Yellow Light Is On...

"Today marks the end of a regime indifferent to the appeals of the people. It is not Noynoy who found a way. You are the reason why the silent suffering of the nation is about to end. This is the beginning of my burden, but if many of us will bear the cross, we will lift it, no matter how heavy it is." -excerpt from Noy's Inaugural Address

Once again, it is the voice of the people that was heard all over the country; and this time, it didn't happen in Edsa...
As the first ever automated election happened in the Philippines, all ballots were canvassed... there might be some lapses, but the votes were counted.
And today's inauguration marks the beginning of a better Philippines.

As P'Noy said, "You are the reason why the silent suffering of the nation is about to end."

People unites again...

One in prayer... One in hope that the country will recover.

Indeed, Noynoy's time was the hardest transition in the history, as he inherited the worst situation in the country. And all eyes will be on him...

Hopefully, people won't just watch him but will join him in rebuilding our nation.
There is still hope... we just have to stand again...

And the change that we all wanted does not only rely on the hands of P'Noy... because it is us that will make this country move forward... it is in every Filipino people.
We have to start within us... within the family... within the community...

It should start within ourselves...

"I will not be able to face my parents and you who have brought me here if do not fulfill the promises I made.
My parents sought nothing less, died for nothing less, than democracy and peace. I am blessed by this legacy. I shall carry the torch forward." - P'Noy
 
May we adapt the same value that our leader has for his family... for his parents...
For if we all want our parents to be proud of us... can you imagine how peaceful our country will be? How successful each  of us may be?
If we are parents who wanted to leave a good legacy to our kids... will there ever a domestic violence again?
 
The success of a country relies on its people.
"...if many of us will bear the cross, we will lift it, no matter how heavy it is." -P'Noy
 
Now, the Yellow light is on...
It doesn't mean Go or Stop...
but simply a warning; a signal to mellow down; to be ready...
 
Because change is coming and we all have to prepare...

God Bless the Philippines

Voting is over...
The new automated election in the country pushed through despite all the negative speculations.
It wasn't 100% successful, but knowing that it it happened somehow it made a history to our country.


The people have decided and the counting begins.

Finally, the dirty campaign is over...
After all the issues and black propaganda that filled the whole country for 90 days (or more...), we are now facing the real challenge...

The canvassing of votes.
I know that it's an automatic counting, but from the past experiences, this is the stage of the actual battle... we have to be assured that every single vote is counted... and accounted to the right candidate.

Many areas are still doing manual counts... as expected. And this is where the fear of the people arises.
As the machine fails, we are all hoping that the people wont...

At this time, while we are all waiting for the final result, let's keep on praying that our Father will continuously heal our land and bless us as a nation of God.

Again and again,
God please... Bless the Philippines.

Labor Pains

I've seen the movie.
But this is not about giving birth...
I don't think I can write something about it nor will attempt to do one; I am not Thea and firing a pregnant woman is legal here in UAE.
Anyways, back to labor pains...
In Phils. May 1 is Labor day (I know this is 4 days overdue)...
Labor day is not being celebrated on a positive side, instead you can see big protests on streets; laborers begging for a wage increase... I haven't heard or seen any program or events that give recognition for the best employees or some inspiring activities to look forward on this National Day for Laborers.

I have 6 years experience working in Manila, before I became an OFW. I have felt these 'labor pains' too, working day and night (since I am in TV network), on call 24/7, just to received a decent pay LESS TAX and all other deductions which really kills the work force. 

15-20% of what you've worked for will be counted as tax which means, about 2-4 days (sometimes overnight) was allotted to - road construction, medical services, government leaders' salary (just to name some) etc etc.

Aside from these citizen's responsibility, there are also SSS, Health Insurance and Pag-Ibig deductions, which accumulate another approx. 10% of salary.

What's left with the workers are 70-75% of their income... which again, the 20% of that was paid to VAT...

Isn't that worst than actual labor pains???

While some average employees are 'just' satisfied with what they receive, majority are underpaid.
Underpaid in the sense that the salary wont really fit to have a decent living in Manila. Everything are costly... rents, gasoline, food, commodities. That is for single like me... I wonder how parents managed to survived and bring their kids to school...

