Apol the Great

When Context Matters: My Closing Argument for a Tenant with a Disability

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:35:00 +0000

There are moments in practice that stay with you long after the hearing room empties. This was one of them.

I recently represented a tenant with a disability before the Landlord and Tenant Board. The matter was serious. The Landlord was seeking eviction based on allegations of aggressive conduct. There was video evidence. There was testimony. Police had attended. On paper, it looked heavy.

But law is never just what appears on paper. It is context. It is proportionality. It is humanity.

In my closing submissions, I began with a simple but essential principle: the Landlord must establish not only that incidents occurred, but that eviction is justified in all of the circumstances.

Yes, there was video evidence of the Tenant kicking an office door. Yes, there was testimony that she pushed a staff member during an emotionally charged interaction. The Tenant did not deny these events. We did not attempt to minimize them.

What we insisted on was context.

There was no evidence of injury. No criminal charges were laid despite police attendance. No weapons. No threats of ongoing violence. No pattern of escalating behaviour. What the evidence showed were brief, reactive incidents during a period of medical vulnerability. Not sustained aggression. Not a continuing risk.

The Landlord also relied on prior complaints from other tenants. But allegations are not proof. None of those complaints were formally investigated or substantiated. At law, untested accusations cannot become a substitute for evidence. Kung alegasyon lang, that is not enough.

The most important part of the analysis, however, was this: the Tenant lives with a disability.

After a serious accident, she now experiences chronic pain. That pain is not abstract. It affects sleep. It affects mood. It affects emotional regulation. In its wake came mental health challenges. She is now in therapy and counselling. She is actively engaged in treatment. There have been no further incidents since she began that process.

Disability is a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Housing providers have a duty to accommodate to the point of undue hardship. That duty does not disappear because behaviour is uncomfortable or inconvenient. Where conduct is connected to disability, the Board must ask whether accommodation and support can address the issue instead of defaulting to eviction.

Eviction is the most serious remedy available. It is not a warning. It is not a fine. It is displacement. It is the loss of housing stability. It is, in many cases, the beginning of a downward spiral.

In this case, the evidence did not show an ongoing threat to the residential community. It showed a moment of poor judgment during a time of significant physical and psychological distress. A human moment. A regrettable one, yes. But not one that justifies permanent housing loss.

The Tenant expressed genuine remorse. She took responsibility. She sought treatment. She made changes. That matters. Rehabilitation matters. Growth matters.

In my closing, I asked the Member to see the proportionality. To see the difference between punishment and protection. To recognize that eviction, in these circumstances, would be disproportionate.

We requested that the application be dismissed. In the alternative, if the Board had concerns, we submitted that a conditional order would be far more appropriate than termination of the tenancy.

When I delivered those submissions, I felt the weight of what was at stake. Hindi ito simpleng argumento lang. This was someone’s home. Someone’s stability. Someone’s chance to continue healing without the trauma of displacement.

I have shared the full video of my closing argument on YouTube for those who want to see how the submissions unfolded in real time. Not because it was dramatic. Not because it was perfect. But because transparency in advocacy matters.

We often talk about access to justice in abstract terms. But access to justice sometimes looks like this: standing up and reminding a decision maker that disability requires accommodation, that context matters, and that the harshest remedy should not be imposed where a measured response will do.

At the end of the day, advocacy is not about theatrics. It is about clarity. It is about fairness. It is about insisting that the law be applied not only strictly, but justly.

And sometimes, it is about reminding the room that behind every application number is a human being trying to hold on to home.

2028 Na Ba? Anyare na sa Corruption?

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 21:45:00 +0000

Ang bilis naman.

Parang hindi pa tapos ang kasalukuyang termino, pero ramdam mo na — 2028 mode na ang lahat. The Marcoses are consolidating. The Dutertes are recalibrating. The Pinks, mostly Akbayan and the Liberal Party, are repositioning.

Parang rehearsal na ulit ng next national showdown.

And the ordinary Filipino is left asking a very simple question: anyare na sa corruption issues?

Because let’s be honest. The scandals did not disappear. The allegations did not evaporate. The questions were never fully answered. But somehow, the national conversation has shifted. From accountability to alliances. From investigations to electoral arithmetic.

Under the Marcos administration, serious concerns were raised — from budget insertions to spending priorities to governance transparency. There were impeachment complaints filed. There were calls for deeper scrutiny. Yet politically, the momentum stalled. The message now feels less like “let’s resolve this” and more like “let’s move forward.”

Forward to what? 2028.

On the Duterte side, the strategy is just as obvious. Positioning has begun. Messaging is being refined. Support is being mobilized. Yet the controversies that hounded the camp — including questions around confidential funds and public spending — remain politically unresolved. Instead of clear, sustained transparency, the public gets counter-accusations and political framing. Accountability becomes just another talking point in a power struggle.

And then we arrive at the most ironic development of all.

The Pinks — particularly Akbayan and segments of the Liberal Party — built their post-2022 identity around reform, institutional integrity, and resistance to Marcos-era politics. They stood on memory. They stood on principle. They stood on the promise that politics could be different.

Now we hear openness to collaboration. Strategic cooperation. Possible alignment.

Political pragmatism, some would say. But for supporters who invested emotionally and ideologically in reform politics, it feels like whiplash. If you defined yourself as the alternative to dynasty politics and entrenched power, how do you explain sitting at the same table when 2028 math requires it?

Reform cannot be seasonal.

There is also the recent public defense of the administration from figures like Kiko Aquino Dee, who argued for nuance and cautioned against blanket condemnation. While he is known more for historical advocacy than partisan politics, the effect of such statements in this climate matters. When even reform-aligned voices begin sounding conciliatory, critics interpret it as softening the line at a moment when scrutiny is needed most.

Maybe it is an attempt at balanced discourse. Maybe it is fatigue from endless polarization. But in a country where accountability has a short attention span, tone matters.

And then there is Makabayan.

Agree with them or not, they remain among the few consistently foregrounding corruption issues even when it is politically inconvenient. They continue to push for investigations. They continue to raise uncomfortable questions. They are not adjusting their messaging to fit coalition possibilities. They are not recalibrating based on electoral viability.

In a political environment where the biggest blocs are recalculating for 2028, Makabayan appears less concerned with alliances and more concerned with institutional accountability. That makes them easy to marginalize — and easy to attack — but it also makes them one of the few voices refusing to move on prematurely.

So what really happened to corruption issues?

They were not resolved. They were deprioritized.

When all major camps begin thinking about the next election before finishing the business of the current term, governance becomes secondary. Investigations lose urgency. Public outrage cools. Political memory shortens.

Marcos consolidates. Duterte prepares. The Pinks negotiate relevance. Everyone counts numbers.

