Monday, April 27, 2009

Repost: BUHAY OFW SA DUBAI

Pamilya

It’s an undeniable fact na mahirap talaga ang buhay dito sa Dubai. Kikita ka nga ng medyo malaki pero matataas naman ang mga bilihin dito. Kung hindi lang dahil sa pamilyang naiwan sa Pinas, siguro walang mgtitiyaga dito. Paano nga ba mabubuhay ang pamilyang sa‘yo lang umaasa? Saan kukuha ng pang-tuition si Junior? Saan kukuha ng pera si Inay para pambili ng NFA? Sino ang susuporta kay mister na pitong taon ng naghihirap sa kanyang ubo? Eh, ‘yung pampakasal sa girlfriend mo? Kailangan makapag-ipon para naman medyo grande ‘yung kasal.

Ang daming umaasa sa‘yo. Noon kung hindi ka nilalapitan ng mga kapatid o pinsan mo, ngayon panay ang tawag sa‘yo. Panay ang paramdam. Ang daming dahilan. Kesyo, may sakit daw ang anak. Inaatake daw ng high blood ang bayaw mo at kailangang dalhin sa hospital. Manganganak daw ang hipag mo sa susunod na buwan. Bayaran na daw ng motor na hinuhulugan ng bilas mo at walang pambayad kasi kinulang ‘yung kita sa pamamasada. Sangkatutak na reklamo. Walang katapusang problema. Ngayon ‘pag hindi mo naman pinagbigyan sasabihin sa ‘yong ang takaw-takaw mo. Nakapunta ka lang sa Dubai nakalimot kana sa amin! Ang sarap sakalin, diba? Noong nasa Pinas ka pa, may nagawa ba ang mga taong ito sa ‘yo? Pinahiram ka ba nila ng pera noong papunta ka dito? Kilala mo ba itong si pinsan mo na ngayon lang nagpakilala sa’yo? Ano ka ba, bangko?

Hay naku! Paano mo nga ba mababayaran ‘yong inutang mo sa five six makatuntong ka lang ng Dubai? Buong araw buong gabi Pilipinas ang inisip mo. Tuwing sweldo takbo ka kaagad sa bangko para lang sa Saint Philippines (read: sent to Philippines). Dahil sa Pilipinas di ka man lang nakapag-ipon. Kaya nga gustuhin mo mang magbakasyon pagkatapos ng dalawang taon, hindi pa rin pwede. Pagdating mo pa lang ng airport buong barangay na ang sasalubong sa ‘yo. Pagdating sa bahay magpi-fiesta ka pa. Ang mahal mahal pa ng bilihin sa Pinas. Tiyak na isang lingo pa lang ubos na ang baon mo. Hay, magtiis ka na lang sa lungkot. Siguro habambuhay ka na dito. Magtiis ka na lang di sila (pamilya sa Pinas) makita sa personal.

Minsan nagdu-duda ka sa Pinas. May mga time kasi na tumatawag si Inay. ‘Wag lang daw kayong mag-alala sa kanila at maayos na man daw ang buhay nila. Nakabili na daw siya ng yero para sa bubong na sinalanta ng nagdaang bagyong Frank. Eto naman kasi si Frank ang tindi ng hagupit. At si Junior ang ganda-ganda daw ng grades, palagi daw first honor. Ang kapatid ko namang babae na si Mahinhin 4th year na daw sa college at magtatapos na sa kursong Nursing. Nakakatuwang marinig ang mga balitang ganito. Kahit papaano nagamit pala sa wasto ang perang padala. Pero paano kung ang binabalita sa‘yo ay lahat kasinungalingan? Paano kung ilang taon na pala si Junior sa grade one dahil sa pagiging bulakbol? Paano kung wala palang naipundar ang pera mong pinagkatiwala sa pamilya mo? Paano kung hindi na pala makapagtapos ng college si Mahinhin dahil nabuntis na ng boyfriend niya? Diba parang walang silbi din ang pangingibang bansa mo? Napakasakit isipin lalo na pag nabalitaan mong si mister ay sumakabilang bahay na. At ang perang padala mo ay pinanggastos niya sa kumare mo at ang mga anak mo ay wala man lang makakain.

