You are currently browsing the monthly archive for October 2008.
I don’t even call them “Corruption Scandals” anymore. With corruption being in the news everyday, I don’t feel as outraged as I did, say 5 years ago.
These are some stories that, if true, would make you want to say to the perpetrators — ”Please, cover your tracks a little bit better.”
Hot elections cause COMELEC building to burn?
Three days before the May 14, 2007 elections, a Commission on Elections building where important election records were stored was burned.
Wasn’t it suspicious that the guard in charge at that time was conveniently out of the building? There was a fire station one block away from the burning building but firemen came only when the fire was out of control.
Talk about timing.
Divisoria shopping in Moscow
Retired PNP comptroller , Eliseo de la Paz was caught by the Moscow immigration with Php6.9 million pesos (in euros) in a bag. The retired chief told the press that it was for travel expenses. Then later they said the money was for travel contigency. Then again they said the money was intended for buying intelligence equipment.
Okay, okay so buying equiptment it is. Well, buying intelligence eqiuptment in Moscow must be like shopping in Divisoria. You bring a wad of cash, choose what you like, and buy right away. Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Using Fertilizer money to harvest votes?
Jocjoc Bolante was appointed by our good president as the Department of Agriculture Undersecretary . As such official, he had the authority to disburse funds to buy fertilizers. He gave funds to more than 100 congressmen near election time totaling to 728 million pesos. He can do that, right?
But, umm, some questions. Question 1: Why give money to buy fertilizer to places such as Quezon City. I haven’t seen any rice field along Cubao. Question 2: Bolante gave the money to the congressmen during harvest season. Why buy fertilizers during harvest season? Aren’t you supposed to use fertilizers during planting season?
The only thing nice about this I get to appeciate every day I spend with my son. I enjoy having breakfast with him and driving him tol school. I enjoy helping him with his homework then watching TV with him after. Aside from that, I feel that days seems to drag on and on and on. I have no desire nor energy to go out of the house. Stress is draining.
I cannot wait to board an airplane again. I wanted to take Lorenz to Tokyo but I gotta tighten my belt now so Vietnam and Cambodia are the other alternatives. I want to do that trip before I go back to NYC next month. But with the workload the the VIP visitors I’ll be having this month, it will be a squeeze. Hopefully Lorenz and I can do these trips before the year ends.
It is just my son and the prospect of travel that is keeping me sane these times. Workload is tough and don’t get me wrong, at this time I am glad to have a workload. And Manila is Manila. Oh, I am rambling. I need to get on that plane!
Oh gosh.. it’s still Wednesday morning. I wish days would move faster.
Back when my kid and I were still living with my parents in Cebu, child support wasn’t an issue. My mom and dad would say, “Why do we need to ask money from them? We can raise the kid ourselves.” My ex’s family will give money, but it was not regular and it wasn’t that substantial. I didn’t have any opinion on it because I was just a kid. What do I know that my parents, who were both lawyers, wouldn’t know?
As I grew up, became more responsible and started to take charge of my life and that of my son, I realized that my kid’s dad should pay a predetermined amount of child support on a regular basis. My parents didn’t ask because it was a matter of pride for them. They had money, so why ask. But I differ in opinion, child support is not for the parent or guardian, it is for the child. It should be about the child. Any additional cash will go a long way for the child’s future. And as a matter of principle, the other parent should take responsibility for his child. Taking the child out on weekends and giving him gifts it nice, but not enough. Taking reponsibility involves contributing to the kids food, school and other necessary expenses.
Child support is based on the kid’s needs and on the financial capability of the parent. It doesn’t matter whether one parent earns higher than the other one, he/she is still obliged to give child support based on the amount he/she is making. So what I did was make a written agreement detailing monthly payments and school expense contributions. And yeah, I remind my ex, every month of his obligation.
Child support is a right of my kid and an obligation of the other parent. I will not let that right and obligation slip away.
With bad news all around, from my startup page to whatever I googled, I decided to look for pinoy jokes. Here are some that I found:
——————————————
Mrs. Tanoy is a very kuripot. When her husband died, she inquired with the newspaper, asking the price for the obituary.
