al-drin [ (n. pang. ja-jin) ]

let me recall the story...

nang isinilang si aldrin ay may kakabit na itong swerte, nang iluwal siya ng kanyang ina ay balot siya ng isang manipis na latag (layer ) ng supot na nababalot sa buo niyang katawan maliban pa sa kanyang inunan. ayon sa mga nakatatanda hindi pangkaraniwan ang ganitong pagkakataon at ito raw ay swerte (  good luck).

i still remember, this "supot" was dried and keep by her lola areng in her wallet, at madalas noong panahong iyon, hinihiram ito ng aking ama ( alfredo castro sln ) upang magsilbing pampaswerte sa kanyang " cockfighting" sessions. simula pa lamang ay parang magiging maganda na talaga ang guhit ng tadhana para ay jajin.

it is so much easy to write and tell a lot of things to a person whom you have witness from being a small child to young man, its a full circle experience as they say. ang mga susunod na talata na inyong mababasa ay mula sa isa pang tunay na nakasaksi sa pagiging bata pagiging binata ni aldrin, ang kanyang kuya boy ( wilson aboboto ).

Simula pagkabata ay nasaksihan ko na ang kanyang paglaki, kung paano siya hinubog ng kanyang mga magulang, Ate Neri at Kuya Ed, kasama na ang kayang Lola Areng na napaka "spoiled" sa kanila; na maging isang huwaran hindi lamang  sa kanyang mga kapatid na sina Aljon at Lenlen kundi na rin sa mga kabataan na nakakasalamuha niya. Sa aking pagkakakilala kay Jajin, isa siyang "tahimik" na tao, maamo ang dating, malapit at maaruga sa mga bata, "shy or timid" sa kanyong lengguwahe ika nga, mga traits ng mga anak ng kanyang Lolo Diego. Maikukumpara rin siya sa isang ilog na tahimik, ngunit malalim..  sa sobrang lalim, di mo makukuha ang tunay na saloobin, di mo alam ang kanyang mga plano sa buhay. Madalas  pagkagaling sa eskwela, bahay lang at tindahan ng kanyang lola ang tambayan, magpatugtog ng mga CDs at MP3,  malayo sa dalawa niyang kapatid na very outgoing.

...

Sa aspetong "musikal" impressed talaga ako, pati na rin ang tropa,.( lakas tama gang ) Hindi naman ako nagulat sa pagiging mahusay niyang pag gitara, it's in the blood kasabihan na nga, isa pa rin marahil ay ang impluwensiya ng lugar. Ang Calasag ay napakayaman pagdating sa usapang musika at banda ( Pagtalunan at de Ocampo Band at ang Alon Band nina Ito) , mga manganganta sa entablado tulad nina Ditse Nene at kanyang ina, kasama sina R-5, at ang mga gitarero, mula kina Tata Imo hang gang kina Boy, ang "infamous" na Calasag Choir na pinamumunuan ng kanyang ama na si Kuya Ed at Nanay na si Ate Neri, kasama pa ang kanyang mga tiyuhin na sina Kuyang Pitong at Mamang, pati na rin ang mga bagong sibol na hindi ko na mga kilala...sa kadahilanang matagal tagal na rin akong hindi naglalagi sa lugar. Sa paghawak  ni Jajin ng gitara, napaka "impressive" talaga, malayo sa mga nakasanayan namin na "uwido" lang ang nalalaman, iba ang kanyang hagod o kaskas. More on "lead" si Jajin, isa sa aspetong kulang sa panahon nang nag babanda kami noon.


Kung natatandaan nyo pa ang LT bands noong  late 90's (Eraserheads, Parokya ni Edgar ,Rivermaya, Siakol,True Faith, Yano, Grin Department at Introvoys influences) ito ang panahon nang lumabas si Jajin bilang "Guitarman" ay siya namang pag-umpisa ng aming pagtuon sa aming mga sari-sarili naming buhay, kanya-kanya muna sa madalit salita. Subalit nariyanyan pa rin, di man madalas nakakatugtog, tanging mga instrumento na lang namin ang magkakasama sa ngayon, c/o Kuya Ed's Garage. 

Isa sa pinaka memorable sa akin ay nang makasama namin siya ng tropa sa Music Warehouse sa Baliwag. Kung natatandan ko pa 2004 yon (with pics c/o Tito Lowie), na nalipat na sa basement ng Kristine Plaza mula sa ground floor ( ewan kung andun pa , wala na akong balita) It was uneasy at that time, dahil nga sa unang pagkakataon ay nakasama ko ang mag ama sa isang inuman, at iyon ang opisyal na kasama na namin si Aldrin di lang sa kantahan, pati na rin sa tagayan! 

