EXPATRIATES

Money Tips for Expatriates or OFW

2010-08-03T11:44:00.000-07:00

Many expatriates or OFW in particular forget to save money when they are already working abroad. In the Philippines there is a seminar from PDOS before leaving to work abroad. The main topic of the seminar is about how to save money while working away from the Philippines away from their family. But most of the expatriates return home only to realize that they are still poor and even poorer before they went abroad. One of the reasons of this is that the OFW forgot to save while away working hard in foreign land. Some were tempted to spent too much money more than what they were earning by buying unimportant things like electronics gadget, gambling, going to nightclubs and even forget their family in the Philippines and even make their own new family abroad.

If you are working abroad you will encounter many trials and hardship, loneliness that will ruin your plan and dream. My advice is to have a constant communication to your family in the Philippines. Make concrete plan and save money for your future in the Philippines.

Here are some money tips for Expatriates or OFW:

1.0 Know what your monthly income and assess if you could invest on something in your country of origin. Maybe you could buy a house or condo unit. Real Estate is a good investment because it appreciates its value faster than other form of investment. It is also a pride to have a house which is the product of your hard work.

2.0 As an ofw you will see many appliances that you could not afford before to buy. Tighten your belt and go for longer gratification by saving and investing your money. You can invest in government securities and mutual fund too. Another thing to avoid buying cars, watches that are very expensive. Just say no to these temptation.

3.0 Spend your money wisely. Always remember that you have a goal to fulfill. Do not change your lifestyle like when you are earning small amount of money when you are in the Philippines.

4.0 If you think that your wife is not a good saver then do not send all your money but just send money for their monthly budget. Do not let your dependent in the waste your hard earn money.

5.0 Tell your wife about your plan or you should update them about your present money status and your future plan so that they will understand to avoid problem.

For more money tips read Earn and Invest Money in my other blog.

Venus Raj Rigid Training

2010-07-30T13:35:00.000-07:00

In preparation for the incoming Miss Universe Pageant, Venus Raj is now busy with her training like catwalk, answering question and even projection. After the storm she will now be ready to fight come August 23 in Las Vegas, Nevada and even Manny Pacman gave her some encouragement and to trust God above all.

Here is the article from ABS-CBN.Com

MANILA, Philippines – This year’s Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Venus Raj has undergone rigorous training for the prestigious Miss Universe 2010 pageant next month in Las Vegas.

Venus Raj, along with 2010 Binibining Pilipinas-World Czarina Gatbonton, 1st runner-up Diane Necio and 2nd runner-up Nicolette Henson, underwent trainings almost every day for several weeks

The training of the Filipino-Indian beauty from Camarines Sur included perfecting her walk on stage.

Raj’s posture and the movements of her head and hands as well as her smile were scrutinized by her trainers. She was also told that is important to make an eye contact with the judges and photographers of the pageant.

A mock question-and-answer portion, complete with panel of judges, were also held as part of Raj’s preparations. She made to undergo drama training to develop her self-confidence.

She also watched previous Miss Universe competitions to study the movements of the finalists.

Raj will fly to Las Vegas without her coach and family.

Venus Raj who fought back to regain her crown said her mom, who is in Camarines Sur, told her that she is proud of her, and that she will pray for her victory.

Other Bb Pilipinas winners, meantime, expressed their support to Raj.

The 2010 Miss Universe Coronation Night will be held at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Mandalay Bay Events Center on August 23, Monday.

The pageant will be aired live on ABS-CBN Channel 2 on August 24, Tuesday.

Raj will reportedly fly to the US on Sunday. –Report from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News

OFW Should Save and Invest

2010-07-21T14:47:00.000-07:00

Many OFWs including myself are working hard in a far away land in order to earn more money and hope that someday we can start a new life in the Philippines with business or savings but I think only few people will realize their dream. Why is it that it is hard to do it? When I was young it seems to me that saving money is very easy but now I have a hard time doing it. Mulling myself I realized that many things has changed since I was a toddler living in our province with simple life and simple things around. Now the world is full of many unnecessary things that are widely promoted by media. Ads are there to persuade people to buy. In short you could not save and invest because life today is about receiving salary if you are employed and buying things which are not important. If only everyone could go back to simple life, I think they can save money and start a business of their own.

As an OFW or Oversea Filipino Worker, it is hard for us to save money because there are lots of temptation like buying jewelries, electronic gadget and the pride of being an OFW that when spending a vacation, many relatives and friends are expecting us to shower a party and lend money without paying in return. But I think it is not too late not to save money today. You just need to stand and be reasonable. The hard part is when you start saving money. Many people don't save money because of many unreasonable reasons like I have a small monthly salary, I will save later, my wife is working too and she has a retirement plan and so on. My question is when are you going to start saving money?

My answer is now and stop buying those unnecessary things that you don't really need. You have to identify the asset from liabilities. What are these two things? Assets are things that when you buy they can give you more money like real estate, business and retirement plan. You need to study these things too before you buy. Liabilities are things that do not generate money for you like luxury car, expensive cellphone, laptop, very big house. These things that I mentioned in fact will need more money for maintenance.

Start saving by paying yourself first. What is this means? You have to set aside 10% of your gross monthly income. If you could do it with 10%, start with 5% and readjust it later to higher value when you feel comfortable. By the way don't wait for that comfortable moment to come! It is not bad to enjoy your money because you earned it but let us not forget that you are not only living for today so you have to save and invest because as you go older you will have a hard time to cope up. Employment is shaky, it is not a secured source of income. What if you get fire? There are many younger people who can do with your job but are willing to accept low salary.

There are so many things to cover with this topic but I discussed here the basic of financial freedom. Start saving now and invest your money. Do not rely others for your future. Start today and as OFW we should save and invest.

Petition to oust Wellie is now 40,000

2010-07-17T12:20:00.000-07:00

What happened to Wellie? Is he gone for good? I hope so because he is not a model for Filipino people and beside he is rich already. I had watched his show many times and I felt that he is arrogant and rude at the same time. I do not know why people appreciates him very much? I read an article about his petition in Earn and Invest Money: Petition to oust Wellie is now 40,000 and right now many people are aware of his being stupid. He should learn his lesson and know how to respect other people.

He take advantage with other people's weakness like being poor. It has been two years I never watched his show and I prefer doing other things than to watch him.

Earn and Invest Money: Top Ten Money Saving Tips

2010-07-12T13:38:00.000-07:00

To all expatriates out there here is another article that I want you to read. It is about saving money tips, I am sure all of you will want to save money so that you can leave where you are now and go home for good earlier than what you expect. Saving your money by following this Earn and Invest Money: Top Ten Money Saving Tips will help you a lot. Start saving money today and invest it in your country.

There are many ways to save money and you can make a comments here and add what other way to save money. My friend retired at the age of 40 for good because he has lots of money already and able to start a lucrative in the Philippines, I myself want to follow what he is doing and I start investing in real estate.

Venus Raj News

2010-07-07T13:15:00.000-07:00

It was in the year 2006 when i first saw venus, from that time i told myself, that someday she'll be one of the proudest stock of bicolandia or maybe even of our country, all throughout the years of her journey to different local beauty pageants, i was there, seeing on how she performs, yes it's true that she never bagged one major title in the region, but for me she is deserving of things better that that, for four years time, this beautiful bicolana had evolve into a classic and timeless queen, in the eyes of the people who believes in her...

You know what is good about venus, is her genuine to herself, she never had time of being hypocrite for herself and to other people, that is why many people used to love her in her simplicity and humility, in her achievements i can say that Gd has always been her armaments, her shield and her strength, perhaps not all of us can pleased by her image, or by herself, but you know what folks one of the best thing that ever happened to her is to be crowned as Bb. Pilipinas 2010, i know it's her dream to be one, and i'm happy that she is reaping now the fruits of what she had sown years ago, i remember during Miss Bicolandia 2009 screening when she was one of the judges, i saw her splendid wearing her recycled bags, i said wow, i think there can be no another venus to come): it's only her who has that guts to established and epitome of a true queen):

Why? Because a true beauty queen, is somebody who has it, the heart and the compassion for all, a beauty queen is a role model for good character, good inspirations and the highest form of morale, it makes me feel sad, that now many had forgotten this reality, many claimed that to be a beauty queen is a way to fame, but it's not, remember even during the Mythological times of the Goddesses it is clearly stated that beauty are made for a purpose and that purpose shall drive all of us...and for a real queen...

2010, has been the most triumphant years for Venus, for she is about to reach her dreams of representing our country into the most prestigious pageant in the universe, i just have queries to others, who doesn't believe in venus, what do you think is the real qualifications of Miss Universe Pageant? is it all about the advancement of technology and science? that almost all of the countries around the world do enhance their delegates? especially Venezuela, and other latin countries, i am not against beauty enhancement because i am product of it, but then i believe that a true queen, must possess natural and real beauty, a true queen's character shall not be trained and practice, because if it is the reality, how can a Miss Universe trained queen can really be a true queen? how can she inspired if in herself she can't even an inspiration, this is something that almost all the pageant around the world had forgotten, a Miss universe is the most beautiful woman in the whole universe indeed, then how come that almost each year, they choose and select a queen who doesn't even possesses naturalism in themselves, or is it because miss universe were created for profit not for mission?

For me and i believe thousand out there will agree, Venus Raj is deserving to represent the entire Filipino people, and woman around the world because she has it, the love for herself and for other people, the compassion to all the people in all walks of life, the natural beauty which every filipino admires, the support and the guiding blessings of God will make her our next Miss Universe, and most of all her character her determination, and her skills will give her the most beautiful gift for herself and for all of us filipinos):

The best thing that we can do now and on is our fervent prayers to God, to continue bless her and falter to guide her, because Venus is A true Queen an Essential World Class Filipina): Good luck to your journey to Miss Universe 2010 comes august)! Godbless us all Filipinos!

From Missosology.com

Pinoy Conquered American's Got Talent

2010-07-02T04:23:00.000-07:00

I am very proud about our kababayan who is now living in United States of America. This expatriate went there eight years ago with his parent to find a greener pasture and end up joining America's Got Talent. He amused the judges with his talent singing with guitar. His name is Luigi Seno, 20 years old who sang "Sunday Morning".

Here is the news courtesy from WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

MANILA, Philippines -A part-time Filipino student and shipping worker from Mandaue City is quietly making a name for himself after wowing judges of the hit American reality search America's Got Talent.
Luigi Seno, 20, played guitar and sang a bluesy version of Maroon 5's "Sunday Morning", winning praise from the AGT judges and loud applause from the audience.
"Luigi, you have a really cool, relaxed style. Fantastic," said judge Sharon Osbourne.
Judge Howie Mandel said Seno looked shy, "like a young kid", when he walked out on the AGT stage with his guitar.
"As soon as you started strumming on that guitar, you, like, opened up. You are truly a great entertainer. If you had an album right now, I'd be listening to you in my car. I would be," he said.
Third judge Piers Morgan, on the other hand, said it was not just Seno's talent that got his attention but his undeniable charm.
"I'll tell you what it is. It's not just that you're a good guitar player, or that you're a very comfortable singer and a good singer, it's the fact that you've got this charm about you, which I think is going to go a long way," he said.
All three judges voted Seno into the next round, with the chance to win the US$1 million grand prize.
In an interview before his performance, Seno said he was born and raised in the Philippines before his family moved to California 8 years ago.
His parents described him as shy but with a passion for singing. "He practices every day. I'm so blessed," said Seno's mom.
Seno said his family inspired him to join the competition. "They brought me here to get a better life. It was really tough back in the Philippines so I just want to give back to them," he said.
America's Got Talent is a British-owned American reality television series created by Simon Cowell on the NBC television network.
A local version of the show "Pilipinas Got Talent" recently ended its first season, with singer Jovit Baldivino winning the top prize.