Syota

Ito naman si Girlfriend grabe kung magselos. Diba niya alam na ang lungkot dito sa Dubai? Sabi nga ng mga beterano na dito may espiritu daw na gumagala dito. At ang espitung ito ay ang espiritu ng kalungkutan. Kaya pala may reason si Gilfriend na magalit kay boyfriend. Nasapian pala ito ng masamang espiritu at nakalimot na magtext kay Girlfriend at kung magtext man “wrong send” pa. Para pala sana kay girlfriend no. 2 ‘yon. Paliwanag naman ni boyfriend, inaasawa lng niya si Girlfriend no. 2 dito. Hanggang dito lang naman daw ‘to sa Dubai. Pag-uwi daw niya sa Pinas siya naman daw ang pakakasalan. ‘Yan naman pala. Hayaan mo na lang Girlfriend no. 1 si boyfriend mo. Nalulungkot lang siya dito. Kaya lang niya inaasawa si Girlfriend no. 2 para may mag-alaga sa kanya. May tagalaba. May tagaluto. Pero paano kung gagawin din ni Girlfriend ang ginagawa ni boyfriend? Paano kung nakikipagdate na rin si Girlfriend no. 1 sa best friend ni boyfriend? Ano ang tawag nito, pasensyahan? Sino nga ba ang dapat masisisi? Si boyfriend na nasalinan lang ng masamang espiritu o si girlfriend na gusto ding makalimot kay boyfriend?

Multiple partners

Uso kaya ang tawag nito? Sabi ng asawa mo may amnesya ka na daw kasi nakalimutan mo na siya. Ang lambing-lambing mo pa daw noong bago ka pa dito. Bawat lingo ka daw tumatawag sa kanya. Pero ano nga ba ang nangyari sa’yo ngayon? Bakit ba kung tuwing tumatawag ka sa kanya palagi kang galit? Minumura mo pa siya. Sinabihan mo pa s’yang mukhang pera. Bakit mo sinabi ‘yon? Totoo nga bang may amnesya ka o dahil lang yan sa bago mong asawa dito? Normal lang na makalimutan mo ang isang taong di mo palaging nakikita at nakakausap lalung-lalo na kung may kinahihibangan ka nang iba. Mapalalaki man o mapababae kung gusto mong mag-asawa dito simpleng simple lang. Kadalasan (sana hindi lahat) pag tinatanong mo si babae o si lalaki sa marital status niya sasabihin lang sa ‘yong hiwalay na, single parent or di kaya patay na ang asawa. Eh, sino ba naman ang dapat maging partner ni widow diba si widower? Basta’t magkaintindihan lang sila kahit walang pag-ibig at manunumpang magtanaw ng responsibilidad sa bawat isa, hala bira! Ayaw mo pa makaka-save ka ng upa sa bahay. Dalawa na kayong magbayad sa upa mong AED 500/- na single bed. O di kaya aakuhin na ni lalaki ang bayad. May purpose din diba? Pero kawawa naman ang mga asawa sa Pinas. Eh, paliwanag naman ng iba, kailangan pa ba daw uuwi sa Pinas para lang umihi? Hayan na. Gusto lang palang umihi. Kaya pala halos tatlo ang asawa sa Dubai. Ang tanong sino nga ba ang original pag tatlo ang asawa mo? Tiyak na silang tatlo ang magki-claim na orginal. Kung sino ang may hawak ng marriage contract (authenticated) siya ‘yong may karapatang magsabi na original. Ito naman si lalaki para lang nagpapalit ng brief kung magpapalit ng asawa.

