MY STUPID WISHES FOR 2006

The NPAs have been shooting our military for the past 30 years. They have been burning cell sites, taxing poor farmers, terrorizing communities, if only they can stop doing this for one year, I wonder what would happen to the country. JUST FOR ONE YEAR, just for 2006.

The MNLF, and the MILF, and the ABU Sayaf have been into their struggles for years, if only they can stop doing this for one year, I wonder what would happen to the country. JUST FOR ONE YEAR, just for 2006.

Our politician, trapos, and new trapos have been mudslinging each other for years, if only they can stop doing this for one year, I wonder what would happen to the country. JUST FOR ONE YEAR, just for 2006.

Our corrupt government agencies and personnel that have been stealing money, our money, if only they can stop doing this for one year, I wonder what would happen to the country. JUST FOR ONE YEAR, just for 2006.

Our pessimistic, sensationalizing media, if only they can do their work optimistically, shunning envelopes, and for goodness sake, try looking at the bright side of the news, if only they can do this for one year, I wonder what would happen to the country. JUST FOR ONE YEAR, just for 2006.

If only tax evaders would pay their taxes correctly for one year, I wonder what would happen to the country. JUST FOR ONE YEAR, just for 2006.

If only the whole country can be united, even just for one year, just for 2006.

Starting 2006 with Optimism

We have two choices to start 2006. 1. Optimism, 2. Pessimism and I choose optimism. I believe that if all of us believe that 2006 is the start of our country's "take-off" that it would happen. I choose to believe…..believe. I also believe that this year, I will also "take-off", whatever that means.

The first sign….

One of my field partners, an American, went for vacation three weeks ago, and his recent email said that he just signed a contract with another company based in Alkhobar for 10K US + various perks. He will be back here this month. My Indian friend and I are thinking that if the offer is right, i.e. at least 2X of our current salaries that we will move as well. We will compose the first team, if ever. Although I am hesitant of moving because I like my current company, and the workload is very light i.e. doing internet and email 90% of the time with a salary of 5K SAR, which is not bad at all, but making it 10K SAR would be better! Hehehehe.

But is moving really the best option? I don’t know, so we are exploring if we can just sub-contract projects from this new company that will be set up by our American friend. It might be a much more lucrative approach than moving from our comfort zones. But then, if it won't work…then we will move. This will alter my plan…my duration of working here, instead of only until September and that's final, I might extend for another year…since I can't refuse the salary rate….sayang naman, hehehe.

Fingers crossed….lets see what's going to happen in 2006.'

Think positive and believe.

New Phone

I bought Nokia 6600. My friend told me it's durable, he had Nokia 6600 before, and his kids used to play, and sometimes throw it, and it still would work. Kaya…yon, hehehe, I am a happy Nokia 6600 owner now. I played the Mix Pix slide snake puzzle that’s in the cellphone, and I reach 13,071 points in 88 moves. I am trying to increase my score and reduce the number of moves, but it seems I can't improve this score any longer. Getting old……probably, hehehe.

Happy New Year Everyone. Prosperous 2006 to all of us.

Nude, Naked, and Phone Cams

I recieved a lot of greetings this Christmas...most of it from my fraternity e-group, friends, and relatives. I also receive a holiday greetings from my ex...we were together for 10 years, which brought me a lot of nostalgia, whatever that means........hay life.

An email brought me a smile...a forwarded email of the recent oblation run in UP. The women version, with camera phones all over....lakas ng loob ah!

My opinion on this? Well....wala akong masabi. I just don't know what to say.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Ngayon ay Pasko

We slept late last night. We rehearsed our PPT presentations for today; for one of our clients - the largest oil company in the world. Going to their offices is somewhat strict. The audience was very few, only around 8 of them. I am sure they were impressed with what we have presented. And so, pretty sure na, another large five year project would be awarded to the company. Hay....at least tapos na, now I can blog.

I tried calling my family in the Philippines this morning before going to the office, but all the lines were busy! But with persistence, I was able to talk to my mom, nieces, brothers, cousin in Dubai, and sent holiday emails to various friends.

