Friday, July 29, 2005

Sabi nila...

Pag-bata ka, ang dali mong utuin. May marinig ka lang na sinabi yung kaibigan mo, maniniwala ka kaagad. Minsan pa nga, malaki ka na di mo pa rin maitapon ang mga akala mong tama noong bata ka.

- pwedeng mambatok kung may nakita kang kalbo o kotseng kuba (Volkswagen)
- may immunity ka naman sa pambabatok ng iba kung naka-peace sign ka
- pag-nabatukan ka, kailangan mong kontrahin yon sa pamamagitan ng pag-tuktok sa baba mo
- di pwedeng magtira ng kanin sa plato. Kung ilan ang natirang butil, yun ang dami ng tigyawat na tutubo sa yo
- Laging magsabi ng tabi-tabi nga po kung dadaan sa tabi ng punso (anthill) o kaya masukal na lugar
- Wag matutulog ng basa ang buhok kung ayaw mong mabubulag ka.
- Bawal maligo pag may monthly period, maloloka ka. ngek!
- Wag papayag na mahakbangan ka ng iba, di ka na tataas.
- Wag magpapakuha ng picture na tatlo kayo, matsu-tsugi daw yung nasa gitna (ang morbid nito)
- Ito ang paborito ko, kung sino ang unang lalaki o babae na makikita mo sa Valentine’s day ang makakatuluyan mo

A letter from my late father

I was fixing my files the other day when I chanced upon a yellow stationery. It was a letter from my dad on his 2nd to the last birthday as a mortal. He was thanking me for the book I gave him (Chicken Soup for the Soul). I knew he'll like it bec. he loves to read inspirational stories.

My dear Jinkee,
I have never read anything in my whole life that melted my heart and me me cry twice is a short a-time. I was so emotionally moved that tears were already rolling down from my eyes while I was reading “Heart Song and The Hugging Judge�. How powerful love really is.
Love,
Daddy


By the way, it’s the 6th death anniversary of my dad on July 31.

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Graduation Day Blooper

I just read about bloopers in Bluegreen’s blog. Aba, marami rin ako nyan. The first one I’m sharing happened is the mother of all bloopers. Ang dami kasing naka-witness. Sobrang pahiya talaga ako.

This happened during my high school’s graduation ceremonies. Since special day yon, mga dress to kill kaming mga graduates. I was wearing a green dress tapos naka 2-inch high na shoes. Medyo nakaka-ilang pero kailangang tiisin. Anyway, the program is only for 3 hours at most.

All awardees with parents were called in front (Best in Recess ako, he he he). When my name was announced, my mom and I walked up the stage. Pababa na kami ng mommy ko nang biglang...#@$^*&! Nahulog ako sa hagdan! Saksi ang 500 na batchmates ko pati ng mga kama-anak nila. I stood up immediately to regain my composure. A few steps later, nilapitan ako nung official photographer namin, iniabot yung isang paa ng sapatos ko. Sa taranta ko, di ko namalayan na lumipad ang bago kong sapatos. Gosh, nakakahiya talaga. Parang gusto kong maging invisible that time.

Di pa don natapos ang lahat. A week later, I went to my new school, MIT, to pay my tuition fee. Habang nasa pila, may nakipag-kwentuhan sa akin na sophomore. Syempre, bagong salta ako doon kaya mega-tsika rin ako. After a while, naalala na nya kung saan nya ako nakita. Nandon pala sya sa graduation rites namin for her cousin. Ngekkk, buking ako.

Napapangiti ako pag-naalala ko yung eksena na yon. Things like that add spice to life. It make life more colorful, more exciting. We need this once in a while else, it would be dull and boring. Ngayon pag may kwentuhan tungkol sa bloopers, di lang ako tameme. Pwede pa akong bumangka. Aba, marami yata ako nyan.

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

What’s happening at NZIS?

The 2004-2005 fiscal yr of NZIS has just ended (June 30,2005). The NZ govt was able to meet their immigration quota. Their 45K target was reached this year. Umabot pa nga ng 48,815. Almost 60% nito ang nasa Skilled Migrant Category (SMC). Ang ibang categories ay refugee, family and business. Dahil wala kaming milyones na pampuhunan o kamag-anak na mag-i-sponsor, dun kami kasama sa SMC.