Ang unang "gig" namin na nakasama siya officially ay noong ika-10 taong anibersaryo ng tropa back in December  2005 (YouTube  MTVoff ) He is on the lead, on progression pa siya noon pero plakado na., 

tatay & son

 and the last one is noong debut celebration ng kanyang kapatid na si Arlene back in November 2007 (with pics c/o  Aris). The following year nag work na ako sa ibayong dagat...I know may mga bago na siyang nakakasama sa mga "gigs" nila ngayon, patunay na malayo na ang kanyang nalalaman hindi lang sa pag hawak ng gitara, kundi na rin sa ibat ibang klase ng instrumento, pruweba na "talentado" / talented siya.

Kasama ang paggabay ng kanyang ama, at ngayon ay isa ka nang INHENYERO wala na akong masasabi sayo, the deepest of you coming out in the surface.. just in time na ikaw naman ang tutuon sa sarili mong buhay.. goodluck...so long.. magkakalayo man tayo, magkakasama pa rin as the Music Lives On...


the quest for victory does not end in just getting the title, the quest for victory has just begun.

ps: salamat kumpadreng wilson for the time and effort. lets join again in some other blog topics.

from pick a burger to minute burger

san ildefonso, bulacan has been my hometown for the past 29 years and in those years i still ask myself, why does it takes extra effort on my part to answer if an acquaintance ask where i came from.. and even before my existence, why there is no specific positive trait nor characteristic that really defines the town of san ildefonso. walang sariling pagkakakilanlan, na isang bigkas at banggit mo pa lamang ay may rehistro na agad sa sinumang iyong kausap.

i clearly remember those instances: a classmate in college, a friend at work, a chatmate on the net, a common "tao" in the long queue for a driver's license, their common question was, "taga saan ka?"..then i will reply, "san ildefonso" then with uncertainty they will ask, "saan yun?". with eagerness i would tell them the geographical description of the town, "malapit yun sa baliuag saka sa san rafael then after san rafael san ildefonso na, kung alam mo yung san miguel, bago san miguel san ildefonso muna..."..."ah meron palang ganun." it was the common reaction.

and if one would know the town, they will right away say, "di ba marami NPA dun..."

last january of 2012 i had the chance to go back home from overseas and seeing the changes in my hometown gives me a feeling of hope and resiliency. recollecting my elementary days at saint paul school and comparing the town to what it is now is a big difference. the changes are really evident in my own perspective, specially for me who has been away for years and i guess in my absence for long time made it more apparent.

the IN thing then was the "PICK A BURGER" its a small burger stand located in front of the church, it came at a time when the people in the town get to be introduced with the convenience and taste of a western burger pinoy style. and just recently a competitor came into being with a more established branding and promotional tactic with their buy one take one burger, the "MINUTE BURGER". there were attempts ( the magbitangs ) to put up a bigger investment with a bigger name in the fastfood industry (with a bee on its name) but they said it was not feasible to put up as such in an area where population's income is coming from agriculture and small- scale businesses.

sino nga ba naman ang uunahin pang mag "dyolibi" kesa ang ibili ng bigas at ulam ang kinikita sa isang araw na pinaghanapbuhayan din sa araw na iyon. ang mga magsasaka, mga mangingisda, mananahi at iba pa ay uunahain muna ang kape at asukal upang iuwi sa bahay at magsisilbing agahan at pampainit ng sikmura sa kinabukasan.

there were a lot of establishment that came even before the minute burger. dunkin donuts who withstands the competitor mister donut, a good commercial bank which is metrobank.. mercury drug, the biggest name in the drugstore chains in which is good for taga bulaks, they have choices other than the botica / farmacia gonzales..even senior citizens can enjoy their discounts. and there is also pandayan bookshop which also presented themselves as a selection other than "MALIWAT" school supplies. who could forget the MALIWAT school supplies, every school project and supplies were supplied by MALIWAT. goldilocks bakeshop is also in the midst, although it is not a  totally goldilocks store it is commendable that it is readily available if you want it, hindi na kailangang umakyat pa sa kabayanan at karatig bayan upang makatikim ng goldilocks product...pero masarap pa rin ang pandesal sa "PAN GRANDE" at "PANDESAL NI DOLFO" andyan din ang TOOTSIES BAKERY at saka EVELYN SALAO BAKERY.