Oprah Winfrey gives magazine staff $10,000 each Plus an iPad - Buzz In Hollywood

2010-06-29T09:27:00.000-07:00

I just want to share to you this article that I read about Oprah Winfrey. I admire her so much because of her humanitarian deeds and maybe because of this she is blessed much. Last year she donated lots of money to South Africa for her school project. We also knew that she managed Charice career in United States of America. If you become successful in the future I encourage you to do the same starting with your own employees just like what she did this month.

Oprah Winfrey gives magazine staff $10,000 each Plus an iPad - Buzz In Hollywood and sometimes she surprises guess by giving gift after the interview in her show. A woman with a big heart deserves happiness and success.

Chenee Capunan | Pinay wins 2010 McDonald’s singing contest

2010-06-18T03:18:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines – Another Filipino has impressed foreign audiences with her singing prowess.

Restaurant employee Chenee Capunan bagged the grand prize of Voice of McDonald’s in April, besting other finalists from Peru and South Korea.

Voice of McDonald’s is a global singing contest for McDonald’s employees, restaurant managers and crew.

Over 10,000 people from the fast food chain’s 32,000 branches around the world auditioned for the competition, which is already on its third year.

Winning the top prize gave the 21-year-old Davaoeña an opportunity to jumpstart her music career by recording demo material in an all-expense paid trip to Hollywood.

A previous Voice of McDonald’s winner has already released her first album.

Grammy Award-winning music producer Walter Afanasieff, a Voice of McDonald’s judge, commented on Capunan: “People stood right up after she sang and thinking about it, I still get chills. So definitely, she's got a future. And I'd like to help.”

Capuyan, for her part, said: “I'm so speechless. A lot of people are watching you performing live on stage. It was really amazing… I'd like to thank the McDonald's family for this wonderful opportunity. Thank you so much!”

The Filipino also won $20,000, a MacBook laptop, a music player and other bonus prizes.

“Sa mga may talento sa pagkanta, huwag kayong magsawa na ipakita ang talento ninyo… ipakita niyo po ang kaya ninyong gawin,” Capunan encouraged other aspiring singers.

From www.abs-cbn.com

'Pacific Rims' launch a hit in New York

2010-06-18T03:12:00.001-07:00

MANHATTAN – More than 200 fans, friends and family came out to support an honorary kababayan, Rafe Bartholomew, on his book launch in Union Square, New York on Wednesday night.

Bartholomew’s book “Pacific Rims” is about the Filipino’s unique version of basketball.

Fans lined up for almost 2 hours just to get his autograph.

“I’m absolutely, amazingly impressed, he’s become such a wonderful articulate young man, and he’s a wonderful writer,” said Vincent Sheeham, a family friend of the author.

Filipinos have praised Bartholomew’s book.

“I love the history. I love the humor into it,” said Marc Anthony Agbuya of Brooklyn, New York.

“When I found it in the bookstore nakita ko na parang Pilipino yung nandito, naka tsinelas, nung nakita [ko] yung Philippines, I have to buy this one,” said Wendell Quilang of Bayside, New York.

Bartholomew said the Philippines’ National Bookstore has ordered 1,500 more copies to be sold in the Philippines. Balitang America

By Don Tagala, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau

Expatriates Should be Smart About Investment

2010-06-08T10:16:00.000-07:00

Working abroad as an expatriate is not easy, you will encounter lots of trials and even abuse from anyone. The locals will see you as their competitors and treats to their jobs. Some Expatriates will get homesick but the government support is not enough. Although these are some of OFW or expatriates problems, there are also some good side like many localities appreciate us as an expatriates because of our skills and talent. Most of the expat also are very hardworking. Without us maybe its their burden too because they really need to hire people from other country and it so happened that we Filipinos are good and can easily adapt the new environment.

Now as an Expatriate we should learn about Investment because by doing so we could start a business when we return home for good. This is the only way that we could reward ourselves for working hard abroad and suffered homesickness for the long time. Nobody will do this but we ourselves. Start learning now like saving at less 10% of our monthly salaries. If you could save 20% or more than that then it is much better. Pay yourself first! Working abroad is not a guarantee that you will retire rich. According to survey 80% to 90% are still poor when they come home for good. Studying livelihood programs and studying entrepreneurship are just some of the example of achieving knowledge in Investing. Studying Mutual Fund, Stock, Bond and Real Estate are also very important. By the Retirement Contribution is very important too.

Read more about investment in Smart About Investment - Earn and Invest Money. This site is still new but there are many sample of how to invest your money. Good luck my friends.

Traditional Filipino Games (Larong Pinoy)

2010-06-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

Being away from the Philippines doesn't mean we have to forget everything like our culture and tradition. Many Filipinos changed when they are away from the Philippines. Yes there is a saying that be Roman in Rome but let us not forget that we are still a Filipino no matter what. Most of the Filipinos who lost their identity are those who intermarried with other nationalities. Well maybe because these women are less educated so they always follow what their husband has to say. I am not generalizing but mostly whom I knew are losing their identity as a Filipino. When I met my high school friends who got married with foreigners, my goodness their children could not speak Filipino language. Are they ashamed of our culture? I hope that whether expatriates or products of intermarriages, we should be proud of what we have. Most this lack of patriotism are happening in Western Countries but here in Middle East thanks God Filipinos are still intact with their values and culture.

Last week the children here can still play Traditional Filipino Games (Larong Pinoy) and they are very of it. They played with other children in our embassy. Seeing them makes my mind wondering as if it was just yesterday when I was a toddler playing with my friends under the rain. We were very dirty with mud but very happy. I could still recall the names of these games in other part of the Philippines. Hide and Seek is very popular in all part of the Philippines.

As an expatriate we should always remember who we are and where we are from like the Chinese, Japanese, Indian and other Asian nationals. They are very proud of their culture and tradition.

How to prepare candy as an Expatriate

2010-06-04T08:16:00.000-07:00

Living abroad is always boring especially if the place is Middle East. Being expatriate here for more than 10 years I myself can attest that life is very boring because there is no alcohol, theater, church or other places where we are accustomed nevertheless you can entertain yourself with other things like learning to cook and maybe writing or having an online part time job. Here is a simple recipe that might interest you. It is how to prepare a candy. I just read this one from a website where I just read just now. How to prepare candy? | Health And Wealth is a website that I just read and although there are many articles in it, I chose this one for you.

Next time I will share to you other important articles that I will read along. What is good with cooking is that most of the ingredients are available locally. Maybe you could try to cook foods and when you are tire of working abroad you can use it as a business vehicle. My friend who is now based permanently in the Philippines started a pastime on how to cook. Right now his business is prosperous and he told me that why not explore with new idea. Many dreams started from scratches and now they applied them in business.

There are many other thing to ponder as an expatriate so start now and learn new things while you are earning.

Benefits of Travel Insurance - Earn and Invest Money

2010-06-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

OFW as in Overseas Filipino Worker or Expatriate is always traveling abroad or back to his/her country mostly once a year to work and provide his family or her family a bread or shelter for their better future. I am an OFW too and this is my 10th year but still longing to work abroad because there is no better salary in the Philippines. Although we have an insurance by OWWA, I still bought a travel insurance because it has many benefits to help you while you are traveling. Read Benefits of Travel Insurance - Earn and Invest Money for more details about this insurance.

Travel Insurance is actually very popular in UK and United States of America. Most of my friends who are now living in Canada and United States has it. How about you? Are you using this travel Insurance while in vacation? The good thing about this insurance is that it has many benefits as what I read from other blog. Anyway, it depends on travel insurance company because every insurance company has their own features or benefits.

Travel Insurance like other insurance is very important because you really do not know what will happen. If you plan to travel with your friends or perhaps your partner, it is better to buy and enjoy your vacation. Without it, I think your vacation will not be so satisfying.

Invest in Gold and Other Expensive Metals

2010-05-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

Invest in Gold and Other Expensive Metals if you are an expatriate because they increased their value very fast. I have bought gold and other expensive metals like platinum in the form of jewelries. I have been working abroad for more than ten years and I witnessed the appreciation of gold. This metal increased its value that in 5 years it doubles its price. Most people are affected by this gold rush value especially here in Middle East that Gold is a necessity during wedding ceremony.

Gold Investment is very profitable and easy to do. This investment is a sure way to earn money. Platinum, copper and silver are also good for investment but gold is very popular so I would recommend you to buy gold. It is easy to sell because it is very popular and you can sell it to anyone especially if it is jewelry. This is the advantage of buying gold than other precious metals. There are many types of Gold too, the other popular and expensive one is white gold. I like white gold because they are not prone to snatchers thinking that it silver jewelry. If you are planning to buy gold and other precious metals, my advice is to find a safe vault or perhaps you need to rent a safety box from the private company or banks.

Invest in gold now and other precious metals like copper, silver and platinum and earn big money in a few years. If I bought lots of these metals before then I quadruple my money already. Just remember to find a safety box for your investment.

Overseas Filipino Votes can Determine the Winner of Tight VP Race

2010-05-15T10:39:00.000-07:00

Even if the votes outside the Philippines are just 152,323 still this could affect the vice presidential race which is very close. Binay and Roxas are very close and it is very hard to determine the winner without counting all the votes the ABS-CBN said.

Here is the news courtesy from the ABS-CBN:

LONDON – Despite the low turnout, the Overseas Absentee Vote (OAV) could be a telling factor to determine the winner in the heated vice-presidential race between candidates Sen. Mar Roxas and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) records show that there were about 152,323 absentee votes worldwide.

This represents only 26.7% out of more than 500,000 who registered for the month-long OAV period.

Based on the latest unofficial OAV count Thursday night, Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino enjoys a commanding lead with 39,811.

Running second to Aquino is Brother Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas who has 11,002, and third is Sen. Manny Villar of Nacionalista Party with 9,852.

In the vice presidential race, Roxas is showing the way with 38,512, followed by Loren Legarda, 12,013 and running third only is Binay with 3,979.

For senators, on top is Frank Drilon with 41,036. He is followed by Miriam Defensor-Santiago, 40,233; Ralph Recto, 38,632; Bong Revilla, 38,330; Jinggoy Estrada, 34,178; Juan Ponce Enrile, 31,062; Ferdinand Marcos Jr., 30,982; Pia Cayetano, 30,187; Vicente Sotto III, 26,891; Sergio Osmena III, 24,927; and Teofisto Guingona III, 24,248.

Holding 12th spot is Joey De Venecia with 21,419.

The absentee vote in Europe did not even reach 20,000 out of almost 62,000 registered voters.

Both Aquino and Roxas are headed for a landslide win in practically all major cities in Europe.

They also enjoy a commanding lead in OAV-rich continents like Asia-Pacific and the Middle East and Africa.

Partial Results for Vice Presidential Race 2010

2010-05-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

These are the partial results as of May 14, 2010 from May 10, 2010 election. The Rank between Binay and Manuel Roxas is very tight that anything could happen at the end of Counting.

Courtesy of ABS-CBN.COM

I am rooting for Roxas but if Binay will win then let us respect the people's mandate.

Noynoy Leads in Comelec Tally

2010-05-10T08:53:00.000-07:00

I just from ABS-CBN about the latest partial tally of the Philippines Presidential Election today and Noynoy Aquino is leading the race for president while Binay and Mar Roxas are neck to neck. Here are the news courtesy of ABS-CBN:

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Benigno Aquino III and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay leads in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) partial count of the votes for president and vice-president.