Year 2003-2004 was not a good year. 45K din ang quota but only 39,017 were granted. Panong hindi magkakaganon eh binago nila yung systema nung Dec 2003. Ready na kaming mag-apply noon pero the points was unbelievable. 195 pts ang kailangan noong nag-open ito nang Feb 2004. Bumababa naman ang points kada buwan. Ngayon nasa 100pts na lang.

After the EOI has been selected, applicants wait for the ITA pack. Nung time namin, 3 months na hintayan lang yon (now it’s 9 months). After submitting the ITA pack, interview na ang kasunod. Hataw sa pag-i-interview ang Bangkok mula March to May 2004. Pati nga yung mga empleyado sa Beijing eh inimport na nila. Naku, pahirapan ang pagpa-pa-move ng interview sked kung natapat sa araw na di ka pwede. Kaya pala ganon ang siste, they were trying to beat the deadline or else kulang na naman ang migrants nila. There was hardly any interview in June 2004. Ito kasi siguro yung time para i-process nila lahat ng info obtained from the interview. Wagi naman ang efforts sila, pasok sila sa quota.

July na ngayon, bagong taong na para sa kanila. They have a slow start, siguro recovering pa from the previous yr’s exhaustion. It is only now that they are inviting applicants for August interview. This is good news to many pinoys I know. Marami dyang ilang bwan ng kakaba-kaba. At least now things are moving. Good luck to you all

Friday, July 22, 2005

Bato-balani

I’ve been feeling this back pain lately. Duda ko, may nangyayari na naman sa lamang-loob ko. The last time I felt this, although not in the same intensity, was in September 2002. I didn’t know what was wrong. The pain was too much for me to handle considering that I already have a high threshold for pain. Henry decided to rush me to the hospital (UST) after I passed out.

After a series of tests, the doctors found out that I have cute little stones in my kidneys. Tama, kidneys nga, kasi parehong meron. Ang tawag nila doon ay nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis. Ano ba yun? These are stones formed in my kidneys bec. of too much calcium formed in my system. Hanggang doon na lang ang paliwanag, baka magkamali pa ako. I wasn’t really surprised when I found this out. Noong 1992 kasi natanggalan na ako ng stone sa ureter.

Yesterday, I had a urinalysis to see if I have an infection. Meron nga pero konti lang naman. I’m planning to see my doctor next week. I’m sure sasabihan na naman ako na ipabasag (lithotripsy) na yung mga precious stones ko. Ok lang ako doon kaya lang ang tanong eh when? If I do it now, my company will pay for my hospital bill (wala kaming insurance, medical assistance lang). Kung matuloy kami in a few months sa NZ, nakakahiya naman na pagastusin ko pa sila ngayon. Mga P40K din ata yung procedure.

Libre daw ang hospitalization sa NZ. Mabuti naman. However, may isa pa akong dilemma. I didn’t declare in my application that I have such medical condition. Buti kung mapaniwala ko yung mga doctors doon na bagong tubo lang tong mga bato-balani ko. It may cause setback in our resident visa. Naku, ayaw ko non.

Nakadalawang buko ako kagabi tapos madami akong baong tubig ngayon. 1pm pa lang pero nakaka 7 glasses na ako. Medyo naibsan na yung pain. Sana nga makuha ito sa increase fluid intake. At para siguradong tatalab, sasamahan ko na rin ng isang toneladang dasal. Sana ok yung recipe ko.

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Si Lolo Ponso at Lola Cristina

Love na love ko ang maternal grandparents ko (my lolo and lola on my dad's side died early). Nung mga 2 yrs old kasi ako, na-exile ako doon sa kanila sa Pangasinan. My parents had to move to Romblon because of their jobs (they are both teachers). Naawa si Lola Cristina and Lolo Ponso sa amin kaya inaruga nila ako. Naiwan sa parents ko ang ate ko at ang kapapanganak pa lang na si Queenie.