the town had been in the national media several times not for so good things but for controversial things. who would forget the case of galvez versus vinculados, a "lola" being raped in one of its rural barrio that was featured via abs-cbn SOCO, and few other things that demean the name of the town in some way or another.

the political climate in the town is like a tropical depression... it was even under comelec watch list for some election periods because of vote buying and a close fist, tight fight between opposing parties, the color separation of PULA AT DILAW. the town was under the helm of the galvezes' for so many years, from the deceased honorato galvez, tried to be taken over by the wife, then taken over by the brother of honorato in the name of sazo galvez, then after the, stewardship was passed on to the daughter of sazo, paula carla galvez-tan, the present head of the town. at may ugong na balita, the mayoralty seat is planned to be taken back by the son of the late honorato galvez even fighting with the uncle, the returning sazo galvez... so if rumors are correct it will be a galvez versus galvez fight. the question to be answered is, is it a political dynasty?

but some would defend it, "its not a political dynasty, we just want the next seating official to be an ally so that we can continue what we had started" but the question again is, what thing has been started that need to be finished? are those good things or bad things left unfinished?is it the town's economic progress or the town's economic continuing fall to a quicksand ( kumunoy).

in all fairness to the present seating mayor a lot would say she is very able and she knows what her plans are despite her young age.

the province of bulacan is known to many as the "lupain ng mga bayani at magagandang dilag" and there is nothing that i know of that came specifically from san ildefonso, bulacan. but there is "CHICHAY" the actress and commedienne of the 60's or 70's who has roots from san ildefonso, bulacan, famous for her role as the lola of bondying starring jimmy santos.

little did i know that longganisa ( pork sausage ) has been a signature product of the town, another variety to the existing san ildefonso famous produce like the pastillas ( carabao milk candies ), sabutan and buntal bags and some other crafts.

baliuag has their buntal festival, san rafael has their angel festival, marilao has their luyang dilaw festival and surprisingly there is gulay festival for san ildefonso, i just hope that the organizers will be able to sustain it every year for it to become a signature festival of the town.

who would also forget the haunted house ( bahay na pula in anyatam ). famous location in the movie "kumander bawang" starring herbert bautista and some other horror flicks and in history and in some documentaries the house was said to be the site of traumatic experiences by the comfort  women during the war.

the town and its people are without a doubt are the most hardworking.

so who is to blame for its obviously slow pace to progress? is it its people, is it the leaders or  just a stride of fate that we need to embrace? in our hands and in the hands of its leaders lies the answer to all of these questions. a leader should be taking care of its people and give them what is due to them, a political leader should not think of its post as a business to gain profit everyday as they work but as a dedication and vocation to serve the people everyday.

to the parents of this town it is imperative to invest on education to your children and education is the way to go.

we were once asked by our politcal science professor, "in which time where rich and the poor becomes equal in all its aspect?" then i raised my hand and answered, " election time". she tapped the table with a bit force and uttered the words "very good".

indeed in the practice of suffrage and election we all become equal, walang mayaman, walang mahirap. so its in our hands thats gives us and will give us hope everytime. so let us not let this opportunity of equality be wasted.

from womb to tomb

i happen to have read the article of ambeth ocampo ( philippine historian and professor ) the other day in his column in the philippine daily inquirer and it gives me an idea to write on something and take off from this phrase.

technology plays an important role in our life, from simple to the most complicated technology available. it is around the corner and within our reach. from conception with the use of IVF for one (in vitro fertilization ) to the E-Lamay for our loved ones...technology is there....from womb to tomb..

but have you asked yourselves and have come to realize what is at stake, what is to be sacrifice in favor of these increasing demands for technologies.

imagine a new life being form in a petri dish, what happens to the long process of loving and intimate moments before two individuals can make a dear child. ang espasyo sa pagitan ng dalawang taong nagmamahalan ay napakahaba at puno ng mga emosyon at pakiramdam na tanging sila lamang ang nakakaranas bago humantong sa isang marubdob at matinding pagniniig na ang bunga ay isang sanggol na tatawagin nilang "anak", their own flesh and blood. but it seems the long process has been shortened nowadays, similar to an instants noodles readily available in sari-sari stores.

a child age 2 starts to discover technologies as well. the magic of the "ugoy ng duyan" is loosing its magic. ang bata ngayon kapag umiiyak at hindi mapatahan, aabutan ng iphone o ng ipad upang manahimik at pumirmi sa isang tabi habang ang kaniyang mga magulang ay abala rin sa mga iba pang bagay, uri at anyo ng teknolohiya, kani-kaniya ring pagdanas ng dulot na aliw ng teknolohiya. what happens to the pure caress (haplos) that only parents can administer to their own child, where is the mother and child conversations that build the innermost belief and ideas of a child's formative years. where are the real playmates that teaches a child to become sociable, paano na ang pagkatuto ng pakikibagay, all being replaced by virtual playmates and lifeless inanimate toys and gadgets.

