signed away his bachelorhood and is now a happily married man.

Aside from being a dedicated worker and family man, Rudi also has a soft spot for caregiving. Last October, he celebrated his birthday with QNet Indonesia staff and the children of Yayasan Yatim Piatu Rif’atus Shohilah. The team brought gifts of groceries and good cheer to the children’s home, where they were warmly welcomed by the little ones. Rudi’s birthday was spent getting to know these kids, who come from Surabaya and other surrounding towns.

The visit to Rif’atus Shohilah both amazed and inspired Rudi. “I was moved by the optimistic attitude of the children,” he said with a smile. “I’m so glad I got the chance to spend my birthday with them.”

With big dreams and a big heart, we’re expecting equally big things for Rudi Gunawan. The sky’s the limit!

The rope of hope

by Li San Choong

by Varsha Shankar

A Pinch of LifeIt was dusk and I was standing by the window, gliding my finger over the wind chime, as I treated my ears to the soft, mellow sound of the meticulously-cut bamboos. The birds that were now heading back to their homes joined in, chirping, contributing their bit to a symphony created by an amateur. I smiled a smile which conveyed happiness, a smile which conveyed gratitude towards the beautiful creatures for letting me be a part of their world. A world full of melodies. This was bliss.

As my eyes followed the flock of birds bidding me adieu for the day, I saw the sunset. It was that time of the day when the sky was God©s canvas; so many colours blending so well, so mesmerising. For a moment I thought how horrendous it would be to wear a dress with so many colours on it. Alas, there could be only one artist with such a talent: God. I could see everyone rushing back to their abodes, hurrying to be with their loved ones. The city was grinding to a halt. The day was coming to an END.

End! I was one day closer to death. The thought of death brought tears to my eyes. Suddenly nothing seemed beautiful. The wind chime sounded like metals colliding, the chirping turned into clatters, the sunset was no longer pleasing and the sky, no longer beautiful. Everything around reminded me of ¡ the end©.

I touched the scarf which was covering my head and felt my scalp. I had lost all my hair in the past month due to cancer. The only beautiful thing I possessed was snatched away from me against my will. This invoked rage within me, a maddening anger. ¡ Destruction© was the only thought on my mind. I had to vent my anger somehow, I wanted to cry, cry out loud. I grabbed a glass of water and smashed it on the floor, the shattering sound calming me down.

I was now crouching under the table, like a kid trying to fool his friends. I was trying to fool death, an effort which would bear no fruit. It was then that my mother came running into my room. She was frantically looking for me, calling out my name. Spotting my silhouette she joined me under the table and hugged me tight, assuring me that everything would be fine. I could feel the fear in her, the fear of her losing her only child, her fear of breaking down in front of me. She wanted me to live, to be with her always. But she was helpless. She would see me die, crawling towards death day after day. I realised how strong she was. She had more to lose, whereas I had only life. My miseries had an end but hers would remain with her till eternity.

I was ashamed of myself, tears rolling down my face. She broke her clasp and kissed my forehead, giving me a smile. She was not ashamed of me. I wanted to be like her. I wanted to see the positive, wanted to share the same trust she had. I wanted to live. I decided I would no longer cry; no longer waste a second thought about my misfortune. I would simply thank God for what I had. From the very next day, I woke up early and watered the plants, fed the pets, painted my mother©s veil. I was alive again. I was happy and content. It surprised me that a small change could make so much difference. I was the same, everything was the same.But the glass was now half full and not half empty.

I was free from fear and so was my mother.

There’s just no telling. We have heard views supporting this idea and ones opposing it. So what is the truth? Really, it depends on what the rest of the world says, hears, reads, watches and believes in. Some views

are religious, some not. But think about it. If the world were to come to an end, shouldn’t we be doing more than what we are doing now? There are a million things I would like to do before saying ‘goodbye’! What

about you? And if we are going to be around longer, shouldn’t we be grateful and not complain? To some, the creator of the universe dictates when our time is up. To others, with the rate of pollution and poverty in

the world, we are destined to face D-day soon. Whatever the case may be, this is an exciting topic and one that is open to debate. What say you?

There’s just no telling. We have heard views supporting this idea and ones opposing it. So what is the truth? Really, it depends on what the rest of the world says, hears, reads, watches and believes in. Some views

are religious, some not. But think about it. If the world were to come to an end, shouldn’t we be doing more than what we are doing now? There are a million things I would like to do before saying ‘goodbye’! What

about you? And if we are going to be around longer, shouldn’t we be grateful and not complain? To some, the creator of the universe dictates when our time is up. To others, with the rate of pollution and poverty in

the world, we are destined to face D-day soon. Whatever the case may be, this is an exciting topic and one that is open to debate. What say you?

