Sunday, June 28, 2009

Pare, gusto mo baka?

Ito'y hindi isang promotion. Naisipan ko lang ipost ito dahil sa sobra akong naaaliw at natutuwa. Akalain mo ba naman, ang wikang Pinoy ay pilit ginagaya ng mga ibang lahi mabenta lamang ang kanilang bilihin. And take note, kahit saang palengke ka magpunta dito sa Dubai, wikang Pilipino ang bati ng mga tindero.

Ganito:

ANO GUSTO MO SUKI? TILAPIA? GALONGGONG? PUSIT? BANGOS? MAYA-MAYA? ITO TUNA SUKI BUHAY PA.

KURIPOT KA SUKI! GUSTO MO TAWAD?



Sa Karama, kung saan may marami populasyon ng mga Pilipino, halos lahat ng nakapaskil sa palengke ay mga salitang Pinoy. Kahit pa sa pag-imprinta ng business card ay sadyang pinagawa sa wikang tagalog.

Parang ganito:

Thursday, June 25, 2009

May pera ba talaga sa basura?

“HOY, BASURA N’YO, ITAPON N’YO!”

Ipinaskil ko ang mga katagang ito sa isang pintuan ng kapitbahay (neighboring flat) namin noong isang araw. Di ko na kasi matiis ang basurang nakatambak sa gilid ng pintuan nila. Hindi naman dapat ako makikialam sana kaya lang ang dumi talaga. Iyon na lang ang palagi kong nadadatnan pagka galing ko sa trabaho. Paano kasi nasa bungad ng gate ang flat nila kaya basura ang babati sayo pagpasok mo sa gate.

Hindi naman siguro masama ang ginawa ko. Hindi naman ako nakikialam sa kanila. Kaya lang sobrang tamad talaga nila, mga babae pa naman sana. Akalain niyo, noong nakaraang linggo si Ate Amy ang nagwalis, naglinis at nagtapon ng basura nila. Nitong umaga si Kuya Romy naman ang nagwalis, naglinis at nagtapon. At ngayon, hayun may nakatambak na naman.

Bakit may mga taong ganyan? Hindi ba sila nahihiya na ibang tao ang maglinis sa harapan nila? Bakit di nila makuhang bitbitin ang mga basura nila, eh, ang lapit-lapit lang naman ng basurahan? Naalala ko tuloy ang komento ng isang kasamahan ko. Aniya, “ang mga babaeng nakatira diyan ay sadyang marurumi, siguro hindi rin sila naglalaba ng kanilang mga pan**”.

Payo ko lang sa inyo, mga butihin naming kapitbahay, sana magkaroon naman kayo ng kunting kahihiyan. Pareho lang naman tayong naghahanap buhay. Pareho lang din tayong Filipino. Pareho lang tayong kumakain. Pareho lang din naman tayong gumagamit ng kubeta. Sa medaling salita, pareho tayong tao. Huwag naman sana ninyong abusuhin ang kabaitan ng ibang tao. Kung kaya ninyong tanggalin ang pinaskil ko sa inyong pinto dapat kaya din ninyong itapon ang basura ninyo. At higit sa lahat huwag ninyong ikalat ang inyong mga napk**.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Nalulungkot ako para kay Ate PM

Nitong madaling araw, nagising ako sa isang hagulhol ng pangungulila ni Ate PM. Si Ate PM at si Ate Myrna ay iisa. 'Yon kasi ang bansag sa kanya ni Jimmy - Ate PM, meaning "Princess Myrna". By the way, si Jimmy ay isang mabuting kaibigan. Mahilig siyang magbigay ng bagong pangalan sa halos lahat ng kakilala niya. Tulad ko, pinangalanan niya akong "Dong" kasi daw bisdak ako. 'Yong isang kaibigan namin tinawag niyang "Bruha" kasi daw tulog nang tulog kahit araw. Kay Ate Raquel tawag niya "Sea Horse" kasi daw napakapayat at napakatangkad. Ang kapatid naman ni Ate Raquel tinawag niyang "Emperadora" kasi daw palaging kinakampihan nito si Ate Raquel. At kay Kuya Sam, tawag niya "Croc" as in Crocodile. Huwag niyo na lang alamin kung bakit ganun ang tawag niya. Ganun pa man, salamat kay Jimmy. Nang dahil sa kanya nagkaroon kami ng bagong pangalan. Mabait naman siya. Kaya bansag ko din sa kanya - "Dinosaur".

Well, balikan natin si Ate PM. Iyak ng iyak si Ate. Nakatanggap kasi siya ng tawag mula sa Pinas na yumao na daw ang nanay niya kaninang alas siete, Manila time. Nahihirapan siyang tanggapin ang katotohanan na wala na ang babaeng nagluwal sa kanya, ni hindi man lang niya ito masilayan bago pa man ito dalhin sa huling hantungan. Paano nga ba siya makakauwi sa Pinas? Kung inyong natatandaan si Ate ay isang hindi legal na OFW. Sinampahan siya ng kaso ng ER niya. Kung mag-voluntary surrender naman siya, tiyak na makukulong muna siya ng hindi lalagpas sa tatlong buwan bago siya ipapa-deport.

