Is this a good way start the year?

There were numerous rumors regarding our insurance coverage for 2013 but there were just murmurs until everyone received the policy.  It was sent yesterday morning and yes, it was a bomb and it blasted.  Words were spread like wildfire, calls were made and exchanges of opinions took placed.  Oming of Strategy thought of drafting a petition which were sent all over the company.  Everyone signed except for those who wanted to protect their relationship with their direct superior who approved the insurance proposal for 2013.

In the new insurance coverage, employees have to subsidize 20%.  Gone are the days when we enjoyed full coverage.  This is the first time that our company made this decision and people were all surprised.  The sad thing is, not all employees in our company are well paid and can afford in subsidizing the insurance coverage.  The new insurance scheme came out as ‘COLD’ and ‘UNFEELING’ on the part of those who made the decision.  I know that cost were the main consideration why they came up with that decision. 

As an HR Professional, I believe that HR should have been consulted before the scheme was approved since their decision will affect the employees.  Consultations should have been made especially on the effects of their decision.  The decision to close down an insurance deal should never been delegated to people who counts NUMBERS and MONEY because we’re dealing with people.  People have feelings and emotions, NUMBERS and MONEY have none.  However, if that’s the decision of the decision maker, I will bow to their decision.

As an employee however, I think I have the right to know how they came up with the decision.  So, like the rest of the employees, I signed the petition.  Is this a good way to start the year?

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.  

Stable income for artists still a challenge

Growing up in a family of painters, Dorby Alcoseba saw firsthand the struggling life of an artist.

Though his heart is on art, Alcoseba pursued a college degree in computer engineering hoping to have a more stable life. After two years of working in an office job, his love for the art haunted him back.

“The life of an artist is a struggling one. But it’s what I really want. What’s important is to go where your heart is,” Alcoseba, a fulltime painter, said in Cebuano.

The artist is one of the guests in the February 11 episode of Pagtuki, the official radio program of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), which is aired at DYLA, every Saturday from 10-11 a.m.

The February 11 episode talks about the "life of an artist", as a celebration for the National Arts month in February.

Having a father and an uncle who are painters, Alcoseba is no stranger to canvass and watercolors. He knew then that painting was his calling, just like his father.

For July Carmel, a degree holder in mass communication, she chose to work as a fulltime dancer in a dance group rather than pursue a career in communication.

Though the pay is not as high as a regular job, she said that what is important is she is happy with what she is doing. Carmel was a scholar for being a member of the university's dance and theater group.

“Performing, dancing...these are my passions,” she said.

Dennis “Sio” Montera, vice president for visual arts of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, said that a stable income is one of the greatest challenges of an artist.

"Being an artist is a lifetime commitment. It has no boundaries, no limits, and no bosses. But it is not a regular job. Financially, it’s a challenge. Artists need to learn how to be flexible because we all have bills to pay. Despite that challenge, you might wonder why artists are happy... because we are happy with our time and in what we do,” Montera said in Cebuano.

He advised starting artists across different fields to not give up and to pursue their passion for the arts, despite the struggles.

Montera expressed his hopes that the government will initiate programs to further develop and preserve Philippine arts.

“Art should be given importance because this reflects us as a race,” he pointed out.

----- END OF PRESS RELEASE ----

HAIDEE EMMIE K. PALAPAR

Communications Officer
Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
Tel. no. (63 32) 418 7234 loc. 504
Email: Haidee.Emmie.Palapar@rafi.org.ph

Contractual Relationships

The first time I’ve come across the so called ‘Contractual Relationship’ was when I was still younger and doing part time job in a major fast food chain the Philippines.  They called it contractual since the relationship between the couple starts and ends with their 5 months contract.  I’m not generalizing but there are couples who ended up together forever, as in, getting married and starting their own families.

