OFW si Juan

SMILE :)

2011-12-12T20:37:00.000+04:00

Kahapon dumaan ako sa Deira City Center, hindi para mag liwaliw kundi mag hanap ng gumagawa ng "skin" para sa ipad at iphone ng isang kilala ko. Napansin ko kahit marami ang mga taong nawalan ng trabaho sa Dubai, marami pa rin ang mga nag sho-shopping. Para lang walang dumaang crisis ah.

Pero hindi sa financial crisis at sa Deira City Center ang blog ko.

Pagbalik ko sa parking, may napansin akong maliit na paper na nakadikita sa kotse ko.

Ganito ang nakasulat:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I would like to know where did you buy the seat cover of your car with smile face :). Please if you can call me (number given). I parked beside you Jeep Cherokee black. I am Spanish lady.

Ganito ang reply ko sa likod na papel:

Hi Madam,

Sorry forgot where I bought long time ago. Maybe in City Center car accessories section.... I would love to give it to you. But its the only one I got. I hope it brought smile on your face. Oliver - (number given)

Sabay dikit din sa salamin ng jeep Cherokee. Hindi ko alam kung tama ang grammar ko pero palagay ko naintindihan ni Spanish Lady ang ibig kong sabihin.

Pagkatapos ng mga 2 oras may nag txt sa akin.

"Thanks (me) for your gentle reply. Yes it brings to me a smile on my face. :) have a nice day!"

Sya nga pala. I would like to introduce to you............. si SMILE.

Have a nice day.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque - Abu Dhabi, UAE

2011-11-21T23:10:00.000+04:00

no words, only photos

welcome to Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Dear Nanay

2011-11-01T23:02:00.000+04:00

Dear Nay,

Alam mo kanina Nay, nakakabored ang traffic pa Dubai. Nakakainis simula pa lang ng araw stressed na. Napatingin ako sa relos ko, Nov. 1. Oo nga pala piyesta ng mga patay ngayon.

Naalala kita Nay. Bigla akong napaluha habang hawak ko ang manibela ng sasakyan. Buti na lang at medyo tinted ang kotse at hindi obvious na nagpapahid ako ng tissue sa mukha ko. Namimiss pala kita.

Sayang hindi mo man lang nakita kong gaano kakulit ang dalawang apo mo ngayon. Si Abby laging tanong ng tanong.

"What is this Daddy?"

Minsan nga Yes or No na lang ang sinasagot ko kasi paulit ulit. Si Owen naman parang may kiti-kiti sa puwet. Hindi natigil sa isang lugar sa bahay. Takbo ng takbo at talon ng talon sa silya.

Ganon din ba ako kaulit Nay nong maliit ako? Nagagalit ka rin ba pag sobrang matigas na ulo ko?

Minsan nga naiinggit ako sa mga nakikita kong mag asawang nag sisimba na may anak kasi may kasamang babaeng my edad na. Malamang nanay sya ng isa man sa mag asawa. Palagay ko Nay, kung nandito ka ngayon ganon din ang magiging set up natin. Imbes na retired ka na, nag aalaga ka pa rin ng mga apo mo dito sa Sharjah... hehehehe...

Naalala ko Nay mag kasama tayong kumakain ng hapunan minsan. Ginataang kuhol ang ulam natin na pinulot ni Tatay sa palayan. Tinuruan mo pa nga ako kung pano sipsipin ang laman eh.

Minsan naman nililibang mo kami ng mga kapatid ko sa umaga sa paglaro ng ibat ibang kulay na balloons. Kaya lang masyadong manipis ang goma at madaling pumutok pag bumagsak sa damuhan. Huli ko lang nalaman condom pala ang mga yon... malay ko ba.

Yong mga palad mo nga Nay parang digital thermometer eh. Bago ako maligo nilalapat mo ang dalawa mong kamay sa dibdib at likod ko para alamin ang kung may sinat ako o wala. Saka lang ako maliligo sa poso sa likod bahay. Gusto ko nga matutunan kung pano mo tinatantya o baka lang talagang mothers instinct. Galing mo Nay!

Pag may sore eyes ako, breastmilk lang ang katapat na hiningi mo sa kapitbahay nating may baby. Ang lagnat walang problema kasi may Mirinda at paborita sa baraka.

Kaya ng magkasakit ka Nay, binalak ko rin sanang ibili kita ng Mirinda at paborita. Kung hindi ka man sana gumaling kahit papano naibsan man lang ang sakit na nararamdaman mo noon. Sa murang isip ko noon, inisip ko na ang sakit ay parang lagnat lang. Kinabukasan mawawala na.

Ramdam ko nga sakit na nararamdaman mo Nay. Sabi mo malaki ang karayum na tinutusok sa tiyan mo para matanggal ang tubig sa matres. Pinilit mong lumaban pero sa huli tinalo ka ng sakit mo.

Hindi ko maunawaan kung bakit kailangan mong mawala. Basta mo na lang kaming iniwan. Nalilito ako noon.

Pero ginamot ng panahon Nay. Unti unting nawala ang sakit. Pero ang ala ala mo nandyan pa rin. Hindi kita makakalimutan Nay.....

Sana pag nag kita tayo igawa mo ulit ako ng balloons. Ayaw ko ng yari sa condom. Dyahe naman... Gusto ko yong totoong balloons. Yong kulay green...

Pero wag muna ngayon Nay maliliit pa ang mga apo mo. Itataguyod ko muna sila. Basta lagi mo akong ibulong mo ako kay papa Jesus at pagpalain ang mga ginagawa ko dito sa lupa.

I miss you Minda Samulde Ausan. I love you.

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Nanay passed away 24 years ago.

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Reminiscing my Grades

2011-10-25T22:33:00.000+04:00

Kanina kinansel ko na ang visa ko sa Ajman dahil lilipat na ako ng opisina sa Dubai.