But who is counting unresolved questions?

If 2028 is already the obsession, then we have to ask ourselves: are we electing leaders to govern, or are we perpetually preparing them for the next campaign?

Because when corruption becomes negotiable, when principles become strategic, and when accountability is postponed in the name of coalition-building, the problem is no longer just one family or one party.

It becomes systemic.

And unless voters refuse to let corruption be sidelined for political convenience, 2028 will not be a new chapter.

It will just be the same cycle with new slogans

OSAP Changes: What Reduced Grants and Program Cuts Mean for Newcomers Like Me

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 02:47:00 +0000

When I landed in Canada, I didn’t arrive with a safety net.

I arrived with two suitcases, foreign credentials, and a quiet promise to myself: Hindi ako susuko.

Like many newcomers, I quickly realized that if I wanted to practice in a regulated field, I needed Canadian education. So I enrolled in a Paralegal Diploma program — and I was only able to do that because of the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).

That support changed my life.

So when I hear about reductions in grants and shifts toward more loans, I don’t just see policy changes. I see real people whose timelines, confidence, and futures may be affected.

Personal ito.

What’s Changing for 2026–2027?

For the 2026–2027 academic year, the following changes apply:

Students will continue to be assessed based on financial need, but the mix of provincial grants and loans is changing.
Students at publicly assisted colleges, universities, and other public and private institutions in Ontario will receive more of their assessed provincial student aid in the form of loans.
Students attending career colleges in Ontario will receive their provincial student aid entirely in the form of loans.

Let that sink in.

Financial need assessment remains. But the structure of support is becoming more loan-heavy.

For some students, that may be manageable. For others — especially newcomers — that shift changes everything.

Starting Over Is Already Expensive

People don’t talk enough about how expensive it is to start over in Canada.

Tuition. Books. Licensing exams. Transportation. Rent. Groceries. Winter clothing. Professional fees.

As a newly landed immigrant, I didn’t have Canadian credit history. I didn’t have generational support. I didn’t have a financial cushion.

What I had was determination — and access to OSAP grants.

The grant portion mattered. It reduced the pressure. It allowed me to focus on studying instead of constantly worrying about debt piling up.

Kung puro loan lang sana iyon, baka nagdalawang-isip ako.
“Paano kung hindi ako makahanap agad ng trabaho?”
“Kaya ko ba bayaran ito?”

When you are building from zero, debt feels heavier.

Why This Hits Newcomers Harder

Many immigrants need Canadian credentials to:

Enter regulated professions
Bridge foreign education
Gain credibility in the local job market

For career college students especially — who will now receive provincial aid entirely as loans — the risk calculation becomes sharper.

Not everyone has a fallback plan.

Hindi lahat may tutulong kapag nahirapan ka.

A loan-only model increases hesitation. And hesitation can delay integration by years.

Education Is More Than Tuition

We often discuss immigration in terms of labour shortages and economic growth. But access to education is a key integration tool.

When newcomers can upgrade their skills quickly, they move out of survival jobs faster. They contribute more. They stabilize their families. They build roots.

When grant support decreases, some will still push through. Others may pause. Some may walk away.

That ripple effect matters.

My Honest Reflection

Completing my Paralegal Diploma changed my professional trajectory in Canada. It gave me direction, legitimacy, and opportunity.

I will always be grateful that when I needed help, meaningful grant support existed.

Policy changes are part of governance. I understand that. But behind every adjustment is a real person calculating risk.

Someone like the version of me years ago — hopeful, anxious, determined.

Someone whispering: Kaya ko ‘to.

My hope is that despite the changing grant-loan mix, students — especially newcomers — continue to find pathways forward.

Education is not just an expense. For many of us, it is the bridge between survival and stability.

Standing With Migrant Workers When the System Falls Short

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 03:19:00 +0000

A recent report from the Toronto Region Board of Trade argues that the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is failing Ontario’s economy and needs a serious overhaul. Business leaders are concerned about labour shortages, inefficiencies, and missed economic opportunities.

But beyond the policy debates and economic forecasts, there are real people living with the consequences of these systemic gaps.

I see them every week.

I shared my insights in this OMNI News Report.

I volunteer at Migrant Resource Centre Canada as a Licensed Paralegal, where I assist vulnerable and precarious migrant workers. These are individuals who followed the rules, paid the fees, trusted the process, and built their lives around the promise that Ontario needed their skills.

Instead, many find themselves in limbo.

Some are waiting for nominations that never come. Others lose status while applications sit in processing queues. Some are tied to employers who exploit the uncertainty. A delayed decision is not just paperwork. It can mean unpaid rent, lost employment, family separation, or mental distress.

When business groups say the program is failing the economy, they are not wrong. But the deeper truth is this: when immigration systems malfunction, they fail workers first.

At the Migrant Resource Centre, I meet caregivers who cannot change employers because of status restrictions. Skilled trades workers who were once in demand now worry about stream suspensions. International graduates who built careers here suddenly find pathways narrowing.

Ontario does not have a migrant surplus problem. It has a policy coherence problem.

If the province truly wants to address labour shortages, reform must include:

Transparent and predictable selection criteria
Faster processing timelines
Protection for workers whose status is affected by systemic delays
Stronger safeguards against employer abuse

Immigration cannot simply be an economic lever. It must also be a human commitment.

When we talk about overhauling the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, we should ask not only how it serves GDP, but how it serves dignity.

Because behind every file number is a worker who has already contributed. Behind every returned application is a family recalculating their future.

Ontario’s economy depends on migrant labour. The least we can do is build a system that does not leave migrant workers carrying all the risk.

United Immigrant Workers Front (UIWF)

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 20:32:39 +0000

Canada invited international students and workers with promises of opportunity and pathways to stay. They showed up. They studied. They worked. They paid billions into the economy. During COVID, sila ang nasa frontline. Healthcare, food supply, warehouses, transit. They kept the country running.

Then midway, the rules changed.

Programs paused. Pathways closed. Work permits expiring. Millions left in limbo. After years of contribution, biglang uncertain ang future.

Now some are being blamed for housing shortages and unemployment. Convenient, but not accurate. Scapegoating immigrants distracts from weak housing policy, corporate cost cutting, and fragile labour protections. Mas madaling maghanap ng sisisihin kaysa ayusin ang sistema.

Here is the truth. When workers live in fear of deportation, exploitation gets easier. When one group is pushed down, everyone’s wages, safety, and public services are affected.

This is not just an immigrant issue. It is a fairness issue.

The movement.

Grassroots movements do not begin in boardrooms. They begin in basements, community halls, church kitchens, and crowded apartments where workers gather after long shifts to ask one simple question: what can we do together that we cannot do alone?

That is the spirit behind the United Immigrant Workers Front (UIWF) in Canada.

