Letter to Dad

Dear Dad,

Last 16 March 2012 was your 8^th Death Anniversary.  Wherever you are, I hope you’re okay.  Until now, I still could not believe that you’re gone.  Eight years had gone by too fast.  The more I think about it the more I missed your presence.  There are times that tears would just fall and I know because I missed you.  This year was a challenge for our family.  I think we’re crumbling.  We could not understand mother at all.  She’d changed a lot. 

Inday Bam has to leave because she was fed up.  When you left us, Inday Bam tried her best to fill in your shoes.  She worked hard for the farm and had to face all the problems that you left behind.  It wasn’t easy for her.  She gave up her career and the chance to get married.  She sacrificed herself for our farm and for us her siblings.  She may admit it to you or not but I guess there were regrets in her heart.  I don’t have the heart to stop her.  I’ve stopped her once and I don’t want her to spend her life for others any longer.  I admit that I was once selfish because I forced her to stay.   I don’t want her anymore to spend her life with regrets.

I love Mom but we can’t anymore understand her.  She can only think of her youngest son at the expense of others.  Her preferential treatment to her youngest son has wreaked havoc to the family.  She makes decisions without thinking that it would affect my other siblings.  I’ve been away for too long and I’ve seen the world.  I’ve grown too and I can’t tolerate unjustness.  I won’t abandon her though but my siblings and I have come to a consensus.  We’re giving her tough love.

Dad, I still wish you’re with us (Gosh, I’m teary eyed again).  You’ll know what to do with us.  We really miss your presence (free flowing tears).  There are times that life is tough here but I couldn’t leave.  I have to bear it because believe it or not, I haven’t saved enough.  I’ll still have to provide for mom and for some of my siblings who needed my support.  When times are tough, I could only think of your last words, that you’re worried that I may start from the scratch if I leave my company. 

Dad, you’ll be very proud of me because of my recent promotion.  I’ve worked really hard Dad, to get this promotion.  Thank you for instilling the value of hard work in me while I was growing up.  I hope that I’ve lived up to your expectations.  I promise, I’ll honor this job and I promise more to work harder for the people who believe in me.

It’s been 8 years since you’re gone but the pain is still there.  I’ve realized now that it wouldn’t go, just as long as your memory is in my heart.  Dad, please protect our family and the people who helped and will continue to help us.  I pray that you’re happy wherever you are right now.

Your loving son,

Steps in Changing of Profession – Saudi Arabia

About two weeks ago, our Administration Department issued a circular compelling us all to change our profession.  This is also in response to the Ministry of Labor’s new regulation requiring all companies that their employees should possess the same job title as per their issued iqama.

 

I was at a loss at first because even the people from our Administration Department don’t know the process of they just have difficulty in explaining the requirements.  I’ve asked a lot of people around and I have different reply every time I asked for the requirements.

I decided, out of desperation to ask International Skills Development (ISD), our agent in Manila on the basic requirements of the profession change.  Luckily, I got the reply from Ms. Lorna Calimag. 

Profession change entails a lot of work and they are:

1.    Request a Certified True Copy of your Transcript of Record / Diploma from the University where you graduated.

2.    Submit the Certified True Copy of your Transcript of Record / Diploma to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in the Region where your University is located for Authentication.

3.    Submit the Authenticated Certified True Copy of your Transcript of Records / Diploma that were released from the University and CHED to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for Authentication (Red Ribbon).

4.    Submit to International Skills Development (ISD) the Authenticated Transcript of Records / Diploma from the University, CHED and DFA.  ISD will assist in the Authentication to the Saudi Embassy.

According to ISD, Steps Nos. 1-3 should be done by your relatives.

If you’re based in Saudi Arabia, you have to send an authorization letter to the person who’s going to process your document.  He could be a friend or a relative, stating why you need the document and the person you’re authorizing.  The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) requires a notarized authorization letter so the authorization that you sent through fax or email should be notarized first otherwise they’ll not entertain your request.

From CHED, you will not be able to get the authenticated Transcript of Records / Diploma since they’ll be forwarding the document through a courier (DHL) directly to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).  You’ll only have to pay the amount and give the return address so that your document will be sent back to you.

On CJ Corona

I have so many things to do but so little time.  This is the price that I have to pay for my new role.  But, I have no regrets.  It’s all worth it.  I’ve been very active in the social networking sites particularly on the Groups that support CJ Corona.  The good thing with the social networking sites is that your comments are reflected real time.  Being active in the social networking sites compensate in the absence of new posting for my own blog.  I’m not abandoning my blog though.  I never will. LOL.

I will not discuss the technicalities of the impeachment proceedings.  I’m not a lawyer and I never will be one.  The PORK-secution panel, composed of TONGressmen who were bribed by Malacanang of their pork barrels in order to impeach CJ Corona, has finally rest their case and presentation of evidence.  The impeachment court is now on a 12 day recess to give time for the Defense Panel to prepare for their evidence.  You don’t need to be a lawyer to know that the Porksecutors has no case against the Chief Justice.  Their impeachment complaint was hastily done with the sole purpose of only pressuring the CJ to resign.  They never thought that the CJ would stick to his gun and defend himself in the proper forum.

That explains why the Porksecutors, Malacanang and the Yellow Media are resorting to trial by publicity.  Thinking that Senator-Judges will be swayed and vote to convict CJ Corona.  A couple of Senator Judges mentioned that the Impeachment proceeding is a political process and that their votes will be according to the people’s sentiments.  The large showing of support of the Iglesia ni Cristo on 28 February 2012 bible rally is a political game changer.  INC has publicly withdrawn their support to Dictator Abnoy. They wanted the rule of law respected.  INC, with its political significance can really change the minds of re-electionist Senators to vote for acquittal.

 

I can’t wait for the Defense to present their evidence.  They’ve done well throughout the proceeding.  I’m sure they will not bungle their case just like what the porksecutors did.  Good luck to CJ Corona’s Defense team!  

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.

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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