The ad taker said: “300 pesos for 5 words.
She said: “Pwede ba 2 words lang? Eto lang naman yun… “Tanoy Dead”
Ad taker said: “No mam. 5 words is the minimum.”
After thinking for a while,
Mrs. Tanoy said: “Ok, para sulit, ilagay mo,
“TANOY DEAD, TOYOTA FOR SALE ” …
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Battle of the Brainless
Host: What “N” (narra) is the national tree of the Philippines?
Contestant: Niyog?
Host: Mas matigas pa diyan.
Contestant: (in a strong-sounding voice) NIYOG!!!
—
Host: Sino ang national hero na naka-picture sa 500 Peso bill? Clue,
may initials na N.A. (Ninoy Aquino)
Contestant: Nora Aunor?
Host: Hindi. Ang pangalan niya ay nage-end sa “Y”.
Contestant: Guy Aunor?
Host: Hindi. Dati siyang Senador.
Contestant: Si Former Senator Guy Aunor?
Host: Hindi. Patay na siya.
Contestant: ANO??!! PATAY NA SI NORA AUNOR???!!!
———————————–
Patayin sa Sindak si Mark
one night…
Mark walks alone in Balete,then he heard…
“Mark!Mark!”
Lumingon siya,
wlang tao.
“Mark! Mark!”
Tumakbo siyaaaaaaaa……
Pagdating sa kanto,he saw a sign:
“BEWARE: NGONGONG ASO”
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Ngeeks. 
1. A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to…
-> Yes. It is all about independence, freedom and empowerment.
2. A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …. something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour…
-> I have nothing perfect to wear. It takes me more than an hour to find an “acceptable” piece.
3. A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..a youth she’s content to leave behind….
-> I don’t know. I wish my youth involved more travelling.
4. A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE … a past juicy enough that she’s looking forward to
retelling it in her old age….
-> Most definitely. My grandkids will not accuse me of being a boring grandma!
5. A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …..a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra…
-> Yep yep.
6. A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ….one friend who always makes her laugh… and one who lets her cry…
-> I am lucky to have intelligent, funny and dependable friends.
7. A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ….a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family…
-> Yep. Art and some pieces from China.
8. A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored…
-> yes to the 1st and 2nd. My recipes aren’t that great.. but hey, you gotta give me A for effort.
9. A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..a feeling of control over her destiny…
-> I try to but sometimes there are either life and death circumstances and historic events that happen in our lifetime that shake us to our core and make us feel lost and vulnerable.
10. EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW….how to fall in love without losing herself..
-> That is difficult. That is why i’m scared of falling in love.
11. EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without; ruining the friendship…
-> Still learning. It takes a great deal of finesse and class.
12. EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW …when to try harder …and WHEN TO WALK AWAY.
-> Sometimes walking away takes more guts.
13. EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…how to deal with the fact that she can’t change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
-> I’m struggling with this. Insecurities surface and there are still unresolved issues with my family. but i have ope ned a channel of communication with them and that was a big step for me.
14. EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW… that her childhood may not have been perfect…but it’s over…
-> It takes a conscious effort of letting go. I’m almost there.
15. EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW… what she would and wouldn’t do for love or more…
-> I guess I know now what is worth fighting for ,and how much I am worth and how much I am willing to give. Took great many tears, goodbyes and mistakes to finally realize that.
16. EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..how to live alone, even if she doesn’t like it…
-> Yep. The first and most important relationship you build is a relationship with yourself.
17. EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. .whom she can trust, whom she can’t,
and why she shouldn’t take it personally…
-> Ah, yes.
18. EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW… where to go… be it to her best friend’s kitchen table.. or a charming Inn in the woods… when her soul needs soothing…
-> yeah… i have 3 places in my list.
19. EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…What she can and can’t accomplish in a day… a month…and a year…
-> Nobody is a superwoman. I have to set my priorities. As of now, it is: motherhood and career.