here comes the teenage and adolescent years, in which i personally considered the peak demand for technology. the curiosity of each teenager, paralleled with abundant advertising and marketing strategies of different companies offering their own items, pushed by personal egoistic needs and desire to have that technology in their hands results to a more complex situation. added to this is the purchasing power of each individuals on this stage, they have their means and for sure they will make a way to have it in their hands. what happens to the process of meeting and making friends in social places, nagsisimula sa mga tinginan at nagpapatuloy sa isang mahabang pagkakaibigan, now making friends is just a click away in the comforts of your home. what happens to the genuine and sincerity of forming interpersonal relationships.

interpersonal relationships in communication is defined as communication between two persons, person to person to achieve a common understanding. but it seems this type of communication is slightly eroding. everyone seems to be glued in social media and other social networks, washing out the intensity and sincerity of talking and communication to people face to face, from a simple conversation to the most serious dialogues...its fading and withering away.

here comes the time of death. it starts with lighted images of christ below the casket with its different lights on the sides of the images, then came a small angel on top a casket moving its hands up and down, then came the widespread practice of cremation to the propagating E-lamay. death of a loved is the most disturbing and emotionally draining phase of every individual and what could be comforting than a personal visit to the grieving ones, listening and witnessing to their cries, and being with other mourners in the place somehow alleviates the sadness and lost of a special someone.

mayroon nga bang makakahalili sa mga maiinit na haplos sa iyong mga anak, sa mga usapang wagas at tapat sa mga kakilala at kaibigan, mayroon bang makakapantay sa mga tapik sa balikat na tanda ng pakikiramay, may makakapalit ba ang saya ng sulat na binubuksan na hatid ng isang kartero...

yes i admit, technology makes life faster but does it make life worthwhile and worth remembering to last a lifetime. yes i admit, i am guilty on some of the thoughts mentioned here. technology is inevitable and indispensable and they are here to stay. but as we embrace the technology around us let us not let go and forget of the VALUES and simple acts that make life worthwhile.

once in a while it is healthy to go back to where we started, to where we came...

if you feel like you are lost and flooded with so much things in life just pause for a while and without fear.............. GO BACK TO THE BASICS.

the filipino workforce in singapore's f and b industry

i once heard a myth about early filipino settlers in singapore that few of them migrated to australia while some returned home to philippines  because of a false belief that singapore would someday sink and will be completely submerged in water. in realization, some would think twice but others would think there is a possibility, with its land area of only about more than 700 square kilometers, surrounded by water and its soil that holds and supports building and infrastructure of huge weight and mass.

i do not have the exact figures of how many filipinos are presently in singapore in different field of endeavor but i am sure to say that across all industries there is and there are filipinos. the food and beverage industry in singapore employs a lot filipinos, from the most famous names in the food and beverage industry to the starting and budding food and beverage business.

during this month or season of the year marks a worthwhile and accomplished moments for many of the filipino food and beverage workers here in singapore, or maybe for all the overseas filipino workers all over the world. through this field and through this means they are able to send their brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews, sons and daughters in school...and this is the season to harvest what has been sown.

mcdonalds may pilpino, kfc may pilipino, burger king may mga pilipino, gong cha tea house may pilipino, garret popcorns may pilipino, eunos mrt hawker stations may filipino, lau pa sat festival market may pilipino,  mar'che restaurant may pilipino, pizza hut may pilipino, sa pasta mania may pilipino etcetera etcetera...

it is interesting to note that with the abundant list of food and beverage business names in singapore it equals or even surpasses the many stories and experiences of a filipino f and b worker in singapore, ranging from the glorious and triumphant stories of success, from joyful to sorrowful descend from top to the ground. some stories would even parallel and equals to jesus christ's station of the cross, an extreme comparison of the filipino sufferings and struggles but it is true and even sometimes an unimaginable scenario.

in the battlefield itself ( workplace) is an everyday calvary and requires a lot of hardwork, industry and patience. you will be faced with crew and staff of different personalities that challenges not just your skills, your style of management but sometimes posing danger to your emotions. ang dibdib  mo'y parang tinarakan ng isang matalim na balaraw. co-workers of same level of position but acts like a head of operation just because they are locals and believed in their minds that this workplace is in their territory that gives them the right to treat you as a legal property of another and is forced to obey them, in other word slaves. they speak of teamwork but the work is just done by "one", working very hard night and day with eyes open and mouth closed just to be out in the list of nominees.... to the haunting and scary "list of nominees".