Kaya wala siyang magawa kundi ang umiyak at manalangin na sana maiintindihan ng kanyang yumaong ina ang kanyang sitwasyon. Bakas sa kanyang mukha ang pagsisisi. Nagsisisi siya kung bakit sa huling sandali di man lang niya mayakap ang kanyang ina.

Note: To know more about Ate Myrna, please follow this link.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

The Real Opportunity

Yesterday, I had a heart-to-heart talk with my boss pertaining to the ONLY hot issue in our company – my irrevocable resignation. Actually, he should have gone to UK last Wednesday for the annual vacation together with his family but upon knowing from his PA that I could not wait the time of his return and I need to leave the company before 15th of June, he instructed her to re-schedule his flight on the 20th.

I know how my boss solves the conflict in our company. I’ve been with him for almost three years now. With this length of time, I witnessed how he manage the company he formed ten years ago. He is a good boss. He treats his employees fairly. He is considerate. And above all, he is not a racist.

He started our conversation by story-telling. He recalled the moments from the time he interviewed and hired me to replace his Syrian accountant until the time I submitted my resignation. He said, “You came by visit visa. I accommodated you because I could see in your personality that you are a good accountant. And indeed, I have proven your capacity. I am happy of your performance. I treated you well and I granted all your requests. I am sad that I can’t give you the opportunity you found outside. So, I will not hold you as I am concerned of your future. If you think to leave this company will make way to financial freedom and better future for you and your family in the Philippines, I will be more happy.”

While listening to him, I felt the guilt inside. I knew what he was implying, so interrupted his “homily”. “Don’t worry, Sir! I have made my decision to stay.”

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I know I would miss the opportunity outside. But my decision to stay was the only thing in my mind. I could not sacrifice the company – I could not leave without nominating a new accountant. We did a lot of interviews and trained better applicants. We hired a Filipina by the name of Maria. I started to turn-over to her some of my responsibilities but on the 10th of June she no longer appeared. Lately, she informed me that she started her new work with her new company. Well, I could not condemn her. It’s for her future.

Now, I am trying to erase from my mind the idea of leaving my company. It’s not because I was touched by my boss’ sermon but because I have realized that the real opportunity has yet to come – an opportunity with the Lord’s blessing.

While waiting for the real opportunity, I must continue to render my services with dedication and loyalty to the company without questioning their monetary equivalent, after all, it’s the happiness that counts most, not the money.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Have I made the right decision?

Thirty-five days ago, I received good job offer from another company.


Thirty days ago, I tendered my irrevocable resignation from my company.


Six days from now, the offer will expire.


Tomorrow, I should receive my passport and "No Objection Certificate".


After tomorrow, if my company will not return my passport...I will be JOBLESS for months.


Huh!


Have I made the right decision? Off course, I did! God is with me..

Friday, June 5, 2009

OFW Bloggers MANIFESTO : Say No to Mike Avenue's Blogpost "Tsokolate"


On Mike Avenue Pinoy Blog’s ‘Tsokolate’
OFW Bloggers MANIFESTO
So that the bloggerworld and everyone may know....

We believe in the right to freedom of speech as a human right.

We believe in the freedom to hold opinions without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.

We believe in the right to freedom of expression to receive and impart information.

We believe that blogging is an expression of one’s opinions, personal experiences, hobbies, commentaries, diaries and we further believe that every blogger has the right to publish his personal expressions and opinions.

We believe that the exercise of these freedoms is not an absolute right but carries with it duties and responsibilities, that may be subject to restrictions or penalties on specific grounds as prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests and protection of the reputation or rights of others.

We believe that majority of the Overseas Filipino Workers have chosen to leave the Philippines to seek and search for better livelihood opportunities abroad so they may be able to support themselves and their families back home.

We believe that the OFW’s search for a greener pasture is not at all that easy and yet hundreds of thousands of OFWs have created names for them and have excelled in their chosen fields of endeavor, setting the world standards for nobility and for hard work.

We believe that there is nothing wrong with doing an honest day’s work as a domestic help or as construction worker or doing any other menial and blue collar jobs.

We believe that OFWs whether professionals or not should be given honor and respect.

We believe that the OFW is the Hope of the Nation, Gift to the World!

With these guiding beliefs:

We regard Mr. Mike Avenue’s Pinoy Blog post on "Tsokolate" as one that lacked research and a flagrant ignorance of the truth about Overseas Filipino workers and expatriates.

We regard this lack of truth and ignorance as especially inexcusable from one who feigns intelligence and high learning and coax people into belief and following.

We regard his statements: “minumura ng amo kapalit ng dolyar” and “humahalik sa paa ng mga dayuhan” as blatant mockeries of the sacrifices of the Overseas Filipino Workers and expatriates and are hasty generalizations of the living and working conditions of the Filipino expatriates and OFWs.

We regard his post as tactless and offensive, trying to make a lame attempt to sarcasm that failed to be funny, at the expense of the Overseas Filipino Workers.

