Profession Change

Finally, the profession in my Iqama (work permit) was changed to Marketing Specialist.  Since Marketing Specialist is a professional title, I can now have a visa on arrival to the GCC member countries.  I don’t travel that often.  In fact, the last time I was in Bahrain was 4 years ago on a holiday.  I have been to Dubai and Qatar but only on transit. 

The normal practice of companies here in the Kingdom of the Sands even to these days, is to recruit professionals but deploy them on a labor visa.  I never encountered problems before with the visa that I was using (welder), because I don’t travel.   My sponsor at that time too is a steel manufacturing facility so having a welder visa is no problem.  In fact, having a welder visa will spare you from being harassed by the authorities, if you know what I mean.

The Nitaqat system changed all that.  Although I don’t personally have problem with my visa, my sponsor, the steel manufacturing facility is working hard to increase their Saudization rate.  Hence, they really have to get rid of me in their system.  So, before I left for my annual vacation, they made sure to change my profession from welder to Marketing Specialist.  When I reported back to work, I was transferred from my old sponsor, the steel manufacturing facility to the Holding Company.

One of the benefits of having a professional visa is that you’ll be able to bring in your family.  In my case, sadly, I won’t be able to avail of that privilege.  As you know, I’m currently on a bachelor status.

My flat mate told me that we should go to Qatar on the Eid Al Fitr holiday.  I refused his invitation because I just got back from my annual vacation.  I’ve exhausted my resources.  It’ll probably be 4-5 months before I can be liquid again.  Doha’s nice according to a friend who settled there.  He just warned us that it’s an expensive city.  We maybe surprise of the cost of goods.  God willing, I may be able to travel in the future.   

Flooding.. Is not fun in the Philippines

Our politicians’ only interest is how they can pocket government resources.  They only care about how much pork barrel a sitting president can give them.  It’s always about them.  They don’t care if people are displaced or drowned by flooding caused by torrential rains.  They simply lack foresight.  Flooding is not new to us.  We’ve always encountered it but we never learned from it.  The worst thing is, the current Abnoy administration scrapping the anti-flooding project initiated by his predecessor.  If the project was not cancelled, many lives and properties would have been spared.  That’s our government, no foresight at all.

I know that there is no law requiring the sitting president to be in the Ground Zero of the calamity.  However, as the father of the nation, people expect him to be there.  He doesn’t have to hand over relief goods.  He just has to be there to assure his people that their president is with them.  The president was nowhere to be seen despite the rains and impending calamity.  When he showed up, he blamed people, bragged that his administration is better prepared than his predecessor.  It’s just unacceptable.

First and foremost, blaming people who were ravaged by the flooding is the height of being incentive.  It’s not also the forum to boast about oneself.  FPGMAs administration, for all its faults was visible during the times of crisis.  You’ll see FPGMA inspiring her people.  Unfortunately, Abnoy is always the last one to come.  He’s confined in the comforts of Malacanang, playing PSP while people are suffering. 

I’m not saying that people were not entirely to blame with the flooding.  Flooding is an indirect consequence of us abusing our nature, cutting our trees.  We also throw our garbage everywhere and that clogged our drainage.  But we have a government.  We pay our taxes for those people to work their butts off.  Any Juan has the right to demand that their politicians work. 

We’re in a situation where we should mend our ways.  It’s either we mend our ways or die drowning.

I don’t know what to say…

Yesterday, my enrollment to the Fall 2012 SHRM Program / SPHR Live Classes was finalized.  As a requisite to raising a request for payment for the course fee, I’m required to sign a training agreement.  Since I’m the one who prepares for the training agreement, I put 1 year as the service requirement.  My immediate boss, right away signed the training agreement. 

In raising the Request for payment though, I need the signature of the Functional Head or our VP.  He quizzed me why the service agreement was only for one year.  I told him that as far as I know, that’s the standard service agreement to all employees.  He said that’s not acceptable.  It should be 4 years for me.  I told him that it’s too much.  He finally said that three years would do.  I told him it’s still unfair.  He walked out and went to my immediate superior where he was told that two years would be fair.

I really don’t mind signing for two years.  It’s just that why only me?  That’s my usual question if I’m in this kind of situation.  Bakit sila pwede sa akin hindi?  Ano ang pinagkaiba nila sa akin? I just kept my mouth shut since I was looking forward to learning more from the training. 

During the time when I was still reporting to our Functional Head (VP), he never sent me to any training.  He never did. He would support other non-deserving people but not me.  I was supposed to attend to the Psychometric Testing Certification Programs with SHL before in Cairo and Abu Dhabi but I missed all those because of him.  Now that I’m not reporting directly to him, I still feel that he doesn’t want me to learn new skills. 

It’s not really a big issue but I don’t think I can be blamed for thinking this way.  I really thought that like other employees, I deserved to be sent to programs that would help me bring in new skills.  It’s just ironic that I’m an HR Professional, we’re helping employees to identify their Individual Development Programs (IDPs) yet, here’s our boss, trying to block any training opportunities for me.

Anyways, he signed the Request for Payment and that the most important thing.  Once the payment is made, I’ll have to get my materials so I can start with my pre-readings.

I’ll be happy for you

For some, being happy for their ex is easier said than done.  Last week, in passing a Junior Staff for our Luxury Compound in Dhahran, mentioned that he was sad when he saw in facebook his ex-girlfriend’s wedding photo.  The JS respects me a lot and even calls me Manong. I think that’s the reason why he opened up.  I told him the usual questions one asks himself if he’s in that situation, are questions like ‘Ano ayhan kung nangin kami?’ and ‘Basi siguro ako na to ara sa laragway’.

He said that there was regret because what they have was not official.  They were MU. yes.  So, in that sense, I don’t think it’s even proper that they call each other their ‘Xs’.  They were both waiting to make it official.  He left Iloilo, moved to another place and even decided to work abroad.  The girl probably thinks that she’s better off with somebody since JS did not say anything to her.  Girl who loves the boy but can’t confess has to be blamed in our culture.  It’s just not accepted.  But in a way, the boy also has fault for not declaring his love for the girl.

I told JS that having regret is just being human.  It’s natural to feel bad and feel sad.  If he did not feel something when he saw the photos, it means he has not loved her.  I also told him that maybe it wasn’t mean to be.  He’s too young I think to settle down.  He looks like he just graduated from high school for goodness sake!  He’s good looking and witty and I think there’s one girl out there waiting for him.

Can we really be happy for our ex? The answer is, YES.  It will be difficult at first but eventually, you’ll be able to move on.  I had my share of heartaches and yes, they don’t last.  It’s just a matter of saying goodbye and hello.  You’ll get used to it, nakakamanhid din.