On being and OFW Worker and Finiding a Good Job that suits your capacity.

As an OFW living in the middle east, one would think " naku sigurado malaki ang sweldo nyan". Pinoys think that because we are working in the Land of Gold ay automatic malaki ang sahod mo. Pero maling-mali ang inaakala nating lahat. The sad truth is that the salary that a lot of the overseas workers now are so LOW, mas ok pa na bumalik ka nalang sa Pinas kasi halos parehas lang naman ang sasahudin mo, kasama mo pa ang pamilya mo.

I wanted to write about how I feel regarding this because of the recent town hall meeting that I attended. The speaker informed us that our current president's goal is to make a lot of Filipinos go home and make it a point that if they want to work abroad is just going to be an option and not a necessity. How I wish this would be true! pero we also have to understand that nung nasa pinas ako a lot of companies look for candidates who graduated in a specific degree. Yes, isa sa pinaka mahirap na kalaban mo sa pinas ay ang issue na tayong mga pilipino ay mapipili. It was already hard for me to look for a job here in Dubai that does not require a diploma. What more pa sa pinas diba?

So what I want to emphasize now is that other than the call center industry, is there any other jobs available in our Country for candidates like me who does not have a degree but has an extensive experience in a specific field?

If there is, can the salary be competitive din? kasi one of the reasons na madaming umaalis din sa pinas is because we are limiting a lot of potential workers because they do not have a degree. I know a lot of undergraduates like me have tried and tried and tried looking for other jobs but sobrang hirap talaga. Limited and mga options. I really want to go home and work in our own country kaya sana our government can produce more jobs for us.

Disclaimer : This is just my take on what is happening right now sa bansa natin. My own opinion and my own observation.........

GROCERY SHOPPING

While having a smoke at the back of my workplace, I suddenly realized that I missed going to the grocery with Him. Why? I asked myself. Why did I became so engrossed with this out of the blue feeling of loneliness? well then, let me go back to the past, Back when I was still in the Philippines.

When I was working in Makati, I would always have my groceries done either in Landmark or SM. I LOVE LOVE LOVE (Emphasis on the LOVE) to go sa Grocery. It is my place of peace and relaxation. Some people go there just to buy their daily needs and go back to their normal lives. I on the other hand, go there to calm my nerves down. Especially kapag stressed out ako. Groceries are my Happy Place, I go to each isle and inspect what are the latest items they have or kung anu mga nakalagay na ingredients for each items. Favorite kong din pumunta sa Bread Sections, lalo na sa Landmark that time kasi sila palang ung nakita kong grocery that has self serving stations for different kinds of breads (Think Bread Talk Style). I love their pandesal. Advantage din kasi sa Callcenter ako nag-wowork so I go to the mall early in the morning.  I am almost always positive din that my favorite brand of cookies will be available. That time din it was really hard to find St. Ive's Apricot Scub and dun ko lang siya nahahanap. They also have the food court very near sa grocery so it was really a perfect combination especially for me. I also vaguely remember a grocery that I also go to at Chino Roces where they have one of the best ensaymadas. It was Shopwise I think.

Then I transferred to Quezon City and work for my Uncle's Manpower Agency. Dun ko naman naranasan mag-Grocery sa WalterMart around Muñoz, SM North Edsa at ang SnR.  More than 3 years din ako tumira sa area na yun. Siyempre pag Agency sobrang stress, so pag alam kong kelangn ko nang mag unwind, pupunta ako dun at uubusin ko ang oras ko kaka-libot hanggang mapagod ako.

Now, going back sa kwento ko, I was making drama last week pa kasi parati siyang overtime sa office and I was left all alone. Partida nyan halos everyday kumakain na ako sa labas or mag tatake-out nalang kasi mag isa nga lang ako. Then came friday. I was waking him ng medyo maaga para mag grocery kami so i can cook a proper breakfast pero he was so sleepy! as in nag-iinarte na ako sa sobrang inis! So I ended up going there by myself. Nung single pa kasi ako pangarap ko talaga na may makasama ako sa grocery na partner ko and doing this habit of mine. Sobrang asar talaga as in!!

Then I finally remembered that for the last 5 years na magkasama kami, parati naman talaga siya ang kasama ko, We would separate nga lang once andun na kami sa loob kasi pag sabay kami we would almost always make away na. Matipid kasi sya na person, eh ako basta alam kong may pera ako sige bira lang ng bira pag bili. Grabe naman kasi sa over kung mag-Sale dito sa Dubai. So kung sa supplies hindi ka mauubusan, pera nalang talaga ang kulang! hehehe...... But in all honesty, I love him because of that. He made me understand the value of things. To think before I buy, to prepare ourselves for the future and making me realize that even if we don't have a lot, we have more than enough. Contentment ika nga nila.