in every workplace the "dot in a bond paper" theory has always been evident and true. they see one black dot in the center of the bond paper but they tend to overlook the big white space that occupy the same bond paper. they will remember your one mistake but they will always forget the million good things you have done for the company, for the store, for the staff and for the customer.

in the forefront, while you are bridging and connecting the gap between the restaurant and patron customers, it still constitute a bulk of a filipino f and b worker's bad and sometimes pleasing and rewarding moment. a patron would buy a one dollar ice cream but complains, talk and treats a worker like they bought the whole of you and gives them the ultimate right to lambast you with their words, this is the moment that requires the grace from the one up above and a complete divine intervention, the will to control.... but it is not fair just to talk about negative thoughts, it is also remarkable to note some rewarding moments in the field we are in. a simple thank you back, a simple smile and a pleasant and smooth transaction between a worker  and a customer is totally satisfying, it is an instance where a person that you do not personally know sees your hardwork, removes your worries and pays the sleepless and tiring days you were in. nakatataba ng puso at nakasisiya ng kalooban.

even if the myth that i have mentioned is true or not, i am very sure that filipino food and beverage workers in singapore are here to stay...growing, learning and fighting.

every filipino in the food and beverage industry has their own story to tell, even you who are reading this now has your own story to share. i would like to take this opportunity to give a big hand and a loud KUDOS to every filipino food and beverage worker here in singapore, you and me, them , us... let us continue to elevate our status to even greater heights..let us continue to be known for our hardwork, good interpersonal communication skills and the gift of executing great common sense and specially the talent to be happy, fun and exciting...a distinct filipino trait.

Everyday is a gift so do not be tired of waking up everyday and starting a brand new day.

filipinos in singapore ( scenes of 2011 )

it has been three wonderful years since i first step into the terrains of singapore, and i could say that i have had a complete grasp of how filipinos in the lion city have evolved, thrived and flourished in a very competitive environment.


 the new ones who are eagerly wanting to find a job and at the same time overly excited to have a sight-seeing and meet friends or vice-versa, those old ones who are stable and enjoying the times of their life. old ones who are also for a long time a breadwinner in the family and a financial provider, those present who have just successfully landed a job trying to adjust to the new and challenging environment and at the same time having to budget for a few months to pay and settle agency fees.


filipinos in singapore as defined by wikepedia: the free  encyclopedia


Filipinos in Singapore consist of migrants from the Philippines and their descendants. as of 2007, an estimated 80,000 work as domestic helpers, with another 12,000 in the information technology industry.^[1] This marks a slight rise from 1995, when roughly 75,000 domestic helpers from the Philippines were estimated to be working in Singapore.^[2] In recent years they have seen professional diversification, with others working as nurses, bank clerks, sales assistants in department stores, or entertainers.^[3][4] However, of those, only 27,000 were registered to vote in Filipino elections.^[5]


clearly in the figures above, bulk of the filipinos in singapore are dominated by domestic helpers, the very reason that filipinos in singapore are stereotyped as such. who could forget the sensational case of flor contemplacion and delia maga in the pages of history of both singapore and the philippines, not to be missed is " Christine" a filipina maid who have inherited millions from her employer after a selfless and devoted service to her employers. three different individuals of completely opposite fates. it will be a long way to go before we can completely changed the existing scenario. professional diversification would be a tough feat. 


like all other filipino foreign workers in the world, they get to look for things to do and ease their moments of boredom and moments of stress. facebook and all other forms of social media has always been a good companion over the years, the filipino channel and gma pinoy tv is also an option to be considered. for high end filipinos in singapore, photography and devoted time for the gym are also choices to note. but the best thing to really enjoy and release stress is when you get to be a part of birthday parties, baby showers, weddings and anniversaries. it is when you see friends, have a taste of filipino foods, drink till you get drunk a bit and a videoke sessions that follows, just make sure all the windows and doors are closed so as not to be opening the door for a police warning.

representation of faith of filipinos in singapore are very evident, not only of roman catholic faiths but of christian faith and a seeding community for our brothers and sisters in iglesia ni cristo. during sundays, catholic churches would be populated by filipinos with their friends, families and acquaintances and even just by themselves. hearing  mass every sunday is a sure thing for them before a shopping or after a shopping. but sometimes its saddening that when filipinos are inside the church the solemnity and peacefulness are quite abrupt, we are yet to putting away repartees and colloquy while inside the house of god. kanya-kanyang bulungan, kanya- kanyang tsismisan hay...