One of my pamangkins had asked me for a Christmas gift, and I told him, next year na lang, when I get back. And he told me, I should give it now because he might be spending his next Christmas in a military school in Baguio - kaya ayon, I told him to just get it from his Grandma next week. I have to call mother to instruct her to disburse some of my funds as gift to my pamangkin...2000 pesoses lang naman. Cge na nga - parang pabuya na rin. But I told him not to tell any of his brothers or sisters, and/or cousins, na meron syang pamasko - otherwise I will be compelled to distribute a fortune sa dami ng pamangkin ko.

He will be the second pamangkin to enter the military school, his younger brother is already there and will be finishing in 2009. One of my brothers and one of my sisters, and their wife and husband, respectively, are also in the military service. Andami ng militar sa aming pamilya...apart from a number of my cousins that are already in the service.

Ang kapatid ko talaga...pag hindi scholar ang anak nya, like his other son who is in PhilSci, he'll send him to military school...para ala daw gastos. Kaya ang isa kong pamangkin, I am sure, will be striving to get a college scholarship, or he'll end up in the military establisment... mahal na raw kasi magpa-aral ng college sa Pilipinas ngayon.

Hay....

Done Trading This Year

I closed all my trades. I finished up December with over 1000% up on my "tiny" NAV. I am hoping to be consistent, next year....and hopely, by next christmas, I would be able to decide, whether trading is, really a good past time, or not. If somehow, I am able to at least double or triple my NAV monthly, (that will be doubling my lunch money, 20 0r 30 times) this means I will be set, probably for life, hehehe. Can I do it? Of course, hehehe.

Ok, here's my December trade for AUD/Yen.

New Mobile Phone

My current phone is a Samsung SGH X-100 which I bought last year as a Christmas gift to myself. It replaced my old Nokia 3310. This Christmas, and as a gift to myself, I am going to buy a new cell phone again, this time, I want a phone with a camera. I will buy this phone today or tomorrow – Christmas gift eh… I am still deciding which one to buy, and so, I am going window shopping tonight. Wee..ha..

Slippin Away

I have said before that life in the desert is harsh; and to survive you have to do something to keep your mind and body busy, whatever that means. Joining communities' helps, what I mean by communities is by networking, meeting with other Pinoys, joining organizations, and joining gatherings like birthdays etc. When these are not enough, Pinoy overseas can splurge on phone calls to their love ones back home. And when these are not enough, the Darwinian principle comes in, i.e. natural selection, and only the fittest survives.

Way back, when I was barely two months here, I met John; he was here for nearly 15 years. What I noticed about him was that…when we talk, he would really talk himself out…as in, hehehe, he would talk non-stop about many things and about everything. He would talk like he has nobody to talk to/with for a hundred years. I had difficulty telling him, OK, let's finish this…I don’t need to know those things… why the hell are you telling me these?....so somehow, not to offend him, I let myself subjected to "oral and ear torture" listening to all his crap, whatever that means. He, sometimes, would “hijack” me for a short talk…errr for a really long winded talk, hehehe. He was, I guess, gone (slipped?) by 10%.

And there are variations of these, there are those that are seeking company and friendships, "just friendship", I suppose. Like my housemates friend, this guy would not miss to visit, just for the sake of visiting him, every Friday. The truth is, even if my house mate is not here as he would be away until end of January next year for a vacation in the Philippines, this guy, I am sure, would not miss a Friday to visit our flat – even just to sit in our living room. Why? because last year, when my housemate was away for a vacation, he did not miss a Friday visit. He was, I guess, gone (slipped?) by 5%.

Another variation I heard was that, there's this guy, who would pack his bag every Friday, and tell everyone on his barracks that he is going to take the Philtranco Bus to visit his family….duh!...and so his barracks mates would follow him and bring him back to the barracks….knowing that by Saturday…that guy would be "normal again". They call it….the Friday sickness, whatever that means, hehehehe. This one, I guess, is gone (slipped?) by 20%.

Of my nearly two years here, I have met a lot of types similar to John. I just tell myself, goodness, he is gone by 10%, or ….oh my…that guy is gone by 30%, hehehehe. The severity of the symptoms that I observed, the higher the ratings I give. I give the highest to those that can't hold or focus beyond 5 minutes on a topic or those who don't pause for a minute to say, hmmm…which for me, is a confirmation that somehow, he's condition is not yet at "emergency level".