In a press conference, Comelec Chair Jose Melo announced that based on 38.25% of clustered precincts, the results were:

For President

Benigno Aquino: 5,553,537 40.44%
Joseph Estrada: 3,278,723 25.76%
Manuel Villar: 2,024,119 13.98%
Gilbert Teodoro: 1,541,199 10.64%
Eddie Villanueva: 453,016 3.12%

Richard Gordon: 226,552 1.56%
Vetallano Acosta: 61,704 0.42%
Nicanor Perlas: 19,196 0.13%
Jamby Madrigal: 17,556 0.12%
JC de los Reyes: 15,842 0.10%

For Vice-President

Jejomar Binay: 5,881,127 40.63%
Manuel Roxas: 5,310,355 36.68%
Loren Legarda: 1,542,687 10.65%
Bayani Fernando: 422,607 2.91%
Edu Manzano: 249,025 1.72%

Perfecto Yasay: 144,471 0.99%
Jay Sonza: 24,616 0.17%
Dominador Chipeco 17,971 0.12%

Melo said the turnout was around 75%. He said he expects to get 55%-60% of total votes cast past midnight Tuesday.

"Are we happy? We are all happy," Melo said in an apparent response to forecasts that the country's first automated polls would fail

He added: "This seems to be a victory of the the Filipino people, with God's help."

Willie Revillame threatens to resign from "Wowowee"

2010-05-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

I read this news just today but I think this happened two days ago. Yes Willie threatens to resign if Jobert Sucaldito will not be fired by ABS-CBN. Here is the full article about this news:

The usual party mood on the noontime show Wowowee suddenly turned serious when host Willie Revillame rebuked TV and print entertainment columnist Jobert Sucaldito for supposedly badmouthing him and Wowowee all these years. “Alam n’yo ho dito sa ABS-CBN dapat kami dito ay isang pamilya. Alam n’yo ho meron sa DZMM na 2:00 to 4:00 (program slot) sa pangalang Jobert Sucaldito na tinitira n’ya ho itong show. Dito ho kami nagtatrabaho sa ABS, sa management sinasabihan ko lang ho kayo ba’t n’yo pinapayagan tirahin ng taong ‘to ang Wowowee?”

The host explained that Jobert supposedly made a comment on air claiming that Wowowee gets “dumb” people as its audience. “Alam mo, Jobert, dapat nga hinahangaan mo ‘yung programang ito. Araw-araw mo akong tinitira sa dyaryo, tinitira mo ko sa DZMM. Alam mo ba magkano ang kinikita ng Wowowee? Nakakatulong kami sa mga special children na ito [na] guests namin. Tirahin mo ito, sige! Wala ka nang ginawa kundi ako ang tirahin. Ako na lang ang tirahin mo, Jobert huwag na itong show.”

Willie also also questioned why ABS-CBN management is supposedly tolerating Jobert for speaking out against the show. “Huwag mong samahan ng pulitika ito. Ito ay pagbibigay-lingkod, kahit na mga 74 percent o mga bagsak ige-guest namin dito, kahit basurero gine-guest namin dito.” The controversial host said that the columnist has no right to criticize the less-fortunate people who become part of show’s audience.

Willie went on to ask Jobert not to attack the show's audience, which sometimes include special children, or people who have serious ailments. “Nananawagan lang ho ako sa management ng ABS, huwag n'yo naman ho payagan tinitira ‘yung show natin. Ang laki ho ng kinikita ng Wowowee para sa ABS,” Willie implored.

Willie let out an even tougher statement when he said that if the management won’t fire Jobert, he would resign from Wowowee. “Tandaan n’yo ‘yan. Wala na kayong ginawa kundi ako tirahin dito. Mabigat na ‘to sobra na. Ilang taon na ako nananahimik, tinitira ako sa dyaryo niyang Jobert na ‘yan. Tahimik lang ho ako, ‘yung Jobert na ‘yan pero tandaan n’yo, ‘pag hindi n’yo ‘yan tinanggal, ako magre-resign dito. Para ho sa tao ito. Para sa mga taong espesyal, para sa mga 75 percent ang grades. Ipaglalaban ko ‘yung mga batang ‘yan. I’m sorry sobra na ito.”

He also challenged Jobert to meet the sick kids every day because it is not an easy task. “‘Yan ang ginagawa ko, tinutulungan ko ‘yung mga ‘yon para malaman mo. Sobra na. Huwag mong idadamay ang programang ito dahil ang programang ito ang may-ari ang mga Pilipino hindi sa ‘yo ‘to.”

Willie apologized to the audience for his outburst, but he explained that he just had to point out to Jobert that he should not attack him, being a fellow Kapamilya. “Kasama ko na sa istasyon, Kapamilyang itinuring kami, pero tinitira kami sa loob ng ABS-CBN.” Willie then stressed again his frustration with management for allowing Jobert to get away with his comments.

The controversial host clarified that he is not being boastful, but he is just being himself. “ABS (CBN) management, gawan n’yo ng paraan ‘yan. Alagaan n’yo ang mga talent n’yo dahil nagbubuhos kami dito ng pagod, lahat. Huwag n’yo kaming [sirain] sa sarili naming tahanan tinitira kami,” he complained. Here is a petition article about Willie Revillame when Cory Aquino's video was rudely insulted.

Courtesy of ABS-CBN.com

How to save money if you are an expatriate? - Health And Wealth

2010-05-07T07:28:00.000-07:00

This is an article which I read last night and I would like to share it with you my fellow OFW or expatriates around the world. The title of the article is about How to save money if you are an expatriate? There are expatriates out there who forget to save money because they are thinking that having the present nice job is forever. Remember we are away from our families because we want to have a good salaries even we suffered the loneliness, abuses and discrimination in our foreign land which we work today. We accept all these humiliation in exchange for a better salary.

I am hoping that you my friends will someday be successful with your journey and become a model to all expatriates whom you know both financially and spiritually. Success begets success so start with small accomplishment in your life and start from there to become a very successful one.

Earn and Invest in Restaurant - Earn and Invest Money

2010-04-04T08:53:00.000-07:00

As an expatriate, I always dream that one day I will have my own business in the Philippines. My friend has a restaurant business and one of his goals is to help generate jobs for our fellow Filipinos. If you want to Earn and Invest in Restaurant - Earn and Invest Money you should study first the foods that you want to offer for the customers. There are many restaurants out there, what makes your restaurant stand above them?

You need also to study management like how to manage the restaurant, finance and people. Many expatriates never prosper their business because they lacked one which I mentioned above. I have many advices from my other blogs like in health and wealth, Don't Worry Make Money and Earn and Invest Money so if you have time try to visit them. But whether you succeed or not in your first business, my advice is not to quit.

Gilbert Teodoro: Light at the end of the Tunnel

2010-04-02T15:18:00.000-07:00

Gilbert Teodoro: Light at the end of the tunnel
HINDSIGHT By F Sionil Jose (The Philippine Star) Updated January 10, 2010 12:00 AM

Gilbert Teodoro: I believe that the 1987 constitution was reactive. It was enacted for a single purpose; to transition the country from a dictatorship to a democracy. Unfortunately, it stopped there. It instituted checks and balances to the point that it completely disregarding synergy.

Being this ancient, I have a lot of hindsight, although of course we all know that hindsight is the lowest form of wisdom. I am old enough to have heard Quezon before World War II deliver those fiery speeches at the Luneta then divide Quezon City — named after him while he was still alive — among his mestizo friends.

I knew of how the late President Sergio Osmeña, a very honest man, would go down to Malacañang to check that the GI sheets in the grounds had not been pilfered. Then President Quirino, who was wrongly accused of having bought an expensive bedpan; and on to that greatest of all our presidents, Ramon Magsaysay, how the masa adored him! Then the disastrous regimes of Ferdinand Marcos, Cory Aquino, Erap Estrada, and now, Gloria Arroyo.

Being an unsinkable optimist, I’ve pinned hope on leaders like Raul Manglapus, Pepe Diokno, Emmanuel Pelaez, but they never got to be president.

The list is short — I had hopes, too, for Haydee Yorac, Richard Gordon, Oscar Orbos. Now, here comes Gilbert Teodoro, Jr.

I first got to know Gilbert when I saw him and his wife on one of those asinine TV talk shows in mid 2009. His answers to the vapid questions were sensible and well thought out. Aside from these qualities of intelligence, he exuded sincerity. I called his office and asked to see him and he readily agreed.

My first meeting with him took place at his office in Camp Aguinaldo months before he was proclaimed the administration’s candidate.

I knew Gilbert’s father; he was the head of the Social Security System — a major institution with billions; he was able to protect the SSS from the rapacity of Imelda. He was a judicious public servant, punctilious and efficient. Gilbert Senior was strict, and Gilbert Junior is grateful to his old man for his Spartan upbringing; this way early enough he understood the wellsprings of his father’s unblemished integrity.

But what does a rich boy know about poverty, which is the country’s gravest malady today? His answer: a doctor treating a leprous patient does not have to have leprosy himself to treat the disease.

Though the manor where he lived was in Manila, he commuted to Paniqui, in Tarlac to that irenic Ilokano barrio Matalaptap, where he got to live with the children and know the language.

As a trapo — he honors the label — he learned how it is to be cast in the dumps, the humbling punishment of being there, and the healing rise from the bottom of the pit.

Then, in those years that he served, first as a three-term Congressman, he saw the real face of poverty, and from this visceral experience, he has come upon ideas about how to alleviate it, not by institutionalizing the solutions but assuring, for instance, that the peasantry should be comfortable through entrepreneurship and by other methods by which farm incomes will rise.

Gilbert Teodoro has more assets — in contrast to the others who aspire for the job. For one, he topped the bar examinations, and has a master’s degree from America’s most famous university, Harvard. He is a colonel in the Reserve Force.

Integrity? Vicente Paterno, one of the superb technocrats whom Marcos recruited to work for him is most admirable; of all the Marcos inner sanctum acolytes, to the best of my knowledge, he is the only one who had come out to say mea culpa; this requires so much courage and humility as well. Shortly after I had that first meeting with Gilbert, Paterno confirmed my estimate of the man when he said, as quoted in the papers that he knew of only two Arroyo cabinet members who were really honest: Esperanza Cabral of the Department of Social Welfare, and Gilbert.

During the recent onslaught of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng when so many sections of Luzon were flooded and hundreds were killed in the floods and landslides, Gilbert, who headed the National Disaster Coordinating Agency, was often criticized for not doing enough, and if he did something, it was too little and too late.

What the critics forgot is that Gilbert was merely the coordinator of that massive relief effort, that other agencies had not acted fast enough. Still, during this period, Gilbert worked very hard, spent many sleepless nights and those who saw him on TV noticed how haggard he looked.

As Gilbert explains it, that disaster was, for him a defining moment. That catastrophe and his unequivocal stand to the challenge of the Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao were the most difficult tests of his endurance and iron obligation to his office.

Gilbert’s wife, Monica, belongs to the affluent Prieto clan of Manila. She spent her young years in Switzerland and speaks impeccable French. Gilbert’s family and hers knew each other; it was in Manila where Gilbert met Monica in 1999. They have a son, Jaime, who Gilbert says, worshipped his grandfather, Teodoro Sr.

Monica is a member of the Lower House where she has already left her imprint by creating a committee for the welfare of children — as different from the committee concerned with the welfare of women. Focusing her attention on children, she has authored bills that benefit them, including one that raises the statute on rape from 14 to 16 years. In short, a man who has sexual relations with a minor, 16 years and below, is guilty of the crime of rape.

Gilbert admits to having disagreements with his wife but these are soon enough settled; Monica, he says, is headstrong — a streak that runs in her family, and is grateful for the stout support she gives him.