The financial crisis seems so far away for many Filipinos. With reassuring headlines that say RP is “a sea of calm” in this turmoil, some might say that the Philippines wouldn’t be as affected as the other nations because we aren’t so exposed to those toxic securities that are dragging the big banks down. Unfortunately, the crisis has spread beyond those esoteric financial instruments and is posing a systemic risk for world economies.
Even if these big banks and institutions are oceans away from us, since they are so vital to the economy, they drag their clients, customers and investors down with them. These clients and investors may be your average Joe, you average small business, big businesses, titans of industries and even countries.
Because of this crisis, banks and businesses are hoarding cash ,and credit is hard to come by. What does this mean? Small businesses will not get the bank loan it needs to expand, big businesses may be forced to cut their spending, banks will not lend to other banks because they need cash to maintain their operations and pay their debt. This will mean lost confidence in the economy, dwindling pension funds, layoffs……..
Can the Philippines weather this storm?
This depends on how dependent we are on foreign injections of capital. This capital source may be from our OFW remittances and direct foreign investments. If a call center’s clients include foreign business hard hit by the credit crisis, that account may be in jeopardy. If an OFW’s contract will be terminated because his company has been laying off, then there will be no remittance. If another country is in recession, our exports to that country will decline.
The effect of this crisis will also depend on the strength of our domestic economy. Do we have enough goods and services produced and a big enough domestic market? For all our sakes, I hope our country’s balance sheet is strong enough to cushion us from this global economic blow.
I was surprised that I got a lot of questions regarding my post: Tips on Getting a US Tourist (Non-Immigrant) Visa. I have a friend who applied for a US Visa last week and she got denied. She spent and additional $30 for the Visa Processing fee that some travel agencies offer their customers. I think that you don’t need to pay that $30 to travel agencies. That is too much. For $30, the travel agency, a)downloads the forms b)gets you a checklist of the docs you need c)schedules your appointment. All these can be done by you. The hardest part of getting supporting documents will be done by you anyway and you have to go to the embassy for the interview so might as well do the whole thing. I mean, I am willing to pay the Visa Assistance Fee (that’s how they call it) if the travel agency will be the one to submit my docs for me and I don’t have to go to the embassy for a personal appearance (like for China and Japan- for packaged tours). If not, then might as well do it myself. That’s my take on it.
Here are some lessons I learned from my friend’s falied application:
1. Valid reasons to travel
-> Vacation – Show your itinerary, hotel reservations and list of places and people to visit.
-> Visiting family and friends – Give their names, contact number and addresses
-> Business meetings and conferences – Show your invitation letter and some conference or company info (website printout or brochure)
2. Funding your travel
The first question is: Who is going to pay for your travel?
If you are paying for your travel:
I suggest that you make a costing of your total travel expenses, form the airline ticket to the hotel expenses to your pocket money. If you are staying with friends and family, your travel costs will be reduced. Just make sure that you have at the very least 3x times that amount of your total travel cost saved up in your bank account.
If your total travel cost is $2500, make sure you have at least $7500 in you bank account. It might not make sense if you plan a vacation with ticket cost of at least $1500 and you just have $3000 in your bank. Spending one half of your savings on a trip will probably raise eyebrows. There is no hard and fast rule for this. It depends I think on the totality of your circumstances. But to be safe, especially if its your first time to apply for your VISA, make sure you show to the interviewer that you can afford your vacation.
If other people are funding your trip:
Bring proof that the person funding your trip has enough funds. If your parents are funding your trip (lucky you), then bring a bank certification of your parents’ savings. If your company is funding your trip, get an invitation letter for the event you are attending and an authorization letter from you superior stating that the company is funding your trip and that you are expected to go back to the Philippines after your US trip. Also bring docs showing company information (such as website printout) and yeah, bring your company calling card.
3. Significant reason to come back
Do you have a good job? Are you a student? Do you have a business?
Job/Business
- How much are you making?
- Are you happy with your job, career or business?
- Bring your certificate of employment, business registration and ITR.
Student
- Bring a certificate of enrollment from your school.
