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hello world

2011-11-26T13:55:00.001+03:00

It’s been a week that I was keeping to myself the sad feelings of losing a best friend after reading the most annoying SMS message from him. An exchange of messages thru FB last Thursday and Friday, which I arranged hoping that the schism would be ironed out, proved more fatal. I was ready to lose him from my house and in my life.

As I resumed work this Saturday. At the lobby, I was welcomed by non-functioning elevators leading me to climb the stairs till seventh floor. Before the climb, I almost absented myself and headed home to get more sleep. But my load of work was on my mind, thus work prevailed. My heart beat went so fast that my heart seemed to explode. As I sat down and attended to my daily routine, three SMS churned out, two morning greetings from my babe and one from my former best friend.

To my surprise, the best friend cum house manager asked for forgiveness after realizing his mistakes. An explanation of having nobody to speak to on his problems and getting into self-pity on his financial situation was enough for me to understand him. I know, his financial predicaments was brought about by his love, priority and high regards to his family that he cannot say no, whenever his niece or sisters ask for financial help for their education even if it leaves him penniless.

Accepting my friend would entail more financial responsibility too. This time, we will both pay our SSS loans and monthly dues for our impending retirement. What are friends for?

Not all is well, though. I got diarrhea today, probably after all the tension was gone. Hmmmmfpt.

friend?

2011-11-25T17:27:00.000+03:00

I feel sad. I think am losing a friend. He used to be my best friend. As my house manager, my life was smooth. Everything is attended to for more than 15 years.

It started with an SMS message followed by two-word message.

It seems my friend was so insecure of old age and was so frustrated for him not o have paid his SSS.

But his text message was not enough. His messages are already glazed of discourteousness and shallow issue he tends to build up against me.

The bottom line is we now have issues that had started to break the whole house and friendship and I want him out of my house if not my life.

more woes

2011-11-22T22:53:00.001+03:00

A friend sent me today an email saying that expatriate workers included in the list of 18 job categories will no longer be able to renew their residence permit effective 7 January 2012.

The email is so alarming since I already changed my job profession that matches my current job two months back, a requirement that was enforced by Saudi Labor Ministry mid of September. This is so freaking me out that my category fell on a profession that is already earmarked for locals in Saudi Arabia.

After a disturbing start this week regarding the impending "poor annual performance appraisal" that my boss is cooking for me, another blow for my work in the Kingdom is hanging like a sword on my head.

Parang nasa bahay lang ako ni Big Brother naghihintay ng forced eviction sa tunay ng bahay at buhay.

life sucks

2011-11-21T01:20:00.002+03:00

It's one of the worst days of the year.

"You always give me wrong answers, Edgar," my boss said after he asked me why the employee does not have our bank partner's account.
Apparently, the boss was annoyed that he has to sign an inch thick of documents including payroll, bank transfer forms, appreciation letters, and personnel requisition among the many papers I handed him first thing in the morning.

His tone of voice and obvious display of unappreciation on my never-ending pile of works echoed when I read his email about the annual appraisal. His arrogance this morning could pull me down in this appraisal time, which means no annual performance bonus in March.

Well, I already know how discriminating my boss is. While people in the Philippines expect this time to be jolly, the struggling migrant worker lowers its happy mode to record level. Parang drought lang ang peg.

Tasks for the week: scout for room to rent (bawas gastos for the year), dialogue with string house manager back home (dagdag padala, thus dagdag gastos or scout for new house bantay), purchase and activate internet data roaming SIM card, send monthly amortization plus monthly allowances for house managers, close deals on downlines for vmobile and TVI for this month. Send clothes for ironing, dispatch brother's old car.

benteonse

2011-01-02T00:34:00.001+03:00

still in limbo.

birth pains

2010-09-01T01:41:00.001+03:00

Coming out for me is apparently when you realized the sudden urge to hold another man’s dick. He he he. Sadly, time flew fast since the first time that right now I could not remember when was the first time I first held one man’s penis. Huwaw.

Like Venus Raj’s 30 second-moment to recall her greatest mistake, I could not recall.

Well, it seems that I did not come out. I think he came in. Yes, I think he knocked on my door and if I am not mistaken that hairy thin man from Pagadian let himself in after I opened it and he comfortably sat on my bed. He was tipsy.

We talked. Chika lang baga. I guess, I incidentally hosted the first talk show in 1978 during my freshman albeit there was the absence of lights and cameras. Later, I found him lying on my bed beside me and he asked if he could kiss me on my lips. “One second lang,” and before I could reply he kissed me and when I thought it was more than the time he asked I pushed him back and tried to wipe my wet lips.

Thinking back it was hot and soft but I so naïve, the scent and taste of the alcohol was so awful.

But his body is hot and I think he caressed my whole body and late grabbed my hand to hold his very stiff dick.

Cutting and dragging to few years later, I continue to be discreet although I keep on secretly gazing to other guys bulging groin when there are special moments during my college days.

During these college years, I also discovered the struggle to be free from campus repression and better education.

I thought writing for the campus paper would be cool to write my thoughts and what I see during those Marcos time.

The activist in me got involved in campus activism where I easily introduced myself as gay.

That remained until now but I remain prim and proper at all times except when am at home and in my own turf where I could bitch around naughty boys.

I guess was lucky to have an American gay activist to be my first flat-mate when I first worked overseas in 1991. I was introduced to gay parties where French, Brits, Americans and Arabs wait the breaking of day.

It was also here when I pity the very unique situation of local gays where they could not come out for fear of being disowned by their own family.

Last month, my officemate showed me a picture from his cellphone of his gay friend living in London.

“They prefer to suffer living away from their family just to come out and be free as gay,” my friend lamented. Obviously, he misses his “friend”

Few months back during my vacation, news spread like wild fire that Filipino gays are banned in the Kingdom.

I just shrugged off the news. The regulation has been there before. But the news that there were already more than 30 Pinoy gays deported was already slowly getting into my nerves.

A cumadre emailed me at home to be extra careful during my return to the Kingdom.

“Wag kang kumembot na baka akala mo si Jinky Pacquiao ka. At lalong wag mong gayahin si Mommy Dionesia pagkat bading na bading sya lalo na sa make-up nya. Si Manny Pacquiao ang gayahin mo at mag babad ka sa dagat para di kapansin-pansin ang flawless sa kaputian mong kutis at ganda.”

Yes, coming out is painful. And my job place is slowly contracting like delivering a new life, thus the strict measures being undertaken by the conservative authorities because gay people are obviously coming out.

di rin masaya

2010-08-29T21:10:00.001+03:00

Am so confused. I need to calm down.

Friday was a bummer. I learned that my bank account in the Saudi capital was frozen. Eh kasasahod lang noong Wednesday at di ako nakapag withdraw. Takot ako.

All banks here requires all depositors to update all information almost annually. I recently renewed my iqama or residence permit after replacing my lost foreign worker’s permit. Automatically, I know I had to update my information, which I did two weeks ago.

Went to an ATM machine before I did my groceries but instead of churning monies, the machine alerted me to visit the nearest administrator of the nearest bank branch. Whew.

I knew it would happen. The same thing happened some three years ago. They were not able to encode the necessary information in their system. Duh.

I tried internet banking. Transfer money to zambo’s bank account. Did not work. I was even alarmed when it stated I had no enough amount to transfer. Screeeaaaammm.

Saturday, first day of work of the week, I felt like an overheated robot. Even if I tried to speed up my work, there was no way I could squeeze time and visit m bank.

When work was done, banks had closed for the day these time of the holy month of fasting. Work schedules are shorten and ours are just similar to any banking hours.

The sun set and the breaking of the fast is almost near. I tried to transferring money. It did.

I got zambo to bring me the money. Went to send money back home.

Now am sad again after counting what has left from me. Haiz.

I thought I could buy a pair of slacks and new neck ties but. Haiz

I thought i could buy a new laptop or a second hand desktop. Haiz.

I thought I could buy a new SLR camera. Haiz.

Well, I was able to buy more food stuff to last me for a week or so.

salamat po, lord!

keri?

2010-08-08T00:22:00.003+03:00

Witels konachiwa keri etilds.

Case 1. Witels pa rin worklalu ang pudak sa qatarchinabumbumley. Witels pa sya andalu kasi witels nga sya worklalu bumbumley. Witels na fudams ang mga junakis sa navotas city at witels pa rin payola ang rentas internas ng balaybumbumley. Witels na rin daw jinanggap ng principaldita ang promissory leteraka ni pudak para sa tuitionbels ng mga junakis. Tulo pa naman itelds at halos two kyaw rin ang utanggils sa eskulembang bawat junakis kada buwanchels.

Case 2. Keri na sana ni bebe ang boarding hauz sa bacoor kung sa SM Bacoor lang sana ang location shooting nya sa loob ng six months nyang work contract. Ang kaso, end of contract na si bebs at dahil nga trendsetter ang SM sa job contractualization sa labor genre sa Pinas ay nag replay sa pag apply ang bebe kech. Absorbed naman agad si bebe kech kesyo sa SM San Lazaro naman ang location shooting. Parang pinaglalapit si bebe ko at si vice ganda. Warla. So, plano ni bebe, I mean akech pa la ang nagplan na mag rentas internas na balaybumbumbley sa malapit sa location shooting ni bebs para di majirapan sa pag byahe ang aking sinta. Ang tanong, keri ko pa ba? First month pa lang ni bebe ay humirit na sya ng 3 kyaw kasi bibili pa raw sya ng shoes at nyortabels na raw ang andalu nya sa pamasahe sa bus, at lrt. Eh kung matutuloy na mag taas ang pamasahe sa lrt. Balik na naman sa tanong. Keri ko pa ba?

Case 3. Nag OJT si new bebe. Bago ko na ring junakis sa buhay kech kasi talagang bata pa ito ay nagtatakbohan na ito sa loob ng bakuran kech. Cute na bata kasi ang kapitbahay kech. Eh, last vacation, nadarang akech. Paano kasi, sightsinebels ko na pinipisil pisil nya ang notrilya nya habang nag iinternet sa loob ng bedroom kech gamit ang desktop nireformat nya. Magaling sya sa pc. Habang minasahe nya,. na sight ya na na sight ko sya at nag devil smile sya. Yun na ang simula. At gaya ng sabi sa sona ni pinoy, pwede na raw mangarap, kaya nangarap si new bebe. Student kasi. Bokot na ako. Baka maabotan nya pa ang plano ng DepEd na mag add pa ng ilang years sa education. Payola na naman ng andalo. Graduating na nga sana kahit na two years lang ang kurso ni new bebe. Nag stop na nga si new bebe ng two years para maka ipon ng pang tuition sa two year course nyang computer technology, baka dagdagan pa ang pahirap. Syempre, witels feel ni mudak na magjijirap pa lalo ang bagong junakis. Ang tanong uli, kaya ko pa bang magbukas uli ng scholarship foundation?

sinilip ko slight ang financial statement kech at ang disbursables...

"foreign residence permit renewal, work permit renewal, mandatory medical test, e-passport renewal, mandatory pag-ibig fund fees, electric bills, internet bills, flat renewal fees, transportation fee, gym fee, food expenses."

luz valdes. witels na pang remittance.

need kong rumampa. mag wanted dead or alive na muna akech. anek pa kaya ang pwedi kong iraket para kumita pa na petrodollars? keri ko pa ba? thunder na akech, tatambling pa ba akech?

Bakit kasi di ako nakinig kay supremong mama monchang na dapat usa usa lang ang bebs. Haiz. Labs ko kasi.

truth commission

2010-07-27T23:04:00.003+03:00

Will the Truth Commission investigate why diplomatic missions abroad have done almost nothing in protecting the lives and rights of migrant Filipino workers?

Will it investigate why Filipino workers die inside foreign police stations or in hospitals while embassy officials denies any wrong doing?

Or will it focus only on why the new administration has no more budget allotment to spend on whatever they are drawing?

Well, the truth is there is no commission yet. Bwahahahaha.

Witchelles ko na ito keri. Jokems na naman bumbumley.

bareback

2010-07-13T21:19:00.003+03:00

Tulog na ang mga bisita ko liban sa pinsan ng mahal kong kapitbahay na naglalaro sa computer. Kinandado ko na ang gate kaya di na sya makakalabas. Delikado kasi na baka may makasingit at manakawan ang mga sasakyang nakahambalang sa harap ng di pa natatapos kong bahay.

Nahihiya akong di ako nakapaghanda ng mga tulugan para sa aking mga kaibgan na nag desisyong wala ng uwian habang nanonood ng big night ng pinoy big brother kaya siniguro kong sa kwrarto magsikiskan ang apat na mga babae at nahihiya man ako ay ang kaklase kong dean ng isang college of hotel and restaurant ay pinatulog ko sa isang sofa sa sala. paano naman kasi, ang pinagawa kong mga kama ay di pa natapos dahil basa pa ang mga pulang kahoy na binenta sa akin ng mura ng mga kaibigan ng kumpare kong taga bundok.

Sa isa pang gilid ng sala ay dinikit ko ang dalawang parang love seats para medyo maluwag. Kasya ang dalawang taong matutulog.

Gusto ko na ring matulog pero nanghihinayang ako sa pagkakataong meron pang ibong di pa dumadapo sa sanga ng kahoy na binabalutan sa dilim ng gabi.

Maya-maya pa ay maingat na lumapit sa akin ang pinsan ng mahal ko at ako na ang nagyayang mahiga na sya dahil malapit ng mag umaga. Pinatay nya ang computer at nahiga sa tabi ko.

Pumikit na ako at binalot ang manipis na kumot na bumalot sa magkahawak naming kamay.

Humarap sya sa akin at nilapit ang kanyang nag-iinit na katawan. Dumilat ako at nagpang abot ang aming mga titig. Sa tagal ng aming pagtitigan, parang naiintindihan ng aming mga katawan ang hirap na pakawalan ang init ng aming mga katawan sa kalagayan ng aming higaan.

“sa banyo tayo,” bulong nya. Bumangon ako at dumiretso sa banyo malapit sa kusina. Bago ako pumasok ay inabot ko na ang maliit na lotion sa pinaglagyan ko katabi ng mga hand soap na nilagay ko sa may lababo.

Pagkapasok ko sa banyo ay nasa likuran ko na sya. Nalaglag na sa sahig ng banyo ang akong short short pants habang nilamukos nya ng halik ang aking dibdib. Tinanggal ko ang kanyang mga saplot at habang nilalaro ng kanyang dila ang aking mga utong ay dahan dahan nya pinaikot ang aking katawan upang mapaharap sa kanya ang aking likuran.

Panahon na para sa gamitin ang lotion. Ilang patak sa kamay at hinawak ko ang kamay na may lotion sa nagwawalang nyang ari na pinadaplisdaplis nya sa aking likuran. Sadya kong pinatagal para damdamin ang sarap ng init ng makinis nyang ulo.

Bareback sa bareback habang nilalamas nya ng pahigpit ang aking mga suso ay nakatukod ang aking magkalayong mga kamay sa dingding ng banyo.

Dinig na dinig ko ang tunog ng dingding sa bigat ng dalawang katawang nagbabanggan tuwing dinidiin nya ang kanyang aking sumasalubong na katawan.

Malapit na akong makarating sa rurok ng kaligayahan kaya piniga ko ng mahigpit ang dalawang pisngi ng likuran ng aking katipan bago sumabog ang isang napakaligayang sandaling nakaw ng aking buhay.

tomjuns

2010-07-10T21:25:00.002+03:00

was supposed to write another blog about my old, old friends that i gathered during my recently concluded vacation.

was wondering on how to start about it.

they were old activists, mass supporters, middle class comrades, a gay reactionary, and an observer.

we were watching the big night of the pbb and we were so noisy, according to a young teen guest.

but am now hungry. i was contemplating of what to eat thinking of the four kilos i lost during my seven-week state visit, huh.

i also thought of my doctor's facial expression upon seeing my blood pressure going down.

so did attack the ref. brought out the fresh fish, veges, and made sinigang.

ang asim.

kain tayo, joms.

may nag txt

2010-07-09T21:13:00.002+03:00

two bebs at isang bato

habang nanonod ng TV, actually halos nakikinig lang ng ingay nito, at nagbabasa ng kung ano anong balita at blogs sa internet, may nag txt.

“beh online ako. hubo na ako.”

dali dali kong binuksan yung chikka account ko para mag reply pero andyan na yung isa pang mensahe nya sa ym.

“ano gawa mo?

mi ko malaman kung matutuwa ako o maiinis. palagay ko inis ako sa kanya. paano naman kasi, nag cha chat kami kaninang tanghali at humiling akong makita sya pero di sya nagpakita. Later na lang daw tapos mayamaya ay na offline na sya.

“nakatulog ako beh.’ pagod kasi sa byahe. had to commute to Makati and submit my NBI papers so I could start working on Monday,” rason nya.

mayamaya ay kinumusta ko na sya. nagpakita na sya. royal blue ang underwear nya. litaw ang makinis na ulo, hawak nya ay matigas bago tumirik ang walanghiyang smartbro.

napainom ako ng gamot bago ako atakehin ng altapresyon.

Ako na ang nag offline.

mayamaya ay may nag txt na naman.

“nakauwi na ako galing school. nakakain na rin. ikaw? kumain ka na? ang gamot mo ha, wag kalimutan. bukas na lang ako mag online,” sabi ng txt.

sinagot ko sya sa chikka ng txt. “good. kumusta naman ang klase mo?”

“got rattled. had an oral exam sa English. Di ko nasagot. hiyang hiya ako pero nakabawi naman ako later,” sabi ng txt.

“ba, magaling ako sa oral. magaling rin ako konti sa English. jejeje.” Sagot ko.

“pinabasa ako ng 3 poems at di ko ma pronounce ng tama yung ibang words tapos pina explain pa sa akin yung poem. Nakakahiya talaga ang naganap kanina,” sabi uli ng studyante ng computer technology na kapitbahay ko sa davao.

“sige. bukas na lang tayo mag chat pero may pasok na ako. txt na lang kung online ka sa morning para magising ako otherwise, I will go home early to catch you,” sabi ko sa kanya.

Balik ako sa pagbabasa ng kung ano ano sa internet habang mag isang inubos ang isang buong plato ng maja Blanca. Patay na naman ako sa diabetes ko.

Mayamaya, may txt uli.

“ang lakas ng ulan. Parang may bagyo. Ang lamig. Sana andito ka. Ang sarap tumorjack.. sana kayakap kita sa buong magdamag.”

bakasyon 2010

2010-07-09T18:15:00.003+03:00

vacation 2010

my much needed vacation came and go. seven weeks passed and my rnr is done like a blink of an eye.

am back in Riyadh and noticed that two emails were waiting for my attention. so sorry for that.

so many things happened back home and I could categorically say that it was the most meaningful vacation I had in 20 years.

had some repairs and fixing done in my pad at binangonan while enjoying bebe’s company. On the other hand, the floor tiles in my house standing not very near a beach in davao are almost done. one of the guys who helped paint my windows was so hot and cute that made my vacation more meaningful. way to go. more money needed.

most happy was when my friends of more than 30 years came over and my nearby family were also there for a lunch.

went back to my state-university in nearby province and gathered more information needed for my retirement plans. felt so good albeit nostalgic.

i was happy flying back to work. recharged and feeling accomplished. my officemates noticed that I may have lost a maximum of five kilos while another manager said I came back 10 years younger. Whew.

so stress-free. Love the friendly white cat, mingra, I met in my house. So playful. the blue and green-eyed feline is so “feeling close” to play inside my bedroom ahead of my lover of the night

my lovelife and sexlife were also “plenty”.

am so in much in love.

seafarer

2010-04-12T22:30:00.004+03:00

Sa isang sing-along-bar malapit sa isang state university sa Southern Mindanao tumambay noon ang isang hunk na kaibigan ng kapatid ng may-ari. Sa bar na yun minsan akong boluntaryong tumutulong upang maipagpatuloy ang aking pag-aaral.

Umiinom si hunk ng san mig beer pero di ko sya narinig na kumanta. Nakikinig lang mag-isa habang kinakausap paminsan-minsa ng may-ari ng bar, normal na ginagawa nya sa lahat ng parokyano nya ng bar na karamihan ay mga negosyante, propesyonal at manaka-nakang mayayamang magsasaka, estudyante at kung minsan mga opisyales ng mga sundalong naka detail sa kalapit ng kampo.

Mahigit 26 na taon na ang nakaraan sa mga pangyayaring ito habang nagkakaha at nag ooperate ako ng minus-one. Mahilig kasing kumanta ang may-ari ng bar at marami ang nag re request na kumanta sya dahil maganda rin naman ang boses nya.

Lampas hating-gabi na kung magsara ang bar at dahil kaibigan na rin ng may-ari ang hunk ay niyaya nya itong doon na lang matulog sa guest-room, kung saan doon din ako natutulog.

In a sleepless early morning, my mind was flying last Thursday to my university with this cute guy resembling Levi Johnson who slept with me in the guest room some 26 years ago.

Thanks to the unknown, I met the same hunk who is now based in Norway through Facebook.

The funniest thing is that we never talked about what happened between us until we chatted and recalled last Thursday how wonderful that night was.

Laughingly, he teased that I don’t even know to performa satisfying bj whle asking if he was my first. I never said I was virgin for I was already long broken. Not totally wrecked, though.

My Levi quipped that he is now a “goodboy” and boasts of having two sons whom he claims of being more handsome than him.

After exchanging how our life ahs been after that exciting night I admit I never though he would succed in life.

“Bugoy bugoy lang gud sa una,” he said. “But having lived like a thug before, it has been my teen life experience that made me what I am today,” he revealeded.

“It has been those drunk and wasted days and night that me me decide to track another life. I went away. Studied and become a seaman. I have been to numerous countries and continents I never imagined like Libya, Africa, Americas and now, I toured all over Europe.

“I work 12 hours with 4 hours automatic overtime payment for 58 straight days and have 28 days vacation," he told me before he start his vacation today.

Surprised. My old flame has rekindled light.

Jokingly, he said he could feel that am starting to fall in love with him especially that he now owns two houses in Metro Manila and two residential lots in nearby Rizal and drives a new SUV car.

As I recalled him pulling up his shirt and down his jeans revealing his youthful body, and glnced on his fresh baby face in the softly lit room as he slid with his skimpy brief on bed lying beside me, he asked me what would I want should we meet again.

“Payakap,” I asked my oil rig seaman in Norway.

"Eextend mo kasi bakasyon mo para mag pang abot tayo sa bakasyon ko uli sa July."

X

2010-04-10T22:30:00.003+03:00

kinilig ako sa kanya. though he told me in jest, i felt the warmth and sincerity of him missing me - the fact that our one-night experience occured more than 25 years ago.

i asked him, "payakap.

"paano yan, di naman ako pwedeng lumipad para mayakap din kita," he replied.

stunning.

singkwenta

2010-03-22T23:52:00.000+03:00

Yes, I have 50 days before my long-delayed 50-day summer vacation. As usual, I am going to Davao from the Saudi capital. This time, however, my itinerary includes an unnumbered days of stopover in Binangonan, Rizal.