Being an OFW, I enjoyed the privilege of being 'tax-free' in UAE. I received my salary exactly the same as what is written in my contract... no more, no less! And I am 100% insured (without paying extra for HealthCare). Shopping is more exciting without VAT!!!

All the benefits were given fairly. Government funds were distributed to improve the country, from construction, transportation and services...

If only Phil. government is not corrupt and rules were implemented... We can do better than the other countries. We have the best workers in the world.

OFWs are the key employees of big companies and institutions... From receptionists to accountants, from construction workers to engineers, nursing aides to specialized doctors... We are the nannies who devote ourselves to other's child... The caregivers who give love and time to elders... The silent partners of working parents, who manage other's home and families...

I belong to these workers... we are enjoying financial stability - - - away from home. People who chose to fly outside the country to give better lives to families back home...

It is just a matter of choice. Being home, pay tax and work forever or leave for sometime, earn more, come back and start business... or leave and migrate to other country.

Embarrasing but true... many Filipinos chose the 3rd option because they can no longer see a good future in Philippines... 

The upcoming May 10 Election is the make or break in Philippine government... hence, the result is not only in the hands of the people...

May our Lord God guide every Filipino in choosing the new leader and may it be a clean and honest election. God bless the Philippines!

Pilipinas Kong Mahal

Mula sa malayong ibayo kung saan kami nagta-trabaho, isang malaking tulong ang hatid ng TFC para patuloy na kaming maging updated sa anumang kaganapan sa ating bayan.

Salamat sa TV Patrol na naghahatid ng mga impormasyon na kailangan naming malaman... mga balita at kaganapan na sa halip na magbigay inspirasyon sa tulad kong OFW ay madalas na naghahatid ng kalungkutan. Sapagkat madalang na magkaroon ng magandang balita, sa TV man a mga pahayagan. Hindi ko masisisi ang mga tagapag hatid balita, dahil marahil, wala na ngang magandang pangyayari na maaring isulat.

Ang halos araw araw na aksidente sa motorsiklo, banggaaan sa Commonwealth dahil sa walang ilaw ang mga lansangan o di kaya ay dahil sa MMDA barrier...

Patuloy na pagtaas ng tubig sa Malabon...

flash floods sa ibat ibang lugar...

Illegal recruiters na walang awang nagsasamantala sa mga natamaan ng krisis...

Walang katapusang rally sa Mendiola at Makati... Nakawan, pasabog, patayan.

Noong linggo sa the Buzz... nagsalita na si Vicky Belo sa wakas! pero walang laman... anong sinabi nya? bilib ako kay Tito Boy Abunda, sa pagtityaga sa pakikinig sa mga walang ka kwenta kwentang istorya. Inabangan ko ang interview na un, akala ko, may bago akong maririnig mula sa kanya... ganun din pala.

Malapit ng mabura ang issue ni Hayden Kho. Mawawala na lang nang walang nalulutas sa mga kaso. Patapos na ang palabas, kumita nag dapat kumita, at nalugi na naman ang taong bayan... at ang grupo na tumulong palakihin ang isyu at suporta sa mga "naaapi" at nagmamalasakit... sa huli ay magmumukhang mga tanga lamang! Pinaglaban ang isang bagay na wala ring kinahinatnan. Mga paulit ulit na kwento sa ating bayan...

Matitigil pa nga ba ang gyera sa Mindanao?

Kailan nga ba matatapos ang palitan ng bomba sa panig ng militar at mga rebelde?

Kung ubusan lahi ang labanan, sana'y wag nilang makalimutan na iisang lahi lang ang ating pinagmulan.

Ilang inosenteng tao na naman ang nagbuwis ng buhay kamakailan, para sa mensahe ng kapayapaan o ng patuloy ng patayan? Ano nga ba ang nais nilang ipahiwatig? Mahirap ba talagang ibigay ang kanilang kahilingan na para sa kanila ay kanilang karapatan? Matagal ng isyu, naging lolo na ang lolo ko, ganun pa rin ang eksena sa Mindanao. Parte na ng pang araw araw na buhay ang pagpatay. Ang pag sigaw ng hustisya at paglaban ang ipinagkakait na karapatan.