The election in May will certainly be very different from past elections. First, since it will be automated, it is expected that the results will be known quicker and there will be less chances for cheating. Second, thousands upon thousands of new voters will go to the polls — many of them students who, like the young everywhere, will not be conned by popular celebrities and dazzling showbiz gimmicks. They will certainly vote for candidates who, they feel, will give us good government. In the last elections, evidence of this burgeoning political maturity surfaced in Isabela, in Pampanga and elsewhere where politicians like Grace Padaca and Among Ed Panlilio were hoisted to pivotal positions on the basis of their exemplar personalities and not as flashy TV stars or media icons. This is how it should be, that we be proud of our leaders because they have something between their ears, that they can stand shoulder to shoulder beside other leaders of the Western world.

At the end of a recent talk at the Philippine Military Academy, I was asked by a cadet to forecast the future. I said my crystal ball is foggy and that I also suffer from astigmatism. Given these liabilities, even without that crystal ball, I can see so many changes coming. So much of these depend on the elections this year. I hope we will not usher to Malacañang scoundrels, thieves and nicompoops — and that I had my eyes on Gilbert Teodoro.

My announcement was greeted with applause.

I did a bit of inquiring. The military officers know what he had done in the two years that he was Defense Secretary — a post which he vacated to run for the presidency even if he didn’t have to. They know, too, that he did not take a single peso from the department coffers, that he protected the integrity of the bidding process.

For the cadets at the Academy, he offered academic freedom, but reminded them at the same time of their obligations wherein they were not free. As for the PMA honor code, if in the past, cadets who broke it were given a second chance, he saw to it that there would be no second chance now for those who violate the code.

Two generations ago, then Senator Pacita Madrigal Warns declared that “millionaires don’t steal.” Considering the Filipino experience, the declaration was met with disbelief and ridicule.

For the moment at least, we have a politician who has validated Manang Pacita’s statement. Gilbert said that he will retire from public service when he reaches 51. With his background and record, could he possibly be the man on a white horse — or atop a tank — who will be the ultimate modernizer? Abangan, for there is no assurance that he is the man. I am sure, though, that if he wins, he will try as best as he can not to disappoint us.

It was with this thought that I sought him again the other week. We met at a coffee shop at The Fort in Taguig. I asked these questions which, I know, are in the minds of so many of us.

You are listed as one of the richest in the Arroyo cabinet. What is the nature of this wealth, how did you come to it? What does money, which is power, mean to you?

GIBO: My wife and I both inherited from our late fathers. Perhaps my father would have wanted me to pursue a profession other than public service, something more gainful such as investment banking and the like, as he was in public for 32 years and my mother for more than 10 years. But that was not to be.

True, money is a route to power. But it is also a shield against the improper influences of power. It provides a degree of independence. Thus I am thankful to have been provided for by my family

That old cliché, blood is thicker than water, is in the minds of many Filipinos. You belong to one of the richest families in the country. How will you convince our people that your high office will benefit the people and not your family?

The strongest way to convince people that one’s family will not be unduly favored is through one’s platforms, policies, and actions. I believe in encompassing interests rather than narrow interests as defined in Mansur Olson’s book Power and Prosperity, which, by the way, is an excellent read. There are interests that transcend class and benefit the majority; these are the interests one seeks to buttress. The best evidence that I have my own views is that I embarked on my latest political journey aboard a new ship, making my own choices and decisions, not under the auspices of any familial patronage.

You served Marcos who plundered this nation. I presume you understand why it is necessary for this country to have a strong leader and, therefore, a strong state. Given your experience, what does Marcos mean to you?

As with any leader, history, including its biases, will be the judge. All leaders had something positive to contribute, and people must learn to winnow the chaff from the grain in reviewing a leader’s legacy. I believe the country, more important than needing a strong leader, needs strong leadership. This is the difference between what I perceive to be contemporary viewpoints, the failure to distinguish between the person and the institution. Oftentimes, strong leadership is built around an individual and stays that way, while I believe in creating lasting institutions with the clear position that my participation will be temporary.

Poverty is our foremost problem. How will you resolve it in the six years? Our political economy—will you reform it? What is your view on foreign investment?

One cannot resolve poverty. One can only set the stage for people to get out of it. If a government has for its primary purpose the resolution of poverty, solely or principally through government intervention, then it will be taking on a burden which is not fully its own, thereby creating a moral hazard. In the final analysis, only the individual can free himself or herself from poverty. A government can only create the basic conditions that will provide a favorable atmosphere to alleviate poverty.

My goal is to make the Philippines a favorable platform for investments both domestic and foreign, with some conditions, for example protection of workers’ rights, of the environment, of our farmers. The goal is to provide proper government investments, such as infrastructure, and policies such as transparency, to afford confidence in our economy and in our people — basic education reform. Thomas Friedman recently wrote an article entitled “Innovate, innovate, innovate,” where he says it is once again the age of innovation. A country to get ahead must innovate and invent something new that the world does not have and that it will need. The Philippines is not exempt from this reality.

Your program on health and education will require a vast outlay of resources. You need to increase revenues. Will you finally, really tax the very rich?

Tax reform both on the policy level and the administration level is extremely important. One must be able to balance between those two goals. I favor strict enforcement balanced by simplified taxation systems and perhaps some easing of tax rates. Our corporate tax rates are one of the highest in ASEAN. We have to study how we can make up the shortfall enforcement while easing tax rates to attract investments.

Certainly you are aware that your connection with an unpopular administration diminishes your chances at the polls. How will you defend your position?

It is I who should be the focus, not the administration. I have my own views, goals, achievements, and the capacity to govern. It is convenient, of course for the opposition to use the administration line of attack, but I believe our people will be able to see through such a tactic.

As a member of the administration party you will be beholden to the same people who are perceived to have wrought havoc on government. You will have to repay them because you are Filipino. Is this perception correct?

If I were to be running just to be a lapdog or a paid hack, I can very well be that with less risk. I will not risk a carefully guarded reputation and a legacy that I want our son to be proud of.

We will be hundred million people in less than five years and will have difficulty feeding this population. What are your ideas on population control?

Population management is essential, not merely because our resources are not limitless but also to reduce the risk of disaster. With the visible effects of climate change on our country, we have more vulnerable areas and fewer areas where people can stay. Population is a big issue. It is a problem that continues to fester while everyone gets lost in the acrimonious debate on which is the right institution to deal with it. So nothing gets done.

Granting that the cornerstone of population management is a moral choice freely and knowledgeable made by couples and that government should not make that moral choice, several things must follow because the debate must not stop there. We cannot pretend the problem does not exist. The following construct must logically follow: 1. There must be institutional responsibility and accountability. If government is not the proper agency to deal with the problem because it is a moral issue, then our moral guardians must take the responsibility and the consequent accountability for positive results, and not merely for information and education; 2. Government must support the choice freely made by a couple; 3. No to abortion.

As secretary of National Defense you have had a first hand view of the military. What is the most important problem in the military and how did you handle it? What does this experience mean to you?

There are two major problems of our military: resources and doctrines. In terms of resources, there is a serious shortfall both in manpower and equipment. I trace this back to the failure of our country to properly plan for and build up a credible AFP since our independence after WWII. We have low defense spending and a force that is small for our country’s geographical make up.

In terms of doctrines, we still have the mindset of addressing ideological wars in a conventional sense, while we should be building up our small unit expertise for internal security and law enforcement purposes. This though is now being introduced by the AFP hierarchy. Recent literature, particularly with what is known as 4G warfare or fourth-generational warfare, preaches that although territory is important, the key element now is people, or a single person. You have to arrest that person to stop a security situation. The best example is Osama bin Laden. Here you have Bravo, Kato, Parad, and their ilk. This is what we have to re-engineer our AFP to deal with.

Surely you know of the Ampatuans, the clan wars in Moro Mindanao. What can be done about it? What have you done?

It would have been militarily impossible to disarm a sizable armed threat while facing a restive MILF during the time the MOA-AD issue was being heatedly debated, and amid irresponsible threats of some local and national leaders which led to actual skirmishes, creating a volatile and confused situation on the ground, At that time our troops were also focused on the repeated kidnappings in Sulu and in the Zamboanga peninsula. Now because of the ceasefire with the MILF we can disarm. But the question is how long we can maintain our current police and military strength in the area so the equilibrium holds. Your guess is as good as mine.

Granting that the two rebellions will be diminished under your term, how will you insure that they will not recur? What will you do with the armed men in both organizations?

There is one essential thing that must be done so as not to allow security situations to recur: effective deterrence. This is achieved through a combination of various things like presence of police and military personnel in the area for an effective length of time, infrastructure development, capacity building of LGUs, livelihood opportunities; education, and such other empowerment measures. But the underlying factor is the disarmament of non-state armed groups.

You are in favor of changing the Constitution. What are the main provisions that you want changed by a constitutional convention or a constituent assembly?

I believe that the 1987 constitution was reactive. It was enacted for a single purpose; to transition the country from a dictatorship to a democracy. Its tactical objective was to dismantle Marcos mechanisms. Unfortunately, it stopped there. It instituted checks and balances to the point that it completely disregarding synergy. It is a constitution which breeds false expectations because the state guarantees a proverbial heaven on earth.

We must ingrain into our people’s mindset that our political system must evolve with the times. It must effectively address the operational environment. It cannot be stuck in the quagmire of its own making. Although we must be equally vigilant and steadfast in preserving the Bill of Rights and the independence of the Judiciary. I am in favor of a freely elected constitutional convention that will have no other mandate but to study and to consider the subject.

Our relationship with the United States is the cornerstone of our security policy. What are your thoughts on this relationship? Should the Visiting Forces Agreement be renegotiated?

Our relationship with the United States is a cornerstone of our policy, as our relationships with ASEAN, the OIC, and other regional and multilateral groups, and our bilateral relationships as well. Our bilateral relationship with the United States has transcended the traditional diplomatic, economic, and military spheres but has permeated into this country’s cultural and social fabric in the informal sense. We have shared ostensible political values such as the different constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and the concept of democracy. It is a strong relationship both in the formal structured sense and the informal personal sense.

We should leverage this relationship as we should our relationship with other countries, identifying mutually advantageous and mutually beneficial points of cooperation, after a transparent and arms-length realization of each country’s conditions. It is a paradox that one of the most effective deterrents against conflict between states is close interaction between their armed forces—soldiers do not make wars, politicians do. The VFA is such a mechanism. Recently we have seen it at work in the non-traditional military sense, in what we call HADR—humanitarian assistance and disaster response. In typhoon Frank last year and in Ondoy, Pepeng etc. this year US troops immediately came to our assistance. Thus the VFA should be judged from a broader perspective than just criminal jurisdiction. Second, the VFA is merely an implementing treaty of Mutual Defense Treaty which embodies both countries’ bilateral military obligations. To sum up I am in favor of more VFAs with other countries.

China’s growing influence in the Asian region and the world is increasing. What would our relations with China be? With China’s claim on the Spratleys? Our rich and powerful Chinese minority?

Our connection with China is strong, both in an economic sense and in a cultural sense. It is perhaps without fear of rebuttal that I can say that within ASEAN, save for Singapore and maybe Thailand, the Philippines is where the Chinese have assimilated with the least prejudice and with the least difficulty.