Am not ready, though. I still have to send luggage ahead and the boxes are not really packed yet.

My funds are still uncollected. I still have to pick up few things for the people I care.

Am not sure how to schedule my 50 days.

Bebeh also wants to go to Baguio and Vigan while I want to visit Bora and Bohol before I proceed to Davao.

So many things to prepare that are killing my excitement. My high blood sugar is pulling me to bed instead of working my plan.

I better review my vacation plans.

Things to buy
Things to do
Things for cargo
Things to carry
Passport
Visa
Tickets
Money

protesta

2010-03-05T10:53:00.002+03:00

Nag camp out ang mga repatriated caregivers galling Riyadh sa OWWA upang iprotesta ang kanilang sinapit sa kamay ng kanilang mga recruiters at employers ngunit pati OWWA na imbes ibsan ang kanilang paghihirap ay nais tumalikod sa kanilang mga tungkulin na parang bang hindi pera ang mga OFWs ang kanilang ikininabubuhay.

Sabi ni Carmelita Dizon, the protestors “are barking at the wrong tree.” Dapat daw sa POEA sila manghingi ng tulong at bayad or reimbursement sa tiket na kanilang pinang-uwi.

Natensyon ako ng mag tweet ang mga members ng press na may bombero ng dumating at mga anti-riot na umaaligid sa OWWA bulidning pagkatapos lunurin ng malakas ng disco music ang mga boses ng mga nagpoprotesta.
Pero sumuko rin ang Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) sa mga nagprotesta at binigay ang mga hinihingi ng inabusong mga OFWs mula Riyadh, na nagsagawa ng tatlong-araw na kampo sa harap ng ahensiya para igiit ang tulong-pinansiyal na umano’y nararapat sa kanila.

Hinarangan ng mga kababaihang OFW mula sa Annasaban Group of Companies ang mga pintuan ng OWWA at hindi umalis doon hangga’t hindi hinaharap ng OWWA administrator.
Pagkatapos ng mahabang negosasyon na nagtapos bandang alas-otso ng gabi, ibinigay sa 43 pinauwing manggagawa ang P10,000 financial assistance; P20,000 na burial assistance sa namatay nilang kasamahang si Elsie Pelayo, libreng medical check-up; at pamasahe pauwi sa kani-kanilang probinsya.

Pero kaninang umaga, may tumawag sa akin, si Melba, isang taga-Palawan ng nakauwi na rin. Dati syang nag trabaho sa Annasban at humingi ng tulong na mapauwi noon dahil nagkasakit sya ng hypertension dahil sa trabaho nilang walang pahinga at walang libreng medical insurance na dapat ay mandatory sa lahat ng mga OFWs sa Riyadh.
Ayaw bayaran ng recruiter ni Melba ang kanyang pamasahe kaya ang kapatid nyang nasa Pilipinas na nakipag chat sa akin noon ang nagpadala ng pera dahil ang Labor Office sa Philippine embassy ay wala ring magawa na mapauwi ng mabilis si Melba.

Nanghihingi ng report sa akin si Melba, na hindi nakasali sa protesta dahils sa karamdaman nya, upang makahingi rin daw sya ng mga nataggap ng mga nag protesta kahapon sa OWWA.

Pag-uusapan pa raw ng OWWA kung dapat bang bigyan ng benepisyo si Melba pagkatapos ng ilang buwan nyang paghihintay na makauwi habang wala syang sahod na natataggap mula sa kompanya.

Bakit sa akin manghingi ng report?
Parang gusto kong sumugod sa OWWA at ipamukha sa kanila ang klase ng serbisyong ibinibigay nila.

Okray talaga.

rubi

2010-03-04T22:58:00.000+03:00

Naunsyami na naman ang bakasyon ko ngayong buwan na ito. Dapat kasi noong bumalik galing bakasyon yung isang officemate last week ay ako ang susunod pero inunahan ako ng mas senior sa akin na magbakasyon.

Baka next month o sa Mayo na lang daw ako para makabalik ako ng June in time for my boss’s annual vacation.

Sabi naman ni Bebeh, mas ok na daw na sa Mayo kasi end of contract nya na rin para daw sabay kaming nakabakasyon.

Hinayang na hinayang ako. Andami pa naman sanag graduation parties akong pupuntahan.

Inggit na inggit na ako sa mga kaibigan ko sa Davao. Sa last txt ng partner in crime ko, sabi ni Gerimae, “maam, ang tawag ngayon sa aking ng mga boys ditto ay Rubi kasi tukso daw ako sa kanila palagi.”

Byerna.

amnesia

2010-02-28T00:39:00.000+03:00

Matagal ko nang alam na akoy makakalimutin. Nakakahiya nga lalo na kung may isang matagal ng kakilala na di ko matandaan ang kanyang pangalan.

Ilang beses na rin kasing may bumati sa akin at di ko maalala ang kanilang pangalan at kung minsan ay pati kanilang mukha.

Ilang taon na ang nakaraan ng pumasok ako sa embahada ng Pilipinas ditto sa Riyadh upang may interview-hin na opisyal ng pasuguan. Sa guardhouse ay may bumati. Sa embassy kasi ay hindi Pinoy ang guardya. Pero sa loob ng guardhouse ay may bumati sa akin.

Taga-Davao pala sya at ng napansin nyang di ko sya maalala at sinabi nya sa Bisaya, “Ganyan ka pala. Hindi mo na ako maalala pagkatapos ng lahat.”

Nakakahiya na di ko na maalala na minsan na pala kaming magkatabing natulog sa kama ko ng hubot hubad. Sya ang una’t huling lalaking nakita kong di nagsusuot ng briefs habang naka jeans. Masarap naman syang magtrabaho sa kama, pero ewan kung bakit di ko maalala ang name nya hanggang ngayon. Basta ang alam ko, kapatid sya ni Benjie.

Noong isang gabi, madaling araw na sa Kabacan, North Cotabato, may naka chat akong kaibigan. Actually, ang sister-in-law nya ay best friend ko, at nang makita ko na online sya sa Facebook ay binulaga ko ang best friend ko. Pero si Jick-jack pala ang naglalaro ng Farmville. Di raw sya makatulog kaya sya ang naghaharvest sa farm ng bestfriend ko.

Habang nagchachat kami, nabanggit ni Jick-jack na di nya malimutan ang isang insidente sa SM ilang taon na ang nakalipas.

Nadukotan pala noon si Jick-jack habang nag mo malling sila kasama nya ang panganay na anak ng aking best friend, si Pidirt.

Noong nasa elementary days pa, si Pidirt ay cute na talaga. Kayumangging bata na talaga sya noon pa. Matalino si Pidirt at marami syang mga kaibigan. Di ko sya nakikita agad kapag panahon na ng kainan dahil nasa labas pa naglalaro. Pero pag dumating na sya ay diretso syang naghuhugas ng kamay bago kumain. Bibo at marunong sumagot si Pidirt at nakikita ko na noon pa na ayaw nyang magpatalo sa isang diskusyon. Kaya nakikita kona noon pa na magiging mahusay ang buhay nya. Kahit astig siya, marunong si Pidirt tumawag ng tulong at magtanong kung di niya kaya.

Ang paghingi ng tulong upang ikabit ang kulambo upang di makagat ng lamok ang kanyang mga natutulog na kapatid ay di isa sa mga di ko malimutan kay Pidirt.

Naalala ko ito ng ipaalala ni Jick-jack na noong nadukotan sya ng pitaka sa loob ng SM, nakita at nakilala ako ni Pidirt.

Kitang kita ko ngayon ang isang nag aalalang mukha ni Pidirt na nagpapaliwanag sa sitwasyon nasadlakan niya kasama ang tita Jick-jack nya.

“Tito, wala po kaming pamasahe. Di kami makauwi kasi nadukot lahat ng pera ni Tita,” ang maalala ko na sabi nya sa akin.

Sabi ni Jick-Jack kagabi, binigyan ko raw sila ng pamasahe at pang merienda.

Di ko talaga maalala kung di nabanggit ni Jick-jack ang pangyayaring ito pero medyo naalala kona si Pidirt.

Nagbakasyon si Pidirt last December at January sa Kabacan from London kung saan sya nag ta trabaho ngayon kasama ang kanya asawa at dalawang anak.

Sabi ni Jick-jack, napagkwentohan daw nila ni Pidirt yung pangyayari ng tsansang nakita ako ni Pidirt sa SM pagkatapos nilang mawalan ng pera.

Jick-jack was a dental student noon. The first time I saw her was when she arrived for a summer vacation from Quezon City and Davao in Kabacan.

Few minutes after she arrived, she volunteered to do the laundry that day, a household chore that was so tasking it extended for two more days to complete. Of course, in an extended family of more than 10 including 5 children, di ko na rin matandaan kung ilang baretang sabon ang naubos ni Jick-jack noon.

kahapon

2010-02-25T02:35:00.002+03:00

A look back at the gate of my university days makes me smile. Who would not when it brings back beautiful and fond memories of my true friends, romance, old flames and lost virginity inside that more than 10,000 hectares of vast agricultural state university.

Last night, thanks to Facebook, I chanced upon a name of an old flame..

Mashala! Parang timang akong nakangising asong tigang.

The photos of the university radio station surprised me. That facility among other things have been the bone of contention during our campus struggle almost three decades ago. The façade of the Engineering Building is now standing tall with a satellite dish while the tennis courts are all freshly painted.

There are also old buildings like the Cafeteria where an overcooked adobong string beans became an inspiration of protest songs inside the campus. Although aside from those songs, romance with my first ever love developed. There are the old College building where now a few quickies were done innocently.

It was in the men’s dormitory where I was once tagged as the queen.

But this blog is about a handsome boy who once lived at the back of the dorm. Actually there were three cutie guys that lived at the back of my dorm.

One, later became a shower buddy while the second guy slept with me once at my friend’s house.

The third is tukayo. We once hit it inside a rest room of a resto bar just outside the university and we never met again until I bumped on him in Riyadh a decade ago. Obviously, a more interesting and outrageous event occurred on my bed.

Tukayo is now back in Mindanao who is eagerly sharing me his life through FB. He now has two cute sons who are now in college.

Hay buhay.

buryong

2010-02-18T00:37:00.000+03:00

It’s my week-end and probably my last one in Riyadh for a while.

While my favorite blogger is feeling guilty after escaping work for a day, am also contemplating of rushing to Manila and Davao to run away from the rigors of work.

I suddenly felt burning out. I wanna run out of the office before I scream on the face of my superiors. Yesterday, I argue and almost lost my cool against my office-mates.

Although bebeh wants me to go home on mid May, I really have to take a break.

All I need now is to get my boss final approval next week and find a cheap round trip air ticket back home.

I had my work lined up for the whole week including orienting my officemate of my daily and monthly tasks. I just hope I could finish the February payroll by then.

Also, I still need to pack the things I have to ship and bring home. Whew.

I urgently need that good hard body massage.

tya inez

2010-02-06T22:47:00.002+03:00

Mainit ang ulo ko. Naiinis ako. Di ko alam kung bakit.

Sa ngayon, asar-talo ako sa FB ko. Ka chat ko sya, sabi nya nag-iinit daw sya sa mga messages ko pero ang tagal nyang mag reply. Obvious na may ka chat na iba.

Sinubukan ko na kausapin ng tagalog, nag rereply sya.

“Mahal kita,” sabi ko.

“Mahal na mahal kita,” sagot nya.

Ma itot ta,” send ko sa kanya.

“malala na kati mo,” sagot nya.

Doon tumaas ang presyon ko sa selos. paano nya masagot ng ganon na di naman sya pinoy?

Kausap ng fuck-buddy kong cute ang girlfriend nyang taga Ilo-ilo. Ang bweset kasing domestic helper, naagaw ang taga Far East kong sex-mate.

Bi kasi sya. Nawili sa tsimeaa na nakilala nya sa supermarket. Ayon, di ko na halos mahagilap ang bata kong hagip. Di pa naman nya na jerjer, am sure. thorjack na thorjack na ang FB ko pero wala naman silang pwesto. Kaya siguro gusto rin ako pagparausan ng FB ko.

Pero naiinis ako. Sabi kasi nya, di nya raw uubusin ang time nya sa girl nyang Ilongga.

Pero kahapon, tinanong ako ni FB, “How can I get a visa to the Philippines,”

Yun na, Tya Inez. Kainis.

kaibigan

2010-02-05T12:10:00.001+03:00

Thanks to Facebook. The networking site has given me a shot in the arm after I saw a birthday message for my youngest brother a name so familiar. Princess Katrina is my longest friend’s daughter back in my college days.

Princess was like four or five years old then and her siblings are so dear to me. As in love na love ko lahat ng anak ng kaibigan kong ito.

Orpha is such a lovely lady. Very practical, a very good cook and a lovely singer. She is a trooper. I don’t drive motorbikes but she does.

The last time we were together, she dropped me at the NAIA for my Riyadh flight. But I felt guilty after arriving in the Kingdom. I made a big blunder that made my friend in trouble. She was okay. She got off the hook but that incident made me hide in my cave for years.

Now, with one click I am reconnected with my friend of around a quarter of century ago.

Last week, my friend dropped her eldest son to NAIA again. I know she would miss Neil.

Neil is the eldest of the siblings. Wafu na talaga si Didik noon pa and he is very loving sa mga kapatid nya kahit puro pasaway sila.

Neil is now happily married with two kids. He works in U.K. and was only on vacation for two months.

The second is Laurence who is now, of all places, working in Iraq. What can I say. Laurence is the cutest among the siblings. Pretty face. Kamukha sya ng pinsan ni Orpha na si Joel, who now works in Laos as an education consultant of Asian Development Bank.

Then it’s Princess, now a dentist. Nagkakilala pala sila ng bunso kong kapatid sa nursing school. Classmate sila. Princess quit the nursing school and attended her clinic in Davao City. Also in that clinic is a small travel agency owned and managed by Princess’s boyfriend.

Sa clinic, naka chat ko kanina si Princess na katabi pala ang friend ko na mama nya. Bongga talaga.

Then si Moymoy. Malambing si Moymoy. Mabait, ngayon ang laki-laki na nya. Ang ganda rin ng girlfriend nya. Police na sa GenSan si Moymoy.

Then ang pinaka baby ni Orphs ay si Matu. Nakakatuwa si Matu kasi pagnagtatampo sa friend ko noon ay lumalayo at umaakyat sa sako-sakong mais o palay na nakasalansan noon sa tindahan. Pero after ng saglit na tampo ay magkaka-bati na sila ng mommy at super sweet na naman ang dalawa na napakasarap tingnan ng mag-ina.

Ngayon, may anak na pala si Matu na kamukhang-kamukha niya, si Gabriel.

Noong minsan nag chat kami ni Princess, kalaro ng friend ko si Matu.

Nagbalik lahat ang ala-ala ko sa bahay ng kaibigan ko, 25 years ago.

Halos lahat ng kapatid ng asawa ni Orpha ay kaibigan ko rin, lalo la si Erwin na super crush ko noon pa. Si Benjie naman ang friendly rin pero si Onet ay napangasawa rin nya ang isa ko pang friend na teacher ko sa Theater Arts. Andami kong masyang ala-ala sa buhay ng friend ko.

I miss you all, Yambao family.

Happy

2010-01-31T21:54:00.002+03:00

Thanks God!

My sister-in-law passed the nursing board exam. `Tis a very good reason to be happy.

Masaya rin na ang pamangkin ko na penpal ko dati bago pa sumikat ang email ay nagpaparating through her youngest sibling na gusto nya mag umpisa ng small selling business and tapping to support them. I would be very pleased to support hese two beautiful daughters of my beloved brother. I wish them -- tingting and mikay – best of luck.

Masaya rin ako kasi nakausap ko si bebe kanina. He expressed his eagerness to work overseas by joining me here in the Saudi capital. Sabi ko sa kanya, hold on to his job while we look for the best channel to be deployed here legally. My beb misses me so much as he asks me not to leave him. Masaya naman ang feeling na may nahuhumaling pa sa akin despite my ugliness.

Masaya rin na pumayag yung amo ko na magbakasyon ako after my collegues 21-day vacation. Right now, I have to save money for my air ticket and allowance to keep me alive for my much awaited vacay.

Masaya dahil legal na ang work status ko dito after my sponsorship has been successfully transferred. Although napakalaki ng gastos at until June ko pang babayaran ang loans ko para lang ma transfer ako ay masaya na rin na may peace of mind.

Super saya rin kasi may bulong-bulongan na bibigyan ako ng performance bonus ng aming CEO, whom I served for few weeks during his secretary’s annual vacation.

Sana totoo para masayang-masaya.

blag

2010-01-27T00:02:00.002+03:00

Hate na hate ko ang magkasipon. Eto na yata ang pinakaayaw ko sa mga sakit ko. Nakakairita. May allergy kasi ako na rhinitis kaya parang tubig pag tumulo ang sipon ko. Kainis.

Andami pang work sa office. Ang walang katapusang monthly statistical reports ng company, payroll, medical insurance claims at data cleansing campaign, liban sa regular daily work routine on employment recruitment at visa processing.

Andami ko ring personal na bagay na dapat gawin. Isa na rito ang pag samsam ng krismas tri na matagal na dapat natago sa storage room. May mga ipabagahe pa akong mga lighting fixtures para sa bahay ko sa Davao. Di pa rin naempake.

Di ko pa nabili yung bagong laptop para makapagpahinga na ang 10-year old kong Vaio. Ang bigay sa aking Black Berry ay di ko pa rin napapagana. I need to get it configured with a new SIM chip.

I really need help pero wala namang may ganang tumulong sa akin. Lumalapit na lang yata sila kung may problema sa pera. Ano ba naman yan. Di naman ako si Money Villar.

Buti na lang bumabalik na ang mga favorite kong Bloggers gaya ni Bernadette, Batchoi Boy, Mandaya, Spoolarist, Jericho at Rey. Thanks sa walang absent na blog ni Soul Jacker at ni Fuschiaboy DP of Siem R.

Nakakaenganyo tuloy na magsulat muli. Pero dapat bili na rin ako ng matagal ko ng planong bagong digital cam.

Kelan kaya ako magkakapera?

new year na beh

2010-01-01T18:16:00.000+03:00

So many things happened but I cant explain why I can’t write.

All I could recall is that after my bebe survived the Superferry sinking, it seems that my adrenalin to write has been exhausted.

Parang wala anmang maniwala sa rason na ito. Kaya sige na, sulat na lang ng sulat.

Nag 2010 na kanina. Andaming welcome greetings sa FB account ko. Parang nakakasuka na. Naisip ko tuloy, bakit ba napaka big deal magka new year na kung tutuusin ay parang patuloy lang naman ang pagsikat ng isang ordinaryong araw.

Aged people has thought of grouping 365 days and as far as I can remember, we celeberate the end and the beginning of each year. Sa Pilipinas, paputok at ingay ang pangsalubong sa bagong grupong ng 365 na araw samantalang karaniwan ng super busy ang huling araw sa pamamalengke ng mga bilog na prutas upang isalubong sa bagong taon.

Marami ring pagkain sa new year kaya kahapon, napag-isipan kong magluto ng puto at arroza valenciana. Pero di pa ako nakabili ng chorizo bilbao.

Ang puto naman, nasa loob ng room ng flat-mate ko yung sugar.

AYoko naman lumabas ng apartment kasi ang ginaw ginaw.

Buti na lang si Zamo at ang asawa nya at anak ay namigay ng seafood bihon at macaroni salad.

At least meron pagkain sa dining table.

In Riyadh, this Christmas and new year holidays are not celebrated. Kaya, ilang taon na rin akong nasanay na dumaan ang bagong set of 365 days pagkatapos dumaan ang lumang taon.

There was no firecrackers. Like an ordinary wee-end, the old year just past.

Anyhow, the puto is done. I got the sugar out of my flatmate’s room.

Happiness

2009-09-13T23:27:00.005+03:00

Last night, I stood up the company’s Iftar Party. Iftar is the breaking of the fast among Muslims and an Iftar Party is being held to observe a Muslim culture where fasting is not only abstaining from food, water and sex from dawn to dusk but also as one of the pillars of a religion.

Sadly, I preferred to get a good sleep than feast on the food, which my doctor advised me to refrain from.

Before I fell into my slumber, I got my favorite blogger’s tweet wishing me for “happiness.” That made my first smile of the day.

Today, work was again up to the neck. I had to rush and finish the backlogs, such as the awards for the Top Three Call Center Agents of the month, payroll for contractual workers, pending insurance enrollments, applicants’ interview, administering applicants’ test, manpower budget review and after the time clocked at 3PM, my boss dropped the last task.

Ramadan Bonus for the Contractual Workers.

I rushed to do the thing. I saw the CEO and my boss signatures already on the papers.

Went to the figures after figuring that my name was there. Saw some figures higher than the figure parallel my name.

Went over it again. Five names had higher figures. It just one month basic salary and since I had been doing the payroll for the passed three years I should know better.

I conferred to my boss the observation I had before I left to escort his guest waiting at the lobby.

When his guest arrived, my boss agreed with me asking where the hell he got the figures.

Whew, I had to call the Finance Department in order for them to do some overtime work in order to have the printing of extra checks aside from the September salary.

I thought the Ramadan bonus was the only happiness that came into my life today.

When I arrived home, I rushed to grab a bite of the pansit and lumpia left over I had for breakfast. It is really so starving after a day of fast at work.

While eating, I boot up my laptop and when I saw an offline message, it was Beh.

He got a new cheap cell phone from the 11K pesos that ATS gave to him after jumping more than 40 feet from the ship to the dark blue sea and floated more than five hours in the Zamboanga Peninsula waters before he was fished out by a cargo ship while his cousin that was separated from him was plucked from the Malaysian waters.

“My SIM card is still working, please call me,” the message.

I rushed to call. I don’t know how many minutes it was but happiness brought tears into my eye talking to my baby. He is really alive and he still remembers and loves me.

"I nearly died but am still alive and I do love you," my partner said. I love him more than ever.

lumitaw

2009-09-10T12:52:00.002+03:00

It was 6:34.11AM today when my ym was ringing. I was only able to wake up during the last three rings. I had to connect my earphones fast to accept the call but the 30 second-ring was done.

I missed the call. It was my beh.

He left a note:

beh..ok lang ko,d2 na ako manila,txt nlang kta pag may cp na ako,na apil jud ka lunod tanan gamit nku,

parang ako na naman ang nalunod.

pastilan, dude!

lumubog

2009-09-06T21:30:00.012+03:00

I could hardly believe that a ship carrying my ever dearest babe sunk. Three hours before life jackets were distributed my babe sent me an SMS urging me to call. It was the third SMS asking me to call him but the last one added, “habang may signal pa.”

Despite my 3 minute-call load left, I called my ever beloved. Di ko matiis, ang lambing at sweet kasi ng bebeh ko eh.

During our call he first described how he enjoyed the cold breeze caressing his face but told me the waves are strong and that their ship has stopped and there were no lights in the ferry.