Mabait na bata daw ako sabi ng Lolo Ponso ko. Hindi ako iyakin at lalong hindi pasaway. Ang problema lang nila sa akin, lagi akong nagtatanong. I ask ‘why?’ one after another. Minsan nakakatulugan na ng lolo ko ang pagsagot sa mga tanong ko.

Favorite ako ng lolo ko. Palagi nya akong kabuntot. Habang nagkukumpuni ng bahay, pagpupunta sa bukid (tal-talon), pag namamalengke, pagpupunta sa bangko at marami pang iba. Minsang iniwan nya ako to go to the next town, nabingi ang lola ko sa kaka-iyak ko. I was really unconsolable. Sa inis ni lola, sinilid nya ako sa sako. Of course, tinatakot nya lang ako. Mula non, takot na akong umiyak.

Masaya ako sa bahay ng grandparents ko. Sila ang kinilala kong magulang. Yung mga pinsan ko naman na sina Gigi at Bong ang mga kapatid ko. One day, mga 4 yrs old na ako noon, may dumating sa bahay na isang tisoy na lalaki. Ipinakilala sa akin ng lolo ko. Yun daw ang tatay ko. Di ko naintindihan kung ano ang ibig nyang sabihin. Kaya imbes na tawagin ko syang daddy, 'lolo' ang nasabi ko. 'Papa' ang tawag ko kay lolo. Na-offend dito ang tatay ko. Several weeks later, binawi na nila ako. Hindi na rin kasi ako kayang alagaan ng lolo ko bec. my lola had to go to the States. Maliit pa lang ako non pero I remember getting so confused. I was uprooted. Here are 2 adults claiming to be mom and dad. Tapos may mga 3 bata pa kapatid ko daw. Hindi yon ang kinagisnan ko. Nanibago ako ng husto noong una.

1987 nang mamatay ang lolo ko. Ang lola ko naman still strong and sharp @ 95. To me, they are not just grandparents, they are my second parents. I always thank God for allowing me to be part of their lives.

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

8th wedding anniversary

Henry and I celebrated our 8th anniversary last week (July 12). No fancy dinner or expensive gifts. We just greeted each other in the morning. On his way home from work, he bought a cake for the family to share. Isang beses pa lang kaming nag-‘celebrate’ ng anniversary namin, that was on our first yr (1998). We watched Godzilla at Megamall (ang romantic di ba?) then dined at Sangkalan in QC. Ang tagal na pala non.

1995 was the year when I met Henry. We were officemates in a manufacturing company in Valenzuela. Akala nya di ko alam na itinanong nya sa HR on my first days if I am single. Oh di ba nabighani agad sa akin. I didn’t stay long with the company (mga 3 months lang siguro) but Henry and I remained together from then on.

Way before I got married, I heard in wedding that one of the keys to a lasting relationship is to respect your partner. That statement stuck in my mind. I don’t always agree with my husband's ideas but don’t nag with him about it. If I don’t approve his act, I tell it to him in a manner na di nagse-sermon. In the things I do, I always consider his feelings. Will it offend him in anyway? If yes, then I won’t do it. If I truly believe in the purpose of something, then I will seek his approval. Kung tingin ko eh di talaga sya papayag, di ko na lang sasabihin. he he he

Our marriage is a work-in-progress. Marami pang problemang haharapin. Marami pang pagsubok na dadanasin. Alam kong kakayanin naming lahat yon because we want to make it work. It’s not ‘you and me’ anymore, it’s now ‘you and me and the kids’. Lagi dapat kasama sa eksena yung 2 bulinggit. They may be too small to understand some things at this point but nevertheless, they should be considered in all decisions of the family. We're 8 yrs now and still growing.

Friday, July 15, 2005

Kiwi Speak

Ibang klase ang 'english' ng mga kiwi. It's unique. Not comparable to american, british nor australian english. They have their own way of pronouncing things. Sa una kailangan mo talagang ulit-ulitin yung word/sentence, nakaka-confuse kasi talaga.

Nakuha ko tong list of kiwi words dun sa isang Brit sa emigratenz forum. Yup, kiwis use long 'e' but not sure if everything else is true. But it's definitely hilarious.