There’s just no telling. We have heard views supporting this idea and ones opposing it. So what is the truth? Really, it depends on what the rest of the world says, hears, reads, watches and believes in. Some views

are religious, some not. But think about it. If the world were to come to an end, shouldn’t we be doing more than what we are doing now? There are a million things I would like to do before saying ‘goodbye’! What

about you? And if we are going to be around longer, shouldn’t we be grateful and not complain? To some, the creator of the universe dictates when our time is up. To others, with the rate of pollution and poverty in

the world, we are destined to face D-day soon. Whatever the case may be, this is an exciting topic and one that is open to debate. What say you?

There’s just no telling. We have heard views supporting this idea and ones opposing it. So what is the truth? Really, it depends on what the rest of the world says, hears, reads, watches and believes in. Some views

are religious, some not. But think about it. If the world were to come to an end, shouldn’t we be doing more than what we are doing now? There are a million things I would like to do before saying ‘goodbye’! What

about you? And if we are going to be around longer, shouldn’t we be grateful and not complain? To some, the creator of the universe dictates when our time is up. To others, with the rate of pollution and poverty in

the world, we are destined to face D-day soon. Whatever the case may be, this is an exciting topic and one that is open to debate. What say you?

There’s just no telling. We have heard views supporting this idea and ones opposing it. So what is the truth? Really, it depends on what the rest of the world says, hears, reads, watches and believes in. Some views

are religious, some not. But think about it. If the world were to come to an end, shouldn’t we be doing more than what we are doing now? There are a million things I would like to do before saying ‘goodbye’! What

about you? And if we are going to be around longer, shouldn’t we be grateful and not complain? To some, the creator of the universe dictates when our time is up. To others, with the rate of pollution and poverty in

the world, we are destined to face D-day soon. Whatever the case may be, this is an exciting topic and one that is open to debate. What say you?

There’s just no telling. We have heard views supporting this idea and ones opposing it. So what is the truth? Really, it depends on what the rest of the world says, hears, reads, watches and believes in. Some views

are religious, some not. But think about it. If the world were to come to an end, shouldn’t we be doing more than what we are doing now? There are a million things I would like to do before saying ‘goodbye’! What

about you? And if we are going to be around longer, shouldn’t we be grateful and not complain? To some, the creator of the universe dictates when our time is up. To others, with the rate of pollution and poverty in

the world, we are destined to face D-day soon. Whatever the case may be, this is an exciting topic and one that is open to debate. What say you?

“I do not believe in it since the end of the world is not

known by human beings but is only known by the Lord of

the Universe.”Abdelali Bey Zekkoub, NSG - Algeria

“Nope! Long way to go.... I have not completed my new condo payment ;)”

Jesada, Events and Promotion

Manager - Thailand

“I don’t believe in such doomsday prophecies. If it is true, the world would already be half way to an end. I don’t think scientists are idiots.”Max, Coordinator, Office Of The Group CFO – Hong Kong

“The mark of your ignorance is the

depth of your belief in injustice and

tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the

‘End of the World’ the master calls it a Butterfly.”

Raymond D’cruz, Consultant - India

“Things to do before the world ends: These were the

words written on a yellow post-it note on my sister’s

mini refrigerator. There was just one thing listed on it:

TULPA. Tulpa is a Tibetian concept which works on the

basis of multiple human minds thinking about the same

thing. Her justification was: Let’s overcome a theory

with another theory!”

Varsha Shankar, Executive Secretary - India

“The world will not end in 2012. Put aside the

Mayans, the Holy Gospels, smashing asteroids

etc. To me, it is just hype to sell stories.

However, if prophecy and scientific accounts

come through, the only thing that will come

to an end is our way of life from devastating

increases in famine to violence, collapse of

economies to a whole new daily system. Finally,

if the EOTW is predicted to be in 2012, then why

is my rice cooker warranty dated to May 2013???”

Loong Chia Ann, Event Coordinator, V-DCS - Malaysia

“Maybe not literally but a lot of old practices will change thus signaling an “END”.

Ben Chin, Social Media Specialist – Malaysia

“Nothing bad will happen in 2012. Our planet

has survived for more than four billion years

and credible scientists worldwide know of no

threat associated with 2012. Natural disasters

may take place and pose threats to mankind

but major destruction to the earth is something

that may not be feasible for now.”

Priya Gopal, Corporate Governance - Malaysia

“Since the Mayan calendar is slated to end on 21st December 2012, we must plan a research offsite in the

Mayan region. It would be a miracle if QuestNet found a way to market less potent versions of Ayahuasca – a Mayan botanical species and an ethnobotanist’s

dream. I definitely plan to try the Ayahuasca healing experience by the end of 2013. NatGeo describes the Ayahuasca experience as “enlightening”.

Alka Shankernarayan, Consultant, Communications – India

“To me, it’s mere crazy talk. We’ve all heard these

doomsday predictions before but we are all still

here and so is planet Earth. Forget Nostradamus,

forget the Y2K bug, forget the DSAI Sodomy II

Trial and GE13. When you reach the height of

pessimism, just take the “h” in height, the “o” in of

and the “pe” in pessimism, put them together and

you’ll have “HOPE”.

