Happy Holidays!

We celebrated Christmas this year with less fanfare.  We just ate dinner at our favorite place and then went home.  It was also a good time to rest since I wasn’t really feeling better due to flu.  I tried taking a day off the following day (25 Dec.) but ended up bored at home.  I jokingly told Srini and Firas that I’m just giving them excuse so that I can spend Christmas at home. 

I have always been against the extravagant Christmas celebrations.  That’s probably one of the reasons why I prefer to spend Christmas here in the Kingdom of the Sands.  Don’t get me wrong though.  I’m no Uncle Scrooge!  It’s just that I felt that Christmas should be celebrated low key.  The most important thing is to always remember why we’re celebrating the season in the first place.

This New Year will also be the same I guess.  I don’t mind though, as long as I’ll be celebrating it with my friends, the people I care.

A friend asked me what my New Year’s resolution is for 2013. I can’t stop myself from grinning since It’s just so old fashioned to have New Year’s resolution.  Most of us don’t have New Year’s resolution since we’re not so serious about them.  Anyways, after thinking through it, this is my New Year’s resolution:

1. I will lose 20 Kilos.  Regardless, I have to return to my normal weight.

2. I will eat healthy.  I promise not to binged eat anymore.

3. I will jog daily.  I stopped jogging for 2 years so look at what happened.

4. I will find my match. It has been years since I last fell in love.

5.  I will pass my SPHR / PHR certification exam.

6.  I will entertain job offers from other companies. I will not restrict myself from my current company.

7.  I will still give my family tough love.  

8.  Save Money.  I’m good at saving so I’ll save more.

Miss Universe 2012 Results: RIGGED

Janine Tugonon, 23, Philippines

It took me awhile to blog on how I feel after being disappointed by the results of the recently concluded Miss Universe 2012.  It would have been easier to accept defeat if Janine Tugonon, our nations representative made a blunder during the interview competition.  However, no matter how many times I watched it on YouTube, her execution was just flawless.  She should have been crowned that night.

My own ranking of the winners would be: Philippines (Miss Universe), Australia (1^st Runner up), USA (2^nd Runner up), Venezuela (3^rd Runner up) and Brazil (4^th Runner up).  The results of the Miss Universe competition I’m afraid is final.  Olivia Culpo, will go down the history as the most underserving Miss Universe ever. 

To Janine Tugonon, you made us all proud.  To us, you are the 2012 Miss Universe.  

Christmas Carolers in Al Khobar

No matter how good your intentions are, please remember that we’re in Saudi Arabia.  There are rules here that we should obey.  If you don’t want to obey their customs and traditions, better pack your bags, do the country a favor and leave. 

We were waiting for our orders last Friday night at Gusto Restaurant in Al Khobar (besides As Salama Hospital) when suddenly a group of Filipinos entered the restaurant and started singing Christmas songs.  One of their companions, a lady started distributing an envelope asking for donation, allegedly for the medical mission.   I was so shocked at first. It took me awhile to regain my composure.  When I realized what was happening, I went to the cashier attendant and told him that what the kabayans are doing are not good and even he will be in trouble.  I felt the need to go out of the restaurant so I drag D and waited outside.

Outside, I saw their look out, a bardagones (big, fat, tall man) and I shouted at him.  I told him that what they’re doing is not good.  They’re endangering themselves and also other innocent Filipinos.  He was explaining that theirs was a noble cause and that the proceeds of their caroling go to medical mission.  I told him that we’re in Saudi Arabia and caroling is a big no-no.  It’s against the law for goodness sake!  The police will never listen to your reasons no matter how noble it is.

I’m not exaggerating that if they’re caught caroling, they could end up in jail.  What if the Mutaw (Religious Police) were following them?  Everyone will be in trouble including all the Kabayans who happens to be in the Restaurant when they were singing Christmas carols. 

D. remembered that last year, the same people knocked at our door to do the caroling.  I think they’re doing it for the sake of their pockets and not really for medical missions.  It’s just so obvious that they just want money from unsuspecting people.  If we’re in the Philippines, they can do all the caroling they want.  But we’re in Saudi Arabia for goodness sake!  If they can’t live with it, they better pack their bags and leave before the Mutawa could actually catch them.

I just couldn’t get these people!  I called up the POLO – Eastern Province and reported the incident. They said that the Ambassador has already issued a guideline on that. POLO – Eastern Province has also received several reports regarding carolers but says that they just couldn’t do anything about it if people would not follow the guideline.  The worst thing that could happen to them is being jailed.  

Early Christmas Gifts

Last Monday, 10 December 2012, I was invited to OKI trade show in Movenpick Hotel with some of my colleagues.  I was told that there will be presentation, gifts and dinner.  Since I don’t have evening classes on Mondays, I confirmed my participation to the trade show.  The trade show started rather late (30 minutes behind schedule).

It was pretty exciting presentation since it gave me idea on which machines to choose and its advantage and disadvantage.  I also learned from there that the product is called Oki because it was named after the founder Kibataro Oki.  The misconception is that we pronounced it OKI (Oh-Key-Ai) because we thought that it’s an abbreviation of something.  I’ve also learned that Oki is pioneer in the LED technology.

The most exciting part of the trade show was when they were drawing prices for their raffle.  They’ve given several machines and I was so happy because number 8, the number that was given to me was drawn.  I won OKI C110 A4 Color Printer.  I don’t know what I should do with it yet but nevertheless, I’m happy and thankful with my winning.

---oo0oo---

The following day, Abdul Jalal of InterContinental Hotel invited me again, with some of my colleagues to attend their ‘Bookers Club Party’.  It’s a thanksgiving party given to their clients.  It was 11 December 2012 which happens to be a Tuesday so I told him I couldn’t come. When I was about to leave the office in the evening, Wency from Arab Open University (Morgan International) called me and said that our class is cancelled.  That means I have the opportunity to attend the party at the InterContinental.

The party was held at the rooftop of InterContinental Hotel.  There was a sandstorm at that time so we were uncomfortable at first.  It was a cocktail party and it was so amazing.  They served international cuisine, petit pour, sushi, Indian curry and BBQ.  The highlight of the night was when my name was called and I won dinner for 2 at the InterContinental Hotel Al Khobar.

Thank you, God for giving me all these blessings.  I planned to invite my boss for the dinner.  I owe it to him I think.