- Bring a proof that you are a student: school ID, copy of the current semester’s grades
Do you have people you have to go back for? Do you have to take care of your parents, younger brothers or sisters?
This doesn’t mean that having kids or younger brother and sisters will give you that visa. They will also consider if your kids are well taken cared of if you will stay in the States for a long period of time. If the kids’ granparents are taking care of your kids or brothers and sisters, then your interviewer might think its okay for you to stay in the US for a long time because somebody is taking care of your kids.
Make sure that you make it clear that you have to come back to the Philippines because you are needed back here.
Remember that a B1 visa is for business purposes and a B2 visa is for vacation purposes. The reason why the US embassy is sometimes strict in granting Visas is because people who were previously granted Visas abused that privilege and either overstayed or used their Visas for purposes other than what the Visa was intended for. Again, be open and transparent. Bring supporting documents. Most importantly — always stay honest and tell the truth.
Relaxing at home is difficult for me because I work at home. I associate home with work. Although I have the office in a separate room, but I bring work with me in the bedroom, kitchen and living room.
So I said to myself, I must make an effort to do things other than working when I am at home. So here are my other-then-work relaxing home activities:
1. Home Service Massage and other Spa Services
With so many massage parlors sprouting all over the metro I ddn’t know who to call. I want a massage service that is “stricly massage” only. I don’t want to have pretty girls and boys giving me a “pleasurable time” as one massage ad phrased it.
So I went to the Internet and found Asian Massage. Their service is good. I especially love their Reflexology. It relaxes and energizes you at the same ime (if that makes sense). And the nice thing is, they are open 24 hours!
2. A glass of wine or a can of beer
Yep. They say that a glass of red everyday is good for you. So as I am writing this post, I am enjoying my glass of fave red for the moment, a Shiraz Cabernet. I love its fruity taste when it first touches your mouth, then that spicy taste when the wine goes down.
My beers, for the moment are Thai (Singha) and Japanese (Asahi) Beers.
3. Magic Sing
I have to borrow Magic Sing from my friend. Singing relaxes me – need I say more?
4. Cooking
I love to cook for other people. I am especially encouraging my son to try different kinds of food. I like entertaining at home. Eating with friends makes for a relaxing evening of good conversation and laughter.
5. TV and Books
I have to make an effort to stay away from my laptop during my off hours. It is so easy to get sucked in the Internet even after work. There are news, blogs, games, online books and magazines and movies
But when I stayed away from my laptop, and went to my living room and watch TV from a television and read a a real paperback book, I felt more relaxed.
I am reading Thomas Friedman’s “The World is Flat” and I am addicted to CSI (Vegas, NY, Miami). Oh, and there is the pleasure of reading coffee table travel and art books as well.
As they say, all work and no play makes you irritable and less productive. So make the effort of putting a little play in your schedule - AND especially for us home-workers.. let’s try not to feel too guilty about indulging ourselves and nah-uh.. let us NOT open that inbox!
I have been pulled in different directions these past months. Through the weeks, I have been multi-tasking all over the place. My idea of relaxation is studying, reading the newspaper or watching the news. Watching the news didn’t help either with the economy going down, jobs being lost, stock market being so volatile . I thought I can go one at this pace until I got the flu and was confined to bed for 3 days. I said, well, I gotta relax.
For months, I had no desire to go out clubbing. It’s too tiring. People who know me would say, “Haaay, it’s about time.” True, true, I have been going clubbing since I was 14 years old. I mean, I would still wanna go clubbing once in a while (like once in two months) but I don’t miss it. I also have no desire to get dead drunk like before. It’s just too tiring and I have to work the next day. Before I can drink until 4-5am and still get up and work at 8am. Now, I just can’t do it anymore. I get headaches. I lose the day after my drunken spree the night before. I must be getting old.
With so many things going on with my job and myself enjoying mothering, I didn’t want to go out. But I said, I might not be in the mood to go out clubbing and drinking but this 28-year old still knows how to relax. So, most of the time, I just stay home and do some relaxing stuff that I will share with you on the next post.
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