Martin Soosay, Senior PR Executive - Malaysia

“The world is too wonderful a phenomena to end. It will NEVER happen. Yes, some parts of it may get affected by natural calamities but I am 100 % convinced of this.”Srinivas Vanka, Senior Consultant – India

There’s just no telling. We have heard views supporting this idea and ones

opposing it. So what is the truth? Really, it depends on what the rest of the world

says, hears, reads, watches and believes in. Some views are religious, some not.

But think about it. If the world were to come to an end, shouldn’t we be doing

more than what we are doing now? There are a million things I would like to

do before saying ‘goodbye’! What about you? And if we are going to be around

longer, shouldn’t we be grateful and not complain? To some, the creator of the

universe dictates when our time is up. To others, with the rate of pollution and

poverty in the world, we are destined to face D-day soon. Whatever the case may

be, this is an exciting topic and one that is open to debate. What say you?

“We all know that one day we will die. The question is how

should we use our life before we die? God sent us into this world

for one thing – RYTHM. No one can do anything if the world is

coming to an end. It is in the hands of God. If God wants to keep

you in this world, whether it is the end of the world or not, you

will still be in the world by God’s blessings. By helping others, you

will also help yourself.”

Danny Dhillon, Driver/Head of Security - Hong Kong

“Mankind should always be sanguine about the

future. Otherwise we will lose the drive to move

forward. Therefore this idea should be discarded.”Newman Lam, Senior Accountant – Hong Kong

“The world is coming to an end in terms of an ‘era’.

An end is always a new beginning. A new era shall come over

mankind not in a physical manner but in world politics.”

Muqtadir Suwani, Network Support Officer - Malaysia

“It is possible that time will come. I hope it is not too late and we can do something by saving our planet...let’s start going green, stopping pollution etc.”Jun Gaa, Senior Network Support Officer – Hong Kong

“Mother earth seems to be upset with us, humans, but this year is not the time for the world to end.”Mandy Tan, PR Executive – Malaysia

Is The World Coming To An End In 2012?

“If you are a realist and believe in hard

scientific facts, then this is most certainly not

a realistic theory. Science has proven many

such prophecies wrong in the past too.”

Rajesh Wahal, Consultant NSG - India

“Evolution...Epicurian...Probability......Let a torrent of theories flood out. The world is big enough to accommodate doomsday prophecies as well. Sometimes it’s good to be skeptical to have a better 2012.”

Jaiphy Jose, HR Executive – India

“The story started with claims that Nibiru, a

supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians,

is headed toward the Earth. This catastrophe was

initially predicted for May 2003, but was moved

forward to December 2012. Then these two fables

were linked to the end of one of the cycles in the

ancient Mayan calendar at the winter solstice in

2012 - hence the predicted doomsday date of

December 21, 2012.”

Apoorva B N, HR Executive - India

There’s just no telling. We have heard views supporting this idea and ones opposing it. So what is the truth? Really, it depends on what the rest of the world says, hears, reads, watches and believes in. Some views

are religious, some not. But think about it. If the world were to come to an end, shouldn’t we be doing more than what we are doing now? There are a million things I would like to do before saying ‘goodbye’! What

about you? And if we are going to be around longer, shouldn’t we be grateful and not complain? To some, the creator of the universe dictates when our time is up. To others, with the rate of pollution and poverty in

the world, we are destined to face D-day soon. Whatever the case may be, this is an exciting topic and one that is open to debate. What say you?

There’s just no telling. We have heard views supporting this idea and ones opposing it. So what is the truth? Really, it depends on what the rest of the world says, hears, reads, watches and believes in. Some views

are religious, some not. But think about it. If the world were to come to an end, shouldn’t we be doing more than what we are doing now? There are a million things I would like to do before saying ‘goodbye’! What

about you? And if we are going to be around longer, shouldn’t we be grateful and not complain? To some, the creator of the universe dictates when our time is up. To others, with the rate of pollution and poverty in

the world, we are destined to face D-day soon. Whatever the case may be, this is an exciting topic and one that is open to debate. What say you?

There’s just no telling. We have heard views supporting this idea and ones opposing it. So what is the truth? Really, it depends on what the rest of the world says, hears, reads, watches and believes in. Some views

are religious, some not. But think about it. If the world were to come to an end, shouldn’t we be doing more than what we are doing now? There are a million things I would like to do before saying ‘goodbye’! What

about you? And if we are going to be around longer, shouldn’t we be grateful and not complain? To some, the creator of the universe dictates when our time is up. To others, with the rate of pollution and poverty in

the world, we are destined to face D-day soon. Whatever the case may be, this is an exciting topic and one that is open to debate. What say you?