Being here for nearly two years now, I just hope I haven't gotten the Friday symptoms yet. I am glad I got a blog to spend my Friday mornings with…..hay.

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For those who have husbands, wife, daughter, brother or sister here…..please take care of that money they send you…..pero kong ala kayong kaluluwa, hehehehe, splurge on it, and bully them here to so send you more.

Cia….merry Christmas na lang.

FX update

Still using the 50:1 leverage, I shorted US/Yen and AUD/Yen while on their tops, providing me a combined gain of more than 100 pips. Not a bad day, NAV up by 900%.

Where

Something is happening around….in the air, in the weather, and in people. Riots in France and more riots in Sydney. I say this is just the rumblings of a social volcano around the world that's about to erupt. If not, it is something else that is starting to rear its ugly head. Where would these lead the world to?

USA was devastated by the Hurricane Kathrina, and Kathrina won't be the last, nor would the typhoon that created the flash floods in Real, Quezon be the last. More are coming; the weather is changing, and summer is getting hotter, year by year, and I wonder where these changes would lead the earth to.

Where?

There is something in the air…..otot lang cguro, hehehe.

The Promise

Why did I meddle in Forex Trading? My answer is because of its promise.

I used to read currencies and exchange rates in newspapers. And as OFW, when I go to the bank to remit my income, I always check the exchange rates. Way back, during the Asean crisis, I was telling myself that if I had my money in dollars, I would earn so many pesos from its daily depreciation; remember when it went up from 25 to more than 40 pesos per US dollar in just a few months…? So I became more curious about Forex. And so one day, a year and many months ago, I stumbled over the internet OANDA – an FX site. I read their forum for days, and in the process search downloadable pdfs, read a bunch of books on FX trading, and traded virtual money for several months to apply and practice what I read. I actually have, still, in my room, over 3 feet tall of printed references on FX which I read and review when the days are boring, and when I got nothing to do. Why? Life in the desert is harsh; boredom is a nemesis that’s difficult to manage, to survive we have to occupy both our minds and body with something…whatever that means.

Ok, so what's the promise that I am talking about?

Well…even if it's just a "hobby" for now, I believe in its promise. The promise that one day, when I become really good at it, that is, when I consistently profit from my trade, that it would save me from slaving myself here…sa disyerto…. that I would be my own employer, that it would free me from dealing with bosses, and ass-kissing co-workers. That it would also free me from depending on somebody else for my salary raise, my bonus, my work hours, and the places that I want to visit. The promise, that I would really earn, big time, just right in front of my monitor…..at home, I mean in paradise, in a paradise located in a small island in the central Philippines, where my home is.

And of course, the promise of my own beach front, swimming pool, and a number of aliping namamahay and saguiguilids… that will do my bidding anytime!

In other words, the promise of absolute economic freedom….for life.

More on FX Trading

The week is over, I closed all my trades, ...good that the downward trend for AUD/Yen and US/Yen continued, it increased my NAV by 800% in just a week. The AUD/Yen has reached its Fib pip levels, so I am expecting an upward trend of maybe 150-300 pips recovery next week....although mostly it will not be a straight upward trend, but ranging, so I guess, it would require steel nerves, watchful eyes, taking profit every 30-50 pips move, as its going to be a sew-saw, ranging movement, whatever that means.

The dollar has more room for a downward movement, so I am still shorting it, expecting 100 to 200 pips more before a recovery.

Hay... whatever. Lets see what's going to happen next week.

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Warning: Do not follow or trade what I am saying here, I am not a professional trader. I am just an FX hobbyist.

Jack of all trades, master of none

My current job is not related to my degree. How unrelated? It's like graduating AB History, and taking up a job in hard sciences - hard sciences as in biology, chemistry, oceanography, statistics, among others. But, who cares? There's Google, and there's a lot of material on the web. Metamorphosis could be as easy as changing a shirt, the only difference is, it takes a lot of effort and discipline in the process. Bakit ito ang blog ko? It's because I did'nt have a single course in Economics or Accounting, yet one of my hobby is Forex Trading...you know buying and selling currencies. Why? alang magawa eh.hehehe.