Habang nag aayos ako ng mga dokomentong kailangan ko para sa visa, tiningnan ko ulit ang authenticated transcript of records ko sa koleheyo. Na realize ko bobo pala ako sa koleheyo.

Mantakin mo naka dalawang 5.0 ako. (yong 5.0, sa Adamson University ay bagsak; ang 3.0 na marka ay katumbas ng 75-pasang awa at ang 1.0 pinakamataas na marka). 3 na subject ko ang incomplete o 4.0 at 22 subjects naman ay may markang 3.0

Sa dalawang bagsak ko, yong isa binawi ko sa summer at naging 3.0 at yong isa naman naging 2.9. Pero hindi basta-basta yong isang subject dahil 5.0 units yon na Integral Calculus. Ibig sabihin araw-araw kaming nagkikita ng professor ko sa isang linggo. Hindi ko nga alam kung may kinalaman ba ang mga limits, functions, derivatives, integrals at yong mga infinite series sa buhay ko ngayon. Pero kasama sa pagaaralan ko sa kurso ko eh... what to do.

Halos kalahati sa block namin ang bumagsak kaya imbis na umiyak ako eh napangiti na lang ako dahil hindi ako mag isang pumasok sa summer.

Yong isang binagsak ko ay Electrical Engineering theory 2 lecture. 5 units din!! Doon na nagsimula ang masalimuot kong buhay estudyante. Dahil walang slot nong sumunod na sem at pre requisite sya ng mga 3 major subjects nabawasan ang mga nakuhang kong units ng mga sumunod na sem. October tuloy ako naka graduate.

Yong Incomplete grades hindi ko na ininda dahil hindi naman sya bagsak. Sa tatlong incomplete ko yong isa naging 3.0.

At yong syempre record breaking ang aking dalamput dalawang 3.0. Talaga lang atang tamad ako mag aral non. Kaya hndi na pinagisipan pa ng mga professor kung anong grade ang ibigay sa akin.

Pero sa kabila ng lahat, mayron din akong magandang grades sa university at pwede akong ipagmalaki ng mga kamag anak ko.

Sa CMT (Citizen Military Training) ito ang mga grades ko:

1.5 First year 1st sem

1.0 First year 2nd sem

1.5 Second year 1st Sem

2.8 Second year 2nd Sem.

Naks! Naka- uno si mokong.

PAMI Mutual Fund Investment

2011-10-10T15:00:00.000+04:00


My PAMI refund Checks

After 3 years I decided to pull out my investments from PAMI Mutual Fund. I bought shares in GSIS and Philippine Strategic Funds for the total amount of 40,000 pesos. After deducting the entry fees my total investment was 39, 120.00 pesos.

The market is unpredictable at the moment because recently the US credit rating was reduced. There is also an ongoing economic turmoil in Greece.

As saying goes when US sneezes everyone catches cold. I think now is best time to buy and invest in stock market or mutual funds. Nobody can tell the when the buttom is.

But at the moment I am grinning ear to ear. I earned extra P 15,000!! That is 37.5% percent interest in 3 years.

House of Condom in Singapore

2011-10-02T10:16:00.000+04:00

Nahagip ng camera ko ang retail shop na ito habang namamasyal sa Lucky Plaza sa Singapore. Palagay ko legal ang pagbebenta ng mga sex toys sa Singapore. Pero dito sa Middle East, hindi ganito ka open ang pagbebenta kung mayron man ang mga pleasure toys na ito.

House of Condom in Singapore @ Lucky Plaza

View Lucky Plaza in a larger map

Kamayan sa Palaisdaan, Kamay ni Jesus, Pansit Habhab and Longganisa in Lucban in ONE day

2011-09-18T23:14:00.003+04:00

Three days before our departure back to UAE in May 2011 during our vacation in Philippines, my wife and I decided to visit Lucban and Tayabas in Quezon. In Tayabas, Kamayan sa Palaisdaan restaurant in particular, is a memorable place for me. Because Kamayan sa Palaisdaan was the place where I invited my wife for our first date.

We had to live early from from my wife place Batangas. We travelled from Batangas via STAR tollway to Turbina in Calamba. From Turbina we took another bus to Lucena. But we did not reach the Grand Central terminal. At the junction, there was already a Jeep terminal that will take you either to Tayabas, Lucban and Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Jeepneys travelling to Lucban and Sta. Cruz are particularly big jeep with double tires at the rear.

Our first stop was the Kamayan sa Palaisdan, famous for the floating bamboo dining area while enjoying the cold breeze and panoramic view of Mt. Banahaw. Nothing has changed that much in the restaurant since the last time we visited the place. A collage of photos of local celebrities and politicians was proudly displayed in the reception area.

There are is another Kamayan sa Palaisdaan owned by the same family located just 500 meters apart. One can also relax at Kamayan Hotel and Resort located opposite of the road.

A shot at Kamayan sa Palaisdaan

We ordered the all-time-favorite Sinugno, sizzling sea foods combo and garlic rice. Sinugno is a local recipe of Tilapia, grilled then cooked in coconut milk then garnished with Pechay. I tried once cooking Sinugno but could not get the distinct Tayabas taste.

This is the "Before"

and the "After"

After a heavy lunch and + 3 bottles of San Miguel Pilsen, we proceeded to Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban 30 minutes away from Kamayan sa Palaisdaan. In this site is a 292 step hill with life size figures depicting the station of the cross. And on the top is the 50-foot statue of Jesus Christ said to be the 3rd biggest in the world. I even saw Fr. Joey Faller the founder of the Kamay ni Hesus Ministry Foundation from a distance. I could not miss his curled right fingers that curled due to a car accident that is said to resemble the hands of Little Jesus - known as El Senor Sto. Nino-and of he hands of the risen and victorious Christ.

Ala Hollywood Walk of Fame

Kamay ni Hesus Church

Large statue of Jesus Christ on top of the hill

Noah's Ark retreat house

There is also a replica of Noah's ark that function as retreat house located inside the site.