In the Kingdom of the Sands, having  a contractual relationships are very common.  People entered into relationships and end it when one of them decides to exit for good.  Like the rest there are exceptions  like there are couples who last longer than expected.  But most of the couples in the Kingdom of the Sands are fake couples posing as real married couples.  Some of my coworker from my previous workplace are involved in this kind of relationships.  Some of them go to the extent of getting fake marriage licenses just so the Mutawa “Religious Police” would not catch them for immorality.  In the Kingdom of the Sands, it is forbidden for men and women to go out in public together.  If caught, you’ll be subjected to severe punishment like imprisonment and eventualy deportation.  Some are into live in arrangements and even go to family events together.  I know of another case where both of the couple have their own family back home, yet they decided to start a family here.  I wonder what arrangement they’ll make once their children grows up or if they’re availing their annual vacation.

I don’t want to judge people but I see how my friend, an engineer, lived a kahabag habag existence.  Like, he’s an engineer but he constantly runs out of money.  Who wouldn’t when he’s supporting two families, one in the Philippines and another one here. 

… and the reason for all these, loneliness which I don’t buy.  Most of us OFWs by the way left our country for the purpose of giving better life for our families.  Betraying our love ones by entering into a relationship with another person, because we’re lonely, is not acceptable.  It destroys the real purpose and the reason why we left in the first place.  I think another reason for the betrayal is the macho image of the Filipino male species.  We don’t mind this kind of relationships because it’s cool.  That’s the reason why illicit affairs like these are tolerated here.

I also think that being away from your family you gained the freedom that you don’t avail back home.  If you’re lucky in the Kingdom of the Sands, you’ll end up in a place where nobody really knows you or recognize you.  No former classmates, no friends, no neighbors which means, walang mga mata ni Angelita.  The freedom of being unnoticed is dangerous because it will make you try things.  In the case of Filipinos in the Kingdom of the Sands, it’s having an affair and being engage into a contractual relationships.

Mo Twisted, the Kiss and Tell.

Mo Twister in a Video

In the Filipino culture, kiss and tell guys are frowned upon. It’s just not acceptable to tell people what you and your girlfriend did in private. For us, it’s between you and your girl and people should never be told about it. It leaves a bad impression to the guy and sometimes people can be unforgiving.

Mo Twister’s video recently exploded in the social networking sites. In the video he was whispering and confessing that his ex-girlfriend Rhian Ramos aborted her pregnancy. Prior to that revelation, he was tweeting that there’s going to be a very big explosion. The problem with the ex-couple started after a bitter breakup. According to Mo, Rhian was forced to do an abortion to protect her career. He blamed the Rhian’s mother and her home network for the abortion.

My intial reaction to the brouhaha was, “Okay, sino ang mga starlet na ito?” I was never a fan of Mo Twisted because I find him too tsismoso for a guy. Neither am I a fan of Rhian Ramos since I don’t normally watch Filipino TV. That includes ABiaS CBN and GMA Network. Besides, according to the grapevine, Rhian Ramos has no talent. She was just casted in GMA shows because she happens to be the niece of Ida Henares, GMA Artist Center’s big honcho. So, a scandal between the couple did not even elicit any curiosity to me until Mo’s video came out.

What was Mo Twisted trying to prove when he exposed that video? Is he trying to be moral and that he was against abortion? If he’s trying to be moral, they shouldn’t have committed pre-marital sex in the first place. If they did not have sex, they wouldn’t have conceived that fetus that Rhian eventually decided to abort. I think Mo’s primary purpose in leaking the video is to embarrass Rhian Ramos, ruin her career and made her pay for breaking his heart. What he did was so typical of a kiss and tell guy.

What happened between Mo Twisted and Rhian Ramos is not shocking or earth shattering. It happens everywhere and every time in our country, considered as the only Christian nation in Asia. The only thing is, when pregnancy is aborted, the couple wouldn’t say a thing. Of course, they’re afraid of the backlash from holier than thou people in their workplace and respective families.