Original post:
Buhay OFW sa Dubai

Thursday, April 23, 2009

PERFECT SQUARE SUPPORTS PEBA 2009


Year 2009 marks another year for the Pinoy Expats-OFW Blog Awards (PEBA), a humble project founded by Kenj a.k.a Mr. Thoughtskoto that aims to honor the best and inspiring Expatriates and Overseas Filipino Workers Blogs around the world. New set of TOP 10 PEBA awardees chosen under the theme “Filipinos Abroad – Hope of the Nation, Gift to the World”, will be announced this coming December in the Philippines, details of which are to be posted later at the PEBA homepage.

Nomination period will be from May to October 2009. For qualification and criteria please click this link.

Let’s all support PEBA, atin ‘to!

Related link:
Search for Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

I want to grow old (with you)!

Growing too old seems to be impossible nowadays. I am not saying that I lost my hope to reach the age of 100. Yes I have doubts. And I am a little bit afraid that I may not grow old with the person I love. Nobody wants to die earlier by the way. The reason is life offers a lot of beautiful things to enjoy. And we don’t want to miss these beautiful things. So as much as we can, we have to take care of our health – our lives in general.

In my desire to be a centenarian, though, I still have to celebrate many more years before that happens, I did a research and came across with various reliable sites that answer my top question – how to live up to 100 years?

Here’s how:

1. Don’t retire. This doesn’t mean that you need to be with your current employer the rest of your life. It simply suggests that you have to be active in anything after you retire from your job. Involve yourself in social activities.

2. Floss every day. According to the experts people should floss twice a day to gain the biggest life expectancy. How does it work? Flossing reduces the amount of bacteria in the mouth that causes diseases in gums. These bacteria are believed to enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation in the arteries, thus, causing a heart disease.

3. Move around. Exercise regularly. It is believed that exercise improves your mood, mental acuity, balance, muscle mass and bones. Aside from exercise walking around the neighborhood or window shopping in malls at least 30 minutes a day helps your body active.

4. Eat a fiber-rich cereal for breakfast. A serving a whole grains in the morning helps maintain stable blood sugar and lowers incidence of diabetes.

5. Get at least six hours of sleep. For aged people sleep must be of top priority. This is one of the most important functions that our body needs to regulate and revitalize old cells.

6. Eat whole foods, not supplements. Supplements contain chemicals that can all have complex interactions. In this case, supplements are not highly advisable. To remain healthy, eat all those colorful fruits and vegetables, dark whole-grain breads and cereals. Avoid eating white foods (breads, flour, sugar) as they lack nutrients and can cause memory loss.

7. Be less neurotic. Well, sometimes this inborn trait is difficult to overcome. If you are stressed, find a better way to manage it. Don’t internalize or dwell with your troubles.

8. Live like a Seventh Day Adventist. Don’t condemn me for promoting this religion. It has been proven that in the US Seventh Day Adventists have higher life expectancy than the average American. This is because these people live without smoking, alcohol abuse, or overeating of sweets. They are also vegetarians and focused their lives in on their family and community.

9. Be a creature of habit. Live by strict routines, eat same kind of diet and do same kind of activities. As we grow older our immune defenses grow weaker and leaving us more susceptible to viruses or bacterial infections.

10. Stay connected. Depressions can lead to premature death but it can be avoided by having regular social contacts with friends and love ones. Communicate to your virtual friends.


Source: Yahoo health
Related topics:
Review: Richest Countries in the World
How to convince people believe in you?
What else you can do in the desert?

Monday, April 20, 2009

FIRST PROTECTOR: Does it really protect?

Two weeks ago, I called the bank to cancel my First Protector program as I don’t need this and it is a just a waste of money. Imagine the 0.79% p.m. deduction from your current outstanding balance. If you don’t pay your account in full when it’s due, then, expect this miscellaneous deduction.