“Madilim. Naka killing yung barko beh. Marami nga ang natakot at nagsigawan kanina,” he told me asking what the time was. It was five minutes before 7PM, Riyadh time. Almost midnight in the Philippines. He said they were already around Zamboanga after sailing in the morning from Gensan.

About three hours later, I was waiting for The OC to show when I chance a brief news that Superferry 9 is sinking.

I could not sleep anymore. I was late in reporting to the office and I could not count how many times I sneaked surfing the websites for news of the sinking ferry. I told three officemates about the incident as well as my babe’s cousin who is also working here.

While waiting for new developments about the ill-fated ship, I kept on hearing my beb's voice.

"Nag resign ako sa call center beh para pumunta ng Maynila at doon ako mag apply ng overseas job para magkikita tayo sa Riyadh," he told me last Friday when he informed me that he is going to Manila with his mother's sister and three cousins via a ship from Gensan.

Only at 4:47PM when I read his name on the list of rescued passengers that I cried so hard.

I love you beh. I could not wait seeing you in person, alive.

Thanks God.

homophobes

2009-08-12T19:19:00.000+03:00

Etong mga hinayupak na mga politico ay dapat ihabla at ikulong habambuhay upang di pamarisan.

Ayon sa balita ng ABS-CBNnews.com etong si Prospero Nograles at Sixto Brillantes ay parehong mga walang grading Pilipino. Ewan kung saan nag-aral ang dalawang gunggong na eto at kung bakit inihahalintulad sa bakla ang mga ugaling di nila gusto sa isa’t isa.

Anong akala nila s amga bakla? Di marunong magdesisyon at nagpapabor sa inhustisya?

Basahin nyo ang balitang nasa ibaba at aralin nating mga bakla kung ano ang dapat natinggawin sa kanila. Now na.

Lawyer files ethics case vs Nograles, calls Speaker 'gay'
________________________________________
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 08/12/2009 11:41 PM

MANILA - Lawyer Sixto Brillantes has filed an ethics complaint against Speaker Prospero Nograles for failing to act on the electoral tribunal case against Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez.

Brillantes even went as far as calling Nograles “gay” for allegedly siding with Fernandez.

“Para siyang babae,” Brillantes said referring to Nograles. “Hindi makapagdesisyon.”

Last May the House Electoral Tribunal deemed Fernandez unqualified to become a congressman for the first district of Laguna. The ruling said Fernandez failed to prove his one-year residency in the district.

However, Nograles has yet to act on the ruling.

Brillantes said that this has prompted him to file a complaint against Nograles before the House ethics committee.

"The other theory behind the Speaker's inaction appears preposterous but some quarters insist its true: the Speaker is gay and had fallen for Dan Fernandez," said Brillantes.

The lawyer even gave out press kits which said that Fernandez is Nograles’ type which is why the Speaker has allowed the Laguna congressman to keep his post.

Fernandez, meanwhile, told Brillantes not to muddle the issue. He even challenged the lawyer to sign the paper he disseminated to media to back up his claims.

“Huwag sana ibahin ang level ng laban, pambabastos ito sa pagkatao kung totoo na lover ako, walang kinalaman ito sa kaso,” he said.

Nograles, for his part, fired back at Brillantes.

"The filing of ethics case is premature and baseless. The case is still under appeal with the Supreme Court, it is best to be cautious…we don't want to end up implementing something that can be reversed by the Supreme Court," he said.

He also warned Brillantes from testing his patience.

"Huwag niya akong subukan. He certainly looks more gay than me," said the Speaker. With a report from Sheryl Mundo, ABS-CBN News
as of 08/12/2009 11:43 PM

Ngayon, sabihin ninyo kung tama ba ang mga hukluban na to?

singko bawat txt

2009-08-07T01:21:00.003+03:00

Letse na talaga itong gobyerno ni Gloria.

Singkong sentimos na buwis sa bawat txt na naman ang pinapasa sa kongreso para magkapondo ang gobyerno na walang kredibilidad liban sa pagdepensa sa mga pangungurakot nito.

Ayon sa balita:

A bill that formalizes an earlier proposal to impose a five-centavo excise tax on mobile telecommunication services has been filed at the House of Representatives.
House Bill (HB) 6625, titled: "An act imposing excise tax on every short message service, message service, and multimedia service sent from mobile phones and on every overseas dispatch, message or conversation originating from the Philippines," authored by Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald V. Singson (1st district) seeks to generate more revenues for the government.

The proposed excise tax adds to the 12% value-added tax, import tax, spectrum user fee, and spectrum regulatory fee already imposed on mobile telecommunication services.

Kagaya ng con as, dapat labanan at tutulan ito. Ibasura kasama ni Gloria.

singko bawat txt

2009-08-07T01:21:00.002+03:00

Letse na talaga itong gobyerno ni Gloria.

Singkong sentimos na buwis sa bawat txt na naman ang pinapasa sa kongreso para magkapondo ang gobyerno na walang kredibilidad liban sa pagdepensa sa mga pangungurakot nito.
Ayon sa balita:
A bill that formalizes an earlier proposal to impose a five-centavo excise tax on mobile telecommunication services has been filed at the House of Representatives.
House Bill (HB) 6625, titled: "An act imposing excise tax on every short message service, message service, and multimedia service sent from mobile phones and on every overseas dispatch, message or conversation originating from the Philippines," authored by Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald V. Singson (1st district) seeks to generate more revenues for the government.
The proposed excise tax adds to the 12% value-added tax, import tax, spectrum user fee, and spectrum regulatory fee already imposed on mobile telecommunication services.
Kagaya ng con as, dapat labanan at tutulan ito. Ibasura kasama ni Gloria.

laruan

2009-07-29T01:11:00.002+03:00

Naduduwal ako. Nagsusuka ako ng hangin. Eto palagi ang nangyayari sa akin kapag nate-tense ako. Paano naman kasi, muntik ko na kasing di mapigilan ang tukso.

Nasa rooftop ako para samahan si Zambo na ayusin ang bagong antena na binili namin upang marelay yung internet signal ko sa apartment ni Zambo na may 3 kilometro ang layo sa pad ko.

Di ko namalayan na habang minamasdan ko si Zambo sa itaas ng penthouse ay sumunod pala sa akin ang isang ruggedly handsome na kapitbahay ko.

Namalayan ko na lang na may kumikiskis sa may bandang pigi ko. Una sa kaliwa at nang gumalaw ako ay sa kanan naman. Nang lingunin ko ay wala syang katakot-takot na tumitig sa akin. Maya maya pa ay binuksan nya ang kanyang zipper at nilabas ang napakalaki at medyo maitim na ari.

Nagpupumiglas ako ng hawakan nya ang braso ko at pilit nilapit sa titi nya ang kamay ko. Pero sa kinalaunan ay naingganyo akong hawakan.

Eto yung tipo ng titi na kung mahulog ka sa bangin at nahawakan mo ito ay sigurado akong ligtas ako dahil sa tigas at laki ng mga ugat.

Pero pumasok sa aking isipan ang baklang Pinoy na hinuli last week dahil nahuling nakipaghimuran sa isang katutubo sa kanyang tindahang binabantayan na isang bloke lang ang layo sa apartment ko.

Bigla akong natauhan at dali-dali kong binitawan ang aking hinahawakan dahil sa aking naisip na baka mahulog nga ako sa bangin ng tukso.

Dali dali akong umikot at tinungo ang pintuang bakal palabas at pababa ng roof deck.

Hinabol ako ng lalaki at mabuti na lang at pababa na rin si Zambo. Nagulat sya ng bumalikwas ako bigla sa muling paghawak ng lalaki sa braso ko.

Una ay medyo nag-aalala si Zambo sa akin ngunit na mapagwari nya ang pangyayari ay medyo napangiti sya na natuwa sa aking naging karanasan.

Alam kasi ni Zambo na isang taon na ako ngayong tigang mula ng umuwi ako sa Pilipinas at nakilala ang aking bagong kasintahan.

Walong oras na ang nakaraan ngunit muli na naman akong nagduduwal ng maalala ko na naman ang nangyari.

Di mailingid sa bakla kong isipan na nanghihinayang akong di napiga ang katas ng napakalaking laruang mainit-init.

Haiz.

Change

2009-07-25T22:26:00.003+03:00

Like each day that I change my underwear, I love change. NOT CHARTER CHANGE.

Yes. As an overseas Filipino worker, I want to change not the Philippine constitution but the kind of services that the Philippine embassy should extend to the Filipinos in Riyadh. I want them to be more effective, more reaching out to the distressed and exploited Filipinos. More action than words of promises.

More jail visitations and not condemnation of Filipino prisoners. I want them to change from hosting more parties and festivities to a more socially-relevant events and to do concrete actions towards educating the OFWS and effecting change in order to redeem the credibility and superiority of the Filipino worker.

Change the image of the Philippine embassy officials to sgenuine public servant rather than sitting ducks and arm-chair diplomats.

Until there are no more distress calls from abused OFWs and jailed OFWs that I receive regularly, change is the order of the day. Now na!

am yours

2009-07-13T00:10:00.001+03:00

“I belong to you”. These four words mean surrendering oneself to the second party but a participant in the workshop I attended contested that he only belongs to himself.

So egotistic. But I could not blame him. The native claims to be culturally “on top of everything” but not necessarily superior in my personal view. I hope the four-day workshop would turn him upside down as I intend to discover new ways of tackling life. Perhaps, later, I would reevaluate myself and my lifestyle and suit myself to what I will learn in the workshop.

The facilitator gave as an assignment on what shold be my new responsibility in life following the workshop.

I would surely be looking into loving myself and be in control of my emotions. After all, only me will be able to manage my well-being.

I would not be responsible for the degradation of life and my community. I will be for a healthy and tension-free life.

Aaaaoooooommmmm…….

chat

2009-07-03T13:45:00.002+03:00

si joel ay isang barista sa isang coffe shop, one block away from my pad in riyadh. mag iisang taon na akong di napasyal sa cafe nila. although paminsan minsan nakiikita ko sa sa cyberspace.

minsan nga ay pina view nya sa akin ang mga private pictures nya. mapulapula ang hugis helmet na ari nya. marami-rami rin ang malapot na tamod na sinahod nya sa kamay nya habang naglalaro sya minsa sa loob ng banyo nya.

Bigla na lang sya nag ym sa akin while browsing and blog-hopping last night.

joel: hi
beb: helo
joel: musta?
beb: tigang
beb: ikaw?
joel: nkkkantot naman kahit papano
beb: buti ka pa. sana ako rin makantot mo
joel: ang hirap mo kc hanapin
beb: bakit, hinanap mo ba ako?
joel: oo
beb: bakit?
joel: para mkipagfrend
beb: friend-ly sex?

Mahigit isang oras bago sya sumagot.

joel: of course not

natulog na ako.

Welfare Case

2009-06-28T22:34:00.000+03:00

Sya si Melba Villaluz, 34 years old. Dumating sya sa Riyadh noong March 31, 2009 para pumasok sa isang kompanya ng Anasban.

Isang notoryus na kompanya ang Anasban mahigit dekada na ang nakaraan at kilalang kilala na ito ng mga opisyal ng Philippine embassy na maraming reklamo galling sa mga mangagagawa nito. Ang mga reklamo ay di na bago, delayed salary payment, delayed vacation, delayed repatriation, mahilig mag bawas ng sahod.

Pero medyo kakaiba ang reklamo ni Melba. Dalawang lingo lang syang nakapatrabaho dahil mula ng dumating sa Riyadh ay nagka infection ang dating inoperahan sa kanyang gall bladder, nagkaroon ng kidney ailment at meron pang hypertension.

Noon Huwebes, June 25, inatake at nag collapse si Melba. Matagal bago nadal sa clinic. Umbaot sa 180 over 130 ang kanyang blood pressure. Niresetahan sya ng Angiotec na 10 mg, Natrilix SR na 1.5 milligrams at kanina lang sya nakainom ng mga gamut na nireseta, apat na araw ang nakalipas dahil kanina lang nabilihan ng gamot ng Anasban.

Gusto ng umuwi ni Melba sa Pilipinas. Nagpaalam na sya sa kanyang agency na nagdeploy sa kanya, ang Global Job Search In na makikita sa Bangkal Street, Makati. Si Lowela na makokontak sa 02-8453045 ang kanyang contact sa Global Job Search.

Pero ayon sa Global Job Search, kailangan daw ni Melba na bayaran ang ginastos ng Anasban na SR7500 para marecruit si Melba sa Riyadh. Ayon kay Melba, kasama na sa SR7,500 ang tiket ni Melba Villaluz pauwi.

Ang kwento ni Melba, payo sa kanya ng Global Job Search na maghati si Melba at ang clinic na nag kuha ng medical test nya, ang LR Clinic.

“Willing naman na maghati si Melba at ang clinic kung makihati rin daw sa gastos ang Global Job Search.

Paano ba nabato sa akin ang kaso ni Melba?

Si Willy Villaluz ay biglang sumulpot sa aking Yahoo Messenger noong HUwebes. Ayun kay Willy, nakuha raw nya sa Moderator ng POEA Forum sa Palawan ang aking email address. Parang ayokong maniwala kasi, kahit matagal na akong gusting pumunta ng Palawan ay wala kong kakilala doon.

Freedom daw ang nickname ng nag refer sa akin.

Ayon, parang nakokonsensya naman ako na ayaw kunin ang mga pangunahing datos. Nakuha ko ang cellphone number ni Melba at kanina nga, pagkatapos umuwi nga king amo ay tinawagan ko ang numero.

Nakausap ko si Melba.

Gusto gusto na ni Melba na mahilig magsabi ng “as in” na umuwi. Snaa raw ay matulungan sya na mapadali ang pag-uwi.

Ang napayo ko lang kanina kay Melba ay wag mag apura at baka mas lalong tumaas ang presyon nya.

Tinanong ko sya kung payag syang kalampagin ng Migrante Internatonal ang kanyan agency at Clinic na kumilos sa dagliang pag-uwi ni Melba upang itulak ang POEA at OWWA na mapauwi sya.

“Dapat nga rin po pati ang City Peso or Palawan Peso ay tumulong din kasi sila naman po ang nag rekruta sa akin. Si Ailyn Amurao daw ng City Peso ng Palawan ang nagpasa sa kanya sa Global Job Search Inc.

Pero ayun kay Willy na kapatid ni Melba, Nagsulat na raw an POEA at OWWA sa Philippine embassy ng Riyadh pero wala raw reply.

Parang dumarami ang natutulog na kaso sa harap ni Labor Attache Rustico dela Fuente. At sino nga ba yung taga DFA na nakiusap na idulog sa DFA ang mga kaso ng mga problema ng OFWs. Buhay pa ba sila o nahahawaan ng H1N1. Ewan.

sad and lonely

2009-06-23T23:51:00.002+03:00

i feel so helpless and hopeless. i just wanna die to forget all these problems. am so old, too tired to bear all the troubles i am into when all i did was trying to be a good human being. but now, am in deep shit. too bad.

Why did you join this contest?

2009-06-17T20:25:00.004+03:00

Maloka-loka na ako sa mga tanong mula kahapon at ngayon about the 72 or 71 or 69 Filipinos na dinakip sa Riyadh noong Sabado.

Siguro dahil dati akong pobrisitang peryodista noon sa isang English newspaper noon dito sa Riyadh.

Una, isang pinuno ng Migrante ang tumawag sa akin. Binaba ko agad ang tawag after telling him that I would call him back. One phone call in the market and I confirmed the news. 71 Pinoys, kadalasan bading ang inaresto ng mga religious police.

Ayon sa aking source, birthday daw ang isang Pinoy. Nagpaparty. Nag-imbita ng mga firends kasama anga kanya kanyang friends sa isang esterhaha.

Kung okray ka, pwede mong isiping nagpasiklab si birthday celebrator? Siguro, isip nya, mayaman na sya kaya nagmayabang at nag-imbita ng mga kaibigan kahit alam na alam na delikado.

Nag-imbita pa ng ibang lahi at (sana mali ang aking source) nagdala pa raw ng inumin na nakakalasing.

Kung pa intelektwal naman ang pag-iisip mo, pwede mong isipin na dahil kasi sa kultura ng Pinoy. Kinagigisnan na ang mag celebrate ng birthday. Pakain sa mga utaw, kahit bukas o sa makakalawa ay wala ng budget sa pagkain. Para lang ba masabi na mataas na ang tayog nya sa ekonomiya at pwedena syang maging Hostisya de San Jose. Kasi nga di naman nakapagpabongga noong dating purisa pa si Pinoy.

Kung maka-migrante ka naman, pwedeng sabihing dahil nalulungkot sa araw ng kanilang birthday ay nag decide na magdaos ng pampasaya para mawala ang homesickness ng OFW.

Kung baga, part of social life na iwaglit ang kalungkutan na mapawalay sa piling ng pamilya dahil nga ang objective ng pagiging overseas worker ay para mairaos sa kahirapana ng pamilya dahil wala namang desenteng trabaho sa Pilipinas.

Kadalasan talaga, kapag marami ang dadalo, esteraha ang gawing venue dito sa Kaharian. Di kasi uubra ang hotel kasi masyadong istrikto sa mga requirements at syempre, di makapag paraos ang mga makakati pa sa gabi.

Ang Esterahah ay isang resort na pinapaprentahan sa Riyadh nga mahigit isang daang dolyar hanggang 500 daang dolyar, depende sa laki. Kadalasan meron itong swimming pool, palaruan gay ang volleyball court, football court, malaking receiving hall na pwedeng mapag dausan ng isang malaking pagtitipon.

Nilubos lubos ang pagtitipon, nag pageant. MG as in Miss Gay. Yun bang ginagawa sa Pilipinas kung may pyesta na meron rarampa at question and answer at talent portion.

Ayun. Unang signos, may mga military daw na kumatok, tiningnan ang paligid dahil nagtaka sa ingay na naririnig s alugar. Di naman natinag ang grupo. Umalis ang mga otoridad sa pinagdausan.

Pero naging mas maingay ang grupo. Dumating na hindi nila namalayan ang mas conservatibong mga religious police. Inakyat ang bakod. Pasok.

Yun na ang kwento.

Iniimagine ko na lang ang mga otoridad sa kanilang tanong.

“Why did you join this contest?”

Well, ang latest news kahapon, nakalabas na daw ang iba sa mga nakulong dahil pinuntahan ngkanilang mga companya at sponsor.

Ang sabi naman sa news na tinawagan ang Philippine embassy ay napakawalan na daw lahat pero naka blacklist na daw ang 69 na Pinoy na hinuli.

I am sure, may mga kaso na ito sila lahat na nakasampa at siguradong di mapapauwi ang mga ito na di maaring di dumaan sa kulungan at mapalo.

I am sure, gustong gusto ng mga bading na mag perform ng kani kanilang talent sa loob ng kulungan.

Pwede kaya yun?

Ang init pa naman ngayon sa Riyadh. Am sure super hot din at amoy pawis ang mga kakosa nila doon.

Buti na lang nasa labas na sila, pero paano kung tawagin na sila at ikarsel na during their jail term. Bihira pa naman nakakaligtas sa mga kasong ganito.

Noon, meron nangyaring ganito sa Qatiff. Yung isang bading lumusot sa butas ng window type na air-con at yung isa, nagkasyang tumakas sa loon ng maliit na imburnal na concrete pipe. Whew.

Meron ding nangyaring ganito noons sa Holiday Inn na birthday party. Nag gown ang mga bading. Julie andrew at Julie Yad Daza rin sila.

Ayon sa siang balita kanina, ang sabi kasi ng taga embassy, freed na raw ang mga Pinoy at take note, wala raw ni isa ang humingi ng tulong sa Philippine embassy.

Tinatanong pa ba yan kung bakit?

lamig after init

2009-05-17T23:50:00.002+03:00

four nights din akong nagtiis. mula miyerkules, walang airconditioner ang bedroom ko. natiguk. nitiurok.

thursday ay bumili ako ng new aircon gamit ang credit card ko. kaso, sunday at 8PM pa raw ma deliver sa bahay ko ang pampalamig sa 36 degrees na gabi sa bansang puno ng disyerto.

sabi ni papi sammy at ni alvin noong friday, nasira raw ang fan motor.

dahil naawa sa ilang gabi pang pagdurusahan ko na walang aircon, pilit gawan ng remedyo ni alvin ang lumang aircon.

binuhay ang patay. hinugot at binaba ang aircon sa sahig. hinubaran. tapos pinatakan ng mantika ang butas ng motor fan.

pinaikot, tapos inilagay sa butas ng electric outlet ang dulo ng alambreng nakakabit sa power ng aircon.

gumana.

lumamig ang mainit na gabi. pero sandali lang.

pagaganahin uli sa pamamagitan ng pagpapaikot sa fan blades bago i switch on ang aircon. nakakaloka.

i need to carefully drag my 90-kilo body to step on a stool para maabot ko ang fan blades at i spin towards the right and then reach for the power switch at the wall behind the lcd tv sitting on my computer table.

then pray that my spin will start the ac working with after having turned on. whew!

at 8pm, my flatmate called me. the delivery men arrived but only to find out when i arrived that the ac that they brought is not the correct model that i bought. that unit wa snot the remote-controlled chilling device.

but before that, what was more chilling was when a traffic police halted the car which papi sammy, ronron and his newly arrived brother-n-law were riding with me. we made a wrong turn to a -one-way street.

i didnt care about the wrong way violation but i was so frightened knowing that the residence permit of one of us is already expired.

it was so good that the police listened to our driver's reason and apologies without asking for our documents.

this happeneed while the lightning, and kulog and a little ambon with dust are grabbing riyadh's attention.

so chilling. thanks a lot. my brand new ac is now mounted with the remote control.

now my room is so cold. i need to have some body to sleep with. where are they?

alec baldwin laughing at the pinay mail-order-bride

2009-05-14T01:26:00.003+03:00

it was past one in the hot wee hours of riyadh and i was still panicking and panting after my very old AC conked out few hours back.

I remember i need to take my maintenance drug for my hypertension and diabetis but felt hungry. so, i ate the last part of boiled mongo with rice when suddenly i hear alec baldwin laughing his heart out of his wanting to have a filipino mail-order-bride in the late night show with david lettermen.

for sure, tomorrow, Gabriela and other concerned filipino groups will howl protests on alec baldwin statement.

merese ka!

estafa

2009-05-07T18:09:00.002+03:00

Just few minutes ago, Elmer called me up accusing me of spreading rumors about his inability to pay loans.

Apparently, a friend of Elmer has spoken to him about a woman looking for my office-mate in order to collect a nearly year-old loan amounting to about SR5000. Two of Elmer’s friends had guaranteed him of his loan and now the guarantors are worried about Elmer’s absence.

Elmer has taken an in-Kingdom vacation and has collected his two-month salary. One of the guarantors told me that they could no longer locate Elmer after he promised that part of the two-month salary is already earmarked for payment of his loan. Three of Elmer’s cell phone is no longer reachable plus the discovery that Elmer moved to a new apartment.