Kamay ni Hesus Shrine

Closer look at Jesus Christ statue

House of Longganisa in Lucban

We then took another ride toward Lucban. After visiting the church, we went opposite the street where we bought longganisa Lucban. Longganisa Lucban is garlicky in taste and smaller compared to other longganisa.

And of course we would not miss the authentic pansit habhab in the Old Center Panciteria in Lucban. Pansit got its name because of the way you eat the pansit on banana leaf without using fork.

Old Center Panciteria

Since it was already getting dark we requested two serving of pansit habhab take away just in case we get hungry on our way back to Batangas.

That was a memorable day with my wife.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Fish Market in Ajman

2011-09-14T16:55:00.000+04:00

Fish in Ajman fish market ready for bidding. Photo taken by cellphone camera.

I go to Ajman Fish Market every week to buy a week supply of fish. But I never realize that before the fish are sold in the market, the fish are freshly unloaded from the big fishing boats and goes thru a bidding process.

Men, mostly of Indian origin lined the fish in a big concrete ground (shown in the picture). A middle man usually an Emirati guy holding a megaphone, will approach the ground and start shouting the wholesale price. Once the favorable wholesale price is reached the buyer, usually a fish vendor will hand over the money to the middle man. Then the fish are then brought to the fish stalls where people can buy.

One thing I like buying fish in Ajman is that the area is clean , the floor is dry and you leave the place without smelling like fish. Unlike the fish market in Sharjah and Deira fish market where you have to be extra careful or else you will slip on the floor.

How to to Ajman Fresh Market

From Dubai or Sharjah via Emirates Road:

Exit from Emirates Road and follow the highway until you see the Wasit Power station on your right. Take right and slowly merge to the right when you see the overpass ( the bridge is under construction as of this posting). Make left turn under the bridge ( you will see Gulf Craft office) and take first right. Then first right you will reach a signal. make left turn from this signal you will reach the Ajman Fish market to you right.

From Sharjah via Corniche road:

Let's say you are driving from Sharjah Ladies Club. Continue driving on the Corniche road until you will reach Ajman R/A before reaching Kimpinsky Hotel. Make right on this R/A and then left on the next R/A. Then you will reach Ajman Free Zone R/A. Make left. Continue driving about 1 km. You will see Ajman Fish market on your left side. Make U-turn to go to the opposite road.

Language, learning, identity, privilege By JAMES SORIANO

2011-09-01T13:17:00.001+04:00

This article appeared on the website of Manila Bulletin on August 24. Because of this article JAMES SORIANO became famous for wrong reason and with the deluge of criticism received by this piece, Manila Bulletin removed the article from the website.

Tell me what you think after reading this article.

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MANILA, Philippines — English is the language of learning. I’ve known this since before I could go to school. As a toddler, my first study materials were a set of flash cards that my mother used to teach me the English alphabet.

My mother made home conducive to learning English: all my storybooks and coloring books were in English, and so were the cartoons I watched and the music I listened to. She required me to speak English at home. She even hired tutors to help me learn to read and write in English.

In school I learned to think in English. We used English to learn about numbers, equations and variables. With it we learned about observation and inference, the moon and the stars, monsoons and photosynthesis. With it we learned about shapes and colors, about meter and rhythm. I learned about God in English, and I prayed to Him in English.

Filipino, on the other hand, was always the ‘other’ subject — almost a special subject like PE or Home Economics, except that it was graded the same way as Science, Math, Religion, and English. My classmates and I used to complain about Filipino all the time. Filipino was a chore, like washing the dishes; it was not the language of learning. It was the language we used to speak to the people who washed our dishes.

We used to think learning Filipino was important because it was practical: Filipino was the language of the world outside the classroom. It was the language of the streets: it was how you spoke to the tindera when you went to the tindahan, what you used to tell your katulong that you had an utos, and how you texted manong when you needed “sundo na.”

These skills were required to survive in the outside world, because we are forced to relate with the tinderas and the manongs and the katulongs of this world. If we wanted to communicate to these people — or otherwise avoid being mugged on the jeepney — we needed to learn Filipino.

That being said though, I was proud of my proficiency with the language. Filipino was the language I used to speak with my cousins and uncles and grandparents in the province, so I never had much trouble reciting.

It was the reading and writing that was tedious and difficult. I spoke Filipino, but only when I was in a different world like the streets or the province; it did not come naturally to me. English was more natural; I read, wrote and thought in English. And so, in much of the same way that I learned German later on, I learned Filipino in terms of English. In this way I survived Filipino in high school, albeit with too many sentences that had the preposition ‘ay.’

It was really only in university that I began to grasp Filipino in terms of language and not just dialect. Filipino was not merely a peculiar variety of language, derived and continuously borrowing from the English and Spanish alphabets; it was its own system, with its own grammar, semantics, sounds, even symbols.

But more significantly, it was its own way of reading, writing, and thinking. There are ideas and concepts unique to Filipino that can never be translated into another. Try translating bayanihan, tagay, kilig or diskarte.

Only recently have I begun to grasp Filipino as the language of identity: the language of emotion, experience, and even of learning. And with this comes the realization that I do, in fact, smell worse than a malansang isda. My own language is foreign to me: I speak, think, read and write primarily in English. To borrow the terminology of Fr. Bulatao, I am a split-level Filipino.

But perhaps this is not so bad in a society of rotten beef and stinking fish. For while Filipino may be the language of identity, it is the language of the streets. It might have the capacity to be the language of learning, but it is not the language of the learned.

It is neither the language of the classroom and the laboratory, nor the language of the boardroom, the court room, or the operating room. It is not the language of privilege. I may be disconnected from my being Filipino, but with a tongue of privilege I will always have my connections.

So I have my education to thank for making English my mother language.