I have been into Forex Trading as a hobby for a quite a while now, and it was only for the past three days, shorting AUD & US and long Yen, that I was able to obtain a combined pips of over a thousand using a harakiri leverage of 50:1; trading the full amount, and scaling. I know its crazy, please don't flame me, its just dinner money, hehehe. It increased my NAV 700% in three days. NAV is net asset value, or the amount of money you have in your trading account. My account is real money, although I started with virtual money or paper trading several months ago. I decided to trade real money to really "feel" it, whatever that means.

I am not claiming that I am a professional trader. The fact is, I was a loser for the past several months, until a few weeks ago when my trades started turning black. Maybe I just got lucky, but my confidence is building up. I realized, that patterns and set-ups just keep on repeating. You just have to be there, at the right time and at the right set-up, and voila...the money starts dripping in, hehehe.

Its a pity that the Peso is not in my traders flatform, otherwise I would trade it, knowing by experience, that it is stronger in the months of November and December every year, and weakens everytime their is a political scandal, which we have plenty, hehehe.

I do not advice Forex Trading as a source of income, unless you are really good at it in paper trading for several months. I learned the hard way, and I lost a few bucks. The mortality rate (i.e. losers) goes as high as 90%, with just around 5% profitable. In my opinion, it is an informed gambling, like trading stocks. And I guess, it sent many "lousy" traders to the poor house.

Hypertension

My nightly routine, after office hours (5 pm), are choosing the restaurant where I would have my dinner; afterwards, I'll take my walk, window shop around Al Khobar, look at passerby, people, shops, UKay clothes or just loiter around; I justify this with – alang magawa eh.

Anyway, last night I went inside the Aldawa Pharmacy, just in front of Alissa Souk, to have my blood pressure taken. The pharmacy has this machine that takes blood pressure, I am not sure though, whether it takes accurate measurements. It is for free, and so you can take your measurements repeatedly as you wish. Anyway, my blood pressure was 135/83, a safe range but indicates that I have to do something to reduce this before it gets out of control. Again, for lack of nothing to do, what I did was observed around 20 people have their blood pressure taken. My findings of these observations were as follows (again, I justify this with – alang magawa e, hehe): most of the Filipinos here have pre-hypertension levels (40%), and/or high blood pressure (50%). Contrastingly, most of the Indians and Bangladeshis have normal, or below normal blood pressure levels. Why? Is it the diet?

Note that my sample is very low (n=20) and I don’t know where is random sampling there…hehehe, nor the standard error, or the significant levels. Now, what I will do (again, same excuse) I will go there every other night, have my blood pressure taken, so I can monitor whether my walks and, my using of stairs at the office have an effect on my blood pressure levels. And at the same time, watch 20 people everytime, so I can fairly have a higher sample, so as to make my conclusion "valid". Anyway, I have until, September 2006, to do this “scientific study”, hehehehe. Let's see…a lang magawa eh.

More Underwater Photographs Needed

A few days back, a change order to the project proposal of one of our clients in Half Moon Bay have been approved. The project was extended until February next year. Thus, today we were supposed to dive again to obtain more underwater photographs to finalize our report. However, the weather was not very cooperative. We need a calm, windless weather so that water would be placid and clear; you know,.. clear water, clear photos. Yes…it's very cold now because the winter has sets in (temperature is 14 to 18 C); imagine yourself diving into the water at this time of the year, hehehe…good thing the wind was not that cooperative (wind speed was 13 mph). So we were spared temporarily. But there’s no escaping this work – we have to, because we have to hehehe. Anyway, we will try to finish this work soonest before the water temperature turns really, really cold. Grrr...lamig.

Job Adapter

I "partly" agree with the post in www.trabahosamiddleeast.blogspot.com entitled TIPS ON SEARCHING FOR JOBS OVERSEAS; that sometimes it is advantageous to apply directly to the company you want to work with than pass through a recruitment agency in Manila.