Across the country, immigrant workers continue to fill essential roles in caregiving, food production, construction, logistics, hospitality, and healthcare. They are the backbone of industries that Canadians rely on every day. Yet too often, they face wage theft, unsafe working conditions, employer reprisals, closed work permits, and constant fear tied to their immigration status.

The United Immigrant Workers Front is pushing back against that reality.

A Movement Rooted in Dignity

UIWF is not charity. It is not a service agency. It is a worker-led formation grounded in a clear principle: migrant and immigrant workers deserve full rights, real protections, and permanent status.

Their campaign highlights what many already know but few policymakers confront honestly:

-Temporary status creates vulnerability.

- Closed work permits create dependency.

- Fear of deportation silences complaints.

When a worker’s legal right to remain in Canada is tied to one employer, the imbalance of power is not accidental. It is structural.

UIWF is demanding structural change.

What They Are Fighting For

At the core of the United Immigrant Workers Front campaign is a call for:

- Permanent resident status for migrant workers

- Open work permits

- Stronger enforcement against abusive employers

- Protection from reprisals when workers assert their rights

- Access to healthcare and social benefits without fear

These are not radical demands. They are basic conditions for dignity.

Canada prides itself on fairness and human rights. Yet fairness cannot stop at the border of immigration status. If a worker contributes to the economy, pays taxes, and sustains communities, then that worker deserves stability—not precarity.

Why This Campaign Matters Now

The conversation around immigration is shifting. Economic uncertainty and political rhetoric can easily turn migrant workers into convenient scapegoats. In that environment, silence becomes dangerous.

UIWF refuses silence.

They are organizing, educating, and mobilizing immigrant workers to speak in their own voices. That matters. Because policies that affect migrant communities are too often shaped without meaningful participation from those directly impacted.

As someone who has consistently written about immigration justice, worker vulnerability, and structural inequities in Canada, I believe this campaign deserves broad support. Real reform does not happen because institutions feel generous. It happens because organized people demand it.

Solidarity Is Not Optional

Supporting the United Immigrant Workers Front is not about ideology. It is about recognizing reality.

Immigrant workers are already here. They are already building Canada. The question is whether we will continue to tolerate a system that benefits from their labour while denying them security.

If we believe in fairness, then fairness must be universal.

If we believe in rights, then rights must not depend on the expiry date of a permit.

The United Immigrant Workers Front is articulating what many workers have felt for years: precarity should not be a policy choice.

Their campaign deserves amplification, support, and solidarity.

Because when immigrant workers win stability and dignity, Canada becomes stronger for everyone.

To the Mother of Jerlyn Rose Doydora

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 12:45:00 +0000

Grief often carries anger, and that is understandable. But to claim that she was a victim of Kabataan Partylist is not accurate. She died as a result of military action. While organizations may shape ideas and inspire advocacy, her decisions were her own, and there was nothing unlawful in the path she chose.

I’m so sorry for your loss. Your daughter died due to the military aerial bombing and strafing in the community. She was unarmed. That is an undisputed fact.

She was a young woman who made a conscious, selfless choice to stand with people she believed were being oppressed. You may not have agreed with that choice, but it was hers alone, and it was not illegal.
 

People grieve in different ways, and your anger is understandable. She was a victim, yes, but to say she was a victim of Kabataan Partylist (KPL) is not truthful. She died due to the military atrocities, not by KPL. KPL may have influenced her, that may be true, but there was nothing illegal about that, and nothing illegal in what she chose to do. She acted of her own will, guided by her convictions.

However, parroting military narratives about her does not honor who she was or the convictions she lived by. Respecting her means acknowledging her humanity and the values she held so deeply, even in the face of profound grief.

I hope that, in time, there will come a moment when you are able to see just how honorable your daughter was, and to recognize the courage and compassion that guided her choices.

Apuntar Legal Services

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 15:34:00 +0000

I am now a Licensed Paralegal in Ontario, authorized by the Law Society of Ontario to provide legal services independently. With a strong commitment to access to justice, I am now offering legal services in the areas of employment law, human rights law, and immigration law. Whether you're facing workplace issues, seeking to understand your rights, or navigating Canada's immigration system, I am here to offer knowledgeable, ethical, and client-focused support.

If you are looking for Paralegal Services in Mississauga, Ontario, visit https://www.apuntarlaw.ca/

Life is unfair

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 13:21:00 +0000

Inimbitahan ako ni Sister Mylene na magbigay daw ng keynote speech sa graduation ceremony sa Sisters of Mary - Adlas Campus noong July 8, 2021. Walang-wala na siguro maimbitahan na available kaya pingatyagaan na lang ako. Hehe! Tinanggap ko syempre kahit na may pag aalinlangan pa sa aking sarili kung ako nga ba ay nararapat. Here's what I told the graduates.

Life is Unfair

Magandang araw po sa inyong lahat. Maalab na pagbati sa ating Graduating Class of 2021. Masaya po ako na maging kabahagi sa mahalagang okasyong ito. I am humbled and grateful for the invitation, maraming salamat po Sister Mylene.

Meron lamang akong limang minuto ngayon para magbahagi ng mensahe na sana ay maging pabaon ko sa inyong pagtatapos. Having said that, I will keep it short and direct.

Minsan po ba ay sumagi rin sa isip nyo yung sinasabi nilang Life is unfair? Halimbawa ay gaya ninyo, napakaswerte ninyo dahil nabigyan kayo ng pagkakataong makapag-aral ng libre. Pero pwedeng sabihin ng iba na unfair naman kasi sila ay hindi. In the same manner, meron tayong mga kakilala na hindi kinailangang mawalay sa kanilang mga pamilya para lamang makapagtapos ng high school, di po ba? Pero bakit kailangan natin iyong pagdaanan at sila ay hindi? Unfair, di po ba? Maraming teorya kung bakit hindi patas ang buhay pero hindi iyon ang gusto kong ibahagi sa inyo ngayon.

Ang mahalaga ay matanggap natin nang mas maaga na may mga bagay talaga na wala tayong kontrol, gustuhin man natin. Wala tayong kontrol sa gagawin at sasabihin ng ibang tao. Pero may kontrol tayo sa mga salitang lalabas mula sa mga bibig natin at sa ating magiging mga gawi. Gaya sa pagtitimon sa bangka, wala rin tayong kontrol sa ihip at direksyon ng hangin. Ang mahalaga ay alam at tanggap natin ito para wasto ang mga magiging desisyon natin. Tayo pa rin kasi ang nagtitimon sa direksyon ng buhay natin. To illustrate my point, Let me tell you a little bit about my life's story.

