YOUR FUNERAL

I have been thinking a lot of things today. Being alone in my not-so-nice flat flooded by waste water (the drainage outside once again was blocked and the maintenance could not think of a possible solution) many strange thoughts came to my mind. One thought that caught my attention was the truth of dying. What if I die?

I think I have to clarify. I really have no intention of dying, at least not any time soon. Not today, not tomorrow. But most of us feel that way. This is the truth. We all die. How? No one knows.

But it is certain. Can you figure out the day of your funeral? Okay, let’s do some mental exercise.

Lie on your back, in a quiet room, cross your hands over your chest and pretend that you are dead. Everything is over. Relax, and clear your mind. Then envision yourself at your funeral. Do you see people crying or talking? What are they saying?

Don’t be hard on yourself. This is just a mental exercise and it's not a popularity contest. How many people have you seen at your funeral? It doesn't matter. If you don't have many people in your life, then use the people whom you’re in contact with.

These people will be talking about you. Be totally honest with what you might be hearing. Were you a generous person? Were you a loving, honest and sincere partner? Were you a loyal buddy? Were you a good neighbor? Were you a respectful employee? Were you a happy individual? Are people saying how much they will miss you? That they will miss your generosity of spirit? Are people saying that it is sad you are gone, but you really weren't a very good person? Do you hear them saying that you were successful, but at the expense of others? What may people be saying, I don’t care. This is your funeral. You have to pick the conversations.

My point on this exercise is to really look at where we are in our lives and where we gonna be for the rest of it. The effect on what we have on others is very realistic. We only get one short life. There is no re-take. So let’s must be a person we want to be remembered – a life well-lived.

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DUBAI: NEW VISA RULE TO BE IMPLEMENTED

For individuals from the sub-continent (India) and other countries of the world who are seeking for immediate employment in Dubai, you need to be aware that effective end of July 2009, a new visa rule is to be implemented. Thus, you have only limited time (spring and early summer) to find a suitable placement.

It has been predicted that due to this new visa rule, there would be a problem of labour shortages. Workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, the Philippines and Bangladesh who will come to Dubai on a visit visa will have to pay for a refundable deposit of AED 1,000.00 (USD 272.00) and take out health insurance while they hunt for work.

This new visa rule is intended to regulate the market and make the process of travelling to the UAE simpler because of job hunting which could impair or underwrite the importance of tourism to the country.

On the side of the jobseeker:

If the new visa rule is to be implemented (I am confident it will be), thousands of jobseekers will be greatly affected. Why? Who will spend AED 1,000 + health insurance and try his luck in Dubai under this current crisis? There’s nothing in Dubai but “uncertainties”. The economy is not stable (true also to some cities). Many companies are shutting down. On this issue, how can a jobseeker be sure that when he enters Dubai he can be employed? For me, I will not gamble.


On the side of the employer:

The new visa rule means potential employers and recruitment agencies will have to go abroad to find workers to avoid labour shortages. Employers are never going to pay money up front for people to come and visit, because they don’t know if they are going to take on the person or not. Employers will have to go to the countries concerned to select people and hire them from there.

It will be more costly for employers because they will have to fly in people to start working. There will be less people coming in to look for work because the fee is a lot of money, so companies will chose to recruit from countries of origin.

What might happen is that it might be a quicker recruitment process, because employers and recruiters might carry out interviews over the phone. If employers don’t want to make the decision there and then through a telephone interview and want to do it face-to-face, they will have to fly the person out, pay for their visit visa and their accommodation. So it will probably be more costly for employers.

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THANK YOU, THE POPE, OF PALIPASAN!

I thank “The Pope” of Palipasan for passing this award to me. It’s my great honor to receive such wonderful award from a wonderful friend. This is my second award from him - flattering yet compelling. For those who will receive this award, please be ready and have a couple of minutes recalling the first day you posted your first entry because you will be compelled to do so.

Anyway, I have been tasked to write my answer to this question, “Why do I love blogging”? Is this the prize of this Neno’s Award? It seems. This requires me to refresh my memory – my deteriorating memory (huh!). I hope I can remember well enough how I started blogging.