How did I find my job in 2003? I search the internet, checked some company websites, and I found one post, whose job requirements I thought kaya ko, although medyo malayo sa pinag-aralan ko. So I tailored my CV, send it by email, and in less than 3 hours, believe it or not, I got a reply. I was interviewed the following day. And I departed Manila for Bahrain a week after I sent my application by email.

I blogged before that I came here in Saudi through a tourist VISA which my employer kept on extending 2 to 3 months at a time. At first, my company only provided me with a 7 days business VISA to Bahrain. And a Gulf Air ticket that I picked up in Makati. The funny thing was, when I departed, I only showed a scanned copy of my Bahrain VISA to the immigration officer in Manila. The immigration officer was strict and would not let me pass and take my flight. But after showing him my return ticket indicating a return flight to Manila within a week, the immigration officer relented. Good thing he did not asked me how much money I had on my pocket – otherwise hindi ako makaka-alis. I only had less than 500 pesos in my pocket at that time.

Anyway, upon reaching Bahrain, I was met by one of the staff that brought me to the Saudi Embassy to obtain a tourist VISA to enter KSA. This was how I was able to work here for a few months in 2003. The advantage of this arrangement was that, I was always carrying my passport and open return ticket with me; which means I could depart KSA anytime.

Ang bilis! Yup it was that fast because most of the expats in the office (that was hiring me) left for their respective countries due to their governments advisory. The "coalition of the willing" at that time was about to attack Iraq. Indeed, a week after I arrived in KSA, the US forces was in Iraq.

Now, at work, remember that I tailored my CV. I immediately turned myself to learning mode, hehehe, in other words I have to learn as quickly as possible about my job and its nitty gritty. Good thing…. there's Google. So my daily routine was: work and search, work and download, work and print; and read at night. After three months, hehehe, naging expert na kuno ako sa trabaho ko. A job which is remotely related to my college degree….as in malayo talaga. Of course, tuloy tuloy pa rin and self schooling ko hanggang ngayon. The truth is, pwede na akong bumili ng titulo sa Recto.

Syempre….wagi tayo! Noong alam ko na work ko, I told my Boss, yoko na…uwi na ako. Syempre hindi sya pumayag. So….I asked him to show me the money. Syempre…wagi pa rin tayo that’s the reason why my salary rate, which I mentioned in my previous blog, ay dalawa, one low and one high hehehehe…tsaring!

When I returned here in 2004, my employer provided me an Iqama. Because of that, I have to go through the costly medical procedure in Manila, POEA, and OWWA. Pero OK lang din, at least now I am a documented OFW.

How long would I stay here pa? 10 more months at the least, and 22 more months at the most. Bakit? Kasi nagiging tamad na ako, and also, I feel na nagiging mapurol na ako. I need sharpening, so I guess I have to go…. Pero sayang naman ang pera…..oo, pero…. I already got what I came here for by then. Marahil ay sapat na yon….

Many years ago, hehehe

Many years ago, I was hesitant to punch, for the first time, the keys of a 386 computer, afraid that I would damage or erase something. This was when most of the government offices in the Philippines don’t have computers yet. I remember using large floppy disks, putting the Wordstar program on the top slot, and the files on the second floppy inserted on the second slot. I don’t remember how much memory each floppy had. Gaano kaya kalaki yon?

Pagdaan ng medyo maraming Pasko, we have now memory sticks, Internet, Mobile Phones and Google among others. Indeed, the world and the technology have changed a lot over the years.

Bakit ito ang blog ko? Because I am wondering what's going to happen in the next 30 to 40 years, which is hopely, harinawa, the extent of my lifespan. Ows…maybe the problem of "life span" will be cured by then… you know, with stem cells .... which is not a remote possibility.

The Sky has Fallen

I was greeted with a heavy fog here in Al Khobar today. This condition was similar to yesterday. Visibility was down to 15 meters in some areas, and in other locations to 30 meters. Our car, in going to the office, drove via the Pepsi road which is not as busy as the Dharan Highway. Because very few and sometimes no car was ahead of us, we can only see what the visibility affords us. The trip was like traveling on an airplane, with “clouds” and fog all over.