That’s the reason why I am for the RH bill. People should not be afraid to explore sex because it’s part of being human. People should have a well informed choice so that they will not suffer the consequences. If Mo Twisted and Rhian Ramos used contraceptive when they had sex, they wouldn’t have been confronted with the bigger problem, abortion.

To end, what Mo Twisted (because of his twisted head) did was tasteless and he should be sued for libel. Nobody woman deserved that kind of humiliation. He should have accorded Rhian with the respect he gave to his mother.

Chinese Execution

I know that as Christians we should respect the right to life but we also have rules and laws here on earth that we should follow. In some countries, committing heinous crimes could mean death penalty. Our country has banned the death penalty with finality and there’s no chance that it’s going to be reinstated soon. The Catholic Church is so powerful that it can even dictate politicians on which laws they should pass all in the name that we’re a Christian country. Ironically, we are a Christian nation but we have the worst criminal rate statistics in the world. I think that’s because of the restrictions in our law, particularly on death penalty.

Speaking of death penalty, a Pinoy drug courier who was caught smuggling on 2008 bringing 1.5 kilograms of heroin, is schedules to be executed. Our Foreign Affairs Ministry sent several appeals to the Chinese government to halt the execution. VP Binay even wanted to personally appeal but his pleas were rejected because the Chinese Supreme court has ruled with finality.

This kind of situation has always bothered me every time there’s a Filipino executed abroad. I don’t intend to be rude to the Pinoy who claims to be a victim of the situation. On a general note, though. If a drug courier is caught in our country, chances are, he’s going to be jailed and will be faced with the maximum penalty prescribed in our laws. What is the difference then if a Filipino is caught carrying drugs outside the country? He’s supposed to face the law right? Why is it then that our government officials would go out of their way to help the alleged drug carrier? If the person committed a wrongdoing he should pay for it. The reasons why he did it should not even be dignified. Some would say that they just do it because of poverty.

Poverty should never be used as an excuse to commit crimes. I hailed from the province and have seen what poverty is but poor people in my community lived a decent and dignified life. They do not resort to illegal activities just to feed their families. I could be wrong though; there are poor people in the urban areas who completely forgot propriety because of poverty.

So going back to the execution of a Pinoy drug courier in China, our government should not intervene. There is nothing that they could do because the Chinese Supreme Court has ruled with finality the execution. The only thing that we should do is to help the family repatriate his remains.

Victory for the Farmers

The victory of the farmers toiling the lands of Hacienda Luisita is a bitter pill for President Abnoy to swallow. It is a bitter pill because regardless if he already gave up his shares on the Hacienda, it’s his family’s land holding. They (Conjuanco’s and Aquinos) practically held it despite efforts from previous administration to distribute it. It’s going to very painful for their family.

And since Aquino’s family is in pain, just expect more vilification and demonizing of the high court coming from Abnoy’s yellow mobs. They accused the Justices who were appointed by the then PGMA as biased towards her. If that’s their gauge, then, we can also apply that those appointed by Abnoy is also biased towards him. Now we’re hearing senators calling for the SC Chief Justice to step down. For a vindictive Administration, we should brace ourselves for more mud sliding.

Look at what they did to Gloria. Di nga ba, hindi niya nga mapatawad si Gloria? I wonder what PGMA do to him to deserve humiliation. They should at least give her the proper treatment befitting a former head of state. But Abnoy’s vindictiveness has no sense so he can’t feel.

Despite denying that he no other intention and no interest in Hacienda Luisita, President Abnoy declared that the Hacienda Luisita owners deserved just compensation. Okay, it’s given that they should receive just compensation. The big question is how much? Will the Department of Agrarian Reform offer a fair price to the farmers? Take note that DAR is an agency under the Executive Department. DAR secretary reports directly to President Abnoy. He can bloat the price if he wants just so his family could get the just compensation that he’s asking.