A Top Shot @ the Top @ Burj Khalifa

2011-09-01T08:02:00.000+04:00

Alisdair Miller got got a chance to go to the very tip of the Burj Khalifa (tallest building/structure in the world - 800m). It took over 2hrs to get to the top. For this shot he was holding on to the lightning conductor with one hand and his camera with the other.

Click here to view a much larger and crispier image.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Sharjah Road

2011-08-28T23:38:00.000+04:00

Sharjah road near Rolla during Iftar time. Photo taken by a cellphone camera

It is very unusual to find this road near Rolla in Sharjah almost empty. But during Iftar time in Ramadan where our Muslim brothers come home early from work, driving thru this road is a breeze.

On normal days this road is the battle neck going to Dubai and is one of the preferred access to Dubai from Sharjah and Ajman.

Filipinos in UAE caught in credit card trap

2011-08-21T23:15:00.000+04:00

A re-post of the article published in Inquirer.net on August 22, 2011 regarding the dragging problem of Filipinos on credit cards.

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Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates—Before she arrived in this mecca of migrant labor at age 48, Evelyn Naces, a Filipino nurse, had never owned a credit card. Soon she had 14 credit cards—and like thousands of other foreign workers here, a trip to debtors’ prison.

The Philippine Embassy held a financial literacy program in June. Some workers borrowed at rates of 50 percent or more.

“When they put me in shackles, that was the worst,” said Naces, who had $27,000 in unpaid bills, mostly from helping her grown son start a business back in the Philippines that later failed. “I felt so degraded.”

For years, banks all but threw credit cards at the foreigners who come here in droves to work the malls and fill the office towers. The workers, many of them raised in poor countries and new to easy credit, spent beyond their means.

Staggering losses followed, with jail terms common for those who could not pay.

Whether cast as reckless lending or heedless borrowing, the stories of these foreign workers offer an unusual glimpse of the hidden emotions—webs of pride, guilt and family obligation—that follow millions of migrants across the globe.

Some shopped for pleasure, but many ran up bills by answering pleas from poor relatives for needs as varied as livestock and medical care. The ability to say “no” seldom felt like an option.

Still others, feeling uprooted, built houses back home that they might never occupy. Some mothers who left their children behind tried to salve guilty feelings with expensive gifts.

Vicious cycle

“The family back home often thinks the migrant is earning a lot and raises its expectations,” said Grace Princesa, the Philippine ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who has made debt reduction a part of a government campaign to improve conditions for migrants.

“The poor migrant goes deeper into debt just to answer. It’s a vicious cycle,” Princesa said.

Such was the case with Naces, now 52, a single mother who left her infant son with her parents and went to Saudi Arabia to make money to support him. By the time she arrived in the UAE in 2007, he had already grown up without her.

Though she could not get a credit card in Saudi Arabia, she could scarcely avoid one in the UAE. Salesmen stalked nurses outside hospitals and worshipers after Mass at a Filipino church.

Naces bought furniture, clothes and meals for herself, but her biggest expenses involved her son, whose affection she feared she had lost. She built him a house in the Philippines and bought five cars with credit cards so he could start a rental business.

“I felt guilty for being away and not raising him,” she said. “I was trying to compensate.”

Both mother and son went to jail—he on drug charges and she for debt.

Debtors clog jails

While the government does not disclose how many debtors have been jailed, a legislative body several years ago estimated that 10,000 of them were in the courts or prison.

The Dubai police chief has complained that debtors needlessly clog the jails, and employers have warned the Ministry of Labor that debt problems distract employees.

About 85 percent of the UAE’s population—and 99 percent of the private workforce—consists of foreign workers, and local officials keep watch for signs of discontent.

“The employers were saying, ‘This is a priority to us,’” said Qassim Jamil, a senior official in the labor ministry.

The Central Bank tightened lending rules this year, and the labor ministry sponsored a financial literacy program for migrant leaders.

“What do we want? Freedom!” Ambassador Princesa chanted at a session for Filipinos. “Freedom from poverty! Freedom from credit card problems! Freedom from bank problems!”

Aggressive lending

If migrants spent heavily, lenders encouraged them. Traditionally, credit card use was low (in part because of Islamic strictures against charging interest), but banks spotted a new market and moved aggressively.

With foreign banks like HSBC and Citigroup fighting locals for market share, the number of cards leapt to four million in 2008, a fivefold increase in five years, according to the Lafferty Group, a London research firm.

But the UAE lacks a reliable credit bureau, so lenders could not tell how many cards or how much debt the borrowers carried.

“Banks were falling over themselves to lend, and they didn’t have proper credit checks,” said Andrew Neeson, a Lafferty analyst.

Courted with gifts and teaser rates, few borrowers understood the costs. The average interest rate in the Emirates last year, at 36 percent, was more than twice the global average, and banks routinely add another 10 percent for disability and death insurance.

With penalties, some workers were borrowing at rates of 50 percent or more.

Intoxicating

Anyone can be tempted by easy credit, but migrants raised in poverty can find the glittering malls here especially intoxicating.

“The first time I used my card, I felt amazed,” Naces said. “It’s a feeling of excitement, power—greatness even.”

Rex Arcenio, a Filipino optometrist, accepted a gold card because it came with a Montblanc pen and a limousine ride to the airport for his annual leave.

“It was like a status symbol,” Arcenio said.

He ran up $50,000 in debt—for his children’s education, his brother’s cancer treatment and a house in Manila—and was briefly jailed.

Bouncing check

Technically, debtors go to jail for bouncing the blank “security checks” they must sign when accepting a card. If borrowers fail to pay, banks can deposit the checks for the sum owed, and bouncing a check is a crime.

Whether foreign or Emirati, borrowers must repay the debt after leaving jail, though banks often accept reduced terms.

Skilled workers here are generally treated better than in neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia, which can make their debt travails a shock. Jail conditions in the UAE are described as comfortable, but the accused often appear in court in leg irons.

“My world collapsed,” said Arcenio, a proud man in a white lab coat.