China’s rising economic power is a reality of the world. Its economic growth is a welcome development because it has been a strong economic partner of our country. We must enhance our economic relations with China in a sustainable way. Yet the geopolitical realities still remain — China has embarked on an unprecedented military build up. It has blue water naval capabilities to include aircraft carriers and it cannot say that Taiwan is the sole focus of such a military enhancement. It behooves China’s leadership to be transparent and to be forthright in stating its military objectives. It must also be clear in its policy regarding states such as North Korea, which are popularly believed to be under its influence. The Philippines must assert its sovereignty realistically and responsibly in accordance with legally supportable aspects of international law. We must be steadfast in this.

Some two decades ago, James Fallows of the Atlantic Monthly postulated that our “damaged culture” hinders our development. If culture both as anthropological and aesthetic concept is a factor in the building of a nation, how will you handle it?

I believe that the effort to disregard the rich cultural diversity of our country led to a lot of damage. The single language, single ideology line of nation-building has not been a positive development for our country. It has bred bigotry and division.

I believe that we must accept that we are diverse. We are an archipelago, for heaven’s sake. We must encourage that diversity and teach each other what we are, so that a culture of tolerance and respect evolves. Even the contributions of our colonizers such as languages, both Spanish and English, must be appreciated and their use enhanced. The world itself because of increasing interconnections is getting increasingly culturally aware. We should be the same in our own country.

Is your wife an important factor in your decision making?

Yes, any member of one’s nuclear family is an important element of decision making for two reasons: trust and the fact that your decisions affect them, too. They are an important source of feedback, as are other groups in your political atmosphere. But at the end of the day, the reality is that they are one, rather than the only, element in decision-making. The determining factor should be conscience and the appreciation that several factors need to be weighed in arriving at a decision.

Among the many insights into the Filipino character, which our history unfailingly illustrates, is that, despite our faults, we are a talented and heroic people with a revolutionary tradition. You are a student of history, what makes a Filipino a hero?

A hero takes extraordinary steps, with total disregard for personal safety and security, for the benefit of others.

Heroism bears the essence of individuality in the context of using it for collective good. Thus the soldier who dies while saving others in a flood, the seven-year-old who saves his younger siblings from an inferno while his parents are away, to the schoolteacher who spends her own money to buy food for her students who had to be temporarily housed in the public school because of the flood — they are all heroes.

What is your vision for our country?

I want to see a Philippines that is peaceful, has strong institutions of governance, has modern infrastructure, has food security, is technologically and educationally advanced, with a people who have the capacity to make rational decisions for themselves, true freedom of thought and of expression, a power in Southeast Asia and perhaps the Asia-Pacific, ecologically rich and diverse, in short a country where our people would want to remain.

Open Letter for All Expatriates

2010-04-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

I been stuck on the news, that one of our colleague, who been working here for 25 years here in Saudi arabia, and recently retired , has die of heart attack.

It sadden me because, of the lost of another good person, who dedicated his whole life working and serving the company with all his heart and talent.

It also sadden me to know that when he die, he is as poor as when he came here.

He lost his wife while he was here, for a reason that i don’t understand, he spend most of his life working here and still when he retires, he cannot even live comfortably with his pension.

A question stuck my mind, Is working here in foreign country is really the solution to, for your family to have a decent life? Or it is the reason to break your family?

We heard a lot about the children, lost his way because his parent are working abroad, children has been abuse, and so on and on....!

And it all come out with one reason, our country man has been forced to look for greener posture outside the country because nobody guide them and educate them, and even the govt has lie to them by branding them
as the new heroes, instead of helping them educate on the important of
financial education, the setting of goals higher their needs, the higher
purpose of serving to others.

I’m so grateful, that my mindset has change dramatically, when I join the CREATE ABUNDANCE, my purpose in life has been renew, my goal has been clearer, my mission of spreading financial education is not only a
dream but a reality. And now it is not only “MY” but “OURS”.

Help us spread the financial education throughout the nation and world. And bring back our OFW to their family.