There’s just no telling. We have heard views supporting this idea and ones opposing it. So what is the truth? Really, it depends on what the rest of the world says, hears, reads, watches and believes in. Some views

are religious, some not. But think about it. If the world were to come to an end, shouldn’t we be doing more than what we are doing now? There are a million things I would like to do before saying ‘goodbye’! What

about you? And if we are going to be around longer, shouldn’t we be grateful and not complain? To some, the creator of the universe dictates when our time is up. To others, with the rate of pollution and poverty in

the world, we are destined to face D-day soon. Whatever the case may be, this is an exciting topic and one that is open to debate. What say you?

There’s just no telling. We have heard views supporting this idea and ones opposing it. So what is the truth? Really, it depends on what the rest of the world says, hears, reads, watches and believes in. Some views

are religious, some not. But think about it. If the world were to come to an end, shouldn’t we be doing more than what we are doing now? There are a million things I would like to do before saying ‘goodbye’! What

about you? And if we are going to be around longer, shouldn’t we be grateful and not complain? To some, the creator of the universe dictates when our time is up. To others, with the rate of pollution and poverty in

the world, we are destined to face D-day soon. Whatever the case may be, this is an exciting topic and one that is open to debate. What say you?

There’s just no telling. We have heard views supporting this idea and ones opposing it. So what is the truth? Really, it depends on what the rest of the world says, hears, reads, watches and believes in. Some views

are religious, some not. But think about it. If the world were to come to an end, shouldn’t we be doing more than what we are doing now? There are a million things I would like to do before saying ‘goodbye’! What

about you? And if we are going to be around longer, shouldn’t we be grateful and not complain? To some, the creator of the universe dictates when our time is up. To others, with the rate of pollution and poverty in

the world, we are destined to face D-day soon. Whatever the case may be, this is an exciting topic and one that is open to debate. What say you?

“I do not believe in it since the end of the world is not

known by human beings but is only known by the Lord of

the Universe.”Abdelali Bey Zekkoub, NSG - Algeria

“Nope! Long way to go.... I have not completed my new condo payment ;)”

Jesada, Events and Promotion

Manager - Thailand

“I don’t believe in such doomsday prophecies. If it is true, the world would already be half way to an end. I don’t think scientists are idiots.”Max, Coordinator, Office Of The Group CFO – Hong Kong

“The mark of your ignorance is the

depth of your belief in injustice and

tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the

‘End of the World’ the master calls it a Butterfly.”

Raymond D’cruz, Consultant - India

“Things to do before the world ends: These were the

words written on a yellow post-it note on my sister’s

mini refrigerator. There was just one thing listed on it:

TULPA. Tulpa is a Tibetian concept which works on the

basis of multiple human minds thinking about the same

thing. Her justification was: Let’s overcome a theory

with another theory!”

Varsha Shankar, Executive Secretary - India

“The world will not end in 2012. Put aside the

Mayans, the Holy Gospels, smashing asteroids

etc. To me, it is just hype to sell stories.

However, if prophecy and scientific accounts

come through, the only thing that will come

to an end is our way of life from devastating

increases in famine to violence, collapse of

economies to a whole new daily system. Finally,

if the EOTW is predicted to be in 2012, then why

is my rice cooker warranty dated to May 2013???”

Loong Chia Ann, Event Coordinator, V-DCS - Malaysia

“Maybe not literally but a lot of old practices will change thus signaling an “END”.

Ben Chin, Social Media Specialist – Malaysia

“Nothing bad will happen in 2012. Our planet

has survived for more than four billion years

and credible scientists worldwide know of no

threat associated with 2012. Natural disasters

may take place and pose threats to mankind

but major destruction to the earth is something

that may not be feasible for now.”

Priya Gopal, Corporate Governance - Malaysia

“Since the Mayan calendar is slated to end on 21st December 2012, we must plan a research offsite in the

Mayan region. It would be a miracle if QuestNet found a way to market less potent versions of Ayahuasca – a Mayan botanical species and an ethnobotanist’s

dream. I definitely plan to try the Ayahuasca healing experience by the end of 2013. NatGeo describes the Ayahuasca experience as “enlightening”.

Alka Shankernarayan, Consultant, Communications – India

“To me, it’s mere crazy talk. We’ve all heard these

doomsday predictions before but we are all still

here and so is planet Earth. Forget Nostradamus,

forget the Y2K bug, forget the DSAI Sodomy II

Trial and GE13. When you reach the height of

pessimism, just take the “h” in height, the “o” in of

and the “pe” in pessimism, put them together and

you’ll have “HOPE”.

Martin Soosay, Senior PR Executive - Malaysia

“The world is too wonderful a phenomena to end. It will NEVER happen. Yes, some parts of it may get affected by natural calamities but I am 100 % convinced of this.”Srinivas Vanka, Senior Consultant – India

There’s just no telling. We have heard views supporting this idea and ones

opposing it. So what is the truth? Really, it depends on what the rest of the world

says, hears, reads, watches and believes in. Some views are religious, some not.