Aisha Alambatang, 54, who served a month for one card in February, could be jailed again for others. A Filipino nurse with three grown children, Alambatang spent most of their childhood years abroad, supporting them from Saudi Arabia.

When she arrived in the UAE eight years ago, she got a raise and six credit cards.

‘My heart was broken’

Alambatang built houses for herself and her daughter, and helped the children start several failed businesses. Then she paid for two daughters to move to Abu Dhabi to job-hunt.

Soon she had a monthly salary of $2,200 and debt service of more than $3,000. When Alambatang arrived in court, her daughter was already there.

“When my daughter saw me with a chain on my foot, I felt like my heart was broken,” she said. Worried about returning to jail, Alambatang gets palpitations when she sees the police, and she sleeps with her daughter for comfort.

“I’m not in jail anymore, but here,” she said, hand over her heart, “I’m more in jail.” New York Times News Service

Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin - Final Episode

2011-08-19T22:00:00.001+04:00

Last episode na ngayong gabi ng Minsa Lang Kita Iibigin sa TFC. Ang papalit ata ay yong bagong palabas na tampok naman si Kim Chiu at tatlong magagandang lalaki na sila Jolo Revilla, Xian Lim at Matteo Guidicelli.

Kagabi lang naaliw ako sa isang eksena ni Lora (Amy Austria) at ni Tomas (Tonton Gutierrez) kaya madalian lang itong blog at may maikwento lang.

Nag pang abot si Lora (Amy Austria) at si Ka Diego (Ronnie Lazaro). Sinumbatan ni Ka Diego si Lora dahil sa pagtalikod nito sa samahan. At nong aakamang barilin ni Ka Diego si Lora biglang lumabas sa damuhan ang nagtatagong si Tomas, binuhat si Lora papalayo habang nag paputok si Ka Diego.

Pinabilib ako ni Tomas at di man lang ininda ang ilang balang pinakawalan ni Ka Diego. Nang makalayo, nagkaroon sila ng oras ni Lora para magkausap at paiyak na humingi ng tawad si Tomas. Deny to death naman itong si Lora at dahil siguro sa tindi rin ng sama ng loob tinalikuran si Tomas.

Bigla na lang natumba si Tomas at doon nakita ko na marami pala itong tama sa likod gawa ng pagkabaril ni Ka Diego. Bumalik si Lora para pilit ibangon si Tomas. Nagkaroon sila ng closure at nagkapatawaran. Naabutan sila ni Ka Diego sa tagpong yon. Akalain mo kahit kinakapos na ng hininga, biglang bumangon pa itong si Tomas at nag pangagaw pa sila ng baril ni Ka Diego sabay sigaw kay Lora na "Takbo". At dahil siguro wala na ring lakas itong si Tomas natumba sya ulit at sa pagkakataon yon binaril sya ni Ka Diego sa harap.

Dumating ang mga sundalo at sumibat papalayo si Ka Diego.

Doon na binawian ng buhay si Tomas. Ang haba ng buhay ni Tomas!

Kung sabagay teleserye lang naman ito. Nakakaaliw lang.....

Manila Street in Singapore

2011-08-19T11:09:00.002+04:00

Manila Street in Singapore

I was surprised when my visit to Singapore when I chanced upon a street named after the Philippine capital. The nearest landmark to Manila street is Bugis village located along Victoria street.

I don't know the history behind the naming of the street. But Philippines and Singapore have shared many things in common. Besides a strong Chinese influence in both cultures, Singapore is host to about 160,000 thousand Filipinos working as professionals and household workers.

New POLO-OWWA Location in Dubai

2011-07-08T10:42:00.001+04:00

My blog is getting a lot of hits because of my of my old post about getting OEC in Dubai. But since the POLO-OWWA office moved to a new location just a few blocks away, I have not posted a follow up.

So I am posting the new location of POLO-OWWA office for the convenience of our kabayans:

New POLO OWWA office in Dubai

What are the requirements to get OEC?

First expect a long queue in the POLO-OWWA. Better come early to secure your OEC before lunch break.

1. Personal appearance of OFW-applicant;
2. Original passport and stamped visa;
3. Accomplished information sheet (available in POLO-OWWA and
    from the website: www.polo-owwadubai.net);
4. PAG-IBIG Membership for a minimum of AED10.00 (mandatory
    coverage per RA 9679 or the Home Development Mutual Fund Law
    which took effect on 27 August 2009);
5. OWWA Membership for AED92.00 (payment valid per contract
    duration at a maximum of 2 years);
6. OEC Processing fee of AED10.00;

7. For Household Service Workers, in addition to the above:
-   Immigration Contract stating a monthly salary of at least US$400
    (the Philippine minimum requirement) or its equivalent of AED 1,500,
    to be verified by POLO for AED40.00. This will also be presented at
    the Philippine Airport Immigration
-   Undertaking and Information Sheet signed by the Sponsor (available
    from the website)
- Copy of the sponsor’s passport and residence visa

For my PAG-IBIG contribution I paid 3 months which was equivalent to 30 dirhams. Noting that 1 dirham value is equivalent to about 12 Pesos, and minimum contribution to PAGIBIG is 100 pesos, I wonder where they put the extra 2 pesos. I never bother to ask though. For my PHILHEALTH contribution I always pay one year in advance in Philippines. I got 40% percent discount in my wife hospital bills during delivery of our baby in Philippines.

So being an active PHILHEALTH member and having paid OWWA contribution for 2 years, hindi kaya ako nag double pay? Anyone might have a clear explanation on this?

I told the lady behind the payment counter in POLO OWWA office in Dubai that I already paid my PHILHEALTH in Philippines and that I get the same medical benefits anyway.

"Iba yong yong PHILHEALTH, sa Pinas binabayad yon."

2011-07-06T21:31:00.000+04:00

Juan is coming back!!