Wilson A. Vina

Core team

Brief History of the Philippines

2010-03-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

This brief history of the Philippines, told by a philosopher of ‎the streets, is probably closest to the truth about ourselves.
‎
WHAT'S the big deal when Lapu-Lapu killed Magellan in ‎‎1521? Nothing much really. During Lapu-Lapu's time, Mactan ‎was strictly tribal. Think small, guid. There were no big ideas ‎such as nationalism or geopolitics.
‎
Lapu-Lapu was simply the local siga-siga and Magellan was ‎the culture-shocked Westerner, a native first-timer in the ‎
exotic east. We lionize Lapu-Lapu as a hero and nationalist. ‎Ang totoo, mayabang lang si Lapu-Lapu. But this defeat of a ‎foreign invader did not make a Filipino nation. The timing ‎was wrong. And don't you believe that bull that Spanish ‎explorers came to find spices of the East to improve the taste
of their bland cuisine. Their hidden agenda was to spread ‎their kingdom through colonization, the euphemism for land ‎grabbing.
‎
During the 333 years of Spanish rule (1565-1898), hundreds‎
of rebellions were waged by native firebrands in many parts
of the archipelago. Not one succeeded. Our rebels were ‎either caught, garotted, or simply ignored by the
Commandante as nuisances. Puro malas!
‎
The execution of Rizal in 1896 was a traumatic experience ‎for Filipinos. Those who read Rizal's Fili and Noli were ‎incensed by the abuses of the church and state regime
of the Spaniards. Emotions ran high, from Aparri to Jolo.‎
The critical mass needed for nationhood was formed. At last ‎we could rebel as a people, as a nation.
‎
The Katipunan did their battle heroics, originally led by the
firebrand Bonifacio and later on by the crafty Aguinaldo. ‎With more Katipunan charges (Sugod mga Kapatid), freedom ‎seemed possible. Between 1897 and 1899, stealth, betrayal, ‎and skullduggery bedeviled our prospect for independence.‎
The Aguinaldo and Bonifacio factions engaged in ugly ‎infighting (the talangka mentality) resulting in the execution
of Bonifacio.
‎
Meantime, an American Admiral named Dewey entered ‎Manila Bay and defeated a luckluster Spanish navy. ‎Aguinaldo reneged on the pact of Biak na bato. He resumed
the revolution by proclaiming the Philippine Independence in ‎Kawit. June 12. From whom? We were still under the ‎
Americans & Spaniards at that time.
‎
Meanwhile, American and Spanish soldiers held a moromoro"‎
battle in Intramuros with the Spaniards surrendering. ‎Aguinaldo's republic and his KKK patriots were left out and ‎ignored. Naisahan tayo... Minalas na naman.
‎
The Filipino-American War broke out. Tall American soldiers ‎looking like Clark Gable chased and battled the outlawed ‎Filipino revolutionaries, ending in the capture of Aguinaldo in ‎Isabela. Thanks to the mercenaries from Macabebe. This is
the second time those Macabebe turn in their own kind, first ‎with the Spaniards. This was the mother of all kamalasan.
‎
At that time, our population was 8 million. The gap between
the rich and the poor was estimated at 30% middle-class ‎and rich, 70% low-class and rural poor.
‎
During the Commonwealth period (1901-1941) which ‎followed, there were lots of learning on democratic ‎principles, its structure and governance. Technology ‎transfers were done on Constitutional Rights, Public ‎Education, Transportation, Health, International Trade and ‎Industrialization. The Americans turned out to be good ‎tutors. Filipinos also went crazy over American brand ‎products like Libby's corned beef and Portola sardines, ‎Hershey's Kisses and Wrigley's chewing gum, Camel ‎cigarettes and Model T Ford for the hacienderos of
Pampanga and Iloilo.
‎
Hollywood films made Pinoy males fantasize on Jean Harlow, ‎Betty Grable, and Mae West. Thus, Filipino colonial mentality ‎began. We fondly called this period Peace Time. By the way, ‎American troops massacred innocent people in Balangiga. ‎Mga hayop din pala!
‎
‎1941. Disaster! World War II! After attacking Pearl Harbor,‎
the Japanese army invaded our country defeating the
combined American and Filipino forces (USAFFE). General ‎McArthur, the proud and handsome Army chief, fled to ‎Australia at the height of the battle. Then the Filipinos ‎marched to Bataan as prisoners in the Death March.
‎
For four miserable years we suffered the sadism of the
Japanese militarists' rule. Torture, famine, and death were ‎for us, the order of the day.. Kawawa. Malas na malas!
‎
The American forces returned in 1945 to liberate the
country. McArthur, General Superiority Complex himself, ‎sporting Ray Ban sunglasses and corncob pipe, swaggered ‎back to Manila. Piqued at his humiliation in 1941, McArthur ‎ordered the bombing and shelling of Manila till kingdom ‎come. So he can get back at the Japs for wrecking his R&R ‎place in Asia. Malas na naman.
‎
The whole-wide expanse south of Pasig - from the Post ‎Office to Vito Cruz, including all of Intramuros - was ‎pulverized. Manila was the most devastated city of World ‎War II next to Warsaw, Poland (Tokyo was not damage that ‎much because they surrendered after 2 atomic bombs). Our ‎culture, our heritage, and historical assets (seven beautiful ‎churches in Intramuros, hundreds of elegant Art Deco and ‎neo-classical architecture in Paco) were sacrificed recklessly ‎and completely erased from the face of the earth. Sayang na ‎sayang!
‎
In 1946, we gained our independence from the Americans. ‎We were a free nation at last (because the Americans saw ‎how much it will cost to rebuild the devastations, better to ‎let pinoys do it themselves)! A true Independence Day for ‎us, July 4th 1946 not the June 12th that Aguinaldo declared ‎and Disocado Macapagal (Marcos did initiate change, but ‎Macapagal) celebrated. We had enough exposure and ‎lessons on how to govern a democratic country, the first in ‎Asia. Our population was 17 million. The dollar exchange ‎was US$1 to P2.
‎
But there was still no peace from 1947 to 1955 (not 1966 ‎because Pres. Ramon Magsaysay was successful putting it ‎down as Sec. of National Defense before becoming President. ‎In late ‘60s, it is the CPP by founder Jose Maria Sison). A ‎widespread communist rebellion led by Taruc, the Lava ‎brothers, and its armed guerillas called Hukbalahap ‎‎(supposed to be Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon) waged ‎bloody war with government troops and turned out to be ‎nothing but bandits in disguise. Filipinos killed kapwa
Filipinos. Malas na naman!
‎
Our politicians and bureaucrats learned to engage in graft ‎and corruption (What are we in power for?) - such as the
war surplus bribery, the Tambobong wheeler-dealing and
the Namarco scam. Talo nanaman!
‎
Six presidents were elected to manage the country from ‎‎1947 to 1972, under the democratic system. They were ‎Presidents Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay, Garcia, Macapagal, ‎and Marcos.
‎
Economists looked back to the decades of the 50s and 60s ‎as the best years of the Philippine economy, surpassing ‎Asian countries. The nostalgia was naiveté, useless ego-‎tripping. The gap between the rich and the poor remained ‎big. 30% middle-class and rich, 70% low- class, rural and ‎urban poor. We were 27 million people. US$1 was to P4.
‎
During the late 60's, the Maoist communists led by ‎Commander Dante intensified its drive to overthrow the
government. Marcos added fuel to the fire by creating a ‎communist spook. Violence and mayhem ruled the streets.‎
The youth went up in arms! Martial Law was declared in ‎‎1972 and Marcos became dictator. Freedom of assembly and ‎of expression went out of the window.
‎
What followed were years of dictatorial abuse, crony ‎capitalism, shackled free enterprise, near economic collapse ‎and a demoralized middle class. The gap between the rich
‎(30%) and poor (70%) remained in a quagmire. Pareho rin ‎pala ang situation.
‎
Our population was 40 million. Exchange rate was US$1 to ‎P7. Kawawang kawawa! Malas na malas! In 1983, Ninoy ‎Aquino, Marcos' exiled arch rival, was assassinated upon his ‎return. Push came to shove. Cardinal Sin engaged the people ‎on to protest. Outrage, self- pity, shame and fury raged and ‎rumbled like a tidal wave, culminating in the incredible ‎People Power Revolution. The very sick and obstinate Marcos ‎fled (hijacked by Americans from Clark) to Hawaii (sounds ‎like Paoay) where he died. His alleged millions of stolen ‎dollars intact and unresolved, up to now... peso to dollar ‎exchange is now US$1 to P20 (in the black market, it was ‎P30-35).
‎
But People Power was our shining glory! The whole world ‎applauded our saintly courage, our dignified defiance, our ‎bloodless solution to expel a dictator. We were the toast of ‎all freedom-loving countries, the envy of all oppressed ‎people. In 1986, we placed Cory Aquino, Ninoy's widow, in ‎Malacañang. She was virtuous, sincere and full of good ‎intentions for the country. But what happens under Cory?
‎
Endless brown-outs… living in a situation where portable ‎generators was a must and monopolized by Cory's relatives ‎who threw out her Energy Department down the Pasig River. ‎The land reform she professed and promised was going good ‎at first, but after she found out her Hacienda Luisita will be ‎greatly affected, that program went down the Pasig River ‎too! No wonder that river is so polluted. (Land reform will ‎not uplift the pinoy nation if the attitude of the majority of ‎the beneficiaries does not change from get-rich-quick ‎mentality)
‎
Coup attempts by Honasan, power struggles, political ‎squabbles, and the infighting for juicy deals harassed the ‎amateur Cory presidency. So nothing happened. No progress ‎took place. The economy was still bad. The poor suffered ‎more and more. Sure we got democracy back on its feet. But ‎the Filipino resolve didn't happen. People Power pala was ‎‎"ningas cogon" power. (Honasan coup of 1989 did us in. The ‎economy was picking up fast after 1986 People Power ‎despite the brown-outs. We more or less recovered ‎economically only after 10 years because of that most ‎serious coup)
‎
Sayang na sayang! Tha gap between the rich and the poor ‎remained at 30% (middle-class and rich), 70% (lower-class ‎and rural/urban poor). Exchange rate was US$1 to P25. We ‎were 55 million people.
‎
In 1992, Cory's choice, Fidel Ramos, West Pointer, soldier, ‎and hero of People Power won the presidency. He had the ‎bearing, the single-mindedness and the vision to bring the ‎country to a tiger economy status. Ramos was a terrific ‎salesman of the Philippines to the world. He was able to ‎hype a climate of good economic grounds. He removed ‎barriers to progress. He was an apostle of privatization. His ‎mantra was, less government, more private sector! Fidel hit ‎the right note and the economy went on a roll. Fidel wanted ‎to run for reelection but failed to swing the cha-cha (an ‎idiotic acronym for Constitutional Change) so he could run ‎again.
‎
In 1997, the Asian economic crises struck, triggered by the ‎bursting balloon of the hyper-speculative Bangkok economy. ‎The financial debacle created disastrous effects in the ‎investment institutions of Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur,‎
Hong Kong, Seoul, and Taiwan. All the Ramos gains ‎evaporated into thin air. Malas na naman! The poor, specially ‎Mang Pandoy, were poorer than ever. (Manila was the least ‎affected by this crises because we have the least foreign ‎investment among ASEAN, so not much investment to ‎withdraw by foreign investors, but Erap did not capitalized ‎on this fact – so we suffer as well because Erap was sleeping ‎on the job)
‎
‎1998 was showbiz time! The Erap para sa mahirap show ‎opened to the chagrin of Makati Business Club. Pasensya na ‎po kayo, mga elitists. Democracy is also weird. The choice of ‎the masa must be respected.
‎
Catastrophe! Chavit Singson exploded jueteng bombs! For ‎days on end, a nation sick in the stomach, sat through ‎primetime TV aghast at watching the bizarre drama of ‎alleged bribery, gambling, drunkenness, womanizing, deceit, ‎and corruption. A lantern-jawed witness and a sexy ‎intelligence "asset" hogged the witness stand.
‎
Viewing the scandals on TV was like watching dogs mating in ‎the public square. It's embarrassing but you can't take your ‎eyes off them.
‎
The impeachment trial serialized on TV was riveting. The ‎defense lawyers, some wearing a canine sneer (ngiting aso) ‎insulted our intelligence often. (Lokohin n'yo ang lelang ‎n'yo). The whole country was stinking to high heavens. The ‎prosecution produced its own witnesses - Clarissa Ocampo, ‎Emma Lim, Carmencita Itchon and many others.
‎
Idols with feet of clay fell crashing into the dust. Those who ‎voted against opening the envelope were legalese, ‎procedural, sounded intellectually brilliant, but also ‎heartless and thick-skinned. They couldn't fathom the ‎heartbeat of the nation. Cardinal Sin, aging and sickly, called ‎on the people again. It was People Power II!
‎
Same humongous and collective umbrage, same ‎brinkmanship, and same staccato prayers! Generals Reyes ‎and Villanueva simply joined the mammoth EDSA crowd. No ‎US jets from Clark this time. Erap was out! Gloria was in!
‎
Hope springs eternal. Malacañang regained its honor and ‎dignity. Protocol was observed. Absurdity was gone. ‎Grammatical English was back. Now the first gentleman ‎should have been named Mr. Pakyao, he has the monopoly of ‎graft behind Gloria's back.
‎
‎2001. More catastrophies! The peso plummeted to a ‎horrifying US$1 to P51. The Abu Sayyaf (extremist ‎ideologues, or mindless barbarians?) were into kidnapping ‎and terrorism, gaining worldwide notoriety. Businesses are ‎still closing shop. Thousands of workers are being ‎retrenched. Prices of food and gasoline are very high. ‎‎(Galunggong is P80 per kilo!) Our streets became permanent ‎garbage dumps. Maggots multiply to spread disease. Our ‎communities stink.
‎
Again, the whole nation was witnessing sickening crimes ‎attributed to people in the government. Talo na naman! We ‎are now 75 million people but the gap between the rich, 30% ‎‎(middle-class and rich), 70% (lower-class and rural/urban ‎poor) remains the same for one century.
‎
When will this end? It's been more than 350 years since ‎Lapu's- Lapu's victory, 100 years since Rizal martyrdom and ‎we're nowhere as a people, as a nation. Malas pa rin!
‎
Some wise guy said the Filipino is a damaged culture. Bully! ‎And what do you call other foreigners. They used slaves in ‎their plantations, and landgrabbed from the natives! What ‎should we call such cultures? Predatory Culture? Bully ‎Culture? What about that other country? How many ‎countries did it put under the barrel of its gunships, so they ‎could gloat that the sun never sets on their empire? What ‎shall we call this culture? Sahib culture? Gunga Din culture? ‎C'mon, give us a break!
‎
We Filipinos have strengths and endearing values. We are ‎Christians, God-fearing, and peace-loving. We are patient ‎and tolerant (matiisin to a fault). We are musical. We sing ‎our blues away. We have a sense of humor. We concoct and ‎text Imelda hyperboles and Erap malapropisms. We learn ‎fast because we are bilingual and highly educated. We've got ‎thousands of MBA's and PhD's in economics and ‎management from AIM, Wharton, Harvard, UCLA, etc. (most ‎of them now overseas).
‎
We've got a surplus of technocrats for nation-building. We ‎want to work if there are vacancies. We want to go into ‎business if we have the capital. We want to obey the law if ‎the law is being enforced. We want to live and die here, if ‎there is peace and order.
‎
But, but, and but. We have many shortcomings. We are ‎immature in our politics. Given a choice on whom to elect: a ‎handsome pabling movie star or an honest and brilliant ‎political scientist, we'll vote for the movie star.
‎
No brainer tayo dito. Talo! We have many stupidities. Like ‎dogs, we pee (Bawal umihi dito) on walls and tires. Our ‎driving is suicidal. Our service quality is inferior.
‎
Clerks at City Hall act arrogant. Sales ladies at department ‎stores don't know their product features. No exchange No ‎return even if it is defective, you have to argue for it. ‎Tourists get mugged by thugs in uniform. Police lay traps so ‎they can catch you and ask for bribes. What's wrong with ‎us? We don't have a great leader. And good governance. (In ‎Singapore, Lee Kwan Yew did it. The constituency profile is ‎similar to Filipinos). Admittedly, this country is impossible, ‎tiresome, and frustrating.
‎
But it's the only country we've got. We live and die here. Will ‎we ever see the dawn?
‎
Dios na mahabagin, kailan pa kaya? Ubos na ang aming luha. ‎Katog na ang aming mga tuhod. Tuyot na ang aming utak. ‎Hingal na ang aming puso.‎
‎
Dios na mahabagin, isalba Mo po kami. Hindi po kami ‎talunan. At lalo pong hindi kami tanga. Sunod-sunod lang po ‎ang malas.
‎
NOTE:
Dati Kastila, Amerikano, Intsik, Hapon at ngayon may ‎Koreano pa.
‎
Mahabagin Diyos, Nasaan Ka PINOY?‎
‎
‎
As this article correctly pointed out “People Power was our ‎shining glory!” Let this election of May 10 be like it, a People ‎Power. Let us be hungry for change, zealots of our rights. We ‎should not leave it to the elected officials, to run the nation as they ‎like. After all, they are our servants and not the other way around. ‎Most of all, let us all be aware of the issues and not be led like ‎lamps to slaughter.‎
‎
‎

Korean Essay about Filipinos

2010-03-06T11:11:00.000-08:00

I have read about this
Korean Essay about Filipinos - Earn and Invest Money and I am touched by the author's message. This is a little bit late but very informative. The lack of love of our country is maybe the reason why the Philippines is very poor. As an expatriate I think we have a duty too to help our country instead of turning our shoulder back.

I encourage everyone to at least give love and respect to our country. Be patriotic!

Debt Free | Financially Free

2009-09-07T10:12:00.000-07:00

I found this small article though not well written but I realized that to be financially free we must be debt free. When are you going to say that you are debt free? That is when you received your salary late but you are not complaining because you still have money for your family back home to sustain for the foods and needs. I am an expatriate too who wish that someday I can stay in the Philippines where I was born. Right now I am Debt Free but not financially free.

Financially Free is when you can relax but still earning money. Passive income is enough to generate income for you to live with your lifestyle. But don't you know that more than 90% of the expatriates are not successful? It is because they are financially illiterate and do not save and invest their earning. My piece of advice is to save money at least 10% then invest it with anything that you think will generate money for you. If it generate income about 10% per year then after years it will be greater than your yearly salary. I have computed it and it is true. Try it!

Nursing Board Exam for June 2009 released

2009-07-25T05:50:00.000-07:00

Nursing Board Examination for June 2009 is now released.

Over 32,000 passed for nursing board examination held in various places in the Philippines last June 2009.

Here are the top placers of the Nursing Board Examination Courtesy of ABS-CBN News

Golda Manto Yap of Felipe Verallo Memorial Foundation got the highest score at 86.8%.

She was followed by Ronie Rose Capati Arevalo of Adamson University at 86.4%.

Michelle Alejandro Barberan of Arellano University Manila was third at 86.2%.

Tied at fourth were Caroline May Rellosa Chamen of Philippine College of Health and Sciences, and Clarissa Leonor Tible Escober of Naga College Foundation at 86%.

Three students of UST--Marco Magtulis Dometita, Margaret Cheung Encarnacion, and Marc Bago-Od Marzan--were tied at fifth with Lalaine Lim Perlas of Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela. They all got 85.8%.