I used my network to locate Elmer and even before I could get information on where Elmer is staying, the loan-evader harassed me of spreading rumors about him.

As far as I called recall, it was my boss who informed me of Elmer having abused the facility of salary advance.

As a Filipino, I felt embarrassed that Elmer has been requesting salary advance each first week of the month.

Now, the Finance Chief has cut his salary advance addiction.

The bottom line is this Filipino can not manage fiancés in spite of the fact that he works in the Finance Department.

I wonder why some Filipinos, even how high-paying their job is could not learn how to save and manage their finances.

I remember my dear boyfriend who always reminds me of his favorite quote.

“Success is not measured on how much salary you get when working overseas; it always depends on how much you save for your future.”

I realized, when Elmer called me, he was more aggressive in protecting his wasteful lifestyle.

Incidentally, I have to collect monies that friends owed me. These so called friends need to realize that aside from the monetary amount that I am after, it is the principle of gathering respect after I trusted them of my hard-earned money. Instead, I got rebuked. What a pity.

noodles

2009-04-18T21:17:00.003+03:00

I was queueing towards the cashier of a hypermarket in Riyadh When my attention was dragged by the skinny but good-looking Filipino who bought one instant noodle and one apple. The lone apple cost only SR1.40 while the instant noodles was probably SR0.95 or SR1. He paid three riyals but never got the change. It is not uncommon in Riyadh that loose change are no longer given to customers whose bills have loose change for lack of coins in the counter.

Medyo nanghinayang ako sa baryang di nakuha ni kabayan pero mas naukit sa akin ang iisang noodles at apple na kakainin ni kabayan.

Para sa akin kasi, parang saglit lang maglaho ang 2 instant fried noodles pagniluto ko. Bitin ang kabusugan ko sa dalawang paketeng Inodo-Mei. Pero saludo ako sa isang mansanas. Baka nag da diet si kabayan. Pero palagay ko, wala talagang pera si Kabayan na nagkasya na lang sa pagbili ng isang instant noodle at mansanas.

Sa uniporme ni kabayan na kulay berde, di malayong isa syang salesman o warehouseman sa isang tindahan sa mall or possible ring isang crew sa isang food chain.

Halos isang buwan na rin ang nakalipas ang tagpong yun but I instantly recalled this when one of my co-workers emailed me a short note, probably intending to warn us about a possible health hazard of an instant pancit canton.

According to email, a 25-year old friend of another co-worker died early morning after eating pancit canton.

The death news came while I was cramming with my work in the office including checking the insurance enrollment of all company employees together with their family members and seeing to it that the personnel requisition for two new employees are processed and the salary offer and employment contracts are all signed before their joining date, among other things such as company cheques to be pushed for signing, summing up the 2009 expenses of our government liaison officer, seeing to it that the multiple exit re-enty visas of some middle management officers are done, my other colleagues are only passing emails about noodles.

"Buti pa sila, nag eemail lang while my work is literally all up to my neck."

Oh well, it was about a death of a 25-year old Filipino that allegedly ate noodles few hours before his death. Binangungot daw dahil sa pagkain ng noodles.

> kanina madaling araw mga 3AM... ang 25 y.o. na friend ni Cesar from
> Jeraisy ay namatay sa BANGONGOT.
>
> Dahil nanalo kahapon ng Laptop sa raffle draw ay nagluto daw cla doon sa
> villa ng pancit canton...in short, pancit ang huling kinain ng kaibigan ni
> cesar.
>
> Healthy naman daw ung tao, walang sakit, medium lang ang katawan.
>
> Well, baka nagkataon lang na pancit ang kinain...or talagang tama ung
> scientific explanation na hindi maganda kumain ng noodles sa gabi...

Few minutes after I receive that email, another email popped on my screen. An immediate reaction from one of the recipients, also a co-worker.

 ACCORDING TO STUDIES:
>
> Pancit ay gawa sa flour. Nag-e-expand at nag-a-absorb ng maraming liquid.
> Kung natulog ka na di pa natunaw ang kinain mong pansit ma-dehydrate ka
> at yan ang ikinamamatay. Kailangan if you eat noddles sa gabi, uminom ka
> ng
> maraming liquid para di ma-dehydrate at mamatay na tulog.
>
> Kaya di ako kumakain ng noddles before sleeping....he he he

Naisip ko agad, “may post-mortem na agad sila sa bangungot at singled out na talaga ang noodles. Talo pa nila ang forensic expert na si Miss Fortun.”

Dagdag na pumasok sa isipan ko na baka sobrang laki na talaga ng mga sahod nila kaya di na sila kumakain ng instant noodles or talagang masama sa kalusugan ang noodles.

Habang sinusulat ko to, may napansin akong di matawarang noodles story sa website.

A former government supplier accused the Department of Education (DepEd) of allegedly procuring and distributing "overpriced" egg noodles for the government's school feeding program in hunger-stricken provinces last year.
Whelma Lanzuela, president of former government supplier Kolonwel Trading, claimed that DepEd's more than 15 million packs of instant noodles with "fresh eggs" distributed to poor elementary and pre-school pupils last year were overpriced.
Lanzuela said each pack of DepEd's noodles costs P16 to P18, which is three times more expensive than the regular prices of noodles being sold in local stores.
Danilo Quido, sales manager of Kolonwel Trading, added that the nutritional information about the noodles manufactured by DepEd's winning bidder, Jeverps Manufacturing Corp., is deceptive since it really has no protein benefits and added vitamins.
Quido said the company brought samples of the noodles to Vietnam for tests, and the findings showed, "the DepEd fortified instant noodles with fresh egg is made of flour and does not contain any fresh egg but mere egg powder."
Lanzuela and Quido said the DepEd paid Jeverps Manufacturing Corp. P284 million for the noodles.
The two said they had questioned the allegedly overpriced noodles and wrote Education Secretary Jesli Lapus about their findings.
They said they were forced to go to the media after receiving news that the DepEd has awarded Jeverps Manufacturing Corp. the noodles program for this year for P427 million.
'Mixed with fresh eggs and malunggay'
Teodoro Sangil, DepEd Undersecretary for Finance and chairman of the Bids and Awards Committee 1, described Kolonwel Trading's accusation as a way of discrediting DepEd's food for school program.
"Anybody can do that to destroy us," Sangil said, adding that Kolonwel's accusations will not prevent the DepEd from distributing the noodles to less-privileged pupils in Mindanao and Visayas.
He added that Kolonwel is one of the failed bidders of the noodles program.
Sangil also insisted that fresh eggs were mixed with the noodles during the manufacturing process, which was witnessed by DepEd representatives.
"Actually the fresh eggs were mixed with the noodles. The ingredients were processed. Of course, you won't see an actual fresh egg inside the packaging," the DepEd official said.
Meanwhile, Sangil admitted that the noodles were priced higher than the regular noodles being sold in local stores. He said the noodles were made from highly-nutritious ingredients, including fresh eggs and malunggay leaves.
He said the noodles program aims to help malnourished pupils in areas with higher incidence of hunger.
Sangil said that instead of bringing their accusations to the media, Kolonwel Trading should bring the issue to the Office of the Ombudsman.--report from ANTHONY TABERNA, ABS-CBN News

Pagkatapos ko mabasa ang balita sa itaas sa website ng ABS CBN, naisip ko, sana kung totoong makapatay ang instant noodles, ipakain na lang lahat yung noodles sa DepEd officials na responsable sa pagbili ng napakamahal na instant noodles.

Kung di sila mabangungot, maimpacho man lang sana.

salvaging

2009-04-05T03:02:00.006+03:00

“Mapatay ta ka karon.” These words, I heard, coming from my less than 10-year old nephew in Davao more than a decade ago had made me chill. The child of an OFW uttering such words was so casual that not one among my family reacted to his tantrums that made him utter such an “expression.”

The words reverberated these days when the Commission in Human Rights recently did their work in Davao City known as the killing fields of the popular Davao Death Squad.

More than 800 unexplained killings were tallied by non-government organization so far.

In one of my annual vacations, there was a time that three killings occurred in one night just few kilometers from where I was sleeping.

Another killing occurred in front of one of my sexmates one new-year celebration. When my pal narrated few hours later how the killing spared him, I could not blame him how he feared eating dinuguan these days because of the splattered blood in the dining table as scene of the crime.

“Merese.”

I could not forget the single-word reaction of my brother upon knowing that the victim was a small-time weed peddler.

Culled human lives are regularly done in my city in the last 10 years and the counting of the victims is continuing.

I remembered that one day before I left for Riyadh, I told one of my brothers to look into what I heard thay my old and forgetful mother was duped again by one old tricycle driver with more than 10,000 pesos loan. She never got paid.

Few weeks after I returned to the Saudi capital, my best friend texted me saying that the old man was killed by the dreaded Davao Death Squad. The txt emphasized how my mother cried because she no longer could collect the utang that old man acquired from my mother.

Last year, I saw another brother talking to a believed to be former DDS member raising another case of wrong-doing. Apparently, a case was lodged again. I never heard about it but I will not be surprised if the culprit is no longer breathing these days.

Petty criminals are killed in Davao City.

I wonder if those who owed me money should be exposed in my city. A careless whisper could take a breath away. Patay na sab?

I respect the right to life. I am not in favor of death penalty. The rule of law must be enforced in seeking justice. But when the law is bent to favor the rich and those in power, I have second thoughts of their right to life. Anyway, there is the right to revolt against oppressors.

With the recent torture, rape and killing of a 20-year old teacher, what is really happening in Davao City? Ain't this revolting?

apologies daw oh

2009-04-03T11:43:00.004+03:00

when chip tsao apologized and bowed his head in front of a number of filipino consulate officials and other human beings there, i wondered if the gesture was a sincere realization of fault or another 'i am sorry" drama popularized by gloria aroryo.

i do not know why but with these kind of apologies make me really doubt if i could forgive. at this point, i may be bitter because this kind of drama reminds me of those members of the popular couples of christ in riyadh who borrowed money from me but did not pay.

there are other members of singles of christ too who preferred to forget paying their share of the apartment telephone bills before while there are those friends of them that cried in my front in time of their need for money just to be able to borrow but was so fast in hiding when i approached them to collect their debts.

when i lost job for 18 months, nobody of these i thought were friends cared.

apologies or not, people are really sinners.

one has to have great sense of huge power of sensibilities to trust other people.

parang relasyon ng bading, dapat alamin kung love ba taaga ang umiirtal o piniperahan ka lang ng partner mo.

alamin din kung hatagera concepcion ba ang name mo kung inlababo ka. ako ba yun?

yes, it took me more than a decade to realize that my lover was only after my money and hearing him say sorry just reminds me of other sinners whom should never be trusted. they lost credibility.

late

2009-03-28T19:39:00.002+03:00

Andaming kong naantalang isulat.

Una, nag graduate sa high school yung tinutulungan kong pamangkin last Tuesday. Panay-panay ang txt nya. Nagpaparamdam ba ng pang pyesta sa graduation nya. Pero di ako bumigay. Nasira pa raw kasi yung cellphone nya na wala pang six month na pinadala ko. Byerna.

Ang maganda, yung pinsan kong lasenggero, na dating partner ko paminsan minsan sa mga bisyo ko noong nasa college pa ako, ang pinilit ni Mam Yeng na mag escort sa panganay nilang anak na 20 years old nang mag graduate ng high school.

Yung bespren ko naman ay nagkasya sa pagluto ng isang menu, pork-chicken afritada. Halos mamatay ako sa takam. Lam nyo naman, walang pork (or bihira at mahal kung meron mang ma smuggle) dito sa Kaharian ni Saud.

Ikalawa, birthday ngayon ng kaibigan kong nanay ni Ace. Pot-luck daw kaninang lunch time sa saloon ni Mel.

Nag txt sa akin ang love kong si Ace at naawa naman ako sa kanya na wala raw syang pangregalo sa mother nya.

Medyo nainis ako pero di ko naman masisi kasi un-employed pa rin ang BS Ed graduate kong singer ng banding bihira lang din ang gigs.

Feeling guilty tuloy ako na di natuloy ang pagpunta ni Ace ditto kasi nga naman nag stop hiring ang company na dapt nyang pasuka. Blame it to the global economic meltdown.

At least nasa Heidi’s Place na sila ni Mel at ang bespren ko for some bottles of beer. Sana andoon ako para narinig ko ang kanta ni Ace. Laglag na naman sana ang thong ko.

Third. If things go well, makakapiling na ni Zambo ang wife at daughter nya. We are still waiting for the family visa but Zambo’s beloved wife and darling daughter are now in my pad at Saint Monique Valais preparing their papers to push at the Saudi embassy in Makati.

Bago umalis ng Zamboanga ang mag-ina ni Zambo ay nagpadala ito ng pera para sa thanksgiving nila. May budget na para sa simbahan.

Pero ng malaman ni Zambo na ibibigay ng direkta sa pari ang pera, pinigil ni Zambo at nagmungkahing ibili na lang ng bigas at sardines at odong para ibigay sa mga mahihirap sa lugar nila. Halos 70 families din ang nakinabang sa pa thanksgiving nila.

Am sure mas nasiyahan si Lord Jesus sa good deed ni Zambo and family.

Kinikwento ito ni Zambo habang sinundo nya ako sa office gamit ang brand new car na kulay black. Binili nya ng hulugan at zero downpayment para may magara syang oto pagdating ng mag-ina nya.

Lastly, two weeks back, I had been calling the Philippine embassy here in Riyadh. I wanted them to work for some jailed Filipinos who had completed their jail terms. My blood pressure rose cause I could not get them over the phone. I went through their website.

I was surprised to read that a police attaché is recently deployed in the Saudi capital. May budget sila? Ano naman kaya ang gagawing ng pulis dito? Bantayan ang embahada o ang ambassador? Sana social workers na lang ang pinadala o psychiatrist.

Anyhow, I found more telephone numbers from the site but then that didn’t help since the phone just kept on ringing but nobody is picking up the f_c_ing phones.

I got the email address though and scribbled a letter and sent it.

After a week, I received a reply. They consul said they will contact the OFWs employer and relay the migrant workers wish that they not be deported when they get freed as the usual procedure.

The embassy said it is an SOP for the hoost government to deport jailed foreigners after serving their terms.

Ang hari lang daw o ang governor ng Riyadh ang pwedeng pumigil doon sa deportation kung hihilingin ng kanilang sponsor sa mga makapangyarihan.

Well, what to do?

Sa listahan ng TO DO ko, kasali na ang pag alalay sa isang anak anakan kong masiglang nag oorganisa ng migranteng manggagawang handang ipagtatanggol ang mga karapatan ng mga OFWs.

Sana magsahod na talaga bukas para makapagplano kung saan ako mag week end sa Myerkules.

Haiz.

500

2009-03-16T20:53:00.003+03:00

Namaga ang mga mata ni Mam Yeng. Ito ang txt sa aking ng bespren kong house manager sa bahay ko sa Davao. Hapon na ng mabasa ko sa office ang txt nya.

Bago nito, nag txt sa akin ang second son ni Mam Yeng sa akin at nanghingi ng pera para daw “para pangsuroy” nil ang utol nya sa downtown kasi Araw nga naman ng Davao. Nabasa ko to pagkagising ko noong Biyernes. Nag txt ako sa bespren ko at nanghingi sa kanya ng 500 pesos para ibigay sa pamangkin ko na first time naglambing sa akin.

Ok naman ang bespren ko at nangako ako sa kanya na dadagdagan ko ng 500 ang regular nyang allowance next month.

Kahapon, nag sermon si Mam Yeng. Di daw importante ang rason kaya galit sya at bakit nagmolestya sa akin ang pamangkin ko.

Nabuko tuloy na ang panganay pala na pamangkin ang nanghingi kaya inutusan nya ang kanyang kapatid na mag txt sa akin.

Namaga ang mata sa pag iyak habang nagsesermon si Mam Yeng.

Dating OFW sa Kuwait si Mam Yeng. Nag DH sya pagkatapos nyang gumradweyt sa pagiging guro. First year College si Mam Yeng noon ng komprontahin ng mama nya ang pinsan ko dahil nabuntis si Mam Yeng. Pormal na hiningi ng pinsan ko na ibabahay na nya si Mam Yeng at pananagutan ang kanilang anak.

High School drop out ang pinsan ko. Kaya pinilit nya na makapagtapos s imam Yeng sa kurso nya.

Yung di padyak na traysikad ay apat na taon pinapadyakan ng pinsan ko para maghakot ng mga pasahero sa gilid ng Ateneo de Davao makatapos lang si Mam Yeng.

Ng mag abroad si Mam Yeng ay minsan o tatlong beses syang sumulat sa akin at pilit na inaalis ang homesickness nya. Noong una ay nagrereklamo sya na palagi raw sya sinisigawan nga mo nya. Ng maipaliwanag ko sa kanya na malalakas lang talaga ang boses ng mga Arabo ay di na nasindak si Mam Yeng at ok na sya. Pagkatapos ng kanya kontrata ay umuwi na siya sa Pilipinas upang makapiling uli ang kanyang pamilya.

Ngunit ang eroplanong sinakyan ni Mam Yeng ay dumaan sa Hong Kong kung saan sya naloko ng isang Pinoy. Ninakaw ang kanyang dalang pera pati pasaporte nya.

Nawala sa matinong pag-iisip si Mam Yeng ng ilang buwan bago sya napauwi sa Manila at sa Davao. Kung di ako nagkamali, yung institusyon yata na nagtatag ng Migrante International ang tumulong sa pinsan ko noon sa Hong Kong.

Ang kwento ng pinsan ko, pag may dumaan na eroplano sa kalawakan at narinig nya ang ingay nito ay nagtatago sa ilalim ng mesa si Mam Yeng.

Lumipas ang mga taon, gaya ng sabi ng mga nakakatanda na panahon lang ang makakalunas sa pilat ng dulot ng isang masakit na kahapon. Gumaling din si Mam Yeng.

Mahigit dekada na rin syang nagtuturo sa elementarya pagkatapos nya sulatan ang isang malayong kamag anak ng pinsan ko na dating head ng Sandiganbayan upang tulungang makapasok sa pampublikong paaralan.

Ngayon, 3 ang pinapag aral ni Mam Yeng. Sa bahay ko sila nakatira ngayon dahil pinaalis sila ng pinsan ko sa bahay na dati nilang tirahan.

Di ko masisi si Mam Yeng na magalit sa mga anak nya. Doble doble ang pasan nya dahil siya na halos ang nagpalaki sa mga anak nya.

Naisip ko, ayaw lang akong maloko ng mga anak ni Mam Yeng dahil alam nya ang hirap maghanap ng pera sa abroad at siguro na gi guilty sya na di nya naibibigay ang lahat na gusto ng mga anak nya.

Pero alam ko na mahal na mahal ng mga pamangkin ko si Mam Yeng.

Kaya gustuhin ko man magalit na niloko pala ako ng mga pamangkin ko ay naiisip ko na gusto lang ng mga bata na magliwaliw. Mali nga lang na di nila ako diniretso.

Pag uwi ko, mag-uusap kami ng mga pamngkin ko ng masinsinan.

Salamat sa 500 peso. Dahil dito magkakaroon ng realistikong pagpapaunawa sa mga pamangkin ko kung ano ang tunay na buhay ng isang OFW. At sana, magkakaroon ng realistikong pananaw ang mga pamangkin ko ukol sa buhay nila at sa kanilang ambisyong mag aral sa koleheyo.

Mababit naman ang mga pamangkin ko kasi. Yung pangalawa ay naunang nagtapos ng high school last year. Huminto kasi ang panganay noong matapos nya ang 3rd year dahil napasok sa isang stockroom ng tindahan ng mga sapatos. Para makatulong sa gastusin sa kanilang bahay ay patuloy syang nag hanap buhay hanggang nagtapos ng high school yung pangalawa.

Ng maka graduate ay ang paganay naman ang pinilit ng pangalawa ng magtapos ng high school.

"Mahirap maghanap ng trabaho na di ka man lang maka graduate ng high school, ang sabi ni Bibi noon sa Kuya Vincent nya.

Ngayong March 24 ay gagraduate na rin ang 20-years old kong gwapong pamangkin na kung tawagin ako ay Mommy.

Habang tinatapos koa ng entry na to ay nag text si Bibi sa akin. Salamat daw ng marami sa binigay ko sa kanyang 500 peso.

May maraming 500 pesos kaya sila ni Mam Yeng na pambayad ng matrikula kung mag koleheyo na si Bibi at Vincent? Abangan sa mga susunod na post.

LCD

2009-03-13T21:47:00.005+03:00

What's in me? Why am I feeling so guilty that I bought my long dreamed TV?

Yesterday, I was so aghast to see that an LCD TV is being sold at SR1,499. I have been dying to own one since nine years ago.

Today, I decided no to buy the SR1,499 32 inches LCD TV but go for the SR2,175 Sony Bravia S Series. Expensive for my range. I seldom buy expensive things for myself. The SR1,499 could be my limit but with my friends pushing me to buy the branded LCD TV, I obliged myself but the gguilt feeling is there.

But watching the TV program, I felt good that I finally am watching very clear TV programs in my room.

I will try to think later on how to pay this wonderful machine come April 10, whew!

after the storm

2009-03-11T18:20:00.002+03:00

more than 70 vehicular traffic accidents, two airports closed for more than five hours in the saudi capital. patients with respiratory ailments crowded hospitals, etc.

so many sotries while my nose is so itchy, huh.

delubyo

2009-03-10T22:24:00.009+03:00

it was around 11:20 in the morning in riyadh when a veteran employee rushed to our office and ordered us to close all windows. i didn't understand hm at first but his face showed urgency and panic.

i asked my boss on what's the fuss, "there's a twister is coming from the right side of our building," my bossed who was talking on the spoeaker phone with somebody interrupted his call replied to me.

when i looked at the window, this was what i saw.

i was shocked.

i went to another window and....

before the spread of darkness enveloped us, red sand storm was seen between the light dust storm that later blanketed us in a very widespread.

heto pa.

at heto pa...

imagine all of riyadh was plunged into darkness with zero visibility.

the airport was closed.

we were all trapped in our offices for hours with this dust storm blanketing us for hours.

ang kati kati ng ilong ko, mata ko at tenga ko. ang allergy rhinitis ko umatake at di ko pa dala ang gamot ko. huhuhu.

the week that was

2009-03-07T00:46:00.000+03:00

I wanted to blog. However, my thoughts are all too mixed up with my feelings and the things that have been stirring my week.

Later, my work will fill my week but I have to jot down some bits and pieces of what I can recall that made my week.

Tardiness was the issue of the week. My boss have been monitoring mine ang my colleagues arrival in the office following a very poor attendance last month. I had two beyond 15-minutes late in February. That was not good in spite of the fact that I am the least to have tardiness.

Thus the daily monitoring.

Now I have to sleep so that I could wake up in time for the seven o’clock preparation to office.