FACE BUKO for the Month of April

2011-04-02T22:45:00.000+04:00

Our Facebuko for the month of April: Anne Marie Ojales Curtis-Smith (a.k.a. Ann Curtiz) and Romyreen Enriquez (a.k.a.RR Enriquez)!

Mas confident ako ngayon na talagang magkamukha ang dalawang ito. Medyo malaki lang talaga ang katawan ni RR at ang hinaharap pero maliban doon may similarities sila.

Si RR isa sa naging finalist ng White Castle girl contest at naging cover ng FHM kaya palagay ko sanay na itong si RR sa frontal exposure. Si Ann naman nabiktima ng wardrobe malfunction ng magkaroon sa isang dance number with Sam Milby during ASAP show sa Boracay.

Anything about Camel

2011-03-29T21:54:00.001+04:00

Pahabol na post ito bago mag tapos ang buwan ng Marso. Medyo nag tipid ako ng post for this month kasi sa dami ng mga kaekekan sa buhay.

Just for curiosity sake, nag try akong uminom camels milk na nabili ko sa Spinneys Supermarket. Bihira lang talaga ako makatyempo ng camels fresh milk dahil madalas sa Carrefour kami namimili. Bukod sa mura ang mga bilihin halos doon din mabibili ang mga kailangan sa bahay.

Sanay akong uminom ng fresh milk. Pero cows milk at hindi camels milk. Iba ang lasa ng camels milk. Parang may after taste. Yon bang malalasahan mo parin sya after mga few minutes na parang may kunting panis. Available din sya in strawberry flavor.

Camel Milk

But my encounter with camels doesn't end there.

I read in an online forum that somewhere in Bur Dubai in Dubai there is a local restaurant that is serving camel burger. Ako naman for the sake of this blog, I decided to search for the restaurant. Nagkataon naman na nagyaya yong aking "commander in chief" na bumisita sa Dubai Museum.

Hindi naman ako nahirapan hanapin ang Local House, ang restaurant ng nag seserve ng camel burger. Dahil along the way lang naman pala ito papunta sa Dubai Museum. Kaya pagkatapos mamasyal sa Dubai Museum binalikan namin ang Local House.

Local House Restaurant Entrance

Pag pasok sa restaurant pinili naming maupo sa open air sitting. Pero mayron din namang arabic sitting at normal sitting sa airconditioned room. Napansin ko madaming crew na kabayan.

For our afternoon merienda we chose Smoke Camel Barbecue Onion Burger and Camel Teriyaki Pineapple Burger. Obviously mahal ang presyo ng camel burger. Ang isang burger ay nagkakahalaga ng 45 to 65 dirhams o mga 550 to 750 pesos ang isa. May french fries na yon na kasama.

Isang bottled water na lang ang inorder ko para sa aming apat.

Actually wala akong idea kung ano ang lasa. Pero ng maiserve ang inorder namin at simulan ko ng lamunin ang burger sa harap ko, hindi ko man lang nalasahan na camel burger na pala ang kinakain ko. Para lang syang Bic Mac ng Mc Donalds.

Maya maya may lumapit sa amin. Isang kabayan. Sya daw si Albert. Si Albert ang nag develop ng Camel burger at lahat na recipe sa restaurant. Sa isang farm sa Al Ain pa nila kinukuha ang camel meat at nilalagyan na lang ng mga secret spices ang karne. Matagal na rin sya sa food and beverage industry sa Dubai at sa Pilipinas kaya malawak na ang kanyang kaalaman sa pag buo ng mga recipe. Balak pa nilang mag open ng branch sa Abu Dhabi.

Pag balik daw nya sa Pinas balak ni Albert balak na idevelop naman ang carabao burger. Alam ko may carabao cheese na Pinas. Pag nag bakasyon kasi ang isa kong lola dati sa Samar ay kesong kalabaw ang gusto kong pasalubong. Masarap iulam sa kaning bahaw. Pero ang carabao burger parang wala pa.

Sabi ni Albert next time daw na mag punta kami in groups pwede daw syang magbigay ng 25% discount.

At hindi lang yan mga peeps. Nag offer pa sya kung gusto namin ng camel ice cream. Ang tanong ko kaagad ay kung magkano. Pero hindi daw. Walang bayad. Free test lang. Kaya naman tuwang tuwa ang anak ko dahil nakatikim sya ng Camel cookies and cream ice cream.

Bago kami umalis may free take out pa kami na camel cookies and dates.

Camel Teriyaki Pineapple Burger

smoke Barbecue Onion Camel Burger

At ito ang latest, mayron na rin palang organic Camel milk soap. Ito daw ay may anti-aging properties. Ganito pa ang sabi sa website,

"A natural source of Alpha-Hydroxy acids- known to plump the skin and smooth fine lines with its Anti- Aging and Antioxidant Properties. Contains Vitamins A, B2, C & D. Camel milk also assists in reducing signs of aging such as over pigmentation and age spots. Rich in Organic Essential Oils and Minerals-Provides a Luxurious and Healthy Cleansing Experience for all the Family Hypo-Allergenic- Loves Your Skin -No Chemicals or Artificial Additives."

To go the website, please click here.

Two Ships Beached in Sharjah

2011-03-22T17:18:00.002+04:00

The fate of these two vessels, a cargo and oil tanker, remain unknown as remain trapped side by side in the beach near Coral Beach Hotel in Sharjah. I think the boats were carried by the big waves last year to the shoreline and since then nobody cares to remove them.

Whenever I go to Ajman, I remember the Greek Ship that was also beached in Kish Island that became a tourist attraction. These two ships could also draw tourist to the beach. Last time I saw a kindergarten school bus having a field trip there. I also noticed a police outpost and a police car. I assume this is to prevent "magbabakal" from preying on the beached ships.

Greek Ship In Kish Island, Iran

FACE BUKO for the Month of March

2011-03-01T08:00:00.002+04:00

As promised our FACE BUKO for the month of March: Sen Franklin Drilon and Jessica Soho.