The Professional Regulation Commission on Saturday released the results of the exams that were held in Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, Sulu, Pagadian, and Zamboanga.
The top schools with 100 and more examinees were:

1) St. Paul University;
2) Chinese General Hospital College of Nursing and Liberal Arts; St. Louis University; Trinity University of Asia (Trinity -QC); University of Santo Tomas;West Visayas State University-La Paz;
3) University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center.

Two OFW File Rape Complain

2009-03-25T08:33:00.000-07:00

Working abroad especially in Middle East is not easy. Many of our OFW experienced bitter life their longing for their loved ones in the Philippines. Some of these OFW end up parting each other and the children are the worst victim of this tragedy. Anyway that is just a small problem because aside from their family in the Philippines these OFW or Overseas Filipino Workers are prone to abuse mostly by their Boss or sponsor. Many women are usually the victims of rape especially if they are domestic helper because they stay in the Villa alone so no one can help or protect them from their employer.

Just now I read in the News website that two OFW file a rape complain with the help of the Philippines Embassy in Kuwait because they allegedly said that they were raped by two Kuwaitis. According to the news these two Filipino ladies where brought to their cells since they ran away from their employer while the other has an expired passport. These two ladies are both married and came from Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao.

I just hope that these two expatriates can get justice before they can go home to be with their family. Our government should take good care to our expatriates.

Courtesy from ABS-CBN.com

An Insults to Filipinos by Art Bell

2009-03-05T11:35:00.001-08:00

I come across to this email and I find it very important to us all Filipinos so read it and you may copy it and share it to your Filipino Friends too.
AN INSULT to Filipinos - Please take time to read-annoying emailShare
Today at 1:37pm
I hope you take time to read this and pass it on till it gets back to Mr. Art Bell….
Let’s be proud to be all of Filipino origin!!!

This is a hate letter coming from a radio talk show host Mr. Art Bell from Nevada . I don't consider myself as patriotic but please read the reply below in BOLD LETTERS and send this to as many of your
Friends as possible until it reaches him.

Subject: HATE LETTER

This is a very disturbing open E-mail letter to all Filipinos around
The world; specially here in North America !, from a man who has the power
To reach million of people. (he's a radio talk host)

Please read on..............

This is an open letter email by Art Bell, a radio talk show host in Nevada (more info in the email itself). Here is yet another person who has taken advantage of his power and privilege to use hateful words and racial stereotypes that breed further ignorance and intolerance in our society.

Art Bell is a talk radio host who has two shows that he broadcasts from his home in Nevada , that is rebroadcast by 400 stations across the country.

He's written 2 books. He lived in Okinawa , Japan for some years and had a radio program on the English station here. And, though it's hard to believe after reading the following letter from him, he actually has been to the Philippines (he's traveled fairly extensively around the world).

This letter is so degrading, I think it's really important that everybody read this and not attack him, but respond to him in a civilized manner because otherwise his thoughts will be reaffirmed. Understand that not everyone has a viewpoint like we do, and that this is an opinion of someone who hopefully can be changed only by civil actions.

...............................................
Filipinos.....*make me puke* (Art Bell)

As we've all come to notice, in the past few decades, Filipinos have begun to infest the United States like some sort of disease. Their extensive involvement in the U.S. Armed Forces is proof of the trashy kind of qualities all Filipinos tend to exhibit on a regular basis. You can see this clearly by studying the attitudes and cultural Icons of most Filipino Americans.

Origins of Pinoys/Pinays:

Are they really Asian? Well we've come to accept the fact the Filipinos come from a part of the world known as South East Asia . But the term ' Asia ' is used in the wrong way. You may notice that contemporary Filipino Americans try very hard to associate themselves with groups that we know as Asian. I cannot count the number of times I have seen a ' Third World ' Filipino try to connect themselves to the Chinese or Japanese people. There is no connection and here's why. The Philippines is a Third World country. Nothing respectable has EVER been created by Filipino people during our entire human history. Young Filipino men in America have become obsessed with 'import racing'. They have an enormously perverted affection for Japanese cars. It's a common phenomenon. In their minds, these Filipinos somehow believe that they are Asian and that it somehow connects them to Japanese people and Japanese cars. They often take credit for the ingenuity of Japanese people and say how it's an 'Asian thing'. This term...'Asian thing' derived directly from African American slang 'blackthang'. 'It's a black thang.' 'It's an Asian thang.' You can see the connection. It's even funnier that, in Japan , Filipinos are heavily discriminated against. The only Filipinos that can live successfully in Japan are the Filipino prostitutes. But that's the case for most Filipino people no matter where they live in the world. Now we've come down to this fact...and it is a fact.

Nothing in Filipino Culture can be seen as Asian. They have no architectural, artistic, or cultural influence which is in ANY way, Asian. Thinking of the great countries in Asia such as Japan , Korea , and China there is no way you can possibly connect the Philippine Islands. This assault by Filipino Americans to connect themselves with the great peoples of North East Asia is foul and disgusting. Try visiting a young Filipino's web site too. You'll see something called the 'Asian IRC Ring'. It has to do with the chatrooms. The most horrible thing about this is that these TRASHY people are trying to associate themselves with Asia again!! People in Asia don't act like, this at all. What we are seeing here is the natural Filipino in it's element with full access to technology and this is how they act! You will consistently see this behavior over and over again.

Another interesting thing is that these 'third world' people also frequent RC chatrooms such as #Chinese # Japan and #Asian. They must believe that they are some how related racially or culturally to North Asians. But it's completely WRONG! There might have been some distant contact With China and even less with Japan during World War II, but these people are actually more closely related to African Americans and Mexican Americans.

Do the parents of these young Filipinos know what's going on? Would they accept this? I believe that they would and do. This is the natural 'Trash' element in Filipinos manifesting itself. Nothing good has ever come from Philippines and I don't believe anything good ever will.

Recognizing your Roots (A Message to Filipinos)

To all filipino people:
Please recognize your ROOTS! You come from the Third World ! You country is a disgusting and filthy place. Most people there live in poverty! Your culture has MUCH MORE SPANISH influence than chinese, and absolutely no JAPANESE influence whatsoever. People in Japan and China , do not act like you. They do not constantly talk about sex and they have a MUCH HIGHER level of RESPECT for each other. There is NO WAY that you can connect yourself to Asia other than location. Your culture and technological advancement does not even come CLOSE to What Chinese, people have done in the past and what Japanese and Korean people are doing now! Everything you do is distinctly filipino. You cannot take credit for Japanese cars, video games, or Hentai! It's not an 'asian thing' it's, an 'American thing'. You have no concept of culture...no concept of asian ideas or asian philosophy! Can you demonstrate how you use Confucianism or Taoism in you everyday life?? You can't. And you will NEVER be able to. I understand that you are trying to create an identity for yourselves as young people... but it is NOT related to Asia ..

Your Identity is Filipino. That's all you are. Just Filipino. Think about what that means....

Sincerely,
Art
------------------------------------------

I find this funny, he is right in some ways where we, as Filipinos dont actually have an 'Identity'. I think this is due to the confusion of our mixed races from Hispanic, Chinese, American and Malay origins. I see it in malls, imagine young generations wearing ski caps and ski goggles in a tropical country, baggy low rise pants like that of African Americans living in th e Bronx of New York, not to mention endless whitening products being sold at department stores and drug stores. But his ignorance also blinds him from the other truth. That while we may glorify Anime shows and Japanese Internet gaming, he is not aware that a nameless Filipino may be responsible for some technical aspects of some Japanese software. He is not aware of our contribution to the the society in general ..Technological advancements that may have aided post war navigations and landing on the moon. That the antibiotic Erythromycin was discovered by Dr. Abelardo Aguilar from Iloilo creating the brand 'Ilosone'. Thomas Edison may have discovered the electric light bulb and the fluorescent lighting was thought up by Nikola Tesla. But the fluorescent lamp we use today was invented by Agapito Flores (a Cebuano named Benigno Flores of Bantayan Island , according to the Philippine Daily inquirer), a Filipino scientist. Americans helped then-Philippine leader Ramon Magsaysay to develo p it for worldwide commerce.
That the personal physician of former U.S. Pres. Bill Clinton is Eleanor 'Connie' Concepcion Mariano, a Filipina doctor who was the youngest captain in the US Navy. A Filipino writer Jose Rizal could read and write at age 2, and grew up to speak more than 20 languages, including Latin, Greek, German, French and Chinese. Or that a Filipino genius was responsible for the near hiatus in the PENTAGON and White HOuse nearly infiltrating their closely guarded secrets with the 'ILOVEYOU' bug. Nuisance maybe, but still one heck of a 'beautiful mind'...not to be underestimated.The list goes on and on, but who cares right? Certainly not Mr. Art Bell...Boy, I'm not surprised. Perhaps Art Bell does not know that although we consider ourselves ASIAN because we are strategically located in the Southeast asian region of which our nearest neighbors are Malays, ASIA does not mean only Chinese and Japanese race of people. Then maybe it is his connotation that 'Asia' meant only our economically successful, paler brothers and he considers Malays such as Thais, Malaysians, Indonesians, and ourselves as a ' Third World ' race. Then it is 'his' ignonimity that would make a civilized person of whatever race puke. Imagine literally connecting Chinese, Koreans and Japanese to the Philippine Islands which is archipelagos away from the countries he has mentioned. I also wonder where he got the impression that we aspire to be Japanese(???) Hispanics maybe but not the Japanese. But even Hispanics today do not mind sharing their 'surnames' to their Asian brothers who they have colonized for 3 centuries.

Another sad reality that although most Filipinos working overseas are domestic helpers and prostitutes, who does he think educates the toddlers of Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Tokyo? Parents of these countries rarely have time spent with their children, leaving them to their Filipino nannies. And with regards to prostitution. Filipinos are not the only ones working as one. I HARDLY SEE FILIPINOS STARRING IN PORN MOVIES. THERE MIGHT BE A FEW FILIPINOS WE HAVEN'T SEEN , BUT MOST ARE FROM MR. ART BELL'S RACE.

He also mentioned that we have no concept of culture..no concept of asian ideas or asian philosophy. How can we demonstrate Confucianism or Taoism in a Christian nation? IS HE INFORMED THAT THE PHILIPPINES IS THE ONLY PREDOMINANTLY CHRISTIAN/CATHOLIC NATION IN ASIA ?! YOU HAVE TO USE COMMON SENSE IN A LOT OF THINGS SOMETIMES...

We do not need to create an identity for ourselves. We are who we are. Our identity stems from the anonymity we live in this world. How we contribute silent ly towards the progress of the world and not just one country. Although the Filipino blood may be tainted with malice, corruption, poverty and prostitution, it is not a perfect race... But so are the others. Maybe Mr. Art Bell needs to think about this. WE MAY NOT BE PERFECT MR. BELL BUT AT LEAST WE STILL HAVE VALUES. FOR ONE THING WE DONT PUT OUR AGING PARENTS IN NURSING HOMES BECAUSE 'THEY'RE SIMPLY OLD AND WORTHLESS'. WE DONT HAVE AS MUCH NUMBERS OF SINGLE MOTHERS WHO GET PREGNANT IN THEIR VERY EARLY TEENS AND EVENTUALLY BECOME PARASITES OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR YEARS AND YEARS. YES...WE CAME TO YOUR COUNTRY TO WORK, TO EARN DECENT MONEY (HALF OF WHICH BY THE WAY GOES TO TAXES BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY SOCIAL PARASITES FROM YOUR RACE).AND BY THE WAY, MOST EDUCATED PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH DONT COME FROM YOUR RACE... THEY'RE ACTUALLY IMMIGRANTS TOO. AND THOSE EDUCATED ONES DO NOT ACT LIKE YOU DO, PERHAPS BECAUSE THEY'VE REALLY BEEN WELL EDUCATED..AFTER ALL THAT'S SAID... WHO IS THE IGNORANT ONCE AGAIN?! -

____________________________________________________________________
So, be proud, you are a Filipino,...and not like
Mr. Art Bell. Please
do
send this to as many person as you can until it
reaches him.