This is not actually a complaint but a simple memory that I want to cherish. I have had this habit lately of taking things for granted (Sorry Babe!!) but by reminding myself of this things makes me realize that I do have a good life, it may be simple but it does make me understand that I am more blessed now than before and that is something that I have to be thankful for.

PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES!!

Here are some of my Vacation Pictures in the Philippines last 2016  ......

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    Rainoah finally god her pasalubong!!!

Our baby boy Thirdy is all grown up!!!

Don't grow up to fast my loves

late mirenda with my cousin Grace at a Korean Resto in Dagupan

Dinner with my HS classmates

my cousin Mark 

with my Mama and Papa 

Finally! May linaw na ng konti.........

Let’s face it, sobrang nakaka-inggit yung mga nasa facebook ngayon na weddings kasi halos lahat alam mong pinag gastusan at pinag-handaan. From the Pre-nups, Post-nups, Themed Weddings, etc. etc... Makes me wonder tuloy, how can a middle – class couple who earns atleast 20-30k a month afford a glamorous wedding that costs almost 2 years of their combined salaries???!?!??!

You might be thinking, Why is she ranting and making paki-alam all of a sudden? Well.......... after years and years of waiting, (drum roll please..... Ilabas ang babaing mahaba ang hair! Charot!!!!) He finally said YES!! Hahahaha!!! Well, in short, I am now exited to say that atleast kahit papano may linaw na ang pinapangarap kong kasal. *insert exited na kinikilig na face*.  

It happened surprisingly when we were about to sleep na one faithful night. I was chatting with my sister sa FB. We were in our usual chickahan, kamustahan mode when she asked me if the plans for A December wedding will push through. I suddenly had the urge to ask him for confirmation, pero syempre not without a back up dialog in my head just in case he rejects my questions and suggestions for the nth time. (FYI: for those na nakaka kilala sa amin, i have been ranting and complaining how he has never acknowledged the idea of getting married that I finally gave an ultimatum that 2017 will be the last straw) the moment arrived in such perfect timing, he was playing games in his IPAD and ako naman biglang lingon sa kanya sabay tanong, “ Babe, nagtatanong si ate kung tuloy daw ba ung balak natin sa December and he said YES!! Hahahahaha....... 

My Balikbayan moment......

It has been  months since I got back from Pinas and was supposed to write and improve my blog but as it turns out, super na-miss ko mag petiks mode kaya halos hindi ako nag-computer (or nag-OL sabi ng mga younger gens...whatevs!!) . Other than chatting with my office-mates and friends sa facebook hindi ko talaga masyado pinag-husayan ang pag oOnline world. Rather, nag-focus ako sa pag spend ng time sa parents ko at sa pag-aalaga ng 2 pamankin ko. So i therefore conclude na because of my experience sa pag-aalaga ng mga bata...... I am now ready to have a family!!! (WoW... Shocking....*insert sarcasm face*)

As it turns out, I love kids. Taking care of them gives me a sense of fulfillment that I have been longing for such a long time. Yung tipong I have a purpose in those 2 months na andun ako. I was happy that even na super kulit nila, they will always complete your day. hashtag #OFWtitas

I also went to Bicol to finally "Meet the Parents" and it actually turned out pretty good. I finally saw his hometown. One of the things that I can't get enough off is a place called "SINANGAG PLAZA". Siguro na-miss ko lang sobra ang combination ng porkchop, sinangag at itlog. I also love that we had to spend quality time together as a couple.

Next on my agenda was that went to Baguio with a good friend to do some much needed R&R. (Super thanks Ruby!!) I have fulfilled my craving for an out of town trip that was all about food!!!!, and because ako ung tipo ng taong mahilig sa paulit-ulit, when it was time for him to meet my parents and go to Pangasinan, cyempre kelangan namin mag Baguio din!! It was also a good time for me to know if both of us can survive traveling together. I am gala but not the adventurous one. I'm happy just as long as I can smoke andcoffee in the morning type of overnight. Ayoko ng nagluluto ng pagkain pag nag oout of town. Good thing ganun din siya, yun nga lang, he is really matipid. It was also a good way for me to practice how to travel on a tight budget. Super tinipid na namin ung mga expenses namin, but all in all our first trip na kaming dalawa lang was good. Nagkasakit nga lang ako after because it was raining really hard that time sa Baguio.