I was not born a poet. I was not born a writer. I was not raised by IT professional parents. I am just a simple guy whose profession was not by my personal choice. I was tempted to blog early in 2008 when my brother presented to me a blog of a Filipina, a socialite housemaid (Blog ni Inday). This blog was popular during that time (even at the present). I love her blog. I love the humors. I love to laugh. From then, I read her entries everyday to keep me updated on her life with the Montemayor family.

One day, I got an idea. Why don’t I make my own blog? If Inday can why can’t I?

So, I tried to sign up with i.ph domain with this url www.ruphestimate.i.ph. Most of my entries were about Dubai – OFW’s lifestyle, information and the like. Blogging was fun, though some people dislike my blog for its design, contents and theme. But I did not give up. I feel the passion to write. Blogging gives me the freedom to impart my ideas, my observations. Grammars are not criticized. We don’t have to worry and review our subject-verb agreement in order to create an entry. No one will condemn you.

Last year, I received an e-mail from GMA TV, asking my permission to use one of my posts. Here’s the letter:

“Hi ruel. Im fidel Jimenez of GMA News TV. (www.gmanews.tv) We have this section Pinoy wherein we feature Kwentong Kapuso mo stories/contribution of Pinoys in Abroad. Someone named Richard emailed us a blog article Buhay OFW Abroad from “Maginoo Pero Bastos.” But in fairness to him, this article is linked to your blogspot. With this regard I would like to ask your permission if I can use your blog article for Kwentong Kapuso. Thanks a lot and feel free to send us your stories or observation or experience in Dubai . Much better if it’s in Filipino, para sa ating mga kababayan. Maraming salamat at mabuhay kayong mga Pinoy sa Abroad.”

Here’s the link to read my article published in GMA TV (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/113767/Buhay-OFW-sa-Dubai). For my original blog entry, I recommend you to click this link.

Right after the article was published, Perfect Square received more traffic. There were few who violently reacted on the issue and left their bad comments. But there were also readers who showed their sympathy. All these comments triggered me to continue what I have just started. This is a sign of a warm welcome in the world of blogging.

People read and react on what I write. This means I have been noticed. This is another reason why I love blogging. You, what’s your reason?

Now, let’s go back to the Neno Award, here are the aims and rules:

* As a dedication for those who love blogging activity and love to encourage friendships through blogging.

* To seek the reasons why we all love blogging!

* Put the award in one post as soon as you receive i.

* Don’t forget to mention the person who gives you the award.

* Answer the award’s question by writing the reason why you love blogging.

* Tag and distribute the award to as many people as you like.

* Don’t forget to notify the award receivers and put their links in your post.

I love to pass this blog tag awards to the following bloggers for their continued support to Perfect Square and for their inspirational posts that give me more courage to continue blogging and to those who believe that blogging can make a difference. To all you, guys, this award is for you!

Joseph of Arabian Josh
Jzerx of Natural Hunch
NJ of Desert Aquaforce
Kablogie of Kablogie.com
Mr. Thoughtskoto of Thoughtskoto
JB of Ultraelectromageticblog
Jen of Jen’s MisAdventures
Violet of Silip
Jessie of Life Moto
Mike of Mike Avenue's Pinoy Blog
Jez of On My Own
Marlon of Perspektib
Q of Pinoysbest
Pogi of Poging (ilo) Cano
John Michael of Thoughts of Juan
Elyong of Blogging Life

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GOOD FRIDAY

Today is Good Friday. Bloggers must observe this solemn day. Forget those issues circulating around the blogosphere. Attend Christian masses and gatherings. Once you’re free, navigate to the site I discovered, the Sharefaith. For others who do not know the significance of Good Friday, please read the following paragraphs.



Good Friday is perhaps the most solemn and profound memorial of the numerous Christian holy days on the liturgical calendar. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and falls on the last Friday before Easter. It is the pinnacle of Holy Week, and Christians observe this day with great humility and reverence. The purpose behind the solemn presentation is to create an awareness of grief over the sacrifice of God's only begotten Son.

According to many bible scholars there are two possible origins for the name "Good Friday". The first may have come from the Gallican Church in Gaul (modern-day France and Germany). The name "Gute Freitag" is Germanic in origin and literally means "good" or "holy" Friday. The second possibility is a variation on the name "God's Friday," where the word "good" was used to replace the word "God," which was often viewed as too holy for commoners to speak.