Hindi ko pa rin naman masabi na ako ay matagumpay na dahil iba't-iba naman ang kahulugan nito. Pero kumpara sa buhay ko noon bago ako nakapasok sa Sisters of Mary School, masasabi kong malaki na ang ipinagbago nito. Bago ako nakarating sa kung anumang meron ako ngayon, dumaan din ako sa hirap at maraming pagsubok.

I was only 9 years old when my father died. Pangalawa ako sa aming tatlong magkakapatid. Karpentero ang tatay ko at nang sya ay mawala, kami ay talagang walang-wala din. Pinag-usapan nga noon ng mga kapatid ng Tatay ko ang planong pag-ampon ng isa sa aming magkakapatid para daw maging maayos ang buhay namin. Pero hindi pumayag ang aking Inay. Elementary graduate lamang ang Inay at tanging paglalabada lamang nya ang ikinabubuhay namin noon. Sinikap nya kaming buhayin nang sama-sama. Namasukan din sya bilang kasambahay, nagtrabaho sa factory at nagtinda ng kung anu-anong paninda para may dagdag na kita. Pero kahit anong sipag at pagsisikap ng Inay noon, sadyang hindi sapat ang kinikita nya para sa amin. Ang mga damit at sapatos namin noon ay karaniwang mga pinaglumaan lang ng aking mga pinsan na ang pamilya ay may kaya. Bihira kami magkaroon ng bagong damit. Kinakabahan ako tuwing may babayaran sa school kasi malamang ay pinakahuli na naman akong magbabayad, depende kung may mauutangan kagad. Ang white polo nga na ginamit ko noon sa elementary graduation ay mula sa puting blusa ng ate ko, tinahi lang ng Inay para may maisuot ako. Nahihiya ako noon kasi kakaiba yung polo ko sa lahat.

Life is unfair, indeed. Pero hindi ko sya ginawang excuse. I refused to accept that our life will be forever like that. Kaya napakalaki ng pasasalamat ko sa Sisters of Mary School dahil nabigyan ako ng pagkakataong baguhin ang aming buhay.

Napakaswerte po ninyong mga magsisipagtapos ngayon dahil hindi lahat ay nabibigyan ng pagkakataon gaya ninyo. Huwag ninyong sayangin ang pambihirang pagkakataong meron kayo ngayon. Wala kayong kontrol sa kung paano kayo nagsimula dito sa mundo, pero nasa kamay ninyo ngayon ang pagpapasya kung saan kayo tutungo.

Ang pagtatapos nyo ngayon ay simula lamang ng panibagong pakikibaka sa buhay. Set your goals high. Marami kayong haharaping pagsubok kaya kailangang malinaw ang inyong layunin at hangarin sa buhay.k Huwag nyo pag-asayahan ng oras ang mga bagay na wala naman kayong kontol.

Piliin ninyong maging mabuti kahit hindi patas ang mundo. Huwag lang kayong makakalimot sa mga turo at sakripisyo ng mga Nanay natin sa Sisters of Mary at syempre pa ay sa mga pangaral at aral mula sa buhay ni Fr. AL, nakatitiyak akong hindi kayo maliligaw.

And whenever you are able, please don't forget to go back in order to pay it forward. Marami pang katulad nating galing sa hirap ang pwede nating pagtulung-tulungan upang mabigyan din ng pagkakataong meron kayo ngayon.

Congratulations, my dear brothers!

Apol Apuntar
ASMSI Batch 1993

President and CEO, Proactive Immigration Advisers Corp

Kung mahal mo ang Cuenca, mag-isip ka! (Kung bakit si Melvin Cuevas ang iboboto ko)

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 03:02:00 +0000

Apat na dekada na tayong nabibilang sa 4th Class Municiplaity. Ang ibig sabihin nyan ay sobrang baba ng income ng ating munisipalidad. At syempre pa, kung mababa ang income, wala masyadong pondo para sa mga social services at iba pang pangangailangan ng bayan.

Mahal mo ga ang Cuenca? Gusto mong umunlad ang ating bayan? Ngayong eleksyon, mag-isip kang maigi kung sino ang gusto mong mamuno sa ating bayan.

Bakit di umuunlad ang Cuenca?
Ang nakagisnan kong kalakaran sa Cuenca tuwing eleksyon ay iyong matandaan. Kung sino ang tumatayong lider ng angkan, grupo at barkadahan ay siyang pinakikinggan kung sino ang iboboto. Kaya naman ang mga kandidato ay sila ang unang nililigawan. Bagama't nangyayari pa rin ito ngayon, hindi na ito kasing epektib gaya noon.

Karaniwan na rin ang pagboto sa kandidato dahil ipinakiusap ng kumpare, kaibigan o kamag-anak.

Yung paggamit ng pera, noon pa naman ito pero mukhang mas talamak ngayon.

Sa palagay ko, itong padale nating ito tuwing halalan ang isang dahilan kung bakit di umuunlad ang Cuenca. Naghahalal tayo ng mga kandidatong wala namang malinaw na programa.

Kilatisin natin ang mga kandidato ngayon.

Noong March 19, 2019, naisipian kong kausapin ang mga kandidato bilang Mayor sa Cuenca Batangas. Nagtanong ako tungkol sa programa nila. Ikako'y gusto kong malaman kung sino ano ang balak nila kapag nanalo para makapagdesisyon ako kung sino ang iboboto at ikakampanya.

Sa tatlong kandidato, si Melvin Cuevas lamang ang tumugon. Ilang beses syang tumawag para ipaliwanag ang plano nya Ikako'y mas magandang nakasulat ang detalye. Agad din naman nyang isinulat at ipinadala sa akin at ibinahagi ko sa aking FB wall.

Kinulit ko yung dalawa pang kandidato. Yung isa hanggang ngayon ay dedma lang. Yung isa naman ay mukhang napikon pa. Kung kandidato ka pa nga lang ay nagtataray ka na, medyo hindi magandang senyales yan.

Bagamat hindi tumugon ang dalawa, sinikap ko pa ring alamin kung ano ang kani-kanilang programa. Ginawan ko ng comparison.

In a nut shell, ganito ang plano nila:

Faye Endaya: Ipagpapatuloy ang nasimulan ng kanyang Ama

Alex Magpantay: Isang maunlad at progresibong Cuenca ang bisyon ni Alex Magpantay. Gagawing sentro ng lokal na pamahalaan ang mga pangangailangan at interes ng mga tao para sa pag-unlad ng bawat pamilyang Ceunquenos. Bubuo ng pamahalaang bukas at madaing lapitan, kumukonsulta at nakikinig, epektibo at may pananagutan.

Melvin Cuevas: Until now our beloved town of Cuenca is still a 4th class municipality. Nasa mababang antas pa rin ang bayan natin. The core problem of our town is lack of funds that is why the local govt cannot possibly deliver the public services that is expected from them. My focus or priority is to bring investors to our town.