We regard his post as a clear display of arrogance, done in a distasteful manner with blind indifference and unjust condemnation of the millions of hardworking OFWs who work long hours to earn an honest buck.

We regard his post to have overstepped the bounds of sensitivity and responsibility of a decent mind and an accountable and sensible blogger.

Therefore, we as OFW BLOGGERS are not dumb to let this kind of humiliation pass just like that.

We strongly condemn this irresponsible blog post and Mike Avenue.

We consider Mike Avenue as an Anti-OFW persona.

We demand a retraction and an apology from Mike Avenue of Pinoy Blogs for this irresponsible blogpost!

We are Filipinos and we should stand together and strive for a better Philippines!

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*For the interest of fairness and balanced reporting and for the
sake of those who cannot access the webpage that is hyperlinked
to Mike Avenue Pinoy Blog's 'Tsokolate' we have linked you to other
pages that have the full transcript of his original post. Please check
these links where Mike Avenue's original post on 'Tsokolate' are found:
Kablogs, OFW (Mukhang Pera Nga Ba?)


The non-availability of the webpage may probably be due to his
personal decision, which we respect, to moderate his blog and to open
it only for the invited readers.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

The why of cheating

Hello World! Unti-unti na namang nanumbalik ang aking lakas – lakas sa pagba-blog (baka ano na naman ang iisipin nyo). Alam kong marami na akong na-miss. Now, it’s time to make-up. I congratulate Chico. He has now a new job. Alam ko kung gaano siya kasaya ngayon. Nakapag-EB na rin pala si Jee, Azel at Pogi. Swerte naman ito si Pogi siya pa ang pinuntahan ng dalawang dilag sa Abu Dhabi.

Okay, enough for the ka-blogs update.

Siguro marami sa inyo ang nagtatanong kung bakit bihira na lang akong makadalaw sa page ko. Actually, hindi naman talaga ako namahinga, sadyang busy lang talaga ako. Naatasan kasi ako ng kompanya namin na maghanap ng papalit sa position ko. Para sa kaalaman ng lahat, ako po ay aalis na sa kompanya namin para hahanapin ko naman ang aking sarili sa iba.

At dahil Pilipino ako, minabuti kong bigyan ng pagkakataon ang aking mga kababayan na tulad ko napadpad din dito sa disyerto. Marami akong na-interview ngunit isa lang ang pwedeng papalit sa akin. Nakakaawa ang mga hindi pinalad. Nakakalungkot makinig sa pabalik-balik na kwento ng OFW – pilit nilisan ang Pinas para sa ikabubuhay ng pamilya.

Sa lahat ng mga na-interview ko, may isang aplikante na kakaiba ang kanyang rason kung bakit siya napunta sa Dubai. Isang 35-year old woman – wala ng asawa, walang anak, walang kinakasama, in short single and available. Ang rason ng kanyang paglisan sa Pinas - nangangaliwa daw ang kanyang asawa.

Napaisip tuloy ako. Bakit nga ba mangangaliwa ang isang tao? Sa aking palagay, siguro mangyayaring mangangaliwa ang isang tao dahil sa mga sumusunod:


Pagka-boring
Ito na marahil ang pinakatumpak na rason kung bakit mangangaliwa ang isang tao.Dahil nabo-bored, siya ay hahanap ng mga bagong kaibigan. At dito nagsisimula ang pag-usbong ng bagong relasyon.


Pagkalito
Minsan sa buhay may mga bagay na hindi natin maintindihan. Nalilito ka kung talaga bang mahal ka ng asawa mo or girlfriend mo. Dahil sa’yong pagkalito, hahanap ka ng panibagong relasyon na sa tingin mo iyon ang tama.

Dahil sa Pahintulot
Kung ang iyong asawa or girlfriend ay nangangaliwa na minsan at pinatawad mo hindi ibig sabihin na hindi na siya uulit pa. Ang pagpapatawad ang magbibigay udyok sa kanya na siyay gagawa pa nito dahil nasa isip na niya na handa kang magpatawad.

Pag-aalaga
Kung mali ang pag-aalaga mo sa iyong asawa or girlfriend darating ang panahon na mahihirapan siya sa inyong relasyon at dahil dito hahanap siya ng ibang tao na sa tingin niya marunong mag-alaga ng tama.

Paghihiganti
Mata sa mata. Ngipin sa ngipin. Don’t do unto others what you don’t want others do unto you.

Upang patunayan na kaakit-akit pa
Minsan feeling mo parang inaayawan ka na ng asawa or girlfriend mo. Feeling mo hindi ka na kaakit-akit sa kanyang mga mata. Dahil dito gusto mong patunayan sa iba kung totoo bang hindi ka na kaakit-akit.

Pagkakilig
May mga taong gusto lang talagang mag-enjoy sa saya na dulot ng pagkakilig. Nasisiyahan silang gumawa ng mga sekretong bagay – mga sekretong romansa.

I found no reason kung bakit pa mangangaliwa ang isang tao. Para sa akin wala akong makitang magandang rason para gawin ko ito. At tiyak na hindi ko ito gagawin at hindi ko rin mapapatawad ang nangangaliwa (huh!).