Ilang pangulo na nga ang dumaan, ilang Edsa na rin ang ating nasaksihan, pero walang pinagbago... ang buhay ng Pilipino ay sing dilim pa rin ng mga eskinita sa Tondo na nagiging piping saksi sa mga katiwalian ng gobyerno.

Ngayon, nakaratay na ang dating Pangulong Corazon Aquino.

Ang ina ng Kalayan...

nakailang coup de etat man sa pamumuno nya, ganun pa rin. Patuloy pa rin ang paglason sa bulok na sistema.

Sayang ang mga pinaglaban ng sambayanang "Edsa."

Ilang eleksyon na, pare-parehong mukha lang ang makikita mo sa kalsada... iniiba lang ang partido, pero pareho pa ring trapo!

Nakakatuwa ang mga gimik ng mga pulitiko... Sabi nga ni Willie sa Wowowee, ibigay nyo na lang diretso sa tao! Tutal mamimili rin naman ng mga boto, idiretso na dapat ang pag abot ng mga ito. Dahil nakakatawa man, sa panahon ng eleksyon, pati ang pambayad sa boto, nabubulsa pa ng iilang tao! Matutuloy na nga ba ang automation sa eleksyon? Sa bilyon bilyong pisong gagastusin sa makinaryang ito, sulit nga ba at magiging malinis na sa wakas ang halalan sa 2010? O malamang, malinis na dayaan!

Ilang araw na lang, uuwi na ako ulit sa Pinas. "Manila, Manila, I keep coming back to Manila!"

Nag aalala kami sa A(H1N1)... at baka bigla kaming mag positive jan, eh marami na akong naka-sked na lakad!

Nakapagtataka lang ang pag-exaggerate ng sakit na yan... dito, hindi man pinapansin. Dalawa sa kaibigan ko ang nagka-flu kamakailan. Ciempre, inisip namin agad, baka "positive" pero pagtapos saksakan ng gamot sa hospital, tinest at sa loob ng 2 hours, nakalabas na rin. nakuha ang resulta. Dito, totoong ginagawa ang swab test, sa atin, lagnatin lang, positive na!

May isa din kaming kakilala, galing dito, pag uwi sa atin, positive ang findings, pero dito, pagbalik, negative...

Patuloy ang countdown kung ilan na nga ba ang meron jan... parami ng parami! at "alarming" daw ito!

Bakit dito hindi kinakailangang takutin pa ang publiko?

Hindi naman mahirap mahanap ang sagot. Kagabi lang, nasa balita ang paghingi ng dagdag na pondo mula sa gobyerno! Bilyon ang pinag uusapan... para sa AH1nN1. Taking advantage na naman... saan kukunin? uutangin na naman? ilang taon na naman ang katumbas nun para mamalagi pa rin ang mga OFW sa ibang bansa?

Sana, dumating ang araw na magkaroon din ng hiya ang mga namumuno sa ating bansa.

Noong isang gabi, sa pahabol na ulat bago mag tapos ang TV Patrol, inihayag na daw ng Total ang pag taas ng .50 cents sa bawat litro ng kurudo. Bababa ng konti, magdadagdag ng malaki. Hindi nga ba kayang ayusin ang problemang yan? o ayaw lang lutasin dahil sa may mga nakikinabang?

Minsan naiisip ko tuloy, sana ibang lahi na lang ako.

Bakit nga ba pinanganak akong Pilipino?

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Kung tutuusin, kaya naman eh.

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Kung galing at talino lang ang pag-uusapan, kaya nating maging mayabang!Pero madalas, nasasayang lang ang ating mga pinaghihirapan... dahil sa mga nagaganap sa ating bayan!

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Tuwing nananalo si Pacman, ang sarap ng pakiramdam, kasi dala nya ang karangalan. Pero di naman araw araw siyang may laban.Mas madalas pa rin, nandoon ang kahihiyan.

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Pag may nagtatanong sa akin kung ano ang maganda sa Pilipinas, dati sinasabi ko lahat... lahat maganda.

Kaya lang ang susunod na tanong, bakit ka umalis? Oo nga naman, kung maganda, bakit kailangan pang iwanan? At siyempre, nakakahiya, pero kailangang ipaliwanag na naghihirap ang bayan dahil sa mga buwayang kawatan!

Naghihirap ang bayan dahil may mga sakim sa kapangyarihan at yaman.