Si Melvin Cuevas ang aking iboboto st sisikaping ikampanya

Sa tatlong kandidato, si Melvin Cuevas lamang ang walang kaugnayan sa aming pamilya. Hindi ko sya kilala. Pero dahil sa tatlong pagpipilian ay siya ang mas may komprehensibong plano, sa kanya ako tataya.

Nasapol nya ang isang malaking problema sa Cuenca - Pondo. Meron syang plano! Sabi ng iba, imposible daw ang gusto nya gawin. Ang sagot ko sa kanya ay, "Utoy, kung hindi mo kaya, hayaan mong gawin ito ng iba na gustong subukan. Kapag nagawa nya ito, makikinabang ang marami'

Kapag sya ang nanalo, medyo babantayan lang din ang planong ecotourism. Mahalaga ang konsultasyon sa mamamayan.

Babantayan din dapat ang plano sa palengke. No to privatization!

Medyo alangan lang din ako sa pag-align nya sa PDP na bagama't naiintidihan kong usapin lang din ito ng makinarya, babantayan ko rin ang tindig nya sa anti-poor na war on drug, human rights violations, etc.

Sa mga nagmamalasakit at nagmamahal sa Cuenca, pag-isipin nating maigi kung sino ang iboboto. Iboboto ko si Melvin Cuevas dahil nasapol nya ang isang malaking problema sa Cuenca - Pondo! Meron syang plano!

Ikaw, sino ang iboboto mo? Bakit?

Do you believe in Miracles? I do.

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 06:17:00 +0000

27 years ago, 3rd year high school student ako noon sa Sisters of Mary School nang pumanaw sa sakit si Fr. Al, founder ng SOM. Ang Sisters of Mary School ay isang libreng boarding school para sa mga mahihirap. Lahat ng pangangailangan ay libreng naibibigay sa pamamagitan ng mga donasyon na kinakalap ni Fr. Al mula sa iba't-ibang panig ng mundo.

Ganun na lamang ang pangamba ng marami sa amin noon na baka hindi na magpatuloy ang programa sa pagpanaw ni Fr. Al. Pero agad din naman iyong napawi dahil sa pagtitiyak ng mga madre na nag-aalaga sa amin noon.

Nang mamatay si Fr. Al, ang programa nya ay available lamang sa Korea at Pilipinas. Pero after 27 years, nadagdagan pa ang mga libreng boardings schools ng Sisters of Mary sa Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras at Tanzania.

Marami na ring graduates ng Sisters of Mary ang tumutulong upang ipagpatuloy ang programs ni Fr. Al.

Kung nais nyo pong malaman ang iba pang detalye tungkol sa Sisters of Mary at kung niloloob ng iyong puso na tumulong din, punta po lamang kayo sa www.facfi.org.ph

Trip to Busan and Seoul | Pilgrimage to Sisters of Mary Korea

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 01:20:00 +0000

Kung graduate ka ng Sisters of Mary School, malamang ay isa sa mga pangarap mong gawin ay makabisita sa SOM Korea, kung saaan nagmula ang lahat tungkol sa mga gawain ni Fr. Al.

Tama ba? Kung plano mo bumisita sa Sisters of Mary sa Korea, this is for you. Ibabahagi ko rito ang karanasan ko sa pagbisita sa SOM Korea at ilang tips na rin sa Visa Application at sa pagpunta sa SOM Korea.

Korea Visa Application
Hindi ito ang unang beses na nakapunta ako sa Korea, kaya medyo naging madali para sa akin ang mag-apply ulit ng visa ngayong taon.

Unang beses ako nakapunta sa Seoul Korea ay noong 2013 kasama ko ang aking mag-ina. Syempre pa, pinilit kong makapunta sa Sisters of Mary Seoul. Medyo mahirap puntahan pero sa tulong ng isang SOM graduate mula sa Mexico, natunton ko din naman.

Pangalawang punta ko ay noong 2014 kaugnay naman ng 50th Year celebration ng Sisters of Mary sa Korea. Kasama ko naman sa byaheng ito ang ilang ASMSI friends mula sa iba't-ibang batch. Masaya ang byahe na iyon, historic din dahil nagtipon-tipon doon ang mga graduates mula sa iba't-ibang bansa - Korea, Pilipinas, Mexico at Brazil.

Kaya ayun, nabigayan ako ngayon ng 5-year multiple entry visa!

Kung Philippine passport holder ka, kailangan mo ng visa para makapunta sa Korea. Ang visa requirements, depende sa sirkumstansya mo, ay pwede mo makita dito. Kailangan mong dumaan sa accredited travel agency sa pag process ng iyong visa.

Kung ang layuinin mo sa pagpunta sa Korea ay bumisita sa Sisters of Mary, mahalaga na makipag-coordinate ka sa SOM Korea. Una para alam nila kung kailan ka dadating at makapaghanda sila doon. May mga gawain sila doon at hindi nakakatuwa kung dadating ka na lang bigla-bigla na walang pasabi. Pangalawa, pwede ka nila matulungan sa visa application sa pamamagitan ng invitation letter. Nandoon sa Korea si Sister Bernadine. Pwede mo rin puntahan si Sr Meola sa Silang para magpatulong.

Hindi mandatory requirement ang invitation letter sa visa application. Pero kung wala pa masyadong travels abroad, malaking tulong sa visa application ang invitation letter.

ASMSI Batch 1993 Pilgrimage to SOM Korea
Kaugnay ng 25th Year Anniversary namin sa ASMSI Batch 1993, nagplano kaming bumisita sa Sisters of Mary sa Korea para makita ang lugar kung saan nagmula ang lahat tungkol sa Sisters of Mary. Bagama't kakaunti, natuloy naman kami at nakabisita sa Busan at Seoul mula Oct 31, 2018 hanggang Nov 4, 2018.

Arrrival
Dahil coordinated nga sa SOM Korea ang byahe namin, nag-offer sila na susunduin kami sa airport. Kaya pagdating namin sa Busan Airport, nandoon na sina Sister at ang SOM Bus! Sinalubong kami nila Sister Bernadine at ng isang batchmate na nagtatrabaho sa Korea.

Accommodation at Aloysius Family Center
Maayos, maaliwalas at tahimik ang tulugan sa Aloysius Family Center. Para ito talaga sa mga graduates ng SOM na gusto mag stay sa SOM Busan. Walang imposed na bayad pero it will help maintain the place kung magbibigay ka rin naman kahit paano. Yung budget mo sa hotel, doon mo na lang ibigay. Suggestion lang naman. :-)

Iwasan lang ang mag-ingay lalo na sa gabi dahil sa 3rd floor ng building ay tulugan naman ng mga madre. Wala namang curfew kaya pwede namang lumabas para magliwaliw.