Aside from tardiness I also committed one big blunder in the payment of the final installment of the annual life and medical insurance premiums. I missed deducting the January Credit Notes from the premium.

After I reported the error, my boss also discovered that he also used a wrong formula in the review of my calculations. We, however, revised it before the company paid the wrong amount.

Before this, a number of shits had hit the pan in our department that caused one head to roll. What a pity.

But there are also good things that are surging to end with happy notes.

Zambo, who I fondly called Daddy, is about to be reunited with his wife and daughter here. His change of profession is about to be completed and he would be entitled to acquire a visa for his family.

The happy daddy is now busy left and right in preparing a new home for his family.

Meanwhile, while we are recomputing the insurance premium, my supervisor, Abdullah called to inform me that he had just talked to my sponsor whom he has pleaded to transfer my sponsorship to one of my company’s agencies.

According to Abdullah, my sponsor promised to issue my release letter as soon as he would receive a declaration that he is cleared of any responsibilities with me.

Apparently, the obstacles of my sponsorship transfer would soon be overcome.

There are other problems though that hit me but these are bearable that could be another theme for next entry.

Life goes on.

and The Oscars go to....

2009-02-23T17:54:00.001+03:00

My morning was disheveled.

Grabbed of my most valued sleep, I quit blaming myself for not having slept with my regular 10 hour-slumber when the Actor for Best Performance, Sean Peann said, "For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think it's a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect on their great shame and their shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that support," Penn said. "We've got to have equal rights for everyone."

The Oscars I watched today was moving me.

After enjoying Hugh Jackman's opening production number, there were two quotes that moved me this morning. First was that of the handsome Sean.

Another best quote that I heard this morning while I was struggling not to be late in the office because I was glued on the boob tube is from "Milk" writer Dustin Lance Black, who offered an impassioned tribute to Milk.

"If Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he would want me to say to all the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told they are less than by the churches, by the government, by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value, and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights, federally, across this great nation of ours," Black said.

What would be better than the best quotes?

Now, let me go to sleep, please. baby, I am so sleepy now. Shall we sleep together, right now? Now na.

Wa budget

2009-02-23T03:08:00.000+03:00

Cutting down budget costs

I thought only my company is doing this but in an informal chat with some business executives in Riyadh, the biggest oil company is also on the same track.

Whoever is that President of my country who earlier this month told her countrymen at the embassy in Riyadh that OFWs in Saudi Arabia are not affected by the global economic crunch is totally wrong.

Although laying-off employees is not yet the name of the game, big companies in the Kingdom are implementing budget cuts in stead.

According to one executive, the biggest oil manufacturer is paring down project budget costs.

“Sub-contractual companies that have won millions of dollar worth of jobs were called and asked to return their signed contracts and given substitute with pared down budgets,” the Lebanese executive said.

“It’s a take it or leave it decision that they are implementing,” he added.

The impact would surely affect manpower targets of these projects including OFW deployment and job security.

In the company that I am working particularly my division, we are told to cut around $3 million to contribute to the company’s target profitability otherwise no promotions and bonuses will be given by the end of the fiscal year. The bitter part is that heads will start rolling by then.

In a neighboring country where the mother company is based, a whole floor of the firm is totally cleared of employees and jobs.

Before politicians talk of word of make believe, the people should carefully read the signs of the times.

Along the street where my company is situated, Filipino workers are already being terminated. It may be very few but it is starting.

Haiz!

sponsors and devils

2009-02-21T19:19:00.002+03:00

My boss went ballistic again over my non completion of sponsorship transfer. He uttered words like I don’t care, be jailed, will fire you, and more.

I kept my cool. I didn’t get affected. Whatever he says, I just listen to it and put a shield that I will be okay.

I remained focus and finished all the works I line up for the day. I processed two new recruits that arrived today from two countries. Only one more recruit from India is forthcoming for this year as the company had imposed a global freeze on hiring vis-a-vis global economic meltdown, credit crunch, depression, etc. The remaining recruit, I heard is a cousin of my boss’s wife and a co-religious believer of another God of the company.

Earlier, the remaining guy had similar problem on his sponsorship transfer but the company got him a new work visa. He was sent home with a new visa and absorbed directly under the company sponsorship with his salary package almost doubled. While processing his visa back in India, he also got paid in advance for the two months that he was given to complete the visa processing.

I also finished the payroll for all sub-contracted employees including the drivers, teaboys, electricians and janitors.

Before going home, I called my current sponsor who promised me to transfer with “no problems.”

I have to meet my sponsor later this week. I pray to God that this issue hanging on top of my head will soon be over.

I also called my friends and some clients. It was a day. Whew.

rape

2009-02-20T19:25:00.003+03:00

nag adhan na. habang nagtatawag na magdasal na, di pa rin maalis sa isp ko kung paano kung sa akin ginawa ang panggagahasa.

kanina sa Filipino market, pagkatapos kong makipagkita sa mga kasama sa kapatiran sa gitnang silangan (kgs), pumunta ako sa manila plaza upang magpaload sa aking bagong talk and plug.

habang nagbabayad ako ay may isang babaeng nakatayo sa harap ng cashier. akala ko ay bata na naghihintay sa kanyang nanay.

"si kabayan o, kawawa, ni rape ng amo tapos pati yung driver ng taxi na naghatid sa kanya, hinalay rin sya," ang sabi ng cashier sa akin.

bilang dating manunulat sa dyaryo, dali dali kong tinanong ang babae.

taga davao pa man din, sa boulivard nakatira.

"ngayon lang ako nakasakay ng taxi. di ko alam saan patungo. dinala ako sa isang lugar at pagpasapasahan akong halayin ng tatlong bombay," ang sabi ni haide sa akin.

siniguro ko na makuha sya ng taga philippine embassy upang madala sa bahay kalinga pero hanggang ngayon ay nasa isip ko pa rin ang nakakaawang mukha ng hinagpis ni haide na nanginginig ang mga kamay at katawan.

noong ilang linggo lang, habang pinangangalandakan ni gloria arroyo sa philippine embassy na walng problema ang mga ofw sa saudi arabia. ewan ko kung may naniniwala sa kanya kasi lang minuto lang bago sya nagyabang ay may inidorso rin ang kgs na kaanib ng migrante international na isang pinay na pagkatapos gahasain bugbugin ng ilang mga lalaking arabo sa riyadh.

kung ako kaya ang naghasa, ano kaya ang gagawin ko? di ko alam. manginginig din kaya ako? sa takot o sa sabik?

haiz.

Fire in the office

2009-02-18T16:18:00.000+03:00

Friends are calling and emailing me of job vacancies in Riyadh and other Mid-East countries. Most of these friends know how my work is overloaded and how I am treated in this office.

Well, some of my co-workers may have pitied me but probably also eager to kick me out of my post. While others are exchanging reactions and opinions on job vacancies, others call me on where to have their lunch as I scramble for which work do I have to finish first. Earlier, another employee was calling to inform me that he will be going to a fine-dining restaurant at 4PM. Probably he has no better way to spend his performance bonus. Hmmm.

While bleeding due to the side effects of a doctor-prescribed warfarin, my boss called me to ask where my colleague was and screamed at me when told that my colleague sent me SMS saying he is sick and he is not coming to the office.

Probably threatened of his clout, he asked me to the tenor if I am being disrespectful of not having informed him first.

The question should have been, why did the fuc_ing employee send me the SMS and not the boss. Should the present employee be at fault than the absent employee? Duh.

Meanwhile, the employee that is now tasked to prepare the payroll for contractual workers is very happy that I have done his job as instructed by the boss. The payroll newbie, however, asked me a favor.

He said he lost the “remarks” that I prepared earlier.

His “remarks” are scripted letters to employees to ask them to submit their daily time record. The poor guy could not compose a letter. What an employee.

Another employee this morning asked me when should I be transferred directly to the company.

“The Gods don’t like me,” I quipped as I recalled the last time I asked to be transferred directly the sponsorship of the company my boss replied to me saying, “No. There is no question on that.”

This sucks. I better laugh it off.

But before I could laugh, the security guard called saying a name that is familiar with me.

A terminated employee wished to come up in the office but the colleague he wants to meet has gone to the bank. Am sure they were just eating breakfast there.

I could not entertain this stinking employee. He literally smells very badly.

As the day goes by, I heard from not one employee that my boss was scolded by the CEO for a colleague in the department made a big mistake not once but thrice about acquiring a visit visa.

“If this mistake happen once more, be prepared to terminate somebody, including you,” the rumor-monger quoted the CEP telling my boss.

This really sucks. This now could make me throw up.

migranteng pinoy

2009-01-29T09:22:00.003+03:00

i received this forwarded email from an ofw based in jeddah. ewan ko bakit nya pinadala sa akin pero dahil wala akong magandang nasulat, i post ko na lang to. medyo may relevance naman kasi. at para may visual effect, naghukay ako ng photo ng mga pinoy na naghihintay ng kanilang passport sa dfa davao.

Hindi mayaman ang OFW - We have this notion na ‘pag OFW o nasa abroad ay mayaman na. Hindi totoo yun. A regular OFW might earn from P50K-P300K per month depende sa lokasyon. Yung mga taga-Saudi or US siguro ay mas malaki ang sweldo, but to say that they're rich is a fallacy (amen!).

Malaki ang pangangailangan kaya karamihan ay nag-a-abroad. Maraming bunganga ang kailangang pakainin kaya umaalis ang mga pipol sa Philippines . Madalas, 3/4 o kalahati ng sweldo ay napupunta sa tuition ng anak at gastusin ng pamilya.

Mahirap maging OFW – Kailangan magtipid hangga't kaya. Oo, masarap ang pagkain sa abroad pero madalas na paksiw o adobo at itlog lang tinitira para makaipon. Pagdating ng kinsenas o katapusan, ang unang tinitingnan eh ang conversion ng peso sa dollar o rial o euro. Mas okay na magtiis sa konti kaysa gutumin ang pamilya. Kapag umuuwi, kailangan may baon kahit konti kasi maraming kamag-anak ang sumusundo sa airport o naghihintay sa probinsya. Alam mo naman ‘pag Pinoy, yung tsismis na OFW ka eh surely attracts a lot of kin.

Kapag hindi mo nabigyan ng pasalubong eh magtatampo na yun at sisiraan ka na. Well, hindi naman lahat pero I'm sure sa mga OFW dito eh may mga pangyayaring ganun. Magtatrabaho ka sa bansang iba ang tingin sa mga Pinoy. Malamang marami ang naka-experience ng gulang o discrimination to their various workplaces. Sige lang, tiis lang, iniiyak na lang kasi kawawa naman pamilya 'pag umuwi.

Besides, wala ka naman talagang maasahang trabaho sa Philippines ngayon. Mahal ang bigas, ang gatas, ang sardinas, ang upa sa apartment. Tiis lang kahit maraming kupal sa trabaho, kahit may sakit at walang nag-aalaga, kahit hindi masarap ang tsibog, kahit pangit ang working conditions, kahit delikado, kahit mahirap. Kapag nakapadala ka na, okay na, tawag lang, "hello! kumusta na kayo?".

Hindi bato ang OFW - Tao rin ang OFW, hindi money o cash machine. Napapagod rin, nalulungkot (madalas), nagkakasakit, nag-iisip at nagugutom. Kailangan din ang suporta, kundi man physically, emotionally o spiritually man lang.

Tumatanda rin ang OFW - Sa mga nakausap at nakita ko, marami ang panot at kalbo na. Most of them have signs and symptoms of hypertension, coronary artery disease and arthritis. Yet, they continue to work thinking about the family they left behind. Marami ang nasa abroad, 20-30 years na, pero wala pa ring ipon. Kahit anong pakahirap, sablay pa rin. Masakit pa kung olats rin ang sinusuportahang pamilya – ang anak adik o nabuntis; ang asawa may kabit. Naalala ko tuloy ang sikat na kanta dati, “NAPAKASAKIT KUYA EDDIE!"

Bayani ang OFW – Totoo yun! Ngayon ko lang na na-realize na bayani ang OFW sa maraming bagay. Hindi bayani na tulad ni Nora Aunor o Flor Contemplacion. Bayani in the truest sense of the word. Hindi katulad ni Rizal o Bonifacio. Mas higit pa dun, mas maraming giyera at gulo ang pinapasok ng OFW para lang mabuhay. Mas maraming pulitika ang kailangang suungin para lang tumagal sa trabaho lalo na't kupal ang mga kasama sa trabaho. Mas mahaba ang pasensya kaysa sa mga ordinaryong kongresista o senador sa Philippines dahil sa takot na mawalan ng sweldo.

Matindi ang OFW – Matindi ang pinoy. Matindi pa sa daga, o cockroaches which survived the cataclysmic evolution. Maraming sakripisyo pero walang makitang tangible solutions or consequences.

Malas ng OFW, swerte ng pulitiko – Hindi umuupo ang OFW para magbigay ng autograph o interbyuhin ng media (unless nakidnap!). Madalas nasa sidelines lang ang OFW. Kapag umaalis, malungkot and on the verge of tears. Kapag dumadating, swerte ‘pag may sundo( madalas meron). Kapag naubos na ang ipon, wala ng kamag-anak.

Sana sikat ang OFW para may boses sa Kamara. Ang swerte ng mga politiko nakaupo sila at ginagastusan ng pera ng Filipino. Hindi nga sila naiinitan o napapaso ng langis, o napagagalitan ng amo, o kumakain ng paksiw para makatipid, o nakatira sa compound with conditions less than favorable, o nakikisama sa ibang lahi para mabuhay. Ang swerte, sobrang swerte nila.

Matatag ang OFW – Matatag ang OFW, mas matatag pa sa sundalo o kung ano pang grupo na alam nyo. Magaling sa reverse psychology, negotiations at counter-attacks. Tatagal ba ang OFW? Tatagal pa kasi hindi pa natin alam kailan magbabago ang Philippines , kailan nga kaya? o may tsansa pa ba?

Masarap isipin na kasama mo ang pamilya mo araw-araw. Nakikita mo mga anak mong lumalaki at naaalagaan ng maayos. Masarap kumain ng sitaw, ng bagoong, lechon, inihaw na isda, taba ng talangka. Masarap manood ng pelikulang Pinoy, luma man o bago. Iba pa rin ang pakiramdam kung kilala mo ang kapitbahay mo. Iba pa rin sa Philippines, iba pa rin kapag Pinoy ang kasama mo (except ‘pag kupal at utak-talangka), iba pa rin ‘pag nagkukwento ka at naiintindihan ng iba ang sinasabi mo. Iba pa rin ang tunog ng "mahal kita!", "day, ginahigugma tika." “Mingaw na ko nimo ba, kalagot!", " Inday, diin ka na subong haw? ganahan guid ko simo ba". Iba pa rin talaga.

Sige lang, tiis lang, saan ba’t darating din ang pag-asa.

daddy

2009-01-16T12:53:00.004+03:00

Zambo is the best buddy I ever have. He is always reliable. very few times he told me he is busy and could not extend a helping hand but he always make it sure that I feel his presence when I need him.

Zambo is happily married to Marissa and they have an eight year old girl in Zamboanga.

Zambo wants to bring his family here in the Saudi capital to live with him. I could imagine, Zambo would no longer have a time for me.

But seeing Zambo happy would also makes me happy, I guess.

Zambo used to work in a computer store. I saw him at work. He is salesman and sometimes cashier. He was poorly paid then. His store is just across my flat. When one room that was being rented was vacated in my flat, Zambo decided to take the room but in order to afford it, he tagged along with him his two friends that sometimes become six.

When his contract expired, Zambo got another offer as business development manager of an Internet Café. He made four branches during his stint before I recruited him to join our company as System Operator in the IT Department.

There are so many things I would like to write about Zambo but I always get messed up.

I am even confused of writing my feelings towards him.

Yesterday, I told him my true feelings.

“Alam ko na yun,” he quipped as he smiled like a child.

lalaki sa banyo

2009-01-09T10:45:00.016+03:00

While looking for my house plan, I instead found photographs of boys who had taken a bath in my bathroom inside my bedroom. Palagay ko marami pa pero di ko nakunan ng pictures ng mga time na yon.

He was the guy whom I thought would be the one. He is into technology. He even mounted solar panels in my backyard and made it operational. I sent him to continue his college days only to be frustrated. He was playing flames in my back. He had an affair with his aunt and impregnated her aunt’s friend. Very sad.

Here is J. He is very funny. He lost his front teeth but has a very lovable abs. He has not finished high school but is now struggling to finish it through a Sunday school. He is a very good textmate but very wily when in person. He keeps on promising but always run away when he thinks he could not bear to unbear in front of me.

his first bath in my room was so hilarious. J took a bath with me with his cousin who was totally nude. That was very rare.

J took another bath with his friend M. Hmmm, where was that picture...

This is J. Though he is very malambing. He is also very demanding and seloso.

J has another friend.

Jong.

Jong is great though he has so many textmates. Jong is also on Sunday school wanting to finish his high school.

This is Papa R.

I met him in Riyadh and was surprised to know that he is my neighbour in Davao. We had a night stand that was later followed by another. It ran through the years until in more than a year when I called it done.

Then, here comes my bebeh.

He prefers to be on my bed though but always go to the bathroom before going to bed. He is sooooo sweet and hot.

hearthache

2009-01-09T10:06:00.003+03:00

After Christmas, I went to my doctor. Dr Jalal said kailangan pa gamutin puso ko kasi ang kalahati nito palyado rin kaya apektado dugo ko. The upper chamber is not pumping your blood. Instead it flickers that makes the blod bubbles as it flow. This flickering is the cause of your irregular heartbet, he said.

Sabi niya dapat panipisin ng gamot ang malapot kong dugo para di magbara sa ugat. may gamot pero di ko mainom pag di pa ok ang high blood pressure ko ko. gamutin muna ang high blood saka na yung dugo para ma ok ang puso ko uli. hearthache ang bading

Duing my last bp check it is now 130 over 90. Pwede ko na gamutin ang aking atrial fibrillation.

But where is the drug. I was prescribed with a drug that I could not find in Riyadh. All drugstores that I have been to said it is out of stock. Tumaas uli ang presyon ko.

munting kubo

2009-01-06T22:29:00.002+03:00

It’s been five years since I stopped my house construction. I got fed up of the skyrocketing price rise of building materials that I slowed down. The construction went to a dead stop when I was unceremoniously laid off by my newspaper after working there for 15 years.

I got unemployed for 18 months and went on hibernation. Before I lost my mind, I was able to find solace in an old fling. A man whom I know is a womanizer. Our old friendship rekindled the flame we once, twice, nth played with much outrage and gusto.

Four months later, I decided to call it quits. I left my fling after I discovered that he fathered another baby with a fourth woman. I flew back to the Saudi capital and scouted for a job.

I got one. And nearly two years after landing a not so glorious work, I found myself wanting to slowly restart my house construction.

I frantically looked for some pictures of my house. A weekend past including a new year’s day and I could not find my house plan.

Then suddenly I remembered, I had a kept an ageing 10GB hard disk drive.

The perspective. This is 60 percent done.

krisismas

2008-12-16T04:50:00.000+03:00

si ronron ay kapatid ni rey. Isa syang juice-maker sa isang Lebanese resto dito sa Riyadh na nasa unang palapag ng building kung saan ako dating nagtatrabaho pilang isang news reporter ng isang English newspaper sa Saudi Arabia

Si rey ang kontratista noong ginagawa pa lang ang resto. Nakilala ni rey ang may ari at napakiusapan nya na kunin bilang isang crew sa resto si ronron.

Nakailang taon na rin si ronron sa trabaho nya sa resto at kahit nag-umpisa sa maliit na sahod ay nakapagpapatayo na si ronron ng kanyang sariling bahay sa isang 600 square meter na lupa na nabili nya sa gensan.

Noong martes ay umuwi si ronron upang maranasan nya ang magpasko sa pilipinas. Dumaan sya sa Davao upang ihatid ang padala kong 3 celfun, isang converse na sapatos, pantalon, t-shirt, usb flash drive, at relo para sa mga mahal ko sa buhay.

Kinabukasan ay tumuloy na si ronron sa gensan upang sorpresahin ang kanyang mga magulang, mga kapatid at mga pamangkin.

Ang pagkaalam ko, sa lingo dapat ang welcome party ni ronron. Isang malaking baboy ang nakahandang katayin.

Ngunit byernes ng umaga nakatanggap ako ng txt message kay ronron.

“wat a life. Abi nimu hadlok kaau. Giatake si papa, unya nabusdak iya ulo sa floor daghan kaau dugo ako gihatod sa doctor amo giadmit . hay,” (what a life. Alam mo, inatake si papa. Napalo ang ulo nya sa sahig. Andaming dugo. Hinatid ko sa doctor. Pinaadmit naming. Hay.)

Tinawagan ko si ronron.

“kahuhubad ko lang ng damit kasi galling nga ako sa byahe. Nagbubukas na sila ng beer. Si papa ay nakaupo sa sofa pero nakita kong nakayuko. Mayamaya, nahulog na sa kinaupuan at napalo ang ulo sa sahig,” kwento ni ronron.

“Nakarating akong hospital na walang damit at puro dugo ang katawan ko,” sabi ni ronron.

Kanina, sabi ni ronron, ubos na ang budget nya na pampasko.

Mahigit 20 mil na ang hospital bill ni ronron. Medyo ok na naman si papa nya at planong ilabas na ni ronron sa hospital.

Ang sabi ko na lang kay ronron, hayaan na lang nyang dumaan ang pasko na di magarbo.

“kaya nga si Jesus pinaganak sa sabsaban kasi wala silang pera at bahay na mapanganakan ni Maria,” ang tangi kong nasambit sa kaibigan ko.

Ewan ko kung nakapawi yun sa nakikita kong hinagpis sa mukha ni ronron.

papa huli

2008-12-15T21:01:00.003+03:00

May nabasa akong balita. Eto yun.

PSG detains OFW for flashing anti-Chacha sign
12/14/2008 | 10:49 PM

MANILA, Philippines – A Migrante spokesman was briefly detained on Saturday by Presidential Security Group (PSG) members traveling with the President in Qatar because he flashed a placard with the message "No to Cha-cha." The detention was condemned by a Filipino workers' group as harassment and a violation of freedom of speech.

The PSG members detained Ricardo de Jesus, the Migrante spokesman in Qatar, during the meeting of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo with the Filipino community there.

The condemnation was issued on Sunday by the Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS), an affiliate of Migrante International based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

De Jesus, who also heads the Crisis Committee of the Filipino Community Alliance in Qatar, was only released when other Filipino community leaders intervened.

The KGS blames Arroyo, the PSG, and Philippine Embassy officials, led by Ambassador Isaias Bigornia for the harassment and violation of the right of De Jesus to free expression on a current Philippine political situation.

De Jesus has been urging the Philippine government to protect the welfare of Filipino migrant workers, particularly those recently retrenched brought about by the effects of the global economic meltdown.

"Apparently, the Arroyo administration is more keen on extending its presidential term by changing the Constitution than extending assistance to distressed Filipino workers abroad by silencing those that oppose moves to amend the Philippine Constitution," KGS said in a statement.