But think about it. If the world were to come to an end, shouldn’t we be doing

more than what we are doing now? There are a million things I would like to

do before saying ‘goodbye’! What about you? And if we are going to be around

longer, shouldn’t we be grateful and not complain? To some, the creator of the

universe dictates when our time is up. To others, with the rate of pollution and

poverty in the world, we are destined to face D-day soon. Whatever the case may

be, this is an exciting topic and one that is open to debate. What say you?

“We all know that one day we will die. The question is how

should we use our life before we die? God sent us into this world

for one thing – RYTHM. No one can do anything if the world is

coming to an end. It is in the hands of God. If God wants to keep

you in this world, whether it is the end of the world or not, you

will still be in the world by God’s blessings. By helping others, you

will also help yourself.”

Danny Dhillon, Driver/Head of Security - Hong Kong

“Mankind should always be sanguine about the

future. Otherwise we will lose the drive to move

forward. Therefore this idea should be discarded.”Newman Lam, Senior Accountant – Hong Kong

“The world is coming to an end in terms of an ‘era’.

An end is always a new beginning. A new era shall come over

mankind not in a physical manner but in world politics.”

Muqtadir Suwani, Network Support Officer - Malaysia

“It is possible that time will come. I hope it is not too late and we can do something by saving our planet...let’s start going green, stopping pollution etc.”Jun Gaa, Senior Network Support Officer – Hong Kong

“Mother earth seems to be upset with us, humans, but this year is not the time for the world to end.”Mandy Tan, PR Executive – Malaysia

Is The World Coming To An End In 2012?

“If you are a realist and believe in hard

scientific facts, then this is most certainly not

a realistic theory. Science has proven many

such prophecies wrong in the past too.”

Rajesh Wahal, Consultant NSG - India

“Evolution...Epicurian...Probability......Let a torrent of theories flood out. The world is big enough to accommodate doomsday prophecies as well. Sometimes it’s good to be skeptical to have a better 2012.”

Jaiphy Jose, HR Executive – India

“The story started with claims that Nibiru, a

supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians,

is headed toward the Earth. This catastrophe was

initially predicted for May 2003, but was moved

forward to December 2012. Then these two fables

were linked to the end of one of the cycles in the

ancient Mayan calendar at the winter solstice in

2012 - hence the predicted doomsday date of

December 21, 2012.”

Apoorva B N, HR Executive - India

Q1: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

A1: Gavin: I am an IT Specialist. I used to be a part-time wedding, portrait, event and a dedicated ‘magician’ photographer.

A2: Noel: I’m a bohemian lover and a beach lover, a jet-setter. I’m fierce but kind, impulsive and sweet, a man of many talents.

A3: Farah: I’m madly in love with photography and held my first camera at the age of eight. It was an Olympus.

Q2: Where are you based?

A1: Gavin: Malaysia.

A2: Noel: Philippines.

A3: Farah: Malaysia .

Q3: Did you take up photography classes?

A1: Gavin: No, I studied from photography books.

A2: Noel: Yes, in elementary school, I joined a photography club and then later I became a member of the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation.

A3: Farah: Nope. Maybe because I’ve been doing this since I was small and it has become my passion and hobby.

Q4: How long have you been a photographer?

A1: Gavin: I owned my first DSLR in 2009. I was actively involved in shooting in 2010 and 2011 before joining QI.

A2: Noel: About 16 years – counting from the time I first held a camera, but professionally, about two and half years.

A3: Farah: For photography, as a hobby, it will be about 26 years. Professionally, as a part time photographer, it is going to be two years now.

Welcome to InQuest’s QI Talent Search 2012!

We’ve interviewed three photographers who create emotional, edgy, original

and unique images. We hope these interviews will inspire you, too, to

stamp your imprint on the landscape of great photography and become the best

photographer you can possibly be.

[Gavin Soon from Malaysia, Noel Abelardo from Philippines & Farah Hanim from Malaysia]

The QI Talent

Search

Q5: How would you describe your style?

A1: Gavin: Free style. I prefer conceptual and irrealistic shooting.

A2: Noel: I’m the typical purist. I keep the essence of the photographs I take but I utilise tools to enhance my photos too.

A3: Farah: I love to shoot human portraits, nature and macros/abstracts.

Q6: What type of cameras do you shoot with?

A1: Gavin: Currently, I’m using the Canon 50D DSLR.

A2: Noel: I collect cameras. I have toy cameras (lomogrophy), film cameras (SLR), digital single lens reflex cameras (dSLR), advanced point and shoot cameras and my iPhone and Blackberry cameras.

A3: Farah: I use my Nikon D7000. I also have a compact DSLR, an Olympus Pen EP-1.

Q7: What is your favourite editing software?

A1: Gavin: Photoshop.

A2: Noel: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom and Nix Software.

A3: Farah: I don’t really like to edit my pictures, but if I have to, I use Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom.

Q8: What has been your most memorable assignment and why?

A1: Gavin: Magician studio shooting. That was my first time setting up a simple studio with two studio lights, two flash lights, a smoke machine and a background setup, without an assistant.