Sa ground floor naman ng Aloysius Family Center, may coffee shop doon - Cafe de Maria. Mga madre ang barista. :-)

Pero para mas malinaw, pilgimage ito ha. Hindi yung gusto mo lang makapunta sa Korea na may libreng accommodation. :-)

Kung nagbabalak kayong bumisita as a group, mas mainam kung maximum of 10 lamang kayo para makapaglaan sa inyo ang SOM Korea ng accommodation as Family Center. Kung medyo malaking grupo kayo, hindi kakayanin na ma-accommodate kayo sa Aloysius Family Center.

Pasalubong
Big deal sa kultura ng mga Koreano ang regalo. Kapag bumibisita sila, bilang respeto, ay nagdadala sila ng ragalo. Kaya kung pupunta kayo sa SOM Korea, I strongly suggest na magdala kayo ng kaunting pasalubong. Noong unang bisita namin sa Busan, mga dried mangoes ang dala namin. Nitong huling bisita naman namin, puto at kape naman ang dala namin. Natuwa naman sila at palagay ko nama'y kahit anong pasalubong ay ma-appreciate nila.

SOM Charity Programs Tour
Matapos ang agahan at ng misa sa umaga, inilibot kami ni Sister Bernadine sa Busan Compound. Ipinkita nya sa amin ang bahay ng mga estudyante, ang dating school ng mga bata, at ang Aloysius Hospital. Malawak ang compund. May VOP Chapel din sa Busan.

Once a month ay may misa para sa mga workers sa SOM Busan at may salu-salo sa lunch. Tyempo naman na nandoon kami at nakikain kami ng jampong. :-)

Matapos mananghalian at magkape sa Cafe Maria, pumunta kami sa Songdo Parish, na kung saaan ay si Fr. Al ang kauna-unahang naging Parish Priest. Dito rin nakatayo noon ang Poor Man's House ni Fr. Al.

Pinuntahan din namin ang lugar kung saan unang nagtayo si Fr. Al ng dispensary para sa mga mahihirap sa Amni-Dong sa Busan. Ang building para sa dispensary na iyon ay nakatayo pa rin at balak gawing museyo para kay Fr. Al.

Hindi namin inabutan ang mga residents ng Home for the Aged and Mentally Challenged na proyekto din ni Fr. Al. May outing daw sila. Pero inikot namin ang facilities.

Bago kami bumalik sa Busan Compound, inilibre kami nila Sister sa Songdo Park. Sumakay kami sa cable car at naglakad-lakad sa Songdo Beach!

Filipino Graduates in Korea

Maraming Filipino Graduates sa Korea, sa Busan at Seoul. May ilan din kaming batchmates na sa Korea nagtatrabaho kaya medyo may nakasama kami sa pamamasyal at nagpa-soju. :-)

Manila-Seoul-Busan-Manila
Kung plano mo rin bumisita sa SOM Seoul at Busan, ang suggestion ko ay mag book kayo ng Manila-Soul-Busan-Manila. Kung Manila-Busan-Manila o Manila-Seoul-Manila ang booking nyo, sayang ang oras at dagdag na gastos. Pwede rin naman ang Manila-Busan-Seoul Manila, yun nga lang mas maganda yung unang suggestion kasi sasakay ka ng Train to Busan. :-)

Kailan ka bibista sa SOM Korea? :-)

Journey to Financial Freedom 101

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 06:44:00 +0000

Few years ago, may post ako sa FB about Financial Freedom. Ito yung mga panahon ng kasagsagan ng mga Sports Car na red bilang pang-engganyo na sumali sa iba't-ibang networking raket. Naisipan kong-ipost dito para mas madali i-share sa mga fellow ASMSI members at iba pang kaibigan at kakilala. Sayang nga lang at walang nagturo sa akin nito noong nag-uumpisa pa lang ako. :-)

Journey to Financial Freedom 101 for my ASMSI bro and sis
(Not your typical greedy MLM approach)

1. Basic Formula to save:
Income - Savings = expenses.

Kadalasan kasi sa atin, inuuna muna yung para sa gastos at kung may matira, yun yung savings. Eh kadalasan, wala talaga matitira, kaya wala savings.

Mula sa income mo (gaano man kaliit o kalaki), bumawas ka muna para isubi bago ka mag budget.

Live within your means. Sanay tayo sa wala kaya hindi ito dapat maging problem.

Pwede ka mag save kahit maliit lang kita mo. Kahit simpleng empleyado ka, pwede ka makaipon. Huwag mabulag sa mga greedy mlm lines.

2. Accumulate Funds
Hindi mag e expire pera mo kaya wag kang gastos nang gastos. Sikapin mong makaipon ng sapat para sa 6 months na gastusin mo. Dapat at any given time, meron ka nito para kapag nawalan ka trabaho, makaka survive ka within 6 months time.

Kalimutan mo muna yung sports car o gadgets na pwede namang wala.

3. Secure your family's future.
Kung ikaw ang bread winner, isipin mo kapag bigla ka nawala, ano mangyayari sa kanila?

Kapag sobra na sa 6 months budget ang savings mo, thats the time to invest sa life insurance. Term ang kunin mo, wag yung mga investment na rider lang ang insurance. Kumuha ka rin ng medical insurance o kahit yung HMO man lang.

Kung kaya ng budget mo, unahin mo ito kahit wala ka pa masyado savings.

4. Invest
Kung consistent ka sa formula and you live within your means, dadami rin ang savings mo. Kapag dumating na sa point na malaki na savings mo sa bank, consider investing sa mutual funds, stock market and other money market placements.

Pwede mo ring i invest pera mo sa ibang negosyo para sa karagdagang income stream.

At this point, planuhin at isama sa budget ang pagkuha ng sariling bahay at lupa.

Isipin amo ang retirement. Hindi retirement plan ang magiging anak mo!

5. Enjoy life
Balansehin mo din naman, kung may sapat ka nang ipon, i treat mo rin sarili mo paminsan minsan.

Kung kailangan mo, at kaya mo i maintain, tsaka ka kumuha ng sasakyan.

Travel as often as you can - BUT within your budget. It will broaden your horizon.

At syempre, huwag makalimot. Nandyan ang FACFI, mag donate ka din syempre.

2018 Pep Talk with Sisters of Mary Grade 7 Students

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 23:29:00 +0000

29 years ago, isa ako sa mga mapalad na nabigyan ng pagkakataon na makapagtapos ng high school at vocational training sa Sisters of Mary School sa Cavite. Kahapon, bumalik kami ng mga batchmates ko sa school para magbigay ng Pep Talk sa mga Grade 7 students.