Year of the Dog

2006 is coming and its going to be year of the Dog. Here is a prediction of what in store for 2006:

Dog years herald an emphasis on defense. As a result, many countries will tighten their borders and increase their security systems in 2006. The United Nations will play a pivotal role in stabilizing troubled areas and restoring order, especially since the Dog year is a strict defender of both land and property. 2006 will also see an increase in group rallies and protests, environmental activism, and humanitarian outreaches for alleviating and preventing suffering. Materialistic culture will lessen as individuals re-evaluate their values and lifestyles, and the steady focus of the Dog will reward those who are willing to put forth some effort in their endeavors.

Source: janetboyer.com

Philippine Media

I can't help but agree with the viewpoints of many posters in the Inquirer's Talking Points: The Gloria Gate Crisis.

I agree that the Philippine media is also to blame (also a culprit) for the many ails that the country is confronted with today. The media seems to hate the Philippines so much that they project the country as a nation of thieves, liars, greedy politicians, chaotic, ugly, full of pick- pocketers, crimes, kidnappers etc. If its ugly, bad, and sad news – you are right….the Philippine media will be on it. They will try to make a mountain out of molehill. They will try to focus, "fixated on bad news as they are", on bad events, that they will deliver them on your TV and computer screen daily, repeatedly, everyday!

But I refuse to be one of their victims. For example, since two years ago, in the Philippines – sa bahay bawal manood ng ABS-CBN. When I visit my brothers, sisters, neighbors, and when I am around, they change channel. Here in Saudi, I am a TFC subscriber, but I change channel when TV Patrol comes – ayaw ko panoorin balita nila – nakakasuka! Ang alam lang nilang ibalita ay politika at mga masasamang balita!

Look at Doris Bigornia, hehehehe, that woman! Magbabalita ng rally (dahil rally ang kanyang forte), everyone can see that there are less than 100 people on the rally..and her language would go like " tuloy tuloy na ito..madadagsaan na ang mga tao". WTF! Kong may magic wand lang ako – matagal ko ng itinutok ito sa TV, para tubuan ng buntot o kaya pangil ang babaeng yan. (Pssst….wag mong patulan yan…hehehe).

Also, we avoid watching the morning news, it makes our systolic go up more than 10 Hg. Dahil ayaw naming atakihin, and we would not want to start debates and fights with our countrymen…we changed channel, hay…

My request…pwede ba magsagawa sila ng survey kong anong klaseng format and what type of news – the TFC subscribers would want to see. We pay monthly and I guess we have the right to demand what kind of news and format we want to see, diba?

Hay…mahaba na yata ito. But let me ask more questions:

1. Ano napapala namin/natin sa panonood ng bad news on a TV channel that we pay monthly?
2. Do you agree with the kind of image ng bansa – that the Philippine media is projecting to the world?
3. Is the Philippine media helping our economy – in the tourism industry for example?
4. How many media people are in the "pockets" of many greedy politicians?
5. Do you still trust Julius Babao to deliver the news?
6. Do you still trust the Philippine media?

Here are some of the posts in the Inquirer's Talking Points: The Gloria Gate Crisis that I agree with:

Talking Points -- The "Gloriagate" Crisis

Alam nyo, ako ay isang OFW dito sa Vietnam. Ang mga balitang umaabot sa amin dito tungkol sa Pilipinas eh napaka-lungkot. Hindi nyo ba alam na bukod sa pagpapadala ng pera sa Pilipinas eh kami pa rin ang nagpupumilit na pagandahin ang image ng ating bansa?Dito sa Vietnam, wala kang mababasa, mapapanood or madidinig na masamang balita tungkol sa kanilang bansa. Kaya naman umaasenso sila ngayon dahil yun din ang nababasa ng mga investors tungkol sa bansa nila.Proud sila bilang mga Vietnamese dahil matahimik daw ang kanilang bansa. Ang media naman sana natin eh magkaroon ng konting responsibilidad. Kayo ang sumisira sa bansa natin. Kayo kaya ang magtrabaho ng malayo sa pamilya nyo at panay masamang balita ang madidinig mo tungkol sa bansa nyo... anong mararamdamannyo? Tulungan nyo ang bansa, wag nyo sirain.--Antonio de Jesus, Ho Chi Minh City

And here’s another:

2005-11-24, 03:47:00, Talking Points -- The "Gloriagate" Crisis

I very much agree with my fellow OFW from Vietnam. I am a seafarer working in one of the biggest and popular cruise lines in the world, meaning we meet different personalities and nationalities. Nakakalungkot sa hirap at sa effort na aming ginagawa sa araw-araw at sa pagkakilala sa mga Pinoy bilang magaling na manggagawa ay may nababalitaan pa sila na negative at nonsense na mag-balita sa ating bansa. I agree that this is obvious na nangyayari sa bawa’t bansa pero dito sa atin na kilala na the only Christian nation in Asia ay siya pang sikat sa mga kabalastugan.We tried to divert the wrong news (pag my ka-chat kaming mga prominenteng pasehero) happening sa bansa natin eh patuloy naman sa paninira ang mga opposition sa ating pangulo na nababalitaan naman ng mga ibang lahi dahil sa ating mga magagaling na mamahayag. Too many critics of our President which affects our morals. Let us give a second chance to President Arroyo; naniniwala kami na ang nagkakamali ay natututo at ang nagkamali pag nagbago, hindi mo na mapapagawa ng panibagong pagkakamali."There is always room for improvement" -- yan ang madalas sabihin sa amin… and I believe Mrs. Arroyo will improve her performance and all the reforms she promised will happen. The Philippine economy will not improve without the support and participation of the media. Inviting our guests to visit the Philippines is one of our goals to help our tourism industry. Sa bawa't OFW na mag-invite ng turista sa ating bayan ay malaking tulong yan… pero walang follow-up sa media. Sayang, ang ganda pa naman ng program na ito; walang gastos sa advertisement.Nakakalungkot din isipin na sa laki ng tulong na ibinabahagi ng mga OFW ay wala man lang silang naihahayag na maganda patungkol sa ekonomiya upang maka-invite ng mga investors at bagkus ay puro mga nakakainis na balita na siya namangikatatakot ng mga mamumuhunan. Ewan ko kung bakit ganito ang ating bansa. Walang makakagamot ng ating namamagang sakit kundi ang ating mga politician. It is obvious pa rin na sila ang nagpapaikot sa mga nangyayari sa ating kabuhayan. Sayang ang talino at galing na binigay sa inyo ng Maykapal. Wala kayong patience, pangunawa at contentment. There is only one big reason kaya sila nanggugulo at nagkukumahog na pabagsakin ang ating bansa -- dahil sa "power." Mabuti na lang hindi sila ang naging pangulo; baka lalong naging matindi ang mangyari kung sila ang nakaupo dahil sanay na sila sa ganyang situation. Mabuti na lang marunong talaga ang Panginoon.Alam natin na kasama ito sa mga pagsubok ng ating Pangulong Arroyo. Naniniwala kami na effective leaders get more criticism.I hope that the Philippines will rise again. Mabuhay po tayong lahat at God bless the Philippines.

-- Eduardo Loteyro Reply to talkingpoints@inq7.net.

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2005-11-24, 03:28:00, Talking Points -- The "Gloriagate" Crisis

Sana magkaroon ng Martial Law para lamang sa mga iresponsabling media. Para mabusalan ang mga ito at maipatapon sa kulungan. Sila itong mga plunderers.Mga buwisit sa buhay ng mga Filipino. Mga media kuno pero pilit na pinasasama ang imahen ng bansa sa pamamagitan ng pagsasabong ng administrasyon laban sa mga oposisyon na wala namang ginagawa kundi maghanap ng butas para mapatalsik ang kasalukuyang namumuno. Pero huwag ka pag nasa puwesto na ang mga ito mas masahol pa sa buwaya. Mga gahaman magsitigil kayo!

--abeld

OFW Investments

I got invited by my two office mates for dinner at Bahar Restaurant in Ramaniyah Mall in Al Khobar last night. There was no special occasion except that one of them was going for vacation and would be flying Gulf Air tonight. Libre nila ako madalas, like tonight. Bakit? I dunno…. maybe because I am young, and I am new in the office (mag two 2 years pa lang ako). During the dinner, our discussion drifted to pasalubongs and investments. At ito ang mga narinig ko kagabi na gusto kong e-tsismis sa inyo, hehehe.