in economics they have the the law of demand which states that: if the price of a commodity increase the demand decreases and if the price of a commodity decrease the demand increases..and filipinos in singapore adheres to this. if a warehouse sale is announced or advertised, sure enough it will spread viral through all forms of the social media overnight. crocs sale in expo has always been a sure hit, charles and keith footwear also makes noise whenever they have sale periods and just recently, converse shoes and apparel sale was well attended. and also not to be snob are the IT show at suntec. filipinos in singapore cannot dare to miss these things, they buy not because they need to but because it is on sale. ( photo courtesy of crisse apan )

if our indian friends have their mustafa center, chinese have their chinatown, filipinos have occupied lucky plaza and make it their own territory, a place usually associated with filipinos. in here, you can see a lot of exciting scenes ( mga eksenang malabasahan at mga eksenang makatotohanan ). picnic sessions along the sides of nearby malls with all their "baon", si "kuya" seated on the concrete benches savoring bottles of san miguel beer. it is also a great place to visit for satisfying your craving for filipino food and delicacies. and most importantly, all the remittance center are to be found at lucky plaza. bilyong dolyar na ang dumaan at nabilang sa lucky plaza patungo sa pilipinas hanggang makarating sa mga kamay ng ating mga minamahal sa pilipinas. saturdays and sundays are to be avoided  when going to lucky plaza but if you are keen to see exciting scenes be brave enough to go on weekends.


singapore is an open country not only to filipinos but also for all individuals who has the capacity and the ability to do so from all around the world. and with all the strict government policies it is a blessing to be included in its foreign workforce. not all filipinos in singapore lands a job that is matching to their academic credentials, many are considered to be displaced workers. nursing graduates who are in the retail industry, teachers who are in administrative and clerical works, doctoral degree holders who are in food and beverage industry. they go for jobs that comes first and who will pass the scrutiny of the ministry of manpower. there are also stories of failure in finding a job in singapore, some of them after months of trying and losing opted to go back to the philippines and accept the fact that singapore is not for them.


while that it is true that the salary package in singapore is very much afar a worker is earning in the philippines, dapat ring isaalang-alang na malaki man ang sahod ay malaki rin ang mga gastusin at gugulin na dapat ibawas sa kita habang nasa ibang bansa. house rental, food, transportation going to work, electricty and water, these are just basic things that cuts the bulk of a foreign worker's salary. but not all the relatives of a foreign worker in the philippines, specially in the barrio do not have a complete grasp of what does it really takes and what does it really cost to be a foreign worker. they are just seeing the image and the glamour of being in " abrod" or "de abrod". christmas season that are missed, special occasions in the family that you are not around, hindi mo nakikita ang paglaki ng iyong anak, that little by little you become a stranger in the midst of your children at minsan dumarating pa sa mga pagkakataon na uuwi ka na lamang after so many years being in abroad upang makipaglibing at ihatid sa hukay ang sinumang pinakamamahal. nakakalungkot na tagpo at nakakadurog na katotohanan.


short distance to philippines from singapore is an advantage and many filipinos in singapore benefits to this favorable position. three or four consecutive off days would be a great time to have quick travel to the philippines and visit your loved ones, but this does not apply to all filipinos in singapore, nakadepende pa rin sa budget at sa kita, sa halip na umuwi ipinapadala na lang pandagdag sa mga gastusin.


ilan sa mga filipinos in singapore ay unti-unting tuluyang niyayakap ang buhay singapore. nakikipagsabayan sa buhay na mabilis, marangya at maginhawa, ngunit nakalulungkot na kasabay ng pagyakap na ito ay ang pagtalikod sa mga magagandang gawi at asal ng isang pilipino. others act and feel superior over the others. in some cases, several filipinos would conceal their true identity as a filipino just to be a part of what they think is a superior race.


while some filipinos in singapore chooses to live and be here forever, many also chooses to be back in the philippines after years of working and saving for the future. and i want to say, after all the stories of triumph and failures that has happened and bound to happen we will sure be back to the place we call home. sa lugar kapiling ang ating mga minamahal na siyang dahilan ng lahat ng ating mga pagpapagal at pagpupunyagi. buhay man o patay babalik at babalik pa rin sa ating bayang kinamulatan, tayo pa rin sa dakong huli ang muling magtatagpo at tiyak na pagtatagpuin...