A left leaning organization says that 1 Peso for the Hacienda land owners is a just compensation. I don’t normally agree with the left leaning people but this time, I agreed with their assessment. 1 Peso is a just compensation considering that the land holdings were procured using government resources. The initial agreement was that the lands should be distributed to farmers and tenants 10 years after the acquisition. Years had passed and the Conjuanco’s and the Aquino’s grew richer but they never complied with the agreement. Not even during the time of the first Aquino presidency whose principal program is land reform. Given that they did not comply with the agreement, I think 1 Peso is a just compensation for them.

Hike on Saudi Arabian Housing Rate

It was reported weeks ago that the Shoura Council, the legislative body of the Kingdom of the Sands, is thinking of revising its Housing Allowance policy for the State sector workers. Surprisingly, not all government sector workers are given Housing Allowance, unlike most of workers in the private sector. Some of those who are not given are the unmarried women.

This is where the problem starts. The Real Estate sector in the Kingdom of the Sands is thinking of increasing the rents should this proposal be approved. They don’t seem to care that the increase will only be for the government workers and not the private sector workers. The same situation happened in 2008 when both the Saudi government gave away 20% inflationary increase in salaries for the government sector workers. The prices of the basic commodities and the house rent increased drastically that the Private sector was forced to give away 20% inflationary increase in the salaries for the private sector workers. I hope that when that happens, the private sector will be perceptive enough and do more. It wouldn’t be good for an average white collar employee to subsidize his house rent. It would definitely cut down his earnings. If that happens, there’s no point in working away from home, especially if the white collar worker is a South East Asian Expat, considered as, Third Country National (TCN).

If you’re an average white collar employee who’s only expecting a 5% increase in your salary at the beginning of the year, you’ll be subsidizing your house rental. In reality, the 5% increase in salary is not really an increase but an inflationary increase because although you’ve gained 5%, the commodities also increased.

I believe that regardless if the proposal of the Shoura Council is approved or not, the Real Estate sector has already made up its mind. In the case of my apartment, for the 3 years that I’ve stayed there, I have never encountered any water shortage, never. Recently, and strangely, we’ve encountered several water cut-offs. The Real Estate office could not explain it and when asked about it, they’ll be in a defensive mode. D, a friend of mine who also lives in the same apartment building that I stay in, said that it’s their way of forcing us to move out so that they can increase the rent. If you can’t bear the pressure of having no water, you’ll leave, they win. Mark, a friend who works for Abdulla Fouad Holding Company couldn’t bear the water shortage any longer that he decided to move out last Wednesday. I think I’ll also follow him at the month’s end.

Flores de Mayo memories

When I was a child, my Aunt whose husband works for the then PC-INP at the Camp Delgado in Iloilo City would often bring us to the Flores de Mayo organized by the spouses of the PC-INP personnel. As a child, you don’t attend a Flores de Mayo because you feel like going but because you don’t have a choice. Adults often impose their beliefs on their children or extended family members. I could not forget the agonizing wait for the novena to be over. I could not also forget the torture of kneeling until the novena is over.

The only fond memory that I can think of during the Flores de Mayo is the food that the PC-INP Spouses prepares and that’s it. I however, regretted being unable to go with my family to SM Delgado. My family don’t dictate us whether we want to participate in Flores de Mayo or not. For my parents, there’s no issue if you go or not. They also have the same opinion on going to the Church on Sundays. Don’t get me wrong but my mother’s active in the church.

The point in writing this entry is that sometimes, adults imposing their beliefs to their children or extended family could be an abuse issue. I would never force my child, nephews or nieces on the things or activities that they don’t like. The abuse would be from the context that you force the child to kneel which is by the way, very painful if you do it on an extended period. You could also be abusing the child because of the boredom that you subjected him / her into. Leaving the child without the choice is also a form of abuse.

I’ve watched the movie Matilda and the old man would often say:

“I’m big, you’re small”.

“I’m smart, you’re dumb”.

“And there’s nothing you can do about it”.

Forcing children to do the stuff that they don’t like is bullying and therefore a child abuse.