Sa totoo lang alangan akong pagtapatin ang mga larawan nila dahil parang hindi naman sila magkamukha. Palagay ko sa unang tingin talagang mapagkamalang mong magkapatid sila dahil bukod sa doble-baba pareho silang mataba.

Actually, I had and another option. Kaya lang hindi ko matandaan ang pangalan ng isang matabang babaeng aktibista na sumikat sa Youtube at nag aatempt mag reduce at si Tess Bomb, yong dating co-host ni Janice at Gelli de Belleb sa natsuging programa sa Siete na SIS.

I opted for Sen. Frank and Jessica kasi mas sikat sila kaysa mga huling nabanggit.

Anyway mga Peps. Kayo ang mag judge kung talaga bang magkamukha silang dalawa. At sa palagay ko no need for formal intro para sa dalawang ito kasi kilala na naman natin sila.

Kwentong Baboy

2011-02-26T14:47:00.001+04:00

Si Porky ang pinakamatabang baboy sa kural na pag aari Mang Gusting sa Barangay Inyawan.

Araw-araw, ala-sais pa lang ng umaga habang mahimbing pang natutulog ang mga katiwala ni Mang Gusting, sya ang unang nagigising at matiyagang nag lilinis ng ebs ni porky sa magdamag at nagpapaligo dito. Bale wala ang pagod. Para na rin kasing exercise ito para kay Mang Gusting bago pumasok sa pinag tatrabahohang kalapit na munisipyo.

Isang baldeng ipa at tubig ang appetizer ni Porky. Pagkatapos naman nito ay wan-to-sawa na syang lumamon ng B-Meg feeds na binibili pa ni Mang Gusting sa bayan. Pampabigat ng timbang daw kasi ang B-Meg feeds. Pagkatapos kumain wala nang gagawin si Porky kundi matulog at makipag tsismisan sa mga kapwa baboy sa kural.

Pagdating ng hapon, hindi na kailangan sumigaw ni Porky para humingi ng pagkain. Bago pa mag ala singko, dinig na dinig na ni Porky ang mga yapak ni Mang Gusting papunta sa kural dala-dala ang baldeng kaning baboy na kinolekta nya sa karinderaya sa palengke. Masarap ang kaning baboy. Dahil halos lahat na ata na lasa ng pagkain malalasahan mo na dito. May sweet and sour, may matamis at may maalat alat. Kumbaga sa kaning tao, halo-halo ang dating.

Kaya ganon na lamang ang lubos na paghanga ni Porky kay Mang Gusting. Para sya sa kanya, isa syang huwaran at mapagmahal na amo. Wala naman ibang paraan si Porky para suklian ang kabutihan ng loob ni Mang Gusting kundi ang lumamon ng lumamon at mag pataba.

Malapit na ang fiesta ng Barangay Inyawan. Kaya abala ang lahat paghahanda sa fiesta. May mga komiteng nag atasang mag kumpuni ng entablado na katabi ng barangay hall. Ang iba namang ay tulong tulong sa pagkakabit ng banderetas sa plaza. May mga nag aayos din sa simbahan para sa gagawing misa para sa patron ng barangay.

Sa bahay ni Mang Gusting, isa isa nang nilalabas ang mga mamahaling pinggan at baso para gagamitin ng mga importanteng bisita.

Nang sumunod na araw mas maaga gumising si Mang Gusting at ang kanyang mga katiwala. Sabay nilang tinungo ang kural. Wala silang dalang pagkain para kay Porky dahil ang dala nila ay panali at matalas na kutsilyo.

Biglang nagulat si Porky sa dami ng taong nakapaligid sa kanya. Hindi pa sya nahismasmasan ng biglang pinagtulungang gapusin ang kanyang mga binti. Nagkagulo sa kural. Gusto sana nyang isumbong kay Mang Gusting ang nangyayari pero nakatingin lamang si Mang Gusting sa kanya na parang OK lang ang lahat.

Dinala si Porky sa isang papag malapit pinakukuluang malaking kawa ng tubig. Wala na syang panahon para mag paalam sa kapwa baboy. Pilit na pumipiglas si Porky pero sadyang mahigpit ang pagkakatali sa kanyang mga paa.

Isang lalake ang biglang naglabas ng kutsilyo at walang sabi sabing binaon sa matambok na leeg ni Porky. Masakit. Ramdam ni Porky ang mainit na dugo na dumadaloy sa kanyang leeg. Alam ni Porky kung pipilitin pa nyang sumigaw ng malakas, lalo lang bibilis ang daloy ng dugo. Habang tumatagal lalong nahihirapan sa paghinga si Porky. Pakiramdam nya may kung anong nakadagan sa kanyang dibdib. Unti unti na rin dumidilim ang kanyang mga paningin.

Habang pinipikit ni Porky ang kanyang mga mata dinig nya ang tugtog sa plaza. Naguumpisa nang mag saya ang mga tao.

Unti unting nauubos ang lakas sa katawan ni Porky.

Ngayon lang na realize, sa ganitong paraan lang sya makakabayad ng utang na loob sa kabutihang pinakita sa kanya ni Mang Gusting.

===================================================

Ganito ang eksena tuwing fiesta sa amin sa Libertad tuwing March 16

==========================================

Dubai Roads Belong to the Emperors

2011-02-22T14:06:00.000+04:00

I am surprised by the news that RTA is planning to install two more SALIK gates in Dubai. The proposed locations are Ittihad road near Dubai Police headquarters and another in Al Ghusais.

If RTA will add two more SALIK gates it would seem like that only the rich and famous can drive in Dubai with ease without worrying about the traffic during peak hours.

For an ordinary expats like me and living in Sharjah and working in Dubai, having to pay extra 4 aed one-way is additional burden. Gone are the days when everyone are free to drive around Dubai without choking up extra expenses for SALIK aside from petrol and car maintenance.

