Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Ang BOC at ang Kahon

The Balikbayan Box appears to be synonymous to the terms "OFW" or "Pinoy abroad" and more often than not, means pasalubong or regalo.

Hindi ko lang talaga mawari ang extreme na pagiisip ng Bureau of Customs na nagging kadikit sa Balikbayan Box ang Smuggling, Illegal Drugs, Contraband.  Aminin.  Mas synonymous pa ang word na "Customs" sa mga katagang "mayayaman" or "ninakaw at binenta" or "bentang galling Customs" - all of which are - of course, negative.  Nakakahiya naman sa kanila di ba?!

Tapos - eto nga, pinapabuksan ng Customs ang mga Balikbayan boxes. Random man yan o hindi, bubuksan pa rin.  Ano pa nga ba ang iisipin ng mga tao?!  Dagdag pagkakakitaan na naman ito sa mga taga Customs dahil may maibebenta na naman sila.  Better yet, meron na naman silang mahuhuthutan. Negative.

Masisisi mo ba ang mga tao?

Malamang hindi - dahil matagal na ang negative na connotation ng Bureau of Customs. Magbabago pa ba yan?  Maybe - pero matagal.  But for now, nakakahiya naman sa kanila.
 

I Am Back

I have been out of the blogging scene for quite a while due to various reasons - tamad, walang masulat, tamad ulet, nakakalimutan magsulat, tamad ulet.  Did I say tinatamad ako magsulat?

Anyway, a roller coaster of emotions brought me back here, allowed my fingers to type the blogger url and presto - here I am - squeezing something to write, squeezing every ounce of creative juice that I might have so I can impart it to others.  In any case - I guess, I will always find something to write about.

We'll see. 

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Next Top Candidate


The position could belong to one of them, but at the moment, I don't really care that much. 

Mar Roxas.  He hasn't really said he will run, pero duh - di naman obvious di ba?  Kahit ano pa gawin niya, napaghahalata naman na gusto niyang tumakbo. I guess the Aquino admin used a strategic position in the government cabinet to put him,and mind you - at the right timing - that's about a few years before the next election season starts. para may "recall" at para lahat ng government initiatives na channeled through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) - kay Roxas mapupunta.  Parang ang lalabas tuloy matulungin siya and all that god stuff.  As if naman the people don't know na sobrang pamumulitika na ginagawa nila - well, not all people actually, may mga tangang maniniwala pa rin.
His chances of winning?  I guess it is a ZERO. Hahahaha

Rodrigo Duterte.  He has not yet decided to run for the presidential seat - but the clamor is growing.  He is popular, especially with what he has done to the city of Davao.  Known to have an "iron fist" which people believe to be needed by the government in its fight against crime and corruption.  Well - corruption... di talaga ako sure jan.  Little has been known with his "corruption habits" simply because he is much known for his battles against crime. 
Personally, he has a strong chance of winning if he runs.  Yes, STRONG CHANCE of winning.  He will surely get the "Mindanao Vote" and may be considered as the first person from Mindanao to get the highest post in the government.  He may also get the "Bisaya Vote" which are mostly people from the Visayas and Mindanao - and that is almost half of the country (if my statistics are right).

Panfilo Lacson.  Well, he ran and lost - but it appears that there is a clamor by some groups that he run again, as signified by a TV ad that is circulating as early as May 2015.  He once headed the police, and he is known to be a tough guy.  Well he can probably credit that to military/police training, and his position in the PNP before.  There were corruption cases, murder cases hurled against him.  He has some sort of a "stained' reputation, but then again, who knows, being a tough guy from the police/military could be an edge for brining in a tougher government - something that may follow Fidel Ramos' regime as president perhaps?
Personally, he may have a ZERO chance in winning.  He is not popular - which is, sadly, what most voters are looking for.

Jemomar Binay.  Who doesn't know him?  Afterall, he is the current VP.  He was the first to signify his intent to become President - and he might have decided to run after his landslide win as VP in the previous elections.  He played a dramatic role in transforming Makati City to become the financial capital of the country.  He has also done a marvelous job with the city of Makati - from certain perks and benefits by Makati residents.  Outstanding performance indeed.  Sadly, he is involved in a number of controversies - all dealing with his wealth and finances.  He started political ads way too early than the rest of the possible candidates.  Di mo rin naman kasi maiakkaila na siya ang nangunguna sa mga surveys - kahit na may mga controversies. Siguro madami lang mejo nabubulagan - or maybe matindi lang talaga ang paniniwala nila sa kanya.
Personally - he can win the Presidential seat - that is what the survey says.  Who are the survey subjects anyway?

In any case, the game will change once the filing of candidacy comes in.  Sadly, people do not look at the candidates profile and platform of government.  Philippine elections is still a popularity contest.
 