KGS also stressed that there are some 70 Filipino workers languishing in Doha deportation cells that Arroy is keeping quiet.

The OFW alliance belies the Philippine Embassy's labor officials' claims that Filipino workers that ran away from their problems with Qatari employers and sought embassy assistance are immediately repatriated and given government livelihood programs.

"The distressed workers are only brought to rot inside Doha deportation jails but not immediately sent home," De Jesus said following his release, which greeted with applause by the Filipino community. - D'Jay Lazaro, GMANews.TV

Natuwa ako na nainis. Pero ng matandaan ko ang pangalan ng OFW, di ko malaman ang aking gagawin. Naalala ko si Mugen sa opinyon nya tungkol sa pagmumura ni Mar Roxas noong Biyernes sa Makati anti cha-cha rally.

Paano naman kasi ang gagawin mo kung ang hinuli ay jowa mo?

Pakisagot Mugen. Ano ang gagawin mo?

Buti na lang laya na si Papa.

buhay ofw

2008-12-10T12:19:00.002+03:00

Dumating na si rey galling pinas. Halos magkasabay kaming nagbakasyon ni rey last july. Isang oras at kalahati lang ang pagitan ng flight namin. Bago nito, halos magkasabay din kaming nahirapan ni rey na makakuha ng exit re-entry visa dahil di pa kami tapos na malipat sa aming mga sponsor pero nagawan din eto ng paraan kaya kami nakauwi.

Agosto pa ako bumalik dito sa Riyadh pero si rey ay inabot ng disyembre.

Masaya ako kay rey. Matagal tagal din nagkwento si rey tungkol sa bakasyon nya. Inalam ko kung anong nangyari pagdating nya kasi di niya pinaalam sa pamily anya na uuwi sya pagkatapos ng malapit apat na taong paghahanapbuhay dito sa Riyadh.

Tatlong beses na kasing nabulilyaso ang uwi ni rey. Meron pang streamer noon at mga baloon na welcome message ng pamilya nya sa kanya noon pero di natuloy ang kanyang pag uwi kasi nga walang exit re-entry visa. Tatlong beses din nag dispedida noon si rey dito na nauwi lang sa hinagpis.

"takbuhan palabas ng bahay ang dalawa kong binata at laking gulat ko na napakalaki na nila. Mas matangkad na sila sa akin at sa bumbunan ko na sila humalik,” kwento ni rey sa akin.

Titser sa gensan si rey pero mas minabuti nyang magtrabaho sa isang construction firm dito sa Riyadh.

Si rey ang palaging tumutulong sa akin tuwing kailangan ko ng sasakyan sa paglipat ng bahay at kung may aayusin sa aking sasakyan.

Malaki ang utang na loob ko kay rey at kahit wala akong naiabot na pambyad ay sadyang mabait si rey.

‘mabuti at nakauwi ako. Nakita ko at naramdaman ang hirap ng aking pamilya. Talaga nga palang kulang ang $400 na buwanan kong padala. Sa pamasahe, baon ng 2 kong nasa kolehiyo at 2 pang nag aaral, labada, kuryente at pagkain ay talaga nga palang kapos,” kwento ni rey.

Nakita ako yung double bed ng 2 kong binata na ang taas ay halos dikit na sa yero. Mainit.

Bumili noon ng 3 plywood ang misis ko at pinako na lang diretso sa kahoy na pinagpakoan ng yero sa may sala. Doon naglalagi ang aking buong pamilya dahil medyo lumamig sa p laywood na kisame.

Walang sinayang na araw si rey. Bumili sya agad ng mga kahoy at plywood. Sya na mismo ang gumawa ng kisame sa bahay nya. Ang 2 karto ay di nya lang nilagyan ng kisame kundi nag double walling na rin sya sa mga kwarto. Pinasok na nya ang mga kuryente na dati ay naka staple lang. binili nya na rin ng tig iisang walling fan na nilagay nya sa double bed ng kanyang mga anak.

“masaya. Katulong ko ang mga anak ko sa pagayos ng bahay naming. Pati yung bunso ay mag paint roller din sya at tumulong sa pagpintura. May mga cabinets na rin akong ginawa para sa mga anak ko kaya gumanda na ang loob ng bahay,” ang kwento ni rey.

Gwapo ang mga anak ni rey, si boboy at si junjun. at kasama palagi sa pagsimba bawat linggo ng buong pamilya.

Si junjun ay SK scholar samantalang si boboy ay mahilig sa basketball. Pareho silang civil engineering ang kurso.

Binili rin ni rey ng motorbike ang kanyang mga anak upang maghatid sa kanyang mga kapatid sa eskwela.

ngayong andito na si rey, balik hanap na naman sya ng pera sa trabaho at pilit humataw upang may maipadala sa pagdating ng pasko.

wifi connect and prison break

2008-11-24T16:38:00.001+03:00

The soul mate I have here got me a DSL line in his name to allow me unlimited Internet line. Of course, the monthly dues will be on me but Zambo he got me the subscription and he installed the cable wires lining from the front gate to the back of the four-storey building and up to the third level where my flat is located.

He did this noontime till 3 PM because he has to work from 4PM till midnight.

I got Zambo his IT job in the company where I was working for the past two years and he has been transferred directly to the credit card company as his sponsor, unlike me.

Anyhow, in the next few minutes, the local telco company will deliver the DSL modem and I will be online as long as I want.

While waiting, I am starting to view this Prison Break Season 1, 2 and 3 that Zambo brought me.

By the way, I had myself absent from work. Am not feeling well.

to hell

2008-11-22T23:59:00.000+03:00

To hell with the MTRCB. This Philippine government-funded agency is a total waste of money and resources.

Scolding the Philippines’ largest news network over an interview aired in its prime news program about an interview with MILF’S Kumander Bravo, is really moronic stance.

Opposing to an anti-government statement like that of Bravo is understandable especially from MTRCB, which is fully known as the state’s censorship bureau.

But scolding the messenger of the news is a total crap. Where are they? Where have they from? The MILF has long been there. Their cause has long been understood by a growing number of concsientisized Filipinos.

An MTRCB making a scene after the GMA government betrayed the MILF with the peace process is a cheap act.

Enough MTRCB. You’re never relevant. Always out of touch with reality.

dead line

2008-11-17T23:42:00.002+03:00

Yesterday afternoon, the CEO of an American credit card company wanted to know the update of my work status in Saudi Arabia.

I was already halfway down the staircase when the CEO’s secretary called me back and asked me on my last week-end plan to meet my sponsor in the Eastern Region after my sponsor invited me to see him and get my Release Letter.

“I didn’t push through. The owner of an outsource manpower agency told me he will do the negotiations and get the Tanazul for me,” I told the senior executive secretary of the CEO.

After the update, I continued going down the staircase with Tim, who is accompanying me to go to a hypermarket to buy a cell phone for my industrious nephew.

As I descended the stairs, it downed on me that probably the CEO is now pressured to terminate my work with the popular international financial intitution after I failed to transfer my sponsorship to one of the company contractors.

With the Saudi government program of providing jobs to locals, foreign workers especially the rank and files in the banking industry are relegated to the sub-contractual companies that supposed to supply back-up, administrative or technical support to the permanent local employees.

I am supposed to be one of them but my sponsor has been nowhere to be found until three weeks ago.

I was so happy to hear from my sponsor after March 2006 late last month especially that he told me he has no problem should I want to transfer my sponsorship.

The limited time that I have, however, is killing me. I am given no time to go down to Khobar to get my papers. This is why I asked the agency owner himself to get the paper from my sponsor in order for him to transfer my sponsorship.

This has not been done.

When the CEO asked me for an update, I knew my deadline is over.

Two days after, ‘twas my boss’ turn to ask the update.

“Talk to them. I know Raeid. He won’t move until you push him. Let him give the demand letter and get the Release Letter. Better yet, spend a day to go to Khobar and get that document yourself,” my boss said.

Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries all over the world that practice sponsorship system to employ foreign workers. Like Hong Kong, Riyadh requires migrant workers to work only under his own sponsorship. Working outside the sponsor is prohibited by law. To work with another employer, one has to get a Release Letter and transfer the sponsorship to the new employer.

Although this practice is supposed to protect migrant workers, the system has become a milking opportunity to squeeze migrant workers to pay for their “freedom”.

Distressed foreign workers complaining of physical or sexual abuse, unpaid wages, salary reduction, contract substitution, no work, over-crowded or unsanitized housing accommodation, are pressed to pay huge amounts demanded by the sponsor aside from the bloated-from-the-regular government fees in order to acquire “legal” work.

What a shame I allowed myself to be into this unpeaceful situation.

I wished I was punked.

bed make-over

2008-11-15T23:57:00.002+03:00

Three weeks ago, I was able to buy a four-pillow pack at SR12. I was thrilled to see it on my bed when I checked it out. I decided I have to go back to that store and buy one more pack. I also got a SR79-bookshelf. When I went back two weeks after, they are all gone, including the bookshelf. I was really dismayed.

Tonight, my co-worker enticed me to a hypermarket selling a SR132 colored cell phone. Since I decided to give my nephew a cell phone after helping my bestfreind brushed Solignum on my windowpanes, I went to the mall. My co-worker joined me only to find out that the branch that we went to was not the mall that he got his cell phone. The branch has no supply of the same cell phone he was talking about.

Imbes na makatipid sa cell phone gumastos ako ng pamasahe na walang pakinabang.

I strolled around the hypermarket and luckily, I found a six-pack white pillowcase bag at SR12.95. I also have a white, fitted-bed sheet or mattress cover that would match my pillowcases at the same price. I only need a white duvet cover to complete my bed make-over for this season.

My visual artist brother has taught me that a quarterly make-over would help provide excitement to the boring routinely work of an OFW. True, not only the accumulated dust and clutters are cleaned but also the homesickness is swept after a make-over is done.

I am excited.

My friend that probably sensed that I was dismayed with our mall-ing, treated me at Kudu. I ate fish fillet and green salad.

Yummy. Not a bad night to spent after a busy day at work.

hmmmmm

2008-11-06T19:12:00.001+03:00

I felt guilty for not posting in my blog lately. The lack of ideas is not the culprit but my ability to weave these thoughts into words. There were several topics though that I earlier wanted to immortalize.

The impending eviction of Ace and his mom from their house and Ace hospitalization right after they were save from eviction and Ace supposed joining date with his new job but was altered due to his ailment. These are all so depressing but a life puzzle that Ace and his Mom survived.

My cousin’s alcohol drinking after his friend fetched him from his job site following a contractual job that he was so lucky enough to have bagged and that spree resulted into my neighbor’s wrath because of the drinking buddy’s unpleasant attitude when they got drunk. This incident was followed more than a week when my cousin tried to drive my tricycle to earn a day’s living but went home drunk. It could be remembered that I invited my cousin and his family to stay in my unfinished housed after they got evicted from their house. With the turn of events, I think I have to take actions on my cousin’s alcoholism.

The annual undas-long-distance management that almost got my father’s tomb “untented” due to the incessant rain back home.

My Bebeh’s continuous wooing for me not to leave him and thanking me for giving him one more chance with our very infant relationship is also worth writing.

I was also having difficulty in writing about my young sexual partner here whose skin color is very Barack Obama.

I also wanted to write about my reading about Mugen’s entries, old and new, and his changing of graphics. His back photo is giving me hard time to visualize his sexy body contour but what is more interesting are his entries.

Parang ang sarap nyang mahalin pero ang hirap dahil sa karuwagan nyang masaktan muli. I have been following his entries but I also plead guilty of my promise to read all his back entries.

Unlike Mandaya’s entries that kept me glued online to finish knowing his life story when I first read about his post, Pulsar’s is giving me a little difficulty to comprehend not to mention the rich vocabulary and the creativity invested in his writing, thus my need for more time to finish the voluminous entries.

Aside from providing me my favorite read, these two bloggers have one thing in common these days. Thay both are mending separate broken hearts and I feel for these two gifted people.

Last week, instead of reading, I focused my week-end in my bedroom makeover. I like my room now. Much better and I almost got tempted to take pictures and post it but I had second thoughts. It’s not worth, nothing unique and fancy.

I just hope I could compose and write more sensible things next time.

atasyem uli

2008-10-20T21:03:00.003+03:00

Eto pa ang isang nakakabaliw na blunder.

On the recent execution of an OFW in Jeddah.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs maintained that the government assisted Jenifer Bedoya from the very beginning of the judicial process and exerted “last ditch effort” to save him.
“The problem is that the family refused to forgive [Bedoya],” Esteban Conejos, the DFA’s Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs said Monday said.

Even king is powerless

He explained that even the King of Saudi Arabia is powerless to grant clemency if the family of the victim refuses to forgive Bedoya.
Under Sharia’h law, Conejos said the crime of murder produces two effects: one is the public aspect of the case and the private right aspect of the case.
“The only way to address this issue is for the family to waive this right to ‘Quisas’--the right to demand the equivalent penalty--and forgive the accused in exchange sometimes for blood money. This has been the focus of assistance that the government extended to Mr. Bedoya. Unfortunately, the family adamantly refused in spite of all our efforts to reach out to them,” he said.
The DFA, he said, learned about Bedoya’s possible execution on the morning of the execution day.
No prior notice
“There was no prior notice of the execution. The moment the Royal decree of execution is issued, anytime he can be executed, and there was a strong possibility that they will carry the execution on that day,” he said.
Immediately, a consular team was dispatched to the prison to make representations with prison authorities if they could suspend the execution.
“And even in the place of execution itself, our consular officers were there. Our ambassador was calling the family--last ditch effort to save the life of Mr. Bedoya,” he said.
“To the last minute, we were calling the family. Our lawyers also called up the family and they said ‘No, we will insist on our rights’. Our ambassador was on the phone all the time, our consul general in Jeddah was also on the phone,” he said.

Eh kung talagang kumilos sila upang maisalba nila yung bilanggong pupugutan ng ulo, bakit sa mga report nila, ni hindi nila nakuha ang tamang pangalan ng OFW?

Pwe!

atasyem

2008-10-20T20:35:00.002+03:00

Magaleng, magaleng...

Naloka ako sa balitang ito kanina sa TV Patrol.

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves apologized on Monday for his role in the brouhaha over the supposedly World Bank-funded $10 billion crisis fund for Asean countries that President Gloria Arroyo inadvertently announced last week.
Teves admitted in a press briefing that contrary to a previous announcement made by President Arroyo, the World Bank did not commit to contribute to a multi-billion dollar regional standby fund that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) was reportedly mulling to put up.
Teves apologized for the mistake. "In a way, I would have to say that I have been contributory to her pain and embarassment, so I'm sorry for it."
On Thursday, immediately after President Arroyo made the announcement, the World Bank issued a statement denying that the institution is funding a regional crisis fund. A few hours after, other members of the government's economic team gave separate interviews to explain what was appearing as an embarassing mistake.
Economic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto even said it was the International Monetary Fund (IMF)--not the World Bank--that raised the topic in one of the side meetings when the two multilaterals held a joint meeting in Washington that week.
But when the IMF also denied it made such offer, all fingers were pointed at Teves, who just recently arrived from the Washington meetings, to explain the faux pas.
Finance Secretary Margarito Teves apologized on Monday for his role in the brouhaha over the supposedly World Bank-funded $10 billion crisis fund for Asean countries that President Gloria Arroyo inadvertently announced last week.
Teves admitted in a press briefing that contrary to a previous announcement made by President Arroyo, the World Bank did not commit to contribute to a multi-billion dollar regional standby fund that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) was reportedly mulling to put up.
Teves apologized for the mistake. "In a way, I would have to say that I have been contributory to her pain and embarassment, so I'm sorry for it."
On Thursday, immediately after President Arroyo made the announcement, the World Bank issued a statement denying that the institution is funding a regional crisis fund. A few hours after, other members of the government's economic team gave separate interviews to explain what was appearing as an embarassing mistake.
Economic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto even said it was the International Monetary Fund (IMF)--not the World Bank--that raised the topic in one of the side meetings when the two multilaterals held a joint meeting in Washington that week.
But when the IMF also denied it made such offer, all fingers were pointed at Teves, who just recently arrived from the Washington meetings, to explain the faux pas.

Ano ba naman kasi yung magpasalamat muna sa mga donors bago magmayabang.

Eh, kung totots sanang statesperson ang isang pangulo, dapat tawagan man lang yung tumulong sa iyo sa panahon ng kagipitan keysa magmayabang ba na ipamalita agad na si World Bank eh handang tumulong at si IMF ay handa sanang magpaluwal.

Kung tumawag para magpasalamat, di nalaman sana na di naman trulili. Fekes menekes pala.

Ayun, kuryentesima ang lola.

Ashame.

friday fun

2008-10-17T23:47:00.001+03:00

After my vacation last August, I have become so protective if not possessive of my weekends. I always reserve these days for my rest and laundry and housecleaning.

Of course with the boob tube almost always on.

It was almost 4 o’clock when my phone rang. I had just finished ironing five clothes and a pair of slacks.

It was my supervisor asking for some employees’ profiles and the new employee numbers. He was preparing the payroll for permanenet employees while I was doing the outsourced staff.

I could hear his upset voice. I directly told him I that I do not do employee profile and pointed him to our colleague, who is always in charge of these stuffs.

“Why should I be asked for Employees’ profile when it is not my job?, I asked him. “It is your job because Badr is on vacation,” he replied. “Oh, that is my job now. Ok it is my job, don’t asked me where are those then because it is only now that I know I have to make those freakin profile,” I told him.

After two hours, I decided to drop everything and went to the office to do the profile.

My Supervisor was surprised to see me at the office. Although I could see his smile because he knows that I would be of so much help to him while the he is preparing the payroll.

As usual, I hear his monthly lamentation on how he hates doing the payroll. “The fucking software is still the same, malfunctional,” he told me.

I was not surprised.

I reviewed all the overtime payment requisition so that he could include in the payroll.

It was a long night, an overtime work without pay.

However, before I reached home, I had a great fun. It was more than a pay.

swing or fly

2008-10-17T12:08:00.000+03:00

Watching GMA, no, not Gloria, Good Morning America make me smile today. While I am still trying to grab more sleep, I heard the news anchors talking about how crtical that swing voters would turn the poll results into the opposite.

Michelle Obama was, smart, to answer how her husband is not focusing on the poll results but on how the voters should register to cast their votes.

They discussions on the 08 elections are really eating the air waves with the poll issues..

In the Philippines, this could not be the duyan. Swing? Nope. Fly.

Yes, Flying voters make the elections. And the Pinoy legislators know this as evinced by the non-realizattion of the poll automation bill.

Swing or fly. It makes sense (stupid, though), not make their mind.

Flying Voters. As the Philippine elections is also gearing up, rich politicians are now oiling their machineries to fly high.

Hop in Flying Voters.

Swing the votes.

Then go to hell, if you want.

break up

2008-10-16T05:52:00.001+03:00

My bebe has another honey. His txt message to his honey was mistakenly sent to me. Very early this morning, I asked him who is honey, he said honey was his classmate during his high school. Bebeh said they have no relationship. Ako lang daw mahal nya. But why was the txt message sent at 1:26AM. Who would be exchanging messages at these hours? Former classmates? Hmp. I sent bebe a message. Bulag na ta...

ugly me

2008-10-13T00:36:00.007+03:00

I have a morbid tummy. My big belly is really gross and it makes me inferior as my confidence level is going down the drain.

However, a lot of my friends are telling me silently that my inside beauty could be the opposite but a brother, who is also my flat mate that is celebrating his birthday today could be thinking my persona is a lot disgusting than my big belly.

True, I am ugly inside, out. Today, I never dared seeing him to greet during his birthday. I don’t know why. I just don’t feel like doing it. I sent him an email though and asked him to help Ace land a job with their company.

I was chatting for the first time with Ace because I know he and his mom are so depressed to leave their house in the next 17 days.

Ace said it was the first time to see his mom crying last night as she threw the towel on racing to raise money to pay their house amortization.

I could only offer Ace and his mom my house to live wen they would be evicted very soon.

As I feel for them, I was not able to resist expressing to Ace my love for him.

“Love you din,” he said. I could only tell myself that I am beautiful.

But another YM contact PM me and said “hi” that I replied “halu.” The messages kept coming and I sensed that the chatter seems not the character I used to chat with. As the strange chatter was successful in dragging me away from Ace’s attention, I unzip my skin and unleash the ugliest in me.

People who used other people’s email addy are the hackers of the lowest order. Apparently the strange chatter is the jealous Barcelona-based wife of an acquaintance working in Jeddah.

I told her, “bakla ako, pangit ako at mas matanda ako sa yo kahit alam ko na hukluban ka. kaya wag ako ang pag aksayahan mo ng oras. Lubayan mo ako, maghanap ka ng mga bahay dyan na malilinis sa Espanya para magkapera ka. Wag ako ang abalahin mo.”

Pobresitang muchacha!

Apparently, the jealous wife called a substitute chatter. The new gaga read my piece and had to ask apologies for her girl friend and tried explaining why the jealous friend did such a low deed.

I told them apologies not accepted.

“Ang taong bastos dapat binabastos din,” sabi ko amid her friend’s heckling in poor Spanish.

In the middle of my anger, I called my acquaintance in Jeddah and reported to him about his wife’s very lowly attitude of using his email address just to spy on me trying to uncover if I am his mistress.

“Bakit? Ano mo sya?” the message from Spain read. “I don’t need your hubby, I already have a lot,” I replied.

The last time I lost my patience was during my recent my vacation where I threw my brother’s girl friend out of my mother’s house.

That brought my brother into tears that he never did when my father died.

Although I said sorry to my brother later for the embarrassment he felt for that woman, I never regretted that I shouted to his girl friend and that she is never welcome in my mother’s house.

I know that a lot of my loved ones do not like that un-invited guest and they laughed at it while a couple praised me for being so brutally frank to send that woman out of the family reunion after I got fed up of her always eavesdropping each time my family tried to talk about our individual life’s troubles, problems and joyous moments.

I have not talked to my siblings seriously for long after my father died a decade ago. That reunion was supposed to make up for the lost times but an invading person just swept that chance.

Just like how an invading chatter invaded my romantic moment with Ace.

How awful.

trying times

2008-10-08T00:45:00.001+03:00

Are the effects of the global economic crises hitting me and my friends?

Few months back, my best friend cousin got evicition notice from the house they are staying. His problem affects me as my niece and nephews will be living out in the streets soon.

Few minutes back, I got a txt message from another friend that Ace and her mom are to be evictedm from the house they are living in for years by the end of this month.

Few hours back, I was reading the creative entry of my idol, Mugen in his Pulsar blog. He was reporting about Jomanian’s trying times.

Around a month back, Kiks has posted his last entry that rang alarm on his melancholic Manila mission. Pati si Mandaya, wala nang laman ang lubricant tube nya. As in pigang piga na as shown in the picture.

What’s goin’ on?

Sabi nga ni Aaron, it’s right to worry as he foretells darker times ahead.