To many Christians, Good Friday is felt as a day of sorrow. It is a time to grieve over the sin of man and to meditate upon the love that God has so generously bestowed upon humanity in giving His only Son for the redemption of sin.

Jesus died for us. This is his sacrifice to us. If we looked into ourselves and asked this question, “Am I willing to die also for others?

Think of it.

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CONFIRMED: SMART PLUG 'N TALK USELESS IN DUBAI

I posted an entry on Smart Plug N Talk last three months ago. Follow this link to read the whole article. Because of my doubts that this “thing” will not work in Dubai, I asked the customer service agent of Smart Philippines. Smart assured me that this device works anywhere in the world. Take note, “Anywhere in the world”. Still I was not convinced. I requested my brother to go to Smart Center Office in Cagayan de Oro to inquire if this device will work even if the VOIP’s are being blocked by the ISP. Smart assured him also that it will work globally but they are not sure if it worked in places where VOIP’s are blocked.

I received lot of e-mails from Filipinos in the US, Canada and Hong Kong. They said that Smart Plug N Talk is of great help to them. On the contrary, OFW’s in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) are not happy to know that their newly purchased gadget is useless and is just a waste of money.

These are some of the comments Perfect Square received from OFW’s. Please read. Note: These comments are unedited.

Anonymous April 1, 2009 6:51 PM

Plug N' talk is a waste of money if you are in UAE.

Its Not working in UAE. Prompting Error: 408 Request timeout.

Smart Customer Care responce this way:

Dear Sir/Ma’am,
We understand that you wish to be assisted on your Plug ‘N Talk device. We regret to inform you that Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is being blocked by the Internet Service Provider (ISP) in United Arab Emirates .
However, you may use the device in other location or area where you intend to bring it where VoIP is not blocked.
We hope this has shed light to your concern. Should you need further assistance, please feel free to write us again.

Sincerely,
Remi Remodo
Customer Care


belza21 April 6, 2009 1:22 PM

BEWARE TO ALL OFW IN UAE :

Smart Communications Inc. (SMART), the leading communication service provider in the Philippines has launched its new innovation called Plug ‘N Talk. It assures that Filipinos abroad can now have access to an Internet phone that allows them to call any Philippine landline or mobile number for as low as P6.50 (USD.13) per minute. All they have to do is to plug the device and talk! That’s all.

SMART Plug N’ TALK IS A WASTE OF MONEY :

I JUST PURCHASED THIS PLUG N’ TALK FROM MY VACATION.

ITS NOT WORKING IN UAE. ( ERROR: 408 REQUEST TIMEOUT )

As what Smart had said that this device will work anywhere in the world. But, did Smart take into consideration the risk factor? I mean, will it work in places where VOIP is blocked? Dubai is a very conservative city. Etisalat, the leading communication service provider in the Emirates, is a jealous competitor. It does not allow any intruder. It blocks all forms of VOIP’s like Skype. With this regard, how will SMART Plug ‘N Talk work?

SMART ANSWERED MY PROBLEM THIS WAY:

We understand that you wish to be assisted on your Plug ‘N Talk device. We regret to inform you that Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is being blocked by the Internet Service Provider (ISP) in United Arab Emirates .

However, you may use the device in other location or area where you intend to bring it where VoIP is not blocked.

AFTER ALL “ SA ADDS NILA ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD”

CONCERN LANG PO!

EDWARD BELZA
AUH, UAE

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HOLY WEEK SACRIFICES

“O Lord, the woman who had fallen into many sins, sensing Your Divinity, takes upon herself the duty of a myrrh-bearer. With lamentations she brings you myrrh in anticipation of your entombment. "Woe to me!" she cries, "for me night has become a frenzy of licentiousness, a dark and moonless love of sin. Receive the fountain of my tears, O You who gathers into clouds the waters of the sea. Incline unto me, unto the sighings of my heart, O You who bowed the heavens by your ineffable condescension. I will wash your immaculate feet with kisses and dry them again with the tresses of my hair; those very feet at whose sound Eve hid herself from in fear when she heard You walking in Paradise in the twilight of the day. As for the multitude of my sins and the depths of Your judgments, who can search them out, O Savior of souls, my Savior? Do not disdain me Your handmaiden, O You who are boundless in mercy."