On one hand, First Gulf Bank credit cardholders need this credit shield considering that the current scenario of Dubai is still miserable. This program showcases various benefits to the cardholders. Among its benefits are as follows:

Death – The amount of Cardholder’s indebtedness at the date of death up to AED100,000 or credit limit whichever is lower.
Permanent Total Disability – The amount of Cardholder’s indebtedness from the date of permanent total disablement up to AED 100,000 or credit limit whichever is lower.
Involuntary Loss of Employment – The amount equaling to 10% of Cardholder’s indebtedness, subject to a maximum amount of AED 4,000 payable for every month of unemployment up to a maximum period of 12 months.
Robbed or stolen cash – a maximum limit of AED 500.
• Fraudulent transactions on lost or stolen Credit Cards at a maximum limit of AED 7,000
Loss of Keys and Identification Papers – a maximum limit of AED 300 for keys and a maximum limit of AED 700 for identification papers

On the other hand, this is a bank strategy of collecting money from the cardholders as this time of crisis where banks are greatly affected they need to do their best to survive at the expense of its debtors. Sad to say, all banks have this scheme.

This morning, a certain Ms. Mysa from the First Gulf Bank phoned me to reactivate the First Protector. She had explained me everything, emphasizing the third benefit of the program: Involuntary Loss of Employment. After her ten-minute speech I realized that I have to finish my report for our weekly meeting. Without any clarifications, I told her to reactivate it immediately.

Well, it’s not because I have a very urgent work to finish and I don’t want to waste my time listening the same story. She had the point. This time our works are not stable and we need this kind of program that will protect us from our debts. I am not pessimistic. I did this because of a “what if” theory. What if my company shut down?

Sunday, April 19, 2009

WANTED: FILIPINA RECEPTIONIST

FOR IMMEDIATE HIRING:

FILIPINA RECEPTIONIST
With or without Dubai experience
Fluent in English
On visit visa



SEND YOUR CV TO: hr@ihrpm.com


PLACE OF WORK: AL BARSHA FIRST, IN FRONT OF MALL OF EMIRATES (DUBAI)


(Note: Para sa mga kababayan kong naghahanap ng trabaho. Totoo 'to. Hindi ito illegal recruitment. Ito ang latest job opening sa kompanya namin. Ano pang inaantay mo, apply na!)

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Let's SUDOKU!


Before I was addicted to blogging, I was fond of solving SUDOKU. For those who have no idea about it, Sudoku is a number puzzle consisting, in its classic form, of a square divided into nine squares, with each smaller square divided into nine boxes, thus forming an overall grid of 81 boxes.

Sudoku appears in pages of most daily local or national newspapers. This game looks simple but it’s not unless you have the
techniques. Believe me, the first time I tried to solve one easy puzzle, I got a headache that lasted until the next day.

But I did not stop there – constant practice as most Sudoku solvers said is the best way to get into this puzzle. Now, I could say, I can solve perfectly.

Here’s how to solve it.

1. Fill the grid so that the numbers 1 through 9 appear in each row.



2. Fill the grid so that the numbers 1 through 9 appear in each column.



3. Fill the grid so that the numbers 1 through 9 appear in each 3x3 box.



4. A complete Sudoku puzzle contains the numbers 1 through 9 in every row, column, and 3x3 box.



This puzzle is as addictive as blogging. Try it! Take note: The rule of the puzzle is that each row, each column and each 3 x 3 box must contain numbers from 1 to 9. And if you are to add all numbers in each row, column and 3 x 3 box each of them will give you a total of 45.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Beware of Illegal Recruiters

Earlier this April, news about the 137 Filipino drivers circulated throughout the Emirates. These were the Filipinos who were victims of illegal recruitment agency, the CYM with its counterpart in Dubai. It was reported that these drivers paid to the agency as much as P150,000 in exchange of the promised job from the RTA of Dubai. Upon investigation the RTA said there was no order to hire them.

These drivers were forced to live in a camp near the Ajman city dump site without food since January of this year. Desperate for food, they have no other resort but to scavenge at the dump site to look for something that could be converted to cash.

This news must serve a lesson to all Filipinos. I understand the purpose of flying in to the Emirates. But you have to be extra careful. See to it that you got a reliable agency.

Thanks to the Filipino journalist serving in one of the leading newspapers in Dubai, the “Xpress” for bringing the news to the Filipino community. Without the Xpress and the Filipino Community, these drivers remain stranded in the UAE. As of this writing, they were already repatriated.