A2: Noel: The first open photo shoot I did for Abie (Reabie Pana) to help raise funds for her breast cancer treatment. It was the most fulfilling thing I ever did. I did it for two consecutive weeks and shot over 80 people in 12 hours continuously.

A3: Farah: I was involved with KLUE’s Urbanscapes 2010. We needed to take 1000 full bodied human portraits. I managed to take 1500 human portraits in three days.

Q9: What is your favourite, most recent image? Can you describe it with regards to location, lighting, composition, camera settings, etc.? Also, what were your thoughts when creating the image and what does it mean to you?

A1: Gavin: The recent picture that I like the most is the

view on the ship taken during the company trip: GAVIN Q17 – A1 (A)

A2: Noel: My latest advocacy, the ‘open photo shoot’.

I used a huge octobox light for the group shot with side white reflectors. I shot with an aperture of f/11 with a 1/160sec shutter speed with a Nikkor and a 70-200mm f/2.8 and a 50mm f/1.4 lens using my Nikon D700.: NOEL Q17 – A2 (A); NOEL Q17 – A2 (B)

A3: Farah: A picture of the sunset taken on the cruise during the company trip. Camera settings: I used the manual mode. The aperture was set to the smallest possible. This was to avoid a “sun-smear” and can also result in the nice effect of making the sun look like a star. : FARAH Q17 – A3 (A)

Farah Hanim

Noel Abelardo

Gavin Soon

Q1: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

A1: Gavin: I am an IT Specialist. I used to be a part-time wedding, portrait, event and a dedicated ‘magician’ photographer.

A2: Noel: I’m a bohemian lover and a beach lover, a jet-setter. I’m fierce but kind, impulsive and sweet, a man of many talents.

A3: Farah: I’m madly in love with photography and held my first camera at the age of eight. It was an Olympus.

Q2: Where are you based?

A1: Gavin: Malaysia.

A2: Noel: Philippines.

A3: Farah: Malaysia .

Q3: Did you take up photography classes?

A1: Gavin: No, I studied from photography books.

A2: Noel: Yes, in elementary school, I joined a photography club and then later I became a member of the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation.

A3: Farah: Nope. Maybe because I’ve been doing this since I was small and it has become my passion and hobby.

Q4: How long have you been a photographer?

A1: Gavin: I owned my first DSLR in 2009. I was actively involved in shooting in 2010 and 2011 before joining QI.

A2: Noel: About 16 years – counting from the time I first held a camera, but professionally, about two and half years.

A3: Farah: For photography, as a hobby, it will be about 26 years. Professionally, as a part time photographer, it is going to be two years now.

Welcome to InQuest’s QI Talent Search 2012!

We’ve interviewed three photographers who create emotional, edgy, original

and unique images. We hope these interviews will inspire you, too, to

stamp your imprint on the landscape of great photography and become the best

photographer you can possibly be.

[Gavin Soon from Malaysia, Noel Abelardo from Philippines & Farah Hanim from Malaysia]

The QI Talent

Search

Q5: How would you describe your style?

A1: Gavin: Free style. I prefer conceptual and irrealistic shooting.

A2: Noel: I’m the typical purist. I keep the essence of the photographs I take but I utilise tools to enhance my photos too.

A3: Farah: I love to shoot human portraits, nature and macros/abstracts.

Q6: What type of cameras do you shoot with?

A1: Gavin: Currently, I’m using the Canon 50D DSLR.

A2: Noel: I collect cameras. I have toy cameras (lomogrophy), film cameras (SLR), digital single lens reflex cameras (dSLR), advanced point and shoot cameras and my iPhone and Blackberry cameras.

A3: Farah: I use my Nikon D7000. I also have a compact DSLR, an Olympus Pen EP-1.

Q7: What is your favourite editing software?

A1: Gavin: Photoshop.

A2: Noel: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom and Nix Software.

A3: Farah: I don’t really like to edit my pictures, but if I have to, I use Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom.

Q8: What has been your most memorable assignment and why?

A1: Gavin: Magician studio shooting. That was my first time setting up a simple studio with two studio lights, two flash lights, a smoke machine and a background setup, without an assistant.

A2: Noel: The first open photo shoot I did for Abie (Reabie Pana) to help raise funds for her breast cancer treatment. It was the most fulfilling thing I ever did. I did it for two consecutive weeks and shot over 80 people in 12 hours continuously.

A3: Farah: I was involved with KLUE’s Urbanscapes 2010. We needed to take 1000 full bodied human portraits. I managed to take 1500 human portraits in three days.

Q9: What is your favourite, most recent image? Can you describe it with regards to location, lighting, composition, camera settings, etc.? Also, what were your thoughts when creating the image and what does it mean to you?

A1: Gavin: The recent picture that I like the most is the

view on the ship taken during the company trip: GAVIN Q17 – A1 (A)

A2: Noel: My latest advocacy, the ‘open photo shoot’.