This hymn tells the sinful woman who washed the feet of Jesus Christ in the house of Simon the Pharisee.

It’s time to forget and forgive (to my fellow Filipinos, let’s forget the existence of Chip Tsao), sabi ng kasama ko sa bahay. Sige nga patatawarin ko na rin ang mga taong may problema (sa akin). Madali naman akong magpatawad lalo na sa mga taong marunong humingi ng tawad. Lalo na ngayon at holy week na pala. Hindi ko naman sinasabing ngayon lang ako nagpapatawad.

Sa ating mga Kristiyanos, panahon na naman ng paggunita – pagbabalik tanaw sa pagpapakamatay ni Jesus Christ sa cross alang-alang sa atin. Alam ng lahat that Jesus had died on the cross to save the world. Kaya bilang kabayaran sa kanyang pagsasakripisyo, kailangan marunong din tayong magpatawad at magmahalan. Siguro kung lahat lang ng tao sa bundo ay marunong magpatawad at magmahal wala sanang gulo, wala sanang Chip Tsao (hayan naman, naalala ko na naman si Tsao, lol).

Tatlong taon na ako dito sa Dubai at tatlong taon na din na di ko nagagawa ang kadalasan kong ginagawa tuwing Holy week noong nasa Pinas pa ako. Sabi kasi ng nanay ko, kailangan magsakripisyo tuwing holly week. Kaya kahit medyo mahirap ginagawa ko. Nilalakad kong magdamag ang buong isla ng Camiguin (imagine kung ano ang mangyayari sayo kung buong araw at gabi kang maglalakad na naka-tsinelas lang, walang tulog). Inaakyat ko ang “walk-way” kahit napakatayog at napakainit. Di bale sakripisyo naman ‘yon para sa Kanya.

Ano kaya ang magandang sakrispisyo ang pwede kong gawin dito sa Dubai? Di ko naman pwedeng ikutin ang buong Dubai na maglalakad. Masagasaan lang ako sa mga rumaratsadang mga sasakyan. Wala namang bundok na pwede kong akyatin. Ang Burj Dubai kaya? ‘Wag na. Di pa ako nakaakyat nahuli na ako ng pulis.

Hindi naman kailangang gumawa ng napakahirap para lang maipakita na nagsakripisyo ka. Pagdarasal ng mataimtim at pananalig sa Kanya ay sapat na. Pero siyempre kailangan din nating mag-fasting. Iwas muna tayo sa mga mabobonggang pagkain. Magtiis lang muna tayo sa galonggong (lol).

Sa lahat ng mga Ka-blogs, happy Holy week!

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Recession Joke

While busy reformatting my PC because of the NTLDR missing error that I was not able to fix although I did a two-day research on how to fix this problem, I scanned my old files (compiled) and found this company memo that made me forget my worries that until the time this post is written, the MS Office that I downloaded from www.brothersoft.com is still incomplete.

Here's the memo. I hope this will make you smile, too.

To all Employees : Effective Immediately

Dress Code
1. It is advised that you come to work dressed according to your salary. If we see you wearing Prada shoes and carrying a Gucci bag, we assume you are doing well financially and therefore do not need a pay rise.
2. If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes and therefore you do not need a pay rise.

Sick Days
We will no longer accept a doctor's certificate as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.

Holiday Days
Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturdays and Sundays.

Toilet Use
1. Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilet. There is now a strict three-minute limit in the cubicles.
2. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the cubicle door will open, and your picture will be taken.
3. After your second offense, your picture will be posted on the company notice board under the "Chronic Offenders" category.
4. Anyone caught smiling in the picture will be sanctioned under the company's mental health policy.

Lunch break
1. Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch, as they need to eat more so that they will look healthy.
2. Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure.
3. Chubby people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim-fast.

Thank you for your loyalty to our company. Remember we are a employer of choice and we are here to provide a positive employment experience.

Therefore, all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations, insinuations, accusations, contemplations, consternation and input should be directed elsewhere.

The Management

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