My Balikbayan experience turned out to be a memorable one, hopefully the next time na maka balik ako ng Pinas, I will have a better budget para we can visit more places.......

A GLIMPSE IN THE LIFE OF BEING “TECHNICALLY SINGLE”

I am blogging this in hopes that for those who are technically single like me will realize that it is ok for us to take our time. It might not be traditional but we decided to do it beforehand. So loving our partner is not bad, we just have to know how to live it without losing ourselves in the process.

 

To tell you that I am not confused with my situation is an understatement. To start off I was actually not mentally and emotionally prepared to be with him when we decided, but financially it was more practical as I was literally spending the night at his place almost every day. Eventually it was more beneficial for us to move in together so that we can both have more time to each other and that our money can be saved somewhere else. But it was actually different when both of you are living together, it is like the adjustment and struggles of a brand new married couple that you always see on TV or read in books but with the added pressure of not knowing if you want to give yourself emotionally all the way or if you still need to reserve some self respect. If asked why I felt it? My answer remains constant, “We are still not married” or in tagalog, “Hindi pa kami kasal”.

It was after 4years into our relationship when I finally realized one thing, why do I always stress on us getting married? I know society and our culture assume that because we have been living together for such a long time that we need to start preparing to have a family. Or that the “You are not getting any younger” phrase that everyone seems to push in my face. Which, in return made me do things like, changing my attitude to make sure that I belong to the category of a girl fit to be chosen by society as a typical wife. For years, I was always trying to think of ways on how to improve myself as a partner so that he will have the guts to marry me that I forgot my identity on the process. but in time, I have realized that don’t need to change who I am because at the end, I might just crack and be uncomfortable. Or that when I go back to my old self, it will be an even bigger disaster.  

I cannot count how many discussions and arguments I have had with family members, friends, office mates and even strangers (yes, occasionally I talk to mamang taxi driver when I'm in need for someone to open up to without biased opinion, believe me when I say that I have actually learned a lot).  All of them have different options and POV’s as to what life is, which made me decide to create my own path on how I want my life to be. It may not be fitting for others but it made me whole again. It made me better and made me see that our love, respect and care for each other is enough……. for now.

I do hope that in time, my life will be as good as what i want it to be. But for now, I am contented with the situation that i currently have. It may not be much, but it is enough. as they say in the movies " Good things come to those who wait... "

My Vacation is Approved!

Its official, my 65 days vacation is approved!! Now the only problem is that sobrang dami kong naiisip na gawin at puntahan. I don’t even know if my budget will suffice all of the things that I want to accomplish.

So as a reminder I’m putting the list of things I want to achieve on my long overdue vacation here para at least baka kahit papano maacheive ko siya.

Vikings Buffet – just because everybody has been raving about it all over Pinas.

Baguio Craft Brewery – I need good some good quality beer!! And I haven’t been in baguio for a long time….

Manila – just because I miss the traffic, the malls and especially the food!!!!

Camarines Norte – to finally do the “meet the parents” and to see what Bicolandia has in store for me

Masbate – to Bring the whole family to my mom’s birth place so that I we can all spend some good old quality time

To write more and improve my blog - as of now all my views are coming from me checking it from time to time. Total no. of Visitors – O, nada, waley…. Hehehehe

Buy my mom a brand new oven.

Buy my papa anything he needs/wants with a specific budget. =)

Buy myself lots and lots of clothes and shoes that are in my budget range - Para naman may masuot ako.

Buy a car for my parents - Malay nyo diba? Hehehe

To spend more quality time with my pamankins

I still have a lot of things that I want to do and am planning to add more to the list but as of now this will be the essentials muna. Grabe, 3 years in the making itong bakasyon na ito so I do hope matuloy na siya. I have been so down this couple of months na kahit sobrang busy ko, I was not really in the right mindset at napaka nega ko na tlga, so going home to the place where I grew up is just want I need right now….. Thank you Lord for my answered prayer…… PINAS SEE YOU SOON!!!!

On being “PLUS SIZE”…..

Since I came to Dubai, I have this constant struggle on how I can manage to start losing weight. I was never the girl who accepted her femininity and curves. On the contrary I was the girl who hides in her uniform since I started gaining more weight. It’s crazy enough that even in my social media pictures, I was always wearing my trusty grey & white ensemble. I was constantly blaming any problems I encounter for making me do “stress eating”. Sure, I still have a happy exterior but that’s because I was born with an ironically smiling face. And honestly, based on what I’m experiencing now, even that façade’s slowly fading away. I am more likely to be irritated by simple misunderstandings. I now tend to look for problems so I have an excuse to eat out or binge. The energy that I once have to overcome all obstacles was replaced by guilty pleasures like a hefty dose of chicken wings and large amounts of soda. I don’t get full easily and even though I just ate, my mind is telling me that my body can still hold a couple more scoops of ice cream or a dash more cigarettes.