Libre ang pag-aaral sa Sisters of Mary School. Posible ito dahil sa mga donasyon mula sa mga may mabubuting puso. Ang mga estudyante ay may maayos na tiragan, sapat at masustansyang pagkain, damit at lahat ng kailangan nila. Sa loob ng campus sila nakatira at taunan ang bakasyon. Pwede silang bisitahin ng mga magulang tuwing visiting day na isang beses din lamang isang taon. Dapat ay galing ka sa pinakamahirap na pamilya para makapasok dito. Kailangan mo ring maipasa ang entrance examination.

Sa murang edad na mapapahiwalay ka sa magulang, mga mahal sa buhay at kaibigan, expected naman ang homesickness. Natural na malungkot, umiyak at kapag di talaga kinaya, pipiliin ang umuwi sa walang katiyakang hinaharap imbes na magpursigeng tapusin ang pag-aaral.

Naranasan din namin ito kaya nga taun-taon ay nagbibigay kami ng pep talk sa mga bagong estudyante. Nakapanghihinayang kasi kung uuwi sila.

This year, nag-imibita kami ng professional psychologist para talakayin ang homesickness at magbigay ng mga tips kung paano ito bakahin. `

Nagkwento din kami ng aming mga karanasan habang nasa school pa at kung paano namin ito napaglampasan at kung paano kami nakarating sa aming mga kinatatayuan ngayon dahil sa Sisters of Mary School.

May tinanong akong isang bata kung taga saan sya at kung ano ang goal nya. Sabi nya, in 10 Years time, magiging professioal syang guro upang makatulong sa community at sa kanyang magulang. Yup, tinuruan namin sila kung paano mag set ng goals, dapat ito ay time-bound, measurable and with a specific purpose. ;-)

Taga Occidental Mindoro daw sya. Gulat na gulat ang mga bata nang sinabi kong ang dating Board Member at ngayo'y Vice Mayor ng San Jose Occidental Mindoro ay graduate din ng Sisters of Mary School. At Helping Brother ko pa! :-)

Kaya pinangako namin sila na pag-iigihin ang pag-aaral, magiging masunurin sa mga madre at madasalin. Hinikayat din namin sila na gawin ding goal ang pagtulong sa Sisters of Mary School kapag sila ay nakaluluwag na sa buhay.

Curious ka about The Sisters of Mary School? Visit http://thesistersofmaryschools.edu.ph

Gusto mong magbigay ng donasyon para sa mga bata? Visit http://www.facfi.org.ph

There is BLOOD in your catsup

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Sun, 17 Jun 2018 00:33:00 +0000

Sa tunggalian ng mga manggagawang pinagsasamantalahan at mga malalaking negosyanteng kakampi ang kapulisan at estado, hindi mahirap pumili kung kanino ako dapat papanig.

Larawan mula sa Alay Sining

Marahas na binuwag ng mga Pulis ang welga ng mga manggagawa ng NutriAsia, na nanawagan ng maayos na kalagayan sa paggawa, regularisasyon at pagkilala sa kanilang unyon.

Ang mga manggagawa sa NutriAsia, na pagmamay-ari ng Pamilyang Campos, ang siyang gumagawa ng mga produko gaya ng UFC Catsup, Mang Tomas, Datu Puti at iba pa.

Hindi maayos ang kanilang kalagayan sa paggawa at kalakhan ng mga manggagawa sa NutriAsia ay mga kontrakwal. Binabarat ang kanilang sweldo gayung milyun-milyon naman ang kanilang tubo.

Dahil dito, nakikiisa ako sa panawagang Boycott sa mga produkto ng NutriAsia. Sana ay kayo rin...

MacOS Sierra Display Problem - Can't Detect Projector | How to fix the problem?

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 23:25:00 +0000

In my work, I often do presentations and connect my MacBook Air (Mid 2013) to a projector. I bought a VGA adaptor from Apple Store and it works perfectly until last Saturday when I did a Canadian Immigration Consultancy presentation at Lipa City. Suddenly, the projector can't be detected and my monitor went black.

I have 2 VGA adaptors and changing it didn't solve the problem. Restarting my Mac did not help either. I checked the Display settings and to my surprise, there was no Display Arrangement Tab! Panic followed.

A colleague, fortunately, brought his laptop. I tried connecting the projector to the laptop and worked fine. Thus, it's confirmed that the problem was with my Mac. I had to do convert my Keynote presentation to a Powerpoint format and let go of those awesome animations. But that's ok.

I suspected that the problem was caused by the recent update in the OS. I remember updating to macOS Sierra Version 10.12.5. I asked my friend Google and apparently, it is a problem experienced by many users. Unfortunately, there seems no solution until now. Well, some users made it work after restarting their Mac with the projector connected. It did not work for me.

There was also a suggestion to buy a new VGA Adapter compatible with the new OS. Another suggestion is that VGA is no longer supported by the new OS and that external displays should be connected using HDMI. I have not tried these suggestions yet.

From the Apple Support Forums, their standard answer is to read Get help with video issues on external displays connected to your Mac. But it does not really address the problem.

I will be visiting Apple Store one of these days to fix this problem.

Video Scribe

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Mon, 22 May 2017 07:28:00 +0000

Sinubukan kong gumawa ng whiteboard animation video gamit ang VideoScribe. Ang dami ko kasing nakikitang marketing campaign gamit ang whiteboard-style animation video at mukhang patok naman.
Kaya naisipan kong gumawa rin tungkol sa campaign namin: Quality Life

Sa susnod, susubukan ko naman ang may voice over. :-)

Preliminary Review

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 00:51:00 +0000

Busy at toxic na naman sa office ngayon dahil sa mga changes sa Quebec Skilled Worker Program. Binago ang points system at maaapektuhan kahit yung mga matagal nang naka-file ang application. Reasonable naman ang dahilanng ibinigay kaya may changes sa rules, pero mukhang isa rin itong paraan para ma address yung backlogs nila.

Kawawa yung mga maapektuhan.
Ang hindi malinawa ngayon ay kung sinu-sino ang maapektuhan. Ang sabi lang kasi sa announcement, apektado yung mga hindi pa nasimulan ang Preliminary Review. May mga tumatawag sa MIDI pero hindi rin daw consistent ang nakukuhang mga sagot.

Ang tingin namin, kapag nakatanggap ka ng letter to update your file, ibig sabihin noon ay nagsimula na ang Preliminary Review at kung gayun nga, hindi na dapat apektado yung mga nakatanggap nito.

Sana tama kami.