kudos to all the filipinos in singapore may it be the new, the old and the present.. 

lenie and her resiliency..

lenie is a distant relative of mine. she is an ordinary girl with dreams of having a better life and eventually sharing the blessings she would achieve with her family.

it is in her deepest wanting to work abroad, maybe with the inspiration from her sister, who is an overseas filipino worker in hongkong, she is focused on ways to work abroad.

in her quest for greener pasture she became a victim. a victim of scam, specifically an illegal recruitment. it was once featured in "failon ngayon" an abs-cbn news and public affairs program regarding an agency who is enticing filipinos to work in london through a student visa. flowery words and eye-popping promises convinced her to sign on and try her luck. it costed her about 200 to 300 thousand of pesos of money paid directly to the agency. but after years of wait there was no sign of achieving her dreams of going to the united kingdom.

mas pinalala pa ang pag-alala nya ng isa isa nang magreklamo ang kanyang mga kasamahan na nag-aaply sa agency, mas lumiit ang pag-asa nya na matupad ang kanyang pangingibang bansa.

she was not one of those who complained to the agency, she just let them complained and she just observed, may niluluto pala siyang ibang plano....

she decided to go and try her luck in singapore. with her less work experience she is eager to find any job that will give her the opportunity to work. while her allowed stay in singapore is getting less she opted to try another employment agency based in singapore referred by a filipino and the agency itself is administered by filipinos. she paid another 2000 singapore dollars to the agency and she was given a job as a server in an indian restaurant.

after months of work, the establishment she is working was closed as ordered by the IRAS ( inland revenue authority of singapore), the employer is not paying sufficient taxes to the government.

lenie was jobless again. with her continued resilience to find another job, her efforts was outnumbered by her legal stay in singapore, she need to exit singapore or go back to the philippines.

she went back to the philippines and recharge herself with the motivation she needed in which she can only take from her family.

upon her request i secured him an invitation letter issued by the philippine embassy to those who are wanting to visit singapore, i was able to get her one and paid 42 singapore dollars just for a piece of document. even if they say that it is not a guarantee that they will let you come to singapore, i prompted to her request.

lenie was so scared to enter singapore as a tourist because of the many stories she have heard of being held and deported by the immigration both in the philippines and in singapore, but lenie tried....

february 27 could be the most traumatic and embarassing moment for lenie. dinanas nya ang kanyang kinatatakutan, she was held by the immigration in the philippines. pinatay ng isang ahensya ng gobyerno ang mga pangarap ni lenie...natapatan ba sya o sadyang minalas....

ano na lang ang pakiramdam ng mga magulang ni lenie, ng kanyang mga kamag-anak at kaibigan...sinikil ang kanila ring pangarap...it was supressed by those inconsistent procedures and policies by the philippine immigration, wala kasing kapit si lenie, walang koneksyon...pangarap lang ang mayroon siya.

why does the philippine immigration and philippine embassy of singapore do not have consistency and alignment of policies...sana hindi na lang nagpakahirap kumuha ng invitation letter, na pinilahan at binayaran mo ng walang kulang, na hindi pala kasiguruhan na makakapasok ka sa singapore kahit may invitation letter ka, sana wala na lamang ganoong requirement.

sana ay hindi nauuna sa proseso ang pagbabayad ng travel tax terminal fee kaysa sa kung patutuluyin ka ng immigration o hindi. ang daming nasayang...sayang na pera, sayang na emosyon, sayang na pag-asa sa simula biglang nawalang parang bula....lalo at higit sayang na pangarap...

sa ngayon si lenie ay nasa piling ng kanyang pamilya, siguro ay nag-iipon muli ng lakas, motibasyon at maaaring literal na nag-iipon pambayad sa mga nautang o nag-iipon sa muli niyang pagsubok na abutin ang kanyang mga pangarap...

mabuhay ka lenie....sana ay hindi maubos ang iyong sigasig..( resilience)

i am 30

today, january 29, 2011 i turned 30 years of age and the thought that i have lived half of my lifetime gives me instant fears and shivers. i just pray that god will give me the endurance to breathe thrice more my age now.... i am certain its all in my hands.

i am 30 and my name remains to be the best and first gift i have received from my parents. anu nga ba ang kwento sa likod ng aking pangalan? my full name is aristhotel de leon castro...and no, i am not named after the scientist and philosopher aristotle and yes the spelling of my name is rare. my nanay would always tell me and to other acquaintances that she got my name from a magazine that features the life of aristotle socrates onassis, a millionaire at the age of 25 and a shipping magnate of the 20th century, the second husband of jacqueline kennedy and same with me, he was born on the month of january. but until now i do not know why my mother did not copy the same spelling of onassis' first name. nevertheless, i am happy that there is a magnificent and lucrative story behind my name, a name that i try to make my own story and history at this day and age.