Jungle Bills - Christmas Carol
Ear rowbucks - what alot of women do to loose weight (aerobics).
a medgen - Visualize, conjure up mentally, John Lennon's first solo album.
Brist - part of human anatomy between "nick" and "billy"
Booger - as in "mine's booger than yours"
Choolly Bun - "Chilly Bin", as in Esky (chiller)
Fooshenchoops. "Fish and Chips"
Bedtimeyeradyeraircudiznit. - " It's about time you had your hair cut, isn't it?"
Dimmer Kretz - those who believe in democracy and "Libbernon".
Ekka Dymocks - University staff
Guess - Flammable vapour used in stoves.
Buzniss - Common type of degree
Chick Out Chucks - Supermarket point of sale operators
Jendles - Sandals, thongs, open shoes
Colour - Terminator, violent forecloser of human life
Cuss - Kiss
Phar Lap - NZ's famous horse was christened "Phillip" but was incorrectly written down as "Phar Lap" by an Australian racing official who was not well versed in Kiwi-ese.
Milbun - Capital of Victoria
Peck - To fill a suitcase
Pissed aside - Chemical which kills insects
Pigs - For hanging out washing
Pug - Large animal with curly tail
Nin tin dough - Computer game
Min - Male of the species
Mess Kara - Eye makeup
McKennock - Person who fixes cars
Mere - Mayor
Leather - Foam produced from soap
Lift - Departed
Inner me - Enemy
Guess - Vapour
Fush - Marine creatures
Fitter cheney - Type of pasta
Ever cardeau - Avocado
Fear hear - Blonde
Ear - Mix of nitrogen and oxygen
Ear roebucks - Exercise at gym
Duffy cult - Not easy
Day old chuck - Very young poultry
Bug hut - Popular recording
Bun button - 'Been bitten' by an insect
Beard - A place to sleep
Sucks peck - Half a dozen beers
Ear New Zealand - An extinct airline
Beers - Large savage animals found in U.S. forests
One doze - Well known computer program
Iggs ecktly - Precisely
Beggage chucken - Place to leave your luggage at the earport

Thursday, July 14, 2005

My memories of Intramuros

I have good memories of Intramuros. It was my 'home' for more than 4 yrs. I studied there from 1987 to late 1991. Di na rin ako lumayo na tirahan. After a short stay in Lerma (with my friend Ferry), Intramuros na ang bahay ko til I graduated.

Dahil nga love ko ang Intramuros, pinilit ko na sa Intramuros na rin mag-aral si Queenie (younger sister ko). Sa Letran sya kumuha ng business degree nya. Nung time na ni H.O. (bunso namin) na mag-kolehiyo, sa Intramuros din sya nag-enroll (we went to the same school pero di kami nag-abot).

Saksi ang mga adobeng pader na yon sa buhay kolehiyo ko. Pagnare-review ako o kaya may notes na kailangan kopyahin sa ka-klase, pumupwesto na ako sa ibabaw ng wall. Pag may gabing maalinsangan, dun sa ibabaw ng Patio Victoria mo kami mahahagilap. Pag nag-brownout at ayaw naming lamukin sa dorm namin, tumatambay kami sa harap ng Palacio del Gobernador. Pag-bored, pwedeng maglibang sa Fort Santiago. Di na rin lalayo kung magsisimba. Stone-throw away lang ang Manila Cathedral sa tinitirhan namin.

Kakaibang community ang Intramuros. Lahat ng buildings don eh kailangang sumunod sa gusto ng Intramuros Admin na medyo hispanic ang design. Bawat gate na papasok at palabas sa Walled City ay may bantay na akala mo mga gwardia-sibil. Pagdating ng 10pm, sinasara na nila ang mga gates. Oh di ba, parang exclusive village. At higit sa lahat, marami kang makikitang celebrities and prominent personalities doon. Nandon kasi ang office ng Comelec. Tapos sa di kalayuan makikita ang San Agustin Chruch at Manila Cathedral (paboritong kasalan mga rich and famous).