Monday, April 27, 2015

On Mary Jane Velasco













Mary Jane Velasco.
Can she be the new Flor Contemplacion?
Maybe - but not totally.
Her plight in Indonesia is very unfortunate.  I cannot blame the Indonesian government for being strict and firm with its decision on not granting any reprieve on her execution tomorrow at 5:00 PM.  Illegal drugs will bring havoc to its citizens, and that is something that should not be tolerated.
Yet I understand where the people who wants to save her from execution, I also understand Indonesia's stand.  I guess the blame should be pointed towards the Philippine government, for acting quite too late.
Mary Jane is a victim of poverty.  Whether she is innocent or not for brining in prohibited drugs to Indonesia, the fact still remains that she may have not left the country if she would have had any opportunity to earn quite a decent living in this country. 
Sorry, not sorry.
Prayers are needed to save her.  That is probably the only thing that people can do.  Miracles can happen.  Prayers did not work during Flor Contemplacion's time.  Maybe it will this time.
 
 

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Age Discrimination ?

I came across this article/news the Asian Journal while browsing.


Ang lakas naman maka - "ouch" dun sa "OLD" ....
Anyway - mejo totoo naman din na may discrimination sa mga applicants na me edad ... well maybe at least sa ibang industry.... pero so far naman sa BPO industry - di ko naman nararamdaman yan.

If only lang kasi ang mga majojonda na yan eh mejo me kagalingan sa inglisan, not totally neutral in accent but at least malambot ang dila sa English, pwede naman sila mag BPO.  May mga naging officemates naman ako na mga lolo na, mga more than 30 years old, mga 40s - pero OK naman sila.  May skills naman - yun nga lang ang iba mejo slow... pero mas OK na ang slow kesa walang progress.

Aminin naman din natin na there are certain times na mahirap mag deal sa mga taong me edad na, lalo na if ibang generation nabilang at wala masyado kahalubilo na mejo "bata" ang mga majojondang applicants.  Di masyado nakakasabay sa trip ng mga bata.  Minsan may sariling mundo, minsan naman matigas ang ulo.  Nakakahiya din minsan pagsabihan kasi matanda na.  Pagsasabihan mo naman baka saibihin, di gumagalang sa matatanda.  Minsan naman - nagrarason pa - or worse - kinukumpara ang panahon niya at panahon ngayon.  kairita lang di ba?!

Di mo rin naman masisi ang mga employers kung ganun.  Liability pa pag nagkasakit or nagretire na - minsan di naman productive.  mas marami pa nagagawa ang bata kesa kanila. 

di mo rin naman masisisi ang gobyerno kung bakit ipupush nila ito - discrimination naman kasi talaga.  Lahat naman need ng work - need ng money - need ang sweldo.  sa hirap ba naman ng buhay ngayon....

sana lang - marealize din ng ilan na pag pumasok sila sa workforce - kelangan sumabay sa agos ng panahon - at kalimutan na ang pagkukumpara sa generation nila at sa panahon ngayon.  Sana marealize din ng iba ang pangangailangan ngayon at iba sa need dati - na kelangan din mas nakakasaby ka sa technology, sa environment.

I still hope for the best for everyone - mapa bata man o matanda.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

An Inspiring Tax Campaign: Angat pa Pinas



Oh atin nang simulan
Isang hakbang para sa kinabukasan
Ating buwis ating tungkulin
Ito ang landas na ating tatahakin

Angat pa, Pinas
Tayo ang haligi ng bukas
Ating tungkulin ang buwis natin Pinas
Atin pang paangatin

Bawat isa ay mahalaga
Walang maliit kung sama-sama
Uusbong ang bagong pag-asa
Ating iwagayway ang ating bandila

Malaki man o kukunti
Lahat ay kabahagi
Handa ka na ba sa iyong tungkulin
Pagsulong ng bayan ating mithiin

Angat pa, Pinas
Tayo ang haligi ng bukas
Ating tungkulin ang buwis natin Pinas
Atin pang paangatin


April 15 na naman at deadline to file taxes.  Let us all remember the reason why we need to pay taxes. 

I really like this campaign.  I like the way they present the ideal scenario on where our taxes go.  Very inspiring, very positive.  It goes to show that every tax payer contributes to the development of the country. Every tax we pay, ideally, comes back to us in many forms.

Sad to say,  everyone is aware where some of the money go.  Everyone is aware that there are government workers who care less where their salaries come from.  Sad to say, there are people who take taxpayers' money for granted.

In any case, let's just  wish that things will change.

Wala naman masama sa pag wish.

 

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Araw ng Kagitingan

Today is a holiday!  Yipee!!!
1 - happy because there is no work
2 - happy because today is "double pay"
3 - happy because there is no traffic

Araw ng Kagitingan.
Day of Valor.
Well - technically our version of Veterans' Day.
Holiday.

As we celebrate for whatever reason, today is a holiday because today is a time to remember the bravery/valor/heroism of those who fought for our country's "freedom."  Remembering what they did for the country isn't supposed to be a 1-day thing, as it should be within our heart and mind - maybe, we'll just make this day a day to make their memory a little special.

Salute!