Ano pa kaya ang nagbabadya?

Paano ko matutulungan ang pinsan ko at ang kaibigan kong ina ni Ace? May mga pagsubok din akong sinusuong sa ngayon.

Bathala ng kasaysayan at pakikibaka, tulungan mo po akong malampasan ang mga pagsubok na dulot ng naghaharing mapagsamantala. Bigyan nawa ako ng lakas upang isulong ang mga solusyon upang maitaguyod ang aking naghihirap na pamilya, mga kaibigan at kasama sa pagkilos upang desenteng mabuhay.

With Don’s starsigns, sana po ay tuluyan ng matapos at mapanday ang aking bahay na sanay di lang magkakailaw kundi magkaka wi-fi sa piling ng aking mga mahal sa buhay.

si bebe ko

2008-10-01T19:44:00.013+03:00

nakita ko sya...

pinagtanong ko name nya

binigay sa akin celphone number nya

tinext ko at nagpakilala sa kanya

sinabi ko na crush ko sya at kung pwede kami na

binasted nya ako pero di ako tumigil sa pag txt

kahit naubos na load ko. ginamit ko isa ko pang cellphone na meron pang load...

habang nagti txt, tinititigan ko sya. hanggang sinagot nya ako at naramdaman ang tamis ng kanyang mga halik.

nagamot na rin ang puso kong taon-taon na lang nasusugatan.

Pulsar: Famous Last Words

2008-10-01T18:46:00.000+03:00

Pulsar: Famous Last Words

i thought you're breaking up with your current job. then, your twitter states you're free. i assumed you finally moved to the new firm. but now, three last words, claiming freedom. anuvatalagah?

break it to me gently....

alas

2008-09-26T14:58:00.009+03:00

I called Ace today. I didn’t expect I could connect to him. Aside from getting a very weak phone signal in their home, Ace phone is malfunctioning.

But luckily, Ace was on top of their house, literally, on the rooftop. I was not surprised. Ace could be found everywhere.

"Perhaps, somebody told me that you would be calling. So, I am here where I could have a better phone signal," Ace told me when I asked is he doing on top of their roof.

I felt happy to have talked again to my very special friend. Yes. He is very special to me, not to mention his third eye prowess.

Ace is a vocalist of a band, which he has deserted recently.

“I got fed up,” sabi nya. "I realized that I have to scout for a more stable job that would help me provide for my mom and I,” the 24-year old tall, dark and handsome-love-of-mine said.

Truly, Ace scouted for a job. This BS Education graduate is a mathematics-major. He is smart and chaming with children, too. Ace applied for a teaching post with the Department of Education in Compostela Valley.

Ika-186 si Ace sa listahan ng mga kukuning guro sa isang publikong mataas na paaralan sa kabilang ibayo ng Lungsod ng Dabaw, ang pinakamalaking lungsod in terms of land area sa buong mundo na nagdiriwang ng Kadayawan, noong kami ay nag-chikahan.

Sa haba ng listahan minabuti nya, sa susog ng kanyang ina na mag abroad na lamang muna. Ayon pa kay Melia, nanay ni Ace, panahon na rin na makita nya ang kanyang anak na tumayo sa sariling paa at makitang naghahanda sa pagkakaroon ng sariling pamilya. Melia is the bestfriend of my bestfriend. We, too are best of friends. Alam ni Melia na crush, di lang crush, na love ko si Ace.

Si Ace ay mag-isang pinalaki ng kaibigan kong may-ari ng isang na parlor sa Poblacion, Toril.

After finishing his baccalaureate degree in Education, nagdesisyong pursigihin ang kanyang hilig sa pagkanta with a band.

Sa Daungan, isang KTV bar kung saan nag wowork ang aking present lover na si beb, una kong nakilala at naring si Ace na kumanta pero meron pa syang mga flats noon sa nag iisang song na kinanta nya noon.

Ang pangalawa ay doon sa Janzar. It was my frist time to be in Janzar, isang medyo disenteng resto bar na may malaking video wall kung saan kitang kita ang kumakanta kahit andoon na ako sa open-space na smoking-area.

I was awed when Ace sang and dance. Ang cute nya, parang si Billy Crawford. He connects tohis audience, at wala ng flats.

Few hours before this the mother and son joined us in a family dinner. I invited Ace and Melia to a dinner at my mother’s home. I introduced Ace to my US-based sister and to Madz, who is scouting for some skilled guys to work in their company in Saudi Arabia.

I asked my brother to help Ace find a job in their company, which my brother promised to.

I grabbed that opportunity to invite Ace to my pad and type his CV kaya halos whole day sya sa bahay noon. Chika lang kami. Salamat sa Red Horse na tira naming the other night. May photo shoot din kami that time and I was able to expressed my feeling kay Ace. I never cared to ask on his feelings towards me.

Masaya na ako na nagiging close na kami nya. I know that Ace is straight. “Di pa ako nagkarelasyon sa isang gay,” Ace told me.

Sa isip naming dalawa, baka ako pa lang. Wishful thinking.

What caught me interested with Ace is his life living with a lesbian as his surrogate father.

“Yes, I call her Papa. Why should I be ashamed of that. Margot is a lesbian who lived with my mother when I was still young. Papa raised me for 20 years,” Ace told me. Margot died few years back and Ace sang Wild flower during her funeral rites.

So, Ace is not a total stranger with gay love. May hope ako.

Sana nga, makarating na sya dito sa Riyadh.

"Dili bitaw na mabuntis," his mom quipped.

poste at peste

2008-09-25T09:59:00.002+03:00

Operation Kahayag…Asa?

I woke up today with a TXT message from my beloved bestfreind informing me of more monies needed to get the Davao Light and Power Company to legally light unfinished house in Dabaw.

6K para deposit sa poste ug more or less 1,500 pesos para sa load meter.

Before this it was 16,000 for the new wiring and labor. When I was on vacation, I had to shell out few thousand pesos to correct he concrete post that has some error in mounting. Gumastos na ako, pangit pa rin ang poste sa tabi ng post ng gate. Andami ng gastos pero wala pa rin lights.

Si Speaker Nograles, nag launch sa Operasyon Kahayag sa amo lugar.

Actually, my house borders on two villages, Daliao and Dumoy. Dati, ang sityo namin, Saint Jude, ngayon gumawa ng bago, sitio San Isidro na.

Di ko alam kung sinong Santo pa ang dapat tawagin bago gumana ang mga poste na itinirik na sa sitio naming.

Parang hindi mga santo ang kailangan. Mga tao na nasa pera ang kailangan. Mga taong mukhang pera kasi ang nakatayo na mas matayog sa mga poste. Peste.

Before the Speaker, people involve in the lighting of our place has floated the idea of me paying for the costs of around five posts. Una, six thousand lang ang isang poste. Then, when I am about ready to go, the amount reached to nearly 300,000 pesos.

I could imagine the fortune those corrupt people would do had I gave in to the deal.

Now, ipaputol na raw lahat ang illegal connections ng DLPC pati PLDT bago pa connect ang kuryente sa mga poste.

More than a decade na ang application ko sa DLPC, ilang beses na narenew, ilang beses na nagbayad. May mga padulas na. Talo pa ang pwet ng bakla kung magpadulas ang mga hayup sa electric company.

Kaya from Riyadh, I bought with me four panels of solar to convert the rays of the sun into electricity.

May boyfriend pa ako noon na magaling sa technology. He was able to install the solar panels and have it function. May hitch nga lang doon na, I theorized may mali sa isang connection kasi nag iingay ang batteries kung exhausted na ang energy.

Ang ginawa, yung kubo sa tabi ng kapilya, ianplay naming ng kuryente sa DLPC kasi, malapit sya sa poste. Yung may ari ng kubo, libre kuryente, tapos ikinabit namin sa bahay ko yung wire na napakahaba upang lumiwanag ang bahay at gumana ang ref at computer ko. Ang hirap kaya na di ka makapag charge ng cellphone at di ka makagamit ng computer.

Kaya, I was eager to get a new line with Operation Kahayag.

Few weeks back, Karlo Nograles inaugurated the switching ceremony. I wonder what the switch is for. Wala pa man nahayag.

I will be sending more money today. Sabi nga nila, wag mawalan ng pag-asa. Letse talaga. Sana ako rin, di mawala ng pera.

Asan na kaya yung poste ni fafa, patayuin ko rin para makuryente ako. Magpadulas pa ba ako?

senyur sitisin, beer, birtdi, ofw, atbp.

2008-09-24T20:15:00.003+03:00

After a month of working in Riyadh following my 30-day vacation in Dabaw, I wished I could go home again. But the sky-rocketing prices of the air ticket, which has more than doubled in less than a year is blocking all my hopes. I miss my bebe so much.

The thoughts of having a 10-day vacation and unable to go home is leaving me helpless if not driving me nuts.

I could only reminisce the days of my vacation. Below is a vacation article I wrote after the Bilyar story.

Senior Citizen kung silang tinuringan.

Umaga pa ay tulong-tulong na ang mga “tiguwang” sa sityo, San Roque, Baranggay Daliao sa pag aayos ng stage.

Sila kasi ang unang toka sa gabi-gabing kasiyahan na inihanda ng buong sityo isang lingo bago ang pista ng San Roque.

Habang tumutulong kay Mundoy ang mga kaibigan kong si Jhongjhong at Joel sa pagkabit ng mga ilaw ay nakapanayam ko si Mother Aster sa tahanan nina Peter Lloyd, isang visual merchandiser sa Riyadh.

Si Aster, Mader, kung tawagin namin sa Baranggay Daliao, ay tanyag na aktibo sa Women’s group at sa OFW Families Group kung saan siya ay ilang beses ng nahirang na presidente. Baangay Kagawad din si Mader at kung tama ang alala ko, una ko siyang nakilala ng panahonng eleksyon mahigit isang dekada na ang nakaran.

Nagklik agad kami ni Mader matapos syang magpakilala at sabihing 3 sa naka niya ay migrante at nasa Japan.

Bilang OFW, feeling ko mother ko na rin si Aster.

Nang maghuntahan kami, sinabi ni Mader na dapat may second-liner na rin sa Baranggay naming na papalit sa kanya.

Turn-over ceremonies na ang nakikita ni Mader. Ang bulungan nga ay dapat sa susunod na eleksyon ay iba na naman sana ang mahalal. “Si Mundoy ang ihirang natin sa susunod,” sabi ni Inay, nanay ni Peter Lloyd.

“Di na ako masyado nag active sa OWWA, Gar,” pahayag ni Mother Aster, na huli kong nakasama ay Migrante Partylist Orientation noon ng OFW Groups ng buong Davao City na dinaluhan ni Papa Roy at Papa John.

Parang nawalan lang daw ng gana si Mother at nabanggit nya ang pagka destino ni Mrs Zenobia Caro na dating OWWA Regional Administrator sa Dabaw at ngayon at Labor Welfare officer na yata sa Israel.

“Last Migrant’s Day, OWWA asked me to mobilize 100 OFW families pero 60 lang ang nadala ko. Libre pamasahe at pack lunch ang celeberation sa gym ng University of Mindanao.

Ang ibang grupo pala ay binigyan ng 30,000 at may 60,000 pesos na ibinigay sa mga lideres upang magdala ng mga tao. Yun pala, wala pang 2 OFW members ang dumalo sa mga dinala ng iba,” sumbong sa akin ni Mother Aster.

Kailangan ko makapanayam ang OWWA tungkol sa alegasyong ito pero alam kong hahanapan lang nila ako ng testiomonya sa binigkas ni Mother Aster.

“Eh ano ba naman yung sumbong,” sambit ko sa sarili.

Pera.

Pero teka lang. Pera yata ng OFWs yung ginastos at ang sabi ni Mother Aster ay pinamigay ng OWWA official sa mga di OFWs para dumalo sa Migrants Day celebration.

Nyeta! Eh, kung ang mga stranded sa Riyadh ay di nila mabigyan ng libreng tiket pauwi, eh pinamimigay na pamasahe lang pala ng mga di OFWs at kahon kahon pang packed lunch ang inuwi upang mag party. Nyeta talaga.

Bago pa umakyat ang blood pressure ko ay minabuti ko ng paunlakan ang alok ni Inay na magkape . Iniwan ko si Joel at Jhong ay tumulong sa pag ayos ng entablado sa San Roque.

Kinagabihan ay nag umpisa na ang palatuntunan na pinasinayahan ni dating Barangay Kapitan Boy Sucayre na member din ng Senior Citizen. Nakakatuwang nakakabagot na abangan ang kanta ng isang mang-aawit na kay tagal mag umpisang kumanta. Siguro dahil sa katanadaan ay mahina ng lumakad at ang labo na ng kanilang mga mata na mabasa ang pamagat ng kanilang kakantahing videoke.

Umalingawngaw ang boses ng matandang babaeng kumanta ng Paper Roses.

Bago matapos ang kanta ay may text messages na natanggap si Mundoy.

“Galing kay Emil,” sabi ng best friend ko na kasama ko sa bahay. Si Emil ay isang dating entertainer o cultural worker sa Japan na kaibigan ng kapatid ko.

Dati, nadalaw ako sa bahay ni Emil minsang nagbakasyon sya galling Japan. Pinagmalaki nya ang kanyang mga larawang kuha sa kanyang mga sayaw sa isang bar sa ibat ibang panig ng bansang Hapon.

Ngunit ng hinagupit ng paghihigpit ng bansang Hapon ang pagtrabaho ng mga mananayaw at ibat ibang klaseng entertainers ang Japan ay din a nakabalik sa kanyang trabaho bilang migranteng manggagawa si Emil.

Ngayon ay namamasukan sya sa parlor ni Enteng na dati ring nagtrabaho sa Iraq sa kanyang parlor.

Pinilit ko si Mundoy na pumunta kami sa Haidees, isang local videoke bar na pinagdausan ng birthday ni Emil.

Sakay agad kami sa trisikad habang nagsasayaw naman ang isang grupo ng mga lola. Dancing with the Lolas ang drama.

Alam na mga ng taga San Roque na ang minindal sa tuwing matapos ang padasal sa kapilya ay sponsor na ni Emil dahil palagi itong natataon sa kapistahan ng San Roque. Kaya sa Haidees ay inuman na lang ang maaasahan.

Inabutan ko na agad si Emil ng pandagdag sa kanyang party budget at bago ako malasing ay isang buttered chcken at limang platitong mani ang na order ko dahil sa napakaraming beer ar puro beer na lang ang sahog sa mga kantang pumupulandit sa isang gabing binuhusan ng malakas na ulan.

Kanta, beer, chat. Txt at chika sa mga nagsisidatingang panauhin. Naalala ko tuloy si Edwin Luis na mahigit din sampong taon na pabalik-balik sa Japan

Sa last chat naming ng kumustahin ko si Edwin, “Eto, nakanganga. Din a ako nakalabas uli,” ang malungkot na sabi ni Edwin.

Kung bakit kasi may nagpanukala pa na yung mga nakaapak lang ng dalawang taon sa kolehiyo ang pwedeng maging entertainer o cultural worker sa Japan. Wala naming maibigay na magndang hanapbuhay sa Pilipinas ang nagpapatupad ng polisyang yun.
Di ko tuloy malaman kung sino ang mangmang sa sinasabi ng pamahalaan.

Pauwi na kami ni Mundoy ay tinirik ng binahang kalsada ang aming sinakyang tricycle.

Kagaya ng trabaho ni Emil sa Japan na biglang natigil, napanalangin ako na sana’y umandar uli ang tricycle sa gitna ng ulan at baha at sana’s makatrabaho uli si Emil sa Japan.

Sa OWWA, sana’y magising kayo sa mga bagyo ng buhay na dinadanas ng mga OFWs bago pa kami sumabay sa galit ng malakas na ulan at kidlat na may kasamang pag-aaklas ng panahon.

Detoxicated

2008-09-23T16:29:00.002+03:00

Ok na kami ni beb. Super txt sya sa akin kahit di nya nareceive ang mga earlier messages ko. Di ko kasi napansin na ibang phone number pala ang gamit nya.

Wala raw load yung number nya kaya ginamit nya yung isang SIM card na di ko napansin. Txt naman ako ng txt sa kanya. When I realized, super forward na naman ako ng mga sent msgs ko.

Nokonsensya naman kasi ako sa bata na akala nya ay break na kami kasi inisip nya na galit ako sa kanya.

Matuk mo ba namang, di ibinayad ang pera para sa eskwela.

After explaining that the money is intact and that he was unable to pay the tuition because the money given him is insufficient ay natahimik na ako. Baka ako pa ang makadagdag.

Sabi ko na lang sa sarili ko, hustohin ng cousin nya ang obligasyon nya na pag-aralin si bebe ko. Yun naman ang agreement nila before I entered into beb’s life.

Tama na yung moral support na lang ako kay beb. Mas maigi na yung matapos nya ang pag-aaral nya ng koleheyo na pinaghihirapan nya. Ayoko ng matulad pa sa dalawang pinaaral ko noon. Ni di ko alam kung totoong Cum Laude nga ba sa nursing o nag graduate ba talaga.

Yung isa naman kasing sumunod na pinaaral ko, di pa tapos ang second semester ay may Japayuki ng nabuntis. Masarap pa naman sana kasi laplapan talaga na pagulong-gulong at gifted child sya. Very talented and very skilled. Dinagit lang ng tinatagong gf nya. Merese.

Sino ba naman kasi ang nagsabi na Education is a previlege. Ang mahal ha?

Baka dalawang condo units na sana nabili ko sa The Fort kung nakainom agad sana ako ng kape sa tambayan nila Mandaya. Natauhan sana agad ako.

Yung nauna na nursing ang course pero lampas isang dekada ang relasyon naming ay napakastufid on bed. Dyutay na nga, laos pa. Puro pa tweetums na lang. Kung si Mundoy pa, mamon na lang palagi. Saan na nga kaya yung taong yon?

Di na nagpakita mula nang nakipag break ako sa kanya two years back.

Si bebe, bago lang kami. We were just nine days old when I left Dabaw on August 23. But we still feel the warmth of our affection to each adah.

Just enjoying the moments even far apart.

“I love you, beh.”

Labad

2008-09-23T08:26:00.003+03:00

I tried to set a good day by reading Mandaya’s old postings. I finished all the entries already with a number of laughers I coud not help bursting. Obviously, I am happy with Mandaya’s love life. I wish to meet him and Kulot plus their gay freinds, too.

After four hours in the net, I stood up from my bed and prepared breakfast. I remembered that beb reminded me to take breakfast today since he was worried that I skipped breakfast yesterday. Tom Jones na rin. There was nothing that my taste buds crave for so I satiated myself with what were available, dried pusit and boneless danggit, boiled rice and banana shake.

While cooking, a txt message from my bestfreind said that my lover was “nagnilabad.”

Wala daw gibayad ang pangmatrikula nga gihatag sa iyang cousin nga gusto magpa eskwela sa iyaha.

After finishing my breakfast, I texted my beb.

He admitted and tried to explain that the money is intact and that he was still unable to pay the tuition because the money is not enough.

While my thoughts are lingering if my beb wants additional money from me, I quickly dismissed the idea. My scholarship foundation has been closed.

Enough of these paeskwela kwela. Way pulos. Daghan gastos, way graduates.

My mood has already been distracted. I am stressed out again.

bilyar

2008-09-20T22:13:00.007+03:00

Tumutugtog ang isang lumang radyong may nakakabit na emergency light at electric fan na nagpapagising sa isang maliwanag na bilyaran sa gilid ng kalsada sa panulakan ng Sitio St Jude papuntang Sitio San Isidro sa Daliao, Davao City.

Dumadaan ako isang hapon noong aking bakasyon noong nakaraang buwan ng biglang umulan. “Makisilong lang po,” sabi ko habang sinalubong ako bago pa mapaupo ng marining ko ang pamilyar na boses ng isang papalapit na mukha ng aking nahihiwatigan. Medyo tumaba na nga pala si Mark, isang lalaking nakaulayaw ko minsan sa isa sa mga taon nang aking pag uwi ko sa nakalipas na labing walong taon mula Riyadh.

“Sugal ta Gar,” ang narinig kong anyaya sa akin ng isang pamilyar at medyo paos na boses. Nang ituon ko ang paningin sa mukha ng nagsasalita, namalayan ko na lang na naka oo na pala agad ako sa kanya. Si Mark pala.

Dati syang boyfriend ni Gerry, ang aking palaging partner sa “Ronda Mindanao” tuwing ako ay nagbabakasyon sa Toril, Davao City. Ronda Mindanao ang tawag namin kung kami ay nag-iikot sa bayan. Ang paglilibot na to ay cruising kung tawagin ng aking mga American friends.

Di ko makalimutan si Mark kasi, alaskado kasi si Gerry noonng ahasin siya ni Edwin, isang Japayuki entertainer na kaibigan ko rin. Ang kwento sa akin ng bestfriend ko, nagpapadyak si Gerry sa sala ng bahay ko at gumugulong sa sahig na umiiyak sabay dialogue, “Sige, tumbe, tamake pa ninyo akong nawng,” habang umiyak sa sakit na naramdaman ng malaman nya na nakaulayaw ni Edwin si Mark.

Ganyan ka love noon ni Gerry si Mark, noong binata pa ito. Si Mark naman, ilang taon ang nakalipas ng maganap ang anakondahan at wala na sila ni Gerry noon, ay nakatambalan ko ng ilang beses na gumanap sa isa, dalawa, o tatlong maiinit na pelikulang "Oh Yeah". Huh.

Tinuro sa akin ni Mark ang bilyaristang kulot ang buhok at hubad ang t-shirt. Sa lukluk ng aking isipan ay naala-ala ko na nakainuman ko na rin ang bilyarista ng minsang kasama ko si Makaw sa gilid ng basketbolan.

Napaupo ako sa upuang nakapaligid sa bilyaran, tabi ni Makaw, na una kong nakilala pagpanhik ko pa lang sa bungad ng mistualng bahay kubo na puno sa nanonood at nakikisilong dahil nga umaambon.

Nag umpisa na ang laro na di ko napansin. Napanood lang ako sa kalabang manlalaro at nabighani sa kanyang abs at imbes na sa laro ako nakatuon ay sa magandang abs at kilikili ako nakatitig habang nagalalaro sila ng tako at bola.

Naalala ko na may pusta nga pala kami at napatanong kay Makaw kung kanino ako itinaya ni Mark. Kumpiramado ni Makaw na kay kulot nga kami nakapusta.

Habang naaaliw ako sa katawan ng mga lalaking nagbibilyar dumating na rin si Mundoy na dapat ay kasabay kong maglakad para ehersesyo. Bumalik sya sa bahay dahil nalimutan ng kanyang jowa ang cellphone sa kama ng aking ever-loyal friendship.

“Basa ka,” Ssabi ko sa kanya. Medyo basa ang kanyang mga braso sa malalking tagaktak ng ulan. Inalok ko ang aking shawl na batik upang ipunas ngunit tumanggi sya sabay hugot sa kanyang signature na bandana.