Two yrs ago, bumalik ako sa aking alma mater para kumuha ng school records. Nagulat ako na nakasabay na sa pagiging high-tech ang school ko. Mas nagulat ako sa Intramuros na nakita ko. May McDo, Jollibee at Starbucks na don. Marami na ring sosyal na mga restaurants na nagsulputan. Meron na ring SM Manila na tambayan ng mga estudyante.

Marami nang pinagdaanang pagbabago ang intramuros. From a fort in the spanish era to ruined city in the 1940's, ngayon commercial area na. Pero sa history ng buhay ko, Intramuros is where I enjoyed my college days.

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Things Every Filipino Can Do to Help Our Country

After reading an email on how to make our country better, I realized that it's not really difficult to fulfill that dream. There is still hope. If each and every pinoy could do this, there'll be peace and order and justice in our beloved country. Kasunod na nito ang economic growth.


12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do to Help Our Country
by Alexander Lacson

1. Follow traffic rules. Follow the law.
2. Whenever you buy anything, always ask for an official receipt.
3. Don’t buy smuggled goods. Buy local. Buy Filipino.
4. When you talk to others, especially foreigners, speak positively about us and our country.
5. Respect your traffic officer, policemen, soldier and other public servants.
6. Do not litter. Dispose of your garbage properly. Segregate. Recycle. Conserve.
7. Support your church.
8. During elections, do your solemn duty.
9. Pay your employees well.
10. Pay your taxes.
11. Adopt a scholar or a poor child.
12. Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and love our country.

Thursday, July 07, 2005

Submitted WTR application

Bank certificates...check! Passports... check! WTR application form... check! Ayan, kumpleto na ang requirements ko for WTR. I made sure that I don't miss anything so that I could send the WTR application form plus reqts today. Lucky day daw ngayon according to the chinese. July 7 or 07/07. Seven is a lucky number tapos doblehin mo pa. I’m not superstitious but it won’t hurt naman siguro to add good luck in the recipe. Ito ang topping sa aming hard work and prayers.

Dapat sana ipapa-registered mail ko na lang yung documents kaya lang nanigurado ako. Mas mura sana kaya lang alam mo naman ang sistema ng postal service dito. Mabigat din yung rate ng DHL (Php1,073) pero maganda na rin yung nag-i-ingat.

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Philippines among top migrant sending countries

It’s very common for a pinoy to have a relative abroad. It’s not surprising anymore to know that your neighbor or officemate or former classmate also plans to live and work abroad. Favorite ng mga pinoy ang US. Pumapangalawang destination ang Canada. Now Australia and New Zealand are getting popular. Compared kasi sa dalawang naunang bansa, mas madali ang migration procedure sa ‘down under’.

When I read in INQ7 that Philippines is among the top migrant sending countries, I somewhat expected it. What stunned me is that we are actually 3rd in the list. Kahit nakapikit, alam nating lahat na China ang # 1. Kahit saang sulok ng mundo may chinese. The next one is India. In terms of population and land area, di hamak na malaki yung top 2 countries. India alone is 11 times bigger than the Philippines in terms of population and land area (3.3M sq km sila, 0.3M lang tayo; 1080M people sila, 87M tayo) and yet pumangalawa tayo sa kanila. There are 20M Indians overseas while Philippines have 7 million deployed around the world.

Is migration good or bad? Well it depends on who is asked. Para sa gobyerno, ok kasi malaking pera yan para sa bansa. Para sa mga kamag-anak (esp. mga anak) na naiwan, it could be devastating. Di na mabilang ang kwento ng mga pamilya ang nasira dahil kinailangang umalis ng tatay. Ilang kabataan ang napariwara dahil nawalan ng ina na mag-aaruga at gagabay... haaay naku, malalim na isyu to. Iba-iba ang dahilan sa pag-alis sa lupang tinubuan pero nangunguna dito ang economics. Sa dami ng tao sa Pilipinas at sa gulo ng mga politiko, ang pangarap na pag-asenso ni Juan Dela Cruz ay nananatiling pangarap. Sana dumating ang panahon na wala nang makakaisip ng umalis ng Pilipinas. ika nga, home sweet home