Amee R. Hain-Bautista
Account Executive
ABS-CBN Regional Network Group
CP# 0917-8271371

We Spreading the Love Blog

2008-10-07T15:44:00.000-07:00

Hello my fellow bloggers. I am starting another tag here (can't get enough of it hehe). I know there are lots of blogs all over the world NOW so let us spread the BLOG LOVE Fever to all the bloggers you know. The more the merrier. I hope you all can join this fun tag so we can share some linky love too, in this way we can also increase our precious Technorati authorities.

It is so simple, just copy the tag, put all your blogs and spread to all of your blogger friends , come back here at my blog and soon your links will be spreading all over other blogs. Isn't this fun? Ok so go ahead and let's all have fun!

(Pls. don't remove) Credits: Elements/Paper by Dani Mogstad/ Layout by JennyL

Rules:
1. Don't remove the credits when you post the image
2. Please link back to the person who tagged you and pass this tag to many of your friends
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McCain Picked Palin as his vice president

2008-08-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

Senator John McCain announced his running mate or his vice president pick as the Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Yes it is Sarah Palin an unknown person and no national exposure. He called her as the best candidate who can help best him change the Washington. Sarah Palin is 44 years old and a two timer mayor of Wasilla, Alaska before becoming a Governor less than 20 months. She is against abortion and in fact knew that her youngest child is a special child when it was four months in her womb but did not abort it. Her oldest son is a soldier which McCain said can understand much what is America is all about.

She is also a fighter against corruption and a Hockey Mom in Alaska. She is the first woman to be nominated as vice president candidate in republican and second as vice president after a 1984 in democrat courtesy to Geraldine Ferraro. Sarah Pelin husband is Todd who is into oil business. Barack Obama Camp sent a congratulatory message to her for being selected as the running mate of McCain.

Governor Sarah Pelin did mention in her speech that what Hillary Clinton did was remarkable but she said that those 18 Millions voters should be heard and those women should have a voice and crack the ceiling glass once and for all. A reason maybe why McCain chose her as running mate for Clintons voters.

Bush was happy when he learned about McCain Choice and he congratulated Palin and said that it is a strong team and he expect it to win.

Barack Obama chose his vice president

2008-08-23T06:11:00.002-07:00

Senator Barack Obama who is a democrat and a presidential candidate revealed his choice for a running mate in the quest for the first black president in the United States of America. He chose Delaware Senator Joseph Biden as his vice president or running mate.

Senator Joseph Biden has lots of experience in terms of foreign affairs. Both Obama and Bedin will appear on Saturday at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. This is the place where Obama declare his bid for presidency.

On the other hand McCain who is the standard bearer of Republican did not reveal his vice president choice yet.

Arroyo seek Clemency for two OFW in Kuwait

2008-08-21T12:36:00.000-07:00

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo seeks clemency for the two OFW in Kuwait who are in danger of death sentence punishment. The president welcome the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah who pay a visit to Presidential Palace last Friday.

Here are the rest of the news:
Arroyo thanked the prime minister for sparing two Filipino workers who were earlier sentenced to death for murder and asked if similar clemency could be extended to the two currently on trial, the Philippine Daily Inquirer said.

However, the Kuwaiti PM said all judicial processes would have to be settled before clemency could be considered, the Inquirer reported.

The leaders also discussed the need for more laborers in Kuwait.

The Inquirer reported that in their meeting the prime minister said Kuwait needed more workers aside from the 110,000 Filipinos already working there.

"We have no quota for Filipinos, even one million are welcome," the Inquirer quoted the PM as saying.

The Philippine government earlier said that the visiting prime minister would oversee the signing of agreements on cooperation in the field of health services. However, the details of the agreement were not revealed.

I just hope that the two OFW will be pardoned and that their sentence will be reduced to life sentence. There are many expatriates today that are victims of circumstances. But as a christian we must save life rather than waste it.

Product Review: About Car and auto insurance

2008-08-19T12:59:00.000-07:00

Product Review: About Car and auto insurance is a very important matter when you have a car. This is the only way that you can compensate if accident occur. Every car should be insured because by doing so you can be sure that if accident happened you can still pay for the damage you have done to the other party.

Now it is up to you to find a good insurance company. You better ask for a referral from your friend who has an insurance because they knew more which insurance company is the best in your area.

Expatriates in Norway Needed

2008-08-18T07:03:00.000-07:00

There are many jobs for Filipinos to try in Norway as this second richest country in Europe and third in the world needs engineers, nursing, health workers and skilled workers. This country with small population has become the home of nurses and seafarers.

As of now there are already 80 Filipinos who worked there but they still need more employees like civil engineers and skilled workers like welders said the ambassador to Norway. Every year at least there are 5,000 job vacancies not only for Filipinos but other nationalities too.

According to the source, the Philippines has a 3% yearly average increase but this year it is already 12% when we are still at the middle of the year. This will be a continuing trends because the demand is still there.

Expatriates Remittances seen to reach $16Billion this year

2008-08-16T06:43:00.000-07:00

According to News in Manila, Filipinos sent money home will reach $16 Billion. As of June the remittances rose 30% according to Central Bank. Half this year, the expatriates remittances is already $8.2 Billion, the bank said in a statement.

The bank expect that there will be a 10% rise of remittances compared last year. The expatriates remittances will hit $15.9 Billion. There are more than eight million Filipinos out of 90 million are working abroad.

Their remittances are of big help to the Philippines government. It is a significant contributions to the gross national products. Without expatriates remittances there will be no source of foreign exchange that will lead to economic problem.

Expatriates and the government

2008-08-14T04:23:00.000-07:00

There are many mysterious death to our OFW or expatriates around the world but our government did nothing to investigate these cases. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said that she cares about OFW but she is deaf to these less fortunate individuals who earned money working abroad doing menial job because the Philippines can not give it citizen a good livelihood or job. According to Migrante there 23 mysterious death cases under Arroyo government which until now is not solve. If the government care about OFW then they should at least solve these cases because it is their responsibility and duty to do so besides it is OFW who poured Dollars to our government. The government is a failure to depend its citizen. Anyway the Philippines government is a failure to any areas like economy, sports, government and etc.

Yesterday I read about a Domestic Filipina who died in Riyadh and according to her relatives she suffered a lot of bruises and stab but according to DFA or Department of Foreign affairs she committed suicide. The Saudi authority said that she died in hospital due to ulcer. The kin asked for the body to be exhumed because they suspected the mysterious death of Eugenia Baja.

This is a warning to any domestic helper not to go abroad especially if your destination is Middle East. Domestic job is dangerous because you have to work alone and there is a big chance of abuse. You are prone to abuse. If you are working as domestic and you are abused then you must report this to our embassy or authority at once. Being an expatriate or expatriates is not easy, you will feel homesick, away from your loved ones, sometimes this will result to family problem.

About Me

2008-08-05T06:50:00.000-07:00

Hello to everyone around the world. If you are away from your family then you are like me an expat or expatriate. In my blog you can read some basic guidelines about working abroad and some tidbits on what is happening around the world that will affect us as an expatriates.

There are many problems that you will encounter if you are working abroad like homesickness and some family end up in separation due to lack of communication and away from loved ones. Even if you are away from our family, don't forget that you have a family at home waiting for you. Save money and slowly invest it in your country so that you have something when you stop working abroad. Expat is also about people who prefer to live in foreign country because they like it there or they were able to strike a root in foreign land.

Requirement for working abroad

2008-08-05T05:56:00.000-07:00

Working abroad is not a joke. Many expatriates end up in jail or worst commit death penalty because they are not aware of what to do. First of all after you are accepted as employee in a certain company and you know which country you will work, try to learn their culture and what is prohibited or not allowed to do and how to greet them. Be friendly but be cautious in dealing with people in your in coming host country. Respect their tradition and culture. Stay away from gambling and drinking liquor. Avoid anyone who is not of good influence.

Before applying for the job of course you have to apply for passport and NBI clearance. Be careful because there are fixer outside the DOA who will try to get money from you by offering a not so good services like taking pictures, selling a brown envelop and a pen. Some of them might offer you a residential certificate. Some of the agency will ask you for money like placement fee which actually is paid by the employer already so if you have a chance to talk to the employer, clarify on this. Undergoing a medical for fit to work is also required and again the employment agency will ask for money on this. Indeed working abroad or to work abroad is a little bit a pain in the ass.

Bring winter clothes if you are going to Saudi Arabia. People are thinking that Saudi Arabia is a very hot country. Yes it is true but it is also a very cold country during winter. Working abroad can also make you very homesick so be prepared for this. Always remember that you are working abroad for your bright future that our country could not provide.

How to work abroad?

2008-08-04T06:42:00.000-07:00

If you want to work abroad like an expat or expatriates then you should know where to find the correct agency that offer jobs for people who want to work abroad. As of now there are many jobs that are in demand abroad like engineering, health care, domestic helpers and IT fields.

By the way nursing is now saturated as of this writing. Last board examination, there are 23 thousand passed the test. Nursing course has become a source of income to some none qualified school who offered the course but of low standard. If you want to work abroad, find other course that is not so saturated. Engineering and Information Technology are some of the best course to take today. IT or Information Technology is in demand and is not saturated. Skilled Jobs like welder, plumber and electrician are also an in demand course. Caregiver is also a good field but be sure that you have a sponsor.

Here are some important website if you want to work abroad. Visit http://www.workabroad.ph this website is a portal to all agency in Manila that cater for international job like here in Saudi Arabia, Canada, USA, UAE, Australia and etc. Another site is POEA website because you will know there if the agency that offers you a job is legal or not. If they are not listed in POEA then it is illegal. Sometimes there are jobs also that are offered directly in POEA so it is website worth visiting for.

Our Expatriates

2008-08-04T06:32:00.001-07:00

When I was in elementary school I always heard about the Saudi Boy or Balikbayan (Filipino who permanently live in other country) and these words still hold true today. Many people are working abroad because our country could not give us a secure job nor shall we say a job with good salary. When Ramos was still the president, he said that the Filipino people should go home because the economy in the Philippines was one of the fastest growing economy in Asia but when the Asian crisis stroke, people started to go back to Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries and the Balikbayan (Filipino who permanently live in other country) went back to USA, Canada and other Western Countries. What made the Philippines very poor while her neighboring countries are becoming rich and stable? Right now I see that it is the system of the government that made the Philippines as one of the poorest country in Asia. Corruption and population boom are two of the main problem why this beautiful country is still the sick man of Asia.

This blog is for all OFW or expatriates who suffered a lot because of being away from their family and expose to danger in foreign land. Exposed in employer's abuse, war turn place and other man made calamities. Being a housemaid abroad is prone to sexual abuse but all of these danger and humiliations are swallowed by our people because they dreamed for brighter future for their family and the only way to make it a reality is to serve other nationalities. I knew that there some decent jobs for our people abroad like being a doctor, engineer and teacher but the mere fact is that many of our kababayan are still working as domestic helper, driver, and other non skilled jobs that Filipina became a synonymous as maid in some Europe countries has made us somewhat a low class people.

So this blog is dedicated to them. I will post here some very informative news about our OFW like scams, warning or band country, job opportunities and some news from Filipinos around the world. I will also write not only for Philippines but other countries as well.