i am 30 and my mental health is consistent and progressing. i am living my life to the fullest, flexible to the increasing and everyday challenges i am into, my sense of humor is making others and myself happy too. but i am only human and sometimes there are anxiety, stress and depression all around me, but the good thing is, i know when and how to cope and recuperate.

i am 30 and my emotions are damaged ( of course it is a joke )...i have been through and into a lot of hullabaloos for the past 3 decades and i have managed to survive and it is safe for me to say that my emotions are pretty normal and nothing special. i cry when my heart is heavy, i laugh when a joke is thrown at me and i admire and feel amazed with the beauty of people, places and things around me. i will be successful someday because i am happy today and not the other way around.

i am 30 and my physical health is decaying at a very low speed. do not be alarmed, i just want to make note few of the bodily changes that have occurred and occurring... my hair is thinning and many have outspokenly told it to my face, the reason why i am thinking to allot and spend on some chinese herbal haircare centers, and also.... its in the genes i guess. my tummy is bulky than it was my younger age and i do not know where to attribute its root cause. nanlalabo na ang aking mga mata lalo na pagsapit ng dilim, i can see clearly things that are near me and it troubles me to see at a far specially small letters and words, i am a nearsighted person. maliban sa mga nabanggit ay wala namang "major major" na pagbabago sa aking pisikal na estado. my nails are regenerating fast that i need to cut it thrice a week, i sweat when there is a need to, a regular bowel movement, and even if i made mentioned of my hair dilemmas it still grows in a natural manner.....a slight cut and bruise heals untreated and generally, i am healthy.

i am 30 and single.... and a virgin.....you think so? hahahaha

i am 30 and my god is one and the same today and 30 years ago. i must admit my service to him is not that very evident at this point in my life. i never get to sing on choirs, never get to be an active lector and never get to be the most active practitioner of different church activities. pero ako ay laging nagdarasal hindi lamang sa oras na kailangan kundi sa oras na dapat magpasalamat. magpasalamat sa mga mumunti at malalaking biyaya at hilahil ng buhay, sa masaganang kalusugan, payapang isip at kalooban at sa hiningang ibinibigay sa bawat pag-gising. there were times that my faith was adulterated, tested and polluted... but i am glad that i have won the battle of doubts and in the end i have always turned and went back to him.

i am 30 and i am starting to see what, how, which, who and where will i be 30 years after.tatlumpung taon after this date i am 60...unti-unti nang nawawala ang aking sigla at liksi, kulubot na ang aking balat at marahil marami na ring iniinda sa katawan subalit ipinagdarasal ko na sana sa pagasapit ng aking edad animnapu ay mas malinaw at matalas pa rin ang aking pag-iisip kaysa sigla ng katawan. i want to return to the academe and teach, and in my own capacity integrate in my lessons my personal lessons and experiences in life. kahit na nga mabagal na ang aking lakad at pinag-uukulan na ng upuan, prayoridad at atensyon sa mga pampublikong serbisyo gusto ko pa ring malinaw ang aking mga binibitiwang salita, pinakikinggan at may kaisahan at kabuluhan ang aking mga kaisipan.

i am 30 and these are my guiding beliefs:

pagmamahal sa sarili,

pagtingin sa magulang,

pagtulong sa kapwa

pananalangin sa oras ng kaginhawahan at kakapusan;

at manatiling may kababaang loob....

just two days ago, i have visited the site www.oprah.com and have seen the video wherein oprah is giving her parting message to audiences after a series of oprah shows in australia and somehow it strucked and affected me so much suddenly and i quote, "if you live your life with the intention to do good, good will come to you and good will come to others...." live your life on purpose, its the only one you have".

i am 30 and i am counting not my age but rather i am counting the blessings all around me, i am counting the people and friends whom i have shared my life with and met all along the journey that i can add some more, i am counting the trials and problems i have gone through that made me the strongest, i am counting the pain that i have felt that made me more human and humane, i am counting the days of my life to come that i can make my precious time worthwhile and fruitful, i am counting the people and instances that have hurt me so that i can be reminded of how to forgive, i am counting my answered prayers and all the unanswered prayers that i can pray the hardest all the time.

i am 30 and i am alive.

i am 30 and i am thankful.