First Time ko Forbes Park

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 09:33:00 +0000

Naimbitahan ako sa isang event para sa mga Education Agents ng New Zealand. Sa bahay ng Ambassador ng New Zealand na nasa Forbes Park ito ginanap. First time ko sa loob ng Forbes Park kaya humalik ako sa lupa pagdating sa village. Biro lang. :-)

Maganda yung village. Tahimik, malinis at di maingay. Pero mukhang di ako ubra sa ganung set up. Pag tumama ako sa lotto, mas gusto ko yung bahay na nasa bukid basta may Internet connection. :-)

Saved by the dash cam

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 09:52:00 +0000

Pauwi ako kagabi galing Mall of Asaia, pinara ako ng Pasay Traffic Enforcer makalampas ng stop light sa Macapagal Blvd. Beating the red light daw ako.

Pero dahil may dashboard camera ako, nagpaliwanag ako sa traffic enforcer at ika ko'y pwede nya tingnan ang video.

Tinakot pa ako ng enforcer na kapag daw nakita sa video na may violation ako, reckless driving iti-ticket sa akin. Walang problema, sabi ko.

Tumabi ako at inihandang ipakita ang video. Pero nainip yata si Manong kaya huwag na lang daw.

Saved by the dash cam! Anong dashboard camera ang gamit mo? Yung dash cam na gamit ko ay nabili ko lang online sa Lazada. Less than P2,000 lang kasama na ang 32gig na memory card. Ok naman so far.

Good Hires Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 03:13:00 +0000

Marami talagang Pilipino ang gustong-gusto makapunta sa Canada. Kaya nga yung mga nakakita ng ads ng Good Hires Canada sa Facebook ay madami ang nagka-interes. Pero legit nga ba o scam ang Good Hires Canada?

Hindi ko matawag na scam ang Good Hires Canada. Kung babasahin mo kasi maigi ang nakasulat sa kanilang website, wala naman sila sinasabing pangako na makakapunta ka ng Canada o makakakuha ka ng employer. Ang sinasabi lang nila, tutulungan ka nila sa job matching. May bayad ito.

Ngayon, kung nagbayad ka at nagawa naman nila ang job matching, anong scam dito?

Kung isa ka sa mga nagbayad ng service ng Good Hires Canada, i-charge mo na lang ito sa experience. Sa susunod, intindhin mo munang maigi ang pinapasok mo bago ka magbayad.

Kung nagbabalak ka makapunta sa Canada, hindi mo kailangan ang Good Hires Canada.

Here's how to apply for Visa to Canada.

Anong Class ka ng OFW?

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 02:48:00 +0000

Magandang obserbasyon ito tungkol sa mga klase ng OFW patungkol sa kanilang financial management. Kung ikaw ay isang OFW, tiyak na masasakyan mo ito at mapapagtanto kung saang klase ka nga ba nabibilang.

Ikaw, anong klase ka ng OFW?

Paano mag-apply ng visa papuntang Canada?

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 06:28:00 +0000

Mahaba-haba na rin ang aking karanasan sa Canadian Visa Application, bilang isa sa mga Senior Consultant ng Canadian Immigration Consultancy. Kaya normal na ang makatanggap ako ng mga tanong na gaya ng Paano Mag-apply ng Visa Papuntang Canada. Minsan kumakain din sya ng oras dahil marami talagang magiging tanong tungkol dito. Sabi nga kasi, immigration is not a simple process.

Kaya naisipan kong gumawa ng page page para sa mga Frequently Asked Questions tungkol sa pagpunta sa Canada.
Sa page na ito - How to Apply for Visa to Canada, sinasagot ang general question kung paano makapunta sa Canada, pansamantala man o pangmatagalan.

Sa page namang ito, Frequently Asked Questions, mababasa ang iba't-ibang tanong tungkol sa iba't-ibang immigration programs.

Kaya sa susunod na may magtanong ulit sa akin na kaibigan, ito na lang ang aking ibibigay na link. Ang sasabihin ko na lang ay: ito ang link, basa. :-)

Summer na! Tayo na sa Batangas!

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 06:15:00 +0000

Gaya ng blog na ito, napabayaan ko rin nang mahabang panahon ang www.batangasbeachresorrts.com. Ginawa ko ang Batangas Beach Resorts blog para i-promote ang mga beach at resorts sa Batangas.

Hindi pa ito kumpleto, pero ang layunin ko sana dito ay maging directory ng mga resorts sa Batangas. Mula sa blog na ito ay makakakuha rin ng impormasyon ang mga nagbabalak pumunta sa mga resorst sa Batangas tungkol sa kung anuman ang dapat asahan o feedback ng mga nakapunta na.

Kata kung naghahanap ka ng mapupuntahang resort sa Batangas, punta lang sa www.batangasbeachresorts.com.

I'm back!

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 01:38:00 +0000

Kahit yata sumigaw ako dito ng tatlong taon, wala makakarinig. Wala na siguro nagbabasa ng blog ko. hehe!

3 years na pala ako walang entry sa blog ko na ito. Medyo tinamad na kasi ako. Hindi na rin kasi malinaw sa akin kung para saan ang blog na ito. Tumigil ako mag blog noong naging talamak na ang monetizing ng mga blogs. Ang totoo, isa ako doon sa mga sumubok na pagkakitaan ang blog. Pero hindi ko na nasabayan at hanggang sa nawalan na ako ng gana. Hanggang ngayon naman ay may mga blogs pa ako nakhit paano ay kumikita. Pero mas gusto ko pa rin yung nag-uumpisa pa lang ang mga blogs. Iba yung atmosphere.

Ngayon ko lang din nakita yung mga comments. Nakakatawa nga kasi ang dami pa ring nagsusumbong sa Meralco Customer Service post ko. May kuryente na kaya sila? :-)

Hmm... dito na lang muna.

2013 Travel Advisory Against South Korea

noreply@blogger.com (Apol) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:23:00 +0000

Since 2009, we're having an annual vacation abroad as a sort of treat for daughter after each school year. We've been to Hong kong (2009), Thailand (2010), Singapore (2011) and Malaysia (2012). This year, we're scheduled to travel to South Korea. We already have our visas and booked our flight on April 17, 2013. Our accommodation was already arranged as well. But because of the recent development in the Korean Peninsula, I'm still not sure if the scheduled vacation in South Korea will be pushed through.

The Philippines has not yet issued travel advisory against South Korea. The same thing is true with Malaysia, Singapore and the US. In the absence of travel advisory, this means we are still allowed to travel. But is it safe? Is it worth it? I don't know.

When we first traveled to Hong Kong, there's this swine flu scare. But we still traveled as scheduled. When I first went to Cambodia, there's this Thailand-Cambodia border conflict. And, oh, when we were in Singapore, there's this prediction of the end of the world.

We'll probably push through with the scheduled vacation. Unless of course if there's a travel advisory against South Korea in the next few days. We'll probably add missile gazing in our itinerary. Bahala na.