I used a huge octobox light for the group shot with side white reflectors. I shot with an aperture of f/11 with a 1/160sec shutter speed with a Nikkor and a 70-200mm f/2.8 and a 50mm f/1.4 lens using my Nikon D700.: NOEL Q17 – A2 (A); NOEL Q17 – A2 (B)

A3: Farah: A picture of the sunset taken on the cruise during the company trip. Camera settings: I used the manual mode. The aperture was set to the smallest possible. This was to avoid a “sun-smear” and can also result in the nice effect of making the sun look like a star. : FARAH Q17 – A3 (A)

Farah Hanim

Noel Abelardo

Gavin Soon

Farah Hanim

Noel Abelardo

Gavin Soon A1 (A)

A2 (A)

A3 (A)

A2 (B)

Farah Hanim

Noel Abelardo

Gavin Soon A1 (A)

A2 (A)

A3 (A)

A2 (B)

iNQUESTOLOGY!

The Year of the Dragon promises hope for those who are positive and eager to make the most out of the worst. A progressive, fast-paced and exciting year awaits those who are able to stir up momentum and keep it going. Those born this year will not back down or be satisfied with anything less than first place. Innocent, naïve and somewhat impulsive, the Dragon will bolt headfirst into any potential opportunity that appears. There is no such thing as failure in the Dragon’s world, only a “try, try and try again” mentality that eventually finds victory.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 22

Your desire for knowledge and changes in your life will steer you in a new path. Redefining yourself will put you up-to-date and will position you where the action is. By lending a helping hand to others, you will broaden your interests and widen your circle of friends. There will be more security and this will be followed by change. Expect the unforeseen and accept the unavoidable. You will learn the art of moderation in extreme circumstances.

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sept 22

Think about what you have to do and follow through. As the year goes on, you will be drawn to take on unfeasible opportunities that might, in the end, drain your emotions, finances or physical being. Try to use your creativity with wisdom keeping life simple and moderate and in harmony. Concentrate your energy on your career and loved ones so that they will not be harmed by external forces.

LIBRA Sept 23 - Oct 22

Your input and diligence will begin to reap rewards. What you have gained from past experiences will put you on the path to success. Things are turning around and at last you will get the opportunity to discover the benefits of being the best of the best. Get ready to undertake these anticipated changes with determination. Do not be afraid of failure but embrace bravery.

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21

Don’t be misled by the deeds and word of others. Trust your instincts and your gut feelings when making personal decisions that can alter your way of living and financial undertakings. It is time for you to make choices and influence those who you feel owe you. A strong bond with an old friend or partner will make your objectives simpler to attain.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21

Be cautious of what you hope for. Change can go both ways. Misperception is in the cards and will steer you the wrong way. Communicate with a loyal friend before you make any decisions you will regret. Do not give in to extremist behaviour and financial, physical or emotional enticement. Take your time, watch, get good guidance and make intelligent decisions. Practice patience as this will save you most of the time.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 19

Take heed of your investments and liabilities so that you can bring to completion that which will bring your situations more security. Be conscientious and employ new tools that will grab attention and make a mark that will pave the way for success. Work hard during the first half of the year, and once everything is good to go, you will be able to cruise along and enjoy the journey.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18

Re-evaluate. Revise. Re-create. Take a good look at what has happened, what is happening and what will happen as this will help you see things more clearly and you will be able to prioritize and set appropriate objectives. You will move faster once you have a clear direction. New beginnings and undertakings will reassure you that you are on the right track. You will reach greater heights once you make use of the chances that are offered to you.

PISCES Feb 19 - Mar 20

Your career and personal relationships must be assessed. Take note of what you do for people and what others do for you on a daily basis. Find ways to reduce your emotional, physical and financial losses to reach better times ahead. Remember that too much of anything does not work for you. Make the most out of the least. Think about yourself first.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/life/2012-the-Year-of-the-Dragon-In-with-a-mighty-roar-30172971.html

GEMINI May 21 - Jun 20

Don’t let small problems which challenge you bog you down. Through discipline and diligence, you will find greater pay-backs, serenity and even sweet surrender. Love is a highlight, along with expansion of future plans for the year. Anything is possible if only you list out your objectives clearly and carry them out reasonably. Success will be yours if you let your imagination flow to be the channel for your willpower.

CANCER Jun 21 - Jul 22

You will have to exert your mind if you want to get things done. Put additional effort behind your actions and you will set up a persuasive stance which will help you get the leverage you need to achieve your goals. Change is unavoidable and the sooner you face the music the easier it will be to get your own plans moving. Live your life to the fullest. Take part in life, don’t just observe!

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 19

Get ready to deal with interesting and monumental changes in your life. Take the limitations of the past in stride as this is vital in positioning yourself to make the most out of opportunities that arise in the future. The first part of the year is crucial and what you do during this time will determine how things will work out for you at the end. The second half of the year promises, for some, a new job and a higher income as well as love and romance.

TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20

As the year moves on, some of you may find it simpler to rectify slip-ups or challenging situations. You may need to sharpen your networking skills during the first part of the year as this will broaden your knowledge and experience. Fight for what you want, if that’s what it takes. Accept what’s coming to you and you will benefit from it.

iNQUESTOLOGY!

The Year of the Dragon promises hope for those who are positive and eager to make the most out of the worst. A progressive, fast-paced and exciting year awaits those who are able to stir up momentum and keep it going. Those born this year will not back down or be satisfied with anything less than first place. Innocent, naïve and somewhat impulsive, the Dragon will bolt headfirst into any potential opportunity that appears. There is no such thing as failure in the Dragon’s world, only a “try, try and try again” mentality that eventually finds victory.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 22

Your desire for knowledge and changes in your life will steer you in a new path. Redefining yourself will put you up-to-date and will position you where the action is. By lending a helping hand to others, you will broaden your interests and widen your circle of friends. There will be more security and this will be followed by change. Expect the unforeseen and accept the unavoidable. You will learn the art of moderation in extreme circumstances.

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sept 22

Think about what you have to do and follow through. As the year goes on, you will be drawn to take on unfeasible opportunities that might, in the end, drain your emotions, finances or physical being. Try to use your creativity with wisdom keeping life simple and moderate and in harmony. Concentrate your energy on your career and loved ones so that they will not be harmed by external forces.

LIBRA Sept 23 - Oct 22

Your input and diligence will begin to reap rewards. What you have gained from past experiences will put you on the path to success. Things are turning around and at last you will get the opportunity to discover the benefits of being the best of the best. Get ready to undertake these anticipated changes with determination. Do not be afraid of failure but embrace bravery.

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21

Don’t be misled by the deeds and word of others. Trust your instincts and your gut feelings when making personal decisions that can alter your way of living and financial undertakings. It is time for you to make choices and influence those who you feel owe you. A strong bond with an old friend or partner will make your objectives simpler to attain.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21

Be cautious of what you hope for. Change can go both ways. Misperception is in the cards and will steer you the wrong way. Communicate with a loyal friend before you make any decisions you will regret. Do not give in to extremist behaviour and financial, physical or emotional enticement. Take your time, watch, get good guidance and make intelligent decisions. Practice patience as this will save you most of the time.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 19

Take heed of your investments and liabilities so that you can bring to completion that which will bring your situations more security. Be conscientious and employ new tools that will grab attention and make a mark that will pave the way for success. Work hard during the first half of the year, and once everything is good to go, you will be able to cruise along and enjoy the journey.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18

Re-evaluate. Revise. Re-create. Take a good look at what has happened, what is happening and what will happen as this will help you see things more clearly and you will be able to prioritize and set appropriate objectives. You will move faster once you have a clear direction. New beginnings and undertakings will reassure you that you are on the right track. You will reach greater heights once you make use of the chances that are offered to you.

PISCES Feb 19 - Mar 20

Your career and personal relationships must be assessed. Take note of what you do for people and what others do for you on a daily basis. Find ways to reduce your emotional, physical and financial losses to reach better times ahead. Remember that too much of anything does not work for you. Make the most out of the least. Think about yourself first.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/life/2012-the-Year-of-the-Dragon-In-with-a-mighty-roar-30172971.html

GEMINI May 21 - Jun 20

Don’t let small problems which challenge you bog you down. Through discipline and diligence, you will find greater pay-backs, serenity and even sweet surrender. Love is a highlight, along with expansion of future plans for the year. Anything is possible if only you list out your objectives clearly and carry them out reasonably. Success will be yours if you let your imagination flow to be the channel for your willpower.

CANCER Jun 21 - Jul 22

You will have to exert your mind if you want to get things done. Put additional effort behind your actions and you will set up a persuasive stance which will help you get the leverage you need to achieve your goals. Change is unavoidable and the sooner you face the music the easier it will be to get your own plans moving. Live your life to the fullest. Take part in life, don’t just observe!

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 19

Get ready to deal with interesting and monumental changes in your life. Take the limitations of the past in stride as this is vital in positioning yourself to make the most out of opportunities that arise in the future. The first part of the year is crucial and what you do during this time will determine how things will work out for you at the end. The second half of the year promises, for some, a new job and a higher income as well as love and romance.

TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20

As the year moves on, some of you may find it simpler to rectify slip-ups or challenging situations. You may need to sharpen your networking skills during the first part of the year as this will broaden your knowledge and experience. Fight for what you want, if that’s what it takes. Accept what’s coming to you and you will benefit from it.

We hope that you had a great time reading

this issue! We also hope you were enlightened

and entertained by reading the various articles

and features about life, love and everything in

between! Now tell us how you rate the brand

new InQuest by dropping us an e-mail at:

bawani.valoo@qigroup.com

Tell us which was your favourite segment and

what you would like published in the next issue.

We value your comments and feedback so keep

them coming in!

Till June, stay cool and funky.