This kind of problem is now killing my self-esteem. I don’t have the same confidence that I had before in my younger years. I now hide behind the shadows of excuses and reasoning. I don’t have the “YOLO” (You Only Live Once) attitude. Instead, my brain is now consumed with planning on what I will be eating for dinner even though I just finished taking my breakfast.  I am now stuck in this uneasy feeling that I am just wasting my life and not even knowing what lies ahead. That kind of struggle that makes me just want to be at bed the whole day, and just wait for the next day so I can sleep some more.

The struggles of being overweight are sad but true, this constant hatred towards your body and not loving your behind for not being in tune with your front. My legs are so much thinner than a normal curvy girl thus, making my upper body so much heavier that I have trouble walking and the heavier I get, the more strain my ankles had to endure just so I can walk for at least a couples of steps. I wanted to invest on how to gain confidence but having no sense of style makes it harder to accept and embrace my curves. It might be easy for people to tell me to just go ahead and try to lose weight but having no will-power makes it a lot harder to gain faith.

I am writing this not because I want to start losing weight, but to document my journey on being “Plus Size”. I’m still in this bubble of hatred and self loathing. I don’t like how my body Is evolving and that my age is increasing year after year but by writing on how I go about it makes it worth for me to at least reconsider the possibilities of trying to change who I am and to look forward on what my futures lies ahead. 
  

Sisig + Egado x Great Co - Workers = BUSOG!!

This is just a fun blog about me and my co - workers. We always have this impromptu lunches na mag rerequest kaming mag luto ng either Egado from Lyn's flatmate (tawagin natin cyang KUYA) or Ren's famous SISIG!! 

Let me just tell you why this occurrences needs to be blogged. One good thing that i love about this lunches is that this becomes some sort of bonding moments para sa aming lahat. We take pictures of it, kwentuhan galore sa mga araw-araw na pangyayari sa office and most of all, GREAT FOOD!!!  We always pair them with Coke and rice, tapos some combination of fruits and panamis. I love this moments with my AGEL co-workers. Actually i really love all our lunch times together, kahit mabababaw lang na kwentuhan mas nagiging masaya because of great company. We laugh at each other, make fun of people (sa totoo lang ako naman ang pinag titripan at kinukutiya nila parati....hehehe....) talk about things that happen in the Philippines an so on. I can still remember when it is almost time for our salary, Kareen is the one who encodes our sahod so we have this kulitan of not making her galit or stressed lalo na if she has not finished encoding it yet. Or this non-ending battle between me and Jake that we have become so accustomed to, na pag hindi kami mag orkayan na dalawa the day would not be complete. I just Love this time of day that believe it or not, this actually is my booster and stress reliever.  

So enough about the pep talk na, let me share with you some of our office pics:

Kuya's Egado with carrots and patatas

Ren's famous Sisig ng Pampanga

Ren, Mylene and Jake

Jake and Kareen doing the Pabebe Wave!

Me and Madam Cecilia

The Pabebe Wave!!

Busog Lusog after lunch. Me, Jake and Lyn on the phone while Sir Bernard and Madam Cecilia are chatting. Kareen was so ready in taking her pose!! hehehe.....

THE MALAKING MATA MEME....

THEY WERE TRYING TO BE SCARY daw...... =)

The guy who is leaning is kuya Kenneth and the other holding a bottle of pepsi is Kuya Elmer, next to him is Shelly, while the girl who's face was not captured is Jen.

 

THE COORDINATORS... BAW!

Funny Pose daw sabi ni Jake.....

The day would not be complete without the PABALOT!!! Pinoy style =)

I Still have 3 more pinoy office-mates that are not here in the Picture, Kuya Jon (Who is actually the brains behind the meme of me having a big eye and the one who took these pics.) and Jen, andun sya isang pic actually kaso hindi nakita ung mukha. Sadly yung pantry kung saan kami kumakaain before was already demolished to give way to our new office. That panty had held a lot of Birthday parties, Biglaang pakain, awayan, tampuhan and my most memorable 30th Birthday party last 2014. I need to blog that even if it was 2 years ago para ma-preserve and ma share ko sya. So for now we are stationed dun sa bigger na pantry on the 1st floor pansamantala and will be going to our new pantry by the 2nd half of the year sabi ng management. Hopefully I can still share a lot more stories about us here sa blog..... so till next time............ BAS!