SALIK aim is to reduce traffic in Dubai Road. But this is not actually happening. It’s diverting the traffic away from SALIK Zones towards the interior roads, creating a similar traffic jam and bottle necks because motorist will avoid SALIK.

SALIK gate doesn’t in anyway ease traffic. If RTA is bent on putting additional SALIK without considering public sentiments they should wait until the Green Line of the metro is operational so that people can use the Metro.

FACE BUKO for the Month of February

2011-02-02T19:27:00.000+04:00

I am thinking of posting FACEBUKO series every month. If you have any suggestion please send me email. Could be Filipino or foreign celebrities or YOURSELF :)

Our Face Buko for the month of February are Luisito Pascua aka Kuya Budjie and Eugenio Isabelo Tomas Reyes Sanchez Jr., widely known as Bo Sanchez. Bo Sanchez is a well known evangelist, preacher, author and entrepreneur. Hes been in UAE several times in the past to preach and teach financial literacy to OFW together with Larry Gamboa. Also a known author and investor in forclosed property in Philippines.

Luisito Pascua or Kuya Budjie is famous storyteller in Batibot, a children television program in Philippines. A revive batibot 2010 is showing in TV5.

Stargate International Cargo Woes

2011-01-12T23:36:00.000+04:00

We used to send regular balikbayan boxes thru Stargate Cargo in Sharjah since 5 or 6 years ago and never had any problem. Mostly used clothing of my babies and unnecessary things that occupies space in my flat. That was before me and my wife came to know that we can earn extra bucks by selling our "garbage" in Dubai Flea Market.

Four or five months back, I sent Super Jumbo box with free bulilit box to my wife place in Batangas. Considering that Batangas is very much accessible to Manila, it took almost 3 months for my parents in law to receive the cargo. For Luzon, it should only take 45 days more or less.

I was a bit impatient at that time. So I called the office here in Sharjah to ask about the status of my cargo. I was told by lady on the other the line, who seemed to be nice, that they had sent SMS to the clients that there will be a little delay because of some nonsense problem in Singapore.

This was seemed to be true. But I just ignored the reply since there was no food or groceries inside my boxes.

Last week I was surprised to find out the whole story behind the Stargate controversy while watching TV Patrol in TFC. In the report of Sol Aragones in BMPM (Boto Mo Patrol Mo) segment of TV Patrol, the
Stargate Internatonal Cargo folded since 2007 and all the clients were transferred to Stargate Express Logistics Incorporated. It was not clear though why the company change its name.

Stargate will loose business and besides Stargate is not the only player in the market. There is Makati Express, Roda Cargo and LBC cargo. These 3 company company will surely be the beneficiaries of the big pie of the market that Stargate lost.

A Facebook page or HATE page as you may call it was created to boycotting Stargate Cargo which has so far 550 members. Click here.

There you will find endless stories of Stargate's poor service. From boxes being opened, delayed, office phones not answered etc.

So next time kabayan, when you send your Balikbayan Boxes choose a reliable cargo company.

Trentra I-Tres

2011-01-08T17:35:00.000+04:00

Ang bilis ng panahon. Maliban sa katatapos lang ang 2010 at kapapasok lang ng 2011, nagdiwang din ako ng aking ika 33 na kaarawan noong December 29.

Parang hindi ko namamalayan unti unti na pala akong tumatanda at malapit ng lagnatin kung ibabase sa thermometer and edad ko. Kung paguusapan naman ang latest na statistika halos naabot ko na ang kalahati ng lifespan ko dito sa mundo. Ibig sabihin more or less may mga 35 years na lang ako tatagal dito sa Earth.

So far wala naman akong regrets. May mga pagkakataon na ~~gumapang din ako sa kangkungan~~ ga truck ang problema ko. Pero palagay ko naman normal lang ang mga problema. Dahil alam ko lalong titibay ang loob at pananalig ko sa Diyos pag may problema ako.

Ang asawa ko at dalawa kong anak ang nagbibigay sa akin ng lakas na kumita ng pera bilang OFW. Aanhin ko naman ang sweldo ko kung wala naman akong bubuhayin. Oo nga. Mayron din akong responsibilidad sa mga kamag anak kahit papano. Pero higit sa lahat ang pamilya ko ang mahalaga sa akin.

Mahirap mamuhay sa ibang bansa kasama ang pamilya. Sa kaso ko, halos sapat lang naman ang sweldo ko para matustusan ang BASIC NEEDS ng family ko. Pero mas mahirap na magkalayo. Marami dito sa UAE na nagkakasira ang pamilya dahil dyan.

Kung babalikan ko ang nakaraan, maaring isipin ko na sana iba ang naging desisyon ko sa mga mali ko sa buhay. Kung pwede sanang i reset para maging tuwid ang mali at punuan ang mga pagkukulang sa buhay. Pero hindi ganun eh. Puro forward. Walang backward.

Anyway, kahit nga medyo late na itong tribute ko para sa sarili ko. (naks!) Masaya ako dahil kahit medyo recession pa rin ngayon sa UAE, kasama ko pa rin ang pamilya kong nag celebrate ng birthday ko.

Kumain kami sa Shabu-Shabu (sabi ng iba "sabu sabu" ewan ko kung ano ang tama) sa may Twin Tower sa Deira. Ang saya, sa halagang 35 dirhams, halos panay ang dighay ko dahil sa dami ng vetsin na nilagay ko sa sabaw. It was fun! Para kaming mga bata na nag luto-lutuan! Saka solid naman ang open air view kasi sa may tapat ng Dubai creek.

Eto nga pala ang picture namin:

Madami rin pala akong ka birthday. Sino ba ang kilala kay pareng Dyango Bustamante, si Charles Goodyear ang taong kadikit ng gulong ng sasakyan ang pangalan, si Jonathan Vincent Voight ang estranged father ni Angelina Jolie, at English actor na si Jude Law.

Yong iba hindi ko sinama dito kasi mga wala silang kwenta!