Nababagot na ako ng malapit ng matapos ang pangatlong laro.

Last ball si Kulot at pumalya ang kanyang tira. Tira ngayon ang may magandang abs na tsinitong taga-Baybay na bilyarista.

Maraming bola syang hinulog sa buslo ngunit bago sya mag last ball ay di nabuslo ang tira.

Tinapos na nu kulot ang laro bago ako mabagot.

Naging 200 daan ang inihanda kong 50 pesos. Binayaran na rin ni Mark ang piakiusap na “time” ng kalaban dahil siguro ay ubos na ang pera nya. Napasakamay ko ang 130 pesos at binigay ko ang sampo na hininging balato ni Makaw.

May natalo may nanalo.

Bukas kaya sino ang panalo?

Ito rin ang tanong ko sa bakabakan ng mga militar at MILF sa Pikit na parang palaman ng tinapay na kumalat sa ibang bahagi ng Central at Southern Mindanao.

Gaya ng sugal na ang karamihan ay bihirang may mananalo, sigurado ako na ang mga sibilyan ang palaging talo.

nu yir

2008-01-01T21:38:00.000+03:00

i left my cellphone at d office, my newly fixed car got burned in the street. house was in disarray with wet clothes hanging, and soaked clothes scattered in the bathroom, courtesy of my flatmate. these were the bad things that rained on me when i left the office for the last working day of 2007.

on the first day of 2008, i was late for nearly an hour when i reached the office since it is working day in riyadh. lunch time, a bad news struck me. my sister who had neck cancer, called to inform me that our eldest brother is now in the icu of a hospital in davao city. apparently, manong had a stroke last 30th of december. he went to a doctor and was advised to undergo an ecg. he did not.

jan 1, early morning he was rushed to the hospital after our second eldest brother in naga convinced him to see a doctor and a cardiologist.

manong is afraid of hospitals and doctors. my late father told me before that manong has a phobia n needles.

hahay. nu yir.

See eysh See

2007-09-03T11:29:00.000+03:00

A friend asked me what is see eysh see. I assumed he was asking for CSC, a term that initially thought by Chinese Leader Mao Tse Tung that a number of Asian activists are using. It actually stands for Criticism and Self Criticism. You criticize your collegaues and you criticize yourself in order for the both of you or an organization that you belong to learn form once's mistakes.

Last week I criticized myself for being so imposing on a cute guy I met long time ago. I may have been carried away for his being kind and generous to me lately but I am sure I was just playing around. However, the guy was seemingly irritated of my "making moves."

The incident reminded me of an American senator who was reported of committing a inappropriate conduct of soliciting sex that eventually led to his voluntary resignation from the US Senate.

"Let me be clear: I am not gay and never have been," said the resigned American legislator that has aligned himself with conservative groups who oppose gay rights.

A confidant asked me why should I ask apology for just playing around doubly so that there was never an intention to sleep with him.

I just kept quite but I told myself that I don’t want to lose a friend that has been so helpful in times of my needs. I love the guy for that and if it takes me a million times to ask an apology to gain back his trust on me, I will.

So, I criticized myself and Al-Hamdullilah, I think am gaining his trust back.

Last night I saw the cute guy and he offered me some pastries. He also let me used his computer and Internet after having some kumustahan.

It was a nice short night I had with the guy.

Tim’s tuhod is two-hooded trick

2007-08-26T13:30:00.000+03:00

The other day, my co-worker sent me email stating his mother died in the Philippines. He asked me if he should go home or leave to God his mother’s passing away.

“I know I am very new in the company. Most probably they would not allow me to go home. Also, should I go home, I may not be able to attend the burial since my family has scheduled the internment on Thursday,” Tim told me as if he tried to explained his guilt of unable to attend his mother’s funeral.

Probably, Tim needs a shoulder to lean on in his time of grief.

A week before his mother died, Tim asked me to help correct his grammar in the Minutes of a Meeting he covered in his department. I was shocked that a Siliman University graduate is unable to construct a correct sentence.

My presumption that SU, of which I got frustrated so much for being unable to attend during my college days, is producing top of the line graduates proved wrong.

Tim got the eye of the company managers when he lied about his knee injury. He initially told his manager that he got sprained while playing basketball. He once told me he got it from playing tennis.

Now, his friend told me that he had his knee surgically operated twice for rheumatism. I was wondering why he had to lie. No wonder he was asked to submit a medical certificate about his knee, which he complied today.

Good luck to him and may his mother rest in peace.

Are we on?

2007-08-19T21:34:00.001+03:00

I am very new in this company and i am surpirsed that not one co-worker but six officemates asked me today when am I taking my annual vacation?

Do they think I am already bored at work? ngarag kaya fez ko? Actually, I thought I am but whenever I feel one I stand up and swing around the office.

In one office, there is this cute dark lad that I wish I could sleep with even for one night only and surprise of all surprises he actually did today.

No. I mean he told me this afternoon to come and sleep in his room.

Each time I see him, he always wear this sweet smile. Then one day, I whispered to him that I am falling in love.

“To whom,” he asked me.

“Me too,” he replied when I told him, “You.”

Are we on? This, I asked inside my solitary room. Wheh!

Mixed Nuts

2007-08-14T03:29:00.000+03:00

Am getting nuts. I woke up past 1 a.m. and could not go back to sleep. I surfed, read a lot but still can't sleep back though I coukd really feel the sand-like ek inside my eyes.

This is going nuts. Mixed one.

I wanna post some stuffs in this blog but my mind is so mixed up.

I wanted to write about my niece that already went back home after a three month stay out of her father's house following a disagreement and physical brouhaha with my brother and her sister.

I also wanted to write about my nephew that sent me yesterday pictures of his nurse pinning ceremony. And then there was my twin brother's visit to my 73-year old mother who swung around my house unannounced. I hate being visited in my house without prior appointment.

I've got to hide some skeletons inside my closet, noh. The fact is, my ex lover is still staying in my house even after we had broken our promises because of his philandering stunts although he had told me he would be out of my house "soon." Soon never came early until my best friend who manages my house had enough and sermoned my ex-partner the other night for being so irresponsible.

How could my ex-lover stay in my house and tag along his lazy brother without sharing anything in the dining table? The craziest part was he never informed me that he would go back to my house while I was in Manila and he was in Basilan with a cheap KTV bar girl whom he had a baby girl hidden from me.

Then there is the painstaking wait of the radiation theraphy result of my only sister who was diagnosed with a cancer on her neck. Once, I didn't know what to do when my sister called from California crying so hard and compalining of the pain the radiation has caused her.

"Parang hinihiwa ng blade ang lalamunan ko pag lumulunok ako ng pagkain," she said.

Over the month, my sister has lost 22 kilos of weight and eight inches of her waistline.

But not all nuts are hard and bitter though.

The sweetest nut among the things going on is that I have found a number of crushes in my new company. Ibat ibang lahi. Hahay.

Then there was the fresh, cute banking and finance grad who chatted with me last night and keeps me inspired. Hahay uli.

Then, there is Howard who "miskol" me when I slept early last night. Hahay na naman.

Tamis ng pag-ibig.

DARNA!!!

Deal or No Deal

2007-08-07T09:24:00.000+03:00

Four days after my two-month stint with the international charge and credit card company, I got a call from banker.

He offered me a challenging position with his bank and of course a higher pay.

However, I will be posted in another city.

The call's impact could similarly be compared to a person playing the game show, Deal or No Deal, where the player would be banging his head on the wall to make a decision.

For me, the call is as hard as the wall especially that I had just moved in to a new apartment and paid the six month rent.

Will there be another call next time or should I stay in the company that I have learned to love?

Let’s pray for a sign as Kris would most certainly do.

Magpaganda

2007-08-06T08:08:00.001+03:00

Today’s the 60th day of my 90-day of my work probation with an international charge and credit card.

The past two months seemed very hectic that usually surprised me that lunch time had passed after skipping breakfast.

Apparently, my 18-month enforced-hiatus before I got the job has unconsciously made me think I was useless when I was terminated from my 14-year stint with a Saudi broadsheet.

With the sudden work dumped in front of me, my new work automatically became a day-long word puzzle that I forgot to notice time had passed by.

If not for a handsome suitor who reminded me to provide myself time to socialize as he blamed me that he is now gainfully having a relationship with an open-minded (spelled as open pocket) gingging. Howard humbly teased me that he could have been a loyal and enjoyable boyfriend had I made time to make chika and other chuvanese with him.

I can’t blame Howard since he admittedly needs somebody who would sponsor his cellphone charge loads and other needs.

I told Howard that I am not ready for that relationship since my resources could not afford such. I am good for manpower pooling only this time since I have slid under the Forbes Top 5,000 that I used get listed with my new job.

I can’t blame him since the two local colleagues that I am working with have been dumping me with their work loads as if testing my work capacity.

I silently reminded myself that I have been “sleeping” for a year and a half without work that I can not afford to fail this time.

“Bring it on,” I silently told them as the two colleagues and my boss dumped me with their work.

Few minutes before I left the office to start the week end, my boss called me.

Poised as ever, I walked in his room and prepared myself to wittingly slug it out with my boss should another word bashing event unfold.

“Your email to Sri Lanka. Good email. This makes the two executives that we are hiring feel that they are being taken good care,” he said.

I was taken a back by my boss comments. In my almost 18 years of working in Saudi Arabia, a spoken appreciation is as rare as a true believer.

The two IT executives had their flights delayed for several times. First, a political rally that paralyzed the transportation including the route to the airport in Colombo has to move their flight for few days. When the flight day came, three more changes occurred after they have checked in the airport immigration section.

My experience in assisting distressed migrant workers was awakened by the email of our new recruit. As an advocate of migrant I could feel their anxiety thus I wrote the email to keep their cool and be relaxed as they wait for their five-hour flight to Riyadh.

I never expected that gesture of concerned would be a color on my probationary cap.

I was heading for my two-day week end when I suddenly missed Howard but the migrant worker who was forced to moonlight with his body to keep both ends meet revealed his impatience of waiting for me.

I know that hooking me has been a challenge for him that he wanted to make me lose for not having him. I long to get laid but I don’t know if I would be sorry for him. I would probably be friend him and remained civil with him because for sure, I love my job now.

As I tried to whisk away from Howard’s hullabaloo, I juggled three house chores to start my week end.

I did my laundry while I cooked sinigang na isda and wrote this article for my blog at the same time watched game shows in my boob tube.

Tomorrow, I will look forward to my room makeover and have my hair cut done. Magpaganda!

Soning ni Gloring

2007-08-06T08:08:00.000+03:00

Super laff akech sa SONAbelles ni Aling Gloring. Over sa OPM at naging fantasyadora pa na maging winabelles sa first world chinez ang everdearest Filiphs.

Ka chakahan sa kaechosan!

Sinech naman ang Got to believe in magic sa Richard Kipleys na SONAbelles ever?

Dreamgirl ang Lola. Trulili bang maging winabbeles ang economy and may I join the Miss First World Beauty ang Philippines kung imbes na mag make over into industrialized country ang inang bayan ay sell ang drama like ukay ukay ang mga natural resources sa foreign capitalists at ever bargain sale din ang mga government corporation as in privatization ang promo para magka datung.

Tama ba yung mag ilusyon kang maging mayaman kung mag benta ka ng mga ari-arian. Loss yan mama.

The rich never sell, they buy, yan ang sabi ng gay friend kong old rich na si Don Romero of Davao.

Over sa yabang ang lola Gloring na parang andalus muchos sa wishing bones nya magkaroon ng maraming airports at kilo kilong kalsada na para bang kulang pa sa kanya ang diosdado macapagal arroyo avenue. Juice ko pong fine eapple.. Baka dream ng lola na pati mga junakis ng mga junakis ay magkaroon ng kanya-kanyang street names. Parang mga street children.

Di ba, feel nga ng lola na ang mga junakis maging congressman. Di chox na ang mga apo ay maging street children. Lukrecia Kasilag!

Ilusyunadang walang dats. Ni bala nga ng junyon na jumujutok di sya makabili kaya tiguk ang kanyang mga marines sa tipo tipo. Headless pa. paano kasi, witchelles naman pala jumujotok ang bala ng junyon na kung saan buy ng kanyang alipores. Airport at kalsada na naman ang drama.

Knowing kech ever yung mga ghost bridges and roads sa Mindanao na kay ganda sa papel pero sa trulili ay putik ever if not alabok at lubak avenues naman ang mga roads to the mountain ever.

Laff na lang ako ng laff pero seriously, Maalaala Mo Kaya noong once upon a time may I cross the hanging bridge and let the horse swim the river to carry me over to the other side against the raging water to gather data sa isang massacre doon malapit sa boundary ng Bukidnon, Calinan at North Cotabato.

I wonder how the roads there are doing. It must be the same. No pavements. Of course, the massacares continue but the roads? Baka drowing pa rin. Sketch!

Over ang Soning ni Gloring!

Closing to end or Closer to God

2007-07-09T12:12:00.000+03:00

My sister called me today to know how my brother and I are doing in Riyadh. I have been planning to call her in California to know how she is coping with her radiation therapy.

One more session and by next month my sister would have her medical leave of absence from work.

We really pray that the cancer would be gone in her neck and her whole body.

She said the radiation therapy has lost her sense of taste and all food would be tasteless. The only good thing about this, according to my dearest sister is she would be losing weight.

Sores have started appearing in my sister’s mouth but my sister has to eat food otherwise she would be tube-feed with liquids.

Ate Lily and her family have shifted to brown rice.

She was also enthusiastic to say that she had lunch a while ago with her son, PJ, who has shifted course to BS Business Management.

I also miss so much my nephew, PJ who grew up in our ancestral house with my parents while my sister used to worked in Jeddah before she moved to the U.S. of A.

I told my sister that Manong Boy, our eldest brother, also misses my Ate Lily and worries about her situation.

I hope everything will soon be all right with my sister. She was worried with her house monthly amortization and the two cars that she is paying with earnings from her double job. Now that she is sick, who would pay for this if she would not be able to work back.

My sister said she gets tired easily especially at work these days with her radiation therapy.

God please let my sister recuperate and live longer.

missing home

2007-07-08T17:25:00.000+03:00

moving to a new pad is an arm and heartbreaking task. ambigat kasi ng magbitbit tapos iakyat mo pa sa thrid floor ng building yung gamit ng buong bahay.

but being in a new flat is like having a new home. linis dito, linis doon. pagnadahin eto, pagandahin doon.

pagandahin din ang sarili para ma refresh after those hard, heavy lifting.

my kafatid helped me re-assemble my closet that he bought me from IKEA as well as the beautiful bed.

Now, i still have to re-arrange my bags and boxes of clothes.

I also have to re-connect my satellite dish so I can continue watching Ophra. Also my DSL line is not re-connected. Ang hirap talaga ma disconnect sa web.

Pero mas mahirap mag raise ng pambayad ng apartment. After so many years, now lang uli ako nagka utang para pambayad ng bahay.

While in my new pad, I suddenly miss my home in Davao and Saint Monique Valais. I miss my mom and I also miss my best friend.

I regret for not having remitted teh allotment for this month. Kapos talaga mga mahal ko sa buhay.

Dont you worry, I will try to scout for some remedies when things lighten up a bit.

Buhay OFW talaga, huh. Di makatakas sa responsibilidad sa mga mahal sa buhay. Paano, mahal nga eh.

I love and miss you Mamang. Miss you, Mundoy, too.

breasts and butts

2007-06-25T21:18:00.000+03:00

kung napansin nyo this month, sa pinas may dalawang protest rallies na aliw.

yung mga kabataan sa umpisa ng pasukan sa eskwela nagprotesta sa hubad na katotohanan na ang edukasyon sa pilipinas ay nakatali sa nagtataasang matrikula. ang punto de vista ng mga kabataan -- na naghubo at hubad na nagsisigaw sa kamaynilaan -- na may mali sa siste ng edukasyon sa pinas. kasi nga naman kung swertehin kang makatapos ng kolehiyo ay swertehan na lang na makapagtrrabaho ka at mabawi ang ginastos mo sa pag aaral.

sa kabilang banda, di naman kaya naghahanap lang yung mga naghubad nang kustomer kaya sila nagpakita ng kani-kanilang mga pwet at ari para may pambayad sila ng matrikula? baka may mga nakakursunada sa kanila at ginawang scholars? lightning promo ba ng flesh trade sa pinas. baka naman hindi? at any rate, aliw. ewe!

ang mga nanay naman, sa kabilang dako, ilang araw ang nakaraan, ay nakikipagduldulan nang kanilang mga dede sa mga malalaking korporasyong nangagatas sa mga ina na maglabas ng pera upang mapadede ng huwad na sustansya ang mga sanggol. kumbaga, susuhan na rin ang labanan ng mga ina upang ihayag sa mga nasa pamahalaan ang paghingi ng suporta sa katotohanan na mother's milk is best for babies.

hay naku. kaya siguro ang ibang kalalakihan, ang tawag sa mga dinggirl ay mommy kasi feeling baby sila habang nanggagatas sa kani-kanilang sugar mommy na magaling magbreastfeed sa kanilang mga bebe lalo na dito sa kaharian. hay naku, mamulat na kaya kayo.

araykupo. sino kaya yung nambatok sa akin? maka inom na nga nang kape para magising ako sa antok.

kainech eytech

2007-06-25T21:07:00.000+03:00

ang mga ufanech sa mga balaysus ditech sa riyadnech ay wittzelles na sa pagka stop sa pag fly na parang rocketcheng sa skyflu. super fund raising talaga ang mga lacoste na katutubong landlords ditelles. as if they thought we are the migrant slaves that would so, so work hard while they siphoned back our hard-earn fulus by exacting more money from us through our house rental fees. fara vagang sila na lang ang lumalafyus ng kabsa, shawarma at viryani rice neng. matuk mo na halos double the payola na ang oscar dela renta. wala na nga kitchenelles ang balaysung kech, mamahalan pa. leche talaga! ang jirap pa naman mag-em f_cky at magvetvet ng mga gamitches kech. last year, matuk mo na four times akech mag change pad. buti kung padding lang e change at shoulder bag na galing 168 lang ang vetvetin kech. over sa kaka-weight-lifting, nech. sister bu, heavy talaga. as in hard labor. as of now, ang mga wardrobes kech ay nasa loob pa rin ng mga cartonites kech. ang daily attires kech ay nasa mga bagelyas ko na naghalo-halo na sa mga vagahech kech na nanggaling pang providence sa filipinas na super gulo. kelan kaya mag end ang teleseryech na layf kech?

headless

2007-06-25T21:01:00.000+03:00

may kwento ako na ayokong lagyan ng pamagat. tungkol kasi ito sa isang lalaking una'y nabasa ko lang sa dating pahayagan na pinagsusulatan ko. ang saya ko noon kasi wala yata akong report noon tapos halos pinuno ng balita tungkol sa lalaking ito ang mga pahina sa harap. nakulong si oepdabulyu. paano nga naman, pagkatapos nya kamong mapatay ang taxi driver ay nakipaghabulan ito sa mga otoridad. ika niya, ng madalaw ko sya sa kulungan sa malaz ay depensa lang talaga ang nangyari. paano naman kasi, gusto raw syang halayin ng taxi driver pagkatapos syang paikot ikotin bago sya makarating sa kanyang mga pinagpupuntahan. kaso ng umalma sya at ayaw nyang makipaghalayan sa driver, nagka heated argument na at nagka pisikalan pa. kumuha sya ng matulis sa dala-dala nyang bag at nagkasaksakan na. kesyo, may nakakita na bumagsak na ang drver ng patalilis na sya. nagkahabulan na ngayon. takbo na parang may world tournament sa takbuhan. takbo pagkatapos itaktak. kung saan-saan kaya umabot, merong nang agaw sya ng sasakyan sa gitna ng daan. binangga nya pa yata yung isang sakyanan ng maabutan sya sa traffic light. tapos takbuhan na may lundagan pa sa mga hood ng sakyanan at may akyatan pa sa pader ng pumasok sya sa isang villa.kung ilan-ilang blocks ang naabut sa takbuhan na humantong sa kulungan na may stop over sa hospital kasi binaril na sya ng sumuko. pinugutan sya ng ulo kamakailan.kaya walang ulo itong kwento.

big C in d u.s. of a.

2007-06-24T18:40:00.000+03:00

i hope an angel would help guide my sister in the u.s. of a.

the day after i was hired in my new job, my beloved ate called to inform me she had cancer. what a day!

my euphoria on how i finally landed a job after 16 months of being wageless was short lived.

i could only say my prayers to you sis. don't you worry. i know god will always protect you. last week, my dearest ate lily had her first radiation theraphy and i have not heard from her yet.

i hope my sis is okay and hope she will soon accept what she has been dreading, that her hair may soon fall off. sabi ko sa kanya, uso bitaw ang kalbo sa mga gurls, huh.

kawawa naman kasi ang sis ko kasi sya na lang mag isa doon sa california. liban sa asawa nya at mga anak, damang dama ko na gusto sana ng kapatid ko na may mga kapatid din sya na mag aasikaso sa kanya roon para ma feel nya na love din namin siya.

love na love ka namin, sister. kaya mo yan. cancer lang yan.

sanay naman tayo sa hirap ng buhay kaya tibay-tibayan mo lang kung kulang pa ay itodo mo pa ang lakas ng loob mo. kung madali lang sanang pumunta dyan eh, binisita nakita. patnubayan ka talaga ng poong hesus at tutulungan ka ng mahal nating si papang sa kalagayan mo ngayon. dont you worry sis. di lang naman ikaw ang merong sakit na ganyan. di ba? basta isipin mo, pag gumaling ka na, o kahit di pa, magkikita pa rin tayo sa davao. alam mo naman na may bahay kang uuwian doon at may mga kapatid kang palaging nagmamahal sa yo.

magpagaling ka, sis!

sampalin kita. pakkk!!!

2007-06-24T18:33:00.000+03:00

my niece was crying the last time we chatted. she said her father slapped her tuesday upon learning that she had a boyfriend. she is 22, fresh college graduate, and working as a shool nurse in her alma mater. my niece have a four-year old son. she delivered handsome and cute mark when she was still in her first year of college studies. last wednesday, she typed a sad message to me as she tried to hid her tears from the students visiting the school clinic that morning. like a young baby girl that she always is, my sweet niece said that her eldest sister also slapped her for the same reason... i am still wondering what my younger niece did last father's day.

breaking my hymen

2007-06-24T18:26:00.000+03:00

this is an attempt to express my jailed thoughts while working in a very interesting, conservative but fast-developing country. this may be a manifestation of homesickness especially after a having spent the longest vacation of my life following a nearly 15 years of hard worki in saudi arabia. i have been planning to make a blog or a website of my own and my procrastination came to a halt when my new boss asked me to produce a newsletter that would be posted in our local server. is he asking me to make an online news site? oooWWwZZzz. afraid that i may fail my three-month probationary period, i wishpered to myself to start kicking my own butt and do start tickling what i have been sitting on my desk for long.