Let me introduce my officemates, I will call the first one as OFW-A. He had been working continuously in Saudi Arabia for 18 years. He is from Mindanao, but has lots of relatives in Manila. Married to a government employee and has 5 children. His family is in the Philippines.

Another is OFW-B; he had been here for 17 years. Married to an unemployed nurse. Pamilya ay nasa Pilipinas din. He is a converted Muslim and he is from Mindanao. (Ako, sa totoo lang, wala sa hinagap ko ang ma-convert. Tama na ang isang religion para sa akin for a lifetime). Sya….., wag na nating pag-usapan kong papaano sya na convert. Anyway,

OFW-B: Ano nabenta mo naba ang lupa mo sa Gensan?

OFW-A: Hindi pa, at tsaka ayokong ibenta, mura ang bili eh.

OFW-B: Mura pa ba yon? 1 milyon ang bili sa iyo…at nabili mo lang ng 50 thousand….

Me (Taas kilay, hehehe sabay lapad ang tainga..aba 50T investment, at kikita ng 950T, ano to racket? sali ako, hehe): Ang laki naman ng tubo mo… bakit ayaw mo pa?

OFW-A: Prime lot kasi yon, nasa sentro ng Gensan, nabili ko noong 1990 at ang valuation nya ngayon ay 5K/sqm….dapat eh..1.25M na ang worth nya at today's prices.

Me: Swerte mo naman…jackpot ka sa lupa mo. Mayaman ka na pala! Bakit 250 sqm lang binili mo noon?

OFW-A: Oo nga eh...sayang...dapat 1000 sqm ang binili ko noon, hindi ko kasi alam na tataas ng ganyan ang halaga.

OFW-B: Aba..kahit pasimple simple lang yan si OFW-A, mayaman na yan. Dami nyan lupa.

OFW-A (nakisakay sa papuri): Meron din akong 1000 sqm sa Antipolo, binili ko lang ng 20T noong 1992, at meron din akong lote sa FTI Taguig.

Me (naiingit, ganun ha…. hehehe, hige…cge ipon ng ipon…..at bumili ka rin ng lupa pagbakasyon mo - baka sakali makajackpot ka! Ingitero! ).

Gaya – gaya…puto maya!

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Ang buhay daw dito sa KSA ay gaya gaya –puto maya. (Ganun naman kahit saan, diba?).

Kapag ang nasamahang grupo mo o kaya compound ay manunugal, at kapag may nanalo…maiingit ka…gagaya ka….at manunugal ka na rin.

Ganoon din pag ang mga kasama mo ay sadiki boys….pagnagkasayahan na…sasamahan pa ng homesickness….maiingit ka…at magiging sadiki boy ka na rin.

Kapag ang grupong nasamahan mo ay mga lalakero, este…babaero pala, hehehehe…kapag may nakabingwit…..maiingit ka….at magiging babaero ka na rin.

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Me? I want a little of everything….pakonti kunti(l) sa lahat ng bagay. I dont not want to miss anything, hehehehe. Enjoy!

Nasal Torture

Last night, I went to visit a friend in Al Khobar. His flat was on the 10th floor. Going up to the 10th floor by stairs would have been difficult, so I used the elevator; although I often use the stairs in the office when going 1 to 3 floors from my level. Anyway, when I went inside the elevator, the smell was horrendous and terrible… as in! hehehe, I immediately tried going out from the elevator but then the door suddenly closed. Voila…I was closeted with a smelly Asian guy in going to the 10th floor. The smell was difficult to bear that I tried controlling my breath, hehehe. My mind was literally shouting to the elevator to hurry up! 4..5..6..7..8..9...10; thank you. After a few horrible minutes of nasal torture, I finally was able to go out of the elevator panting and dizzy, hahahahaha. I wonder what would happen if I got stuck with that guy for hours in the elevator…..hmmn?

Ano kaya ang dahilan bakit ganon nalang ang amoy nila? Is it their food? Hindi kaya sila naliligo? Going down on the same elevator (the building has just two), ang amoy ay nandoon pa – it lingered, no kidding!