| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « Oct | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | ||||
While I realize that the admin and social groups are doing an incredible job to make life in the office bearable, they couldn’t possibly match up with the punishing endeavor I have to go through each day.
I’m really pleased with all their efforts though and the frequency of my participations denies any trace of my condemnation. I’ve joined their Wii contest; even witnessing how unethical Singaporeans could be and how badly they cheated in their version of Amazing Race; I went as far as sacrificing my precious Saturday for a short 4-km company fun run; and took part in a water battle game thinking I could get back at my bosses by hitting them hard right on their faces.
Today’s breakfast is courtesy of the company. It’s either an egg-cheese burger or a turkey-cheese burger from Burger King. Yesterday was more comical with one of my bosses even booking for a calendar event. I wanted so much to reply decline, tentatively accept, or propose new time just to make fun of it, but of course, I didn’t. I was by the door, leaving the apartment earlier today when I got a message on my phone. I don’t normally receive messages this early, and frankly, I’m not the SMS-addict sort. No forwarded quotations or pass-this-message-to-50-people-or-else-you-die kinds. I only text when it’s important; someone is expecting my message; or when the day gets pretty unexciting. Anywho, it was from my boss, the one who booked the calendar event for the burger festival, reminding me about the free breakfast for my stomach. How could they brag so much about a burger?? It’s no Queenstown’s Ferburger anyway. Almost looking like a madman, I was oddly laughing by myself as I make my way to the train station.
*
The burger was sent to my desk. It comes with all-you-can-drink coffee or tea, but since I have to get to the common area to fill my cup, where I would probably bump into some of my teammates, hangout for awhile, chat and all things fake, I decided to fix my own mug with my own coffee.
I can hear you loudly saying why do I complain so much instead of just being thankful for the food? You have all the right to say that, ‘appreciate your opinion, and this is just mine.
I’m not really the snobbish type, and I’m not a difficult person either, but rather than giving me bread with the thinnest slice of turkey, I’d appreciate it more if you show me what I’m well worth before I start to believe it’s truly, exactly, just a turkey.
The first quarter of 2011 marked disastrous events for humankind. It started with the 2nd wave of earthquake in Christchurch (February 22, 2011), New Zealand killing at least 160 people, of which 7 individuals were identified as Filipinos, and 4 more Filipinos missing. Buildings and infrastructures crumbled into ashes, the tremor proved to be devastating even the magnificent Christchurch cathedral was not missed. Ironically, the city withstood a stronger quake (in magnitude) 3 months ago, back in November 2010, with only minor damages and zero casualties. New Zealand is lying on the southwest circle of the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Christchurch Cathedral on my LOMOWall
A month later, arguably the richest and most advanced country in Asia (prior to China’s recent surge), Japan fell. An estimated of more than 20,000 individuals are now either dead or missing. The 9.0-magnitude tremor in Sendai is the strongest that hit the country in its earthquake-packed history. The disaster triggered another bigger disaster, a tsunami, and as if nature was not satisfied, it then set off nuclear threats in Fukushima. Now, 13 days has passed, the nuclear hazard is still apparent with increased radiation levels in areas surrounding the nuclear facility, and even reaching Tokyo. Japan, likewise, is on the Pacific Ring of Fire, lying on its northwest arc.
Immediately the week following Japan’s tragedy, earthquakes were reported in Chile, Taiwan, Vanuatu, and the Philippines (all lying on the Ring of Fire), although no significant damages were reported. Media plays an important part, but I’d like to make it a point that we should not be alarmed with what’s going on right now. At least 20 tremors each day are being recorded in the Philippines on the average, but most of these are irrelevant and unfelt. Being prepared for any disaster is much better than whining about how the world is about to end. On the contrary, I reread from the internet about 2012 and the prophecies just for the sake of reading (Hypocrite!).
Going back, the Japanese are known to be meticulous yet calm, advanced but still conservative. When I was working in an orchard picking apples, the fruits are sorted in the pack house based on its color, spots, shape, etc., and the most stringent qualification for the crop goes to Japan. The Japanese eat the prettiest of apples.
Majority of the countries in the rest of the world would probably handle the case not any better than how it is being dealt in Japan. A positive thing, however, is that the international community was quick to aid with more than 90 nations offering some form of assistance. Even Lady Gaga sold some fancy bracelets, and I heard Sandra Bullock donated $1 Million. The same actress donated $1 Million for the Haiti calamity in the year 2010.
As for the Filipinos, the government was reported earlier to offer help by sending the country’s one and only C-130 plane loaded with search and rescue teams. The same cargo plane can then be used to transport back fellow Filipinos for evacuation should the nuclear situation worsen. Something like this is expected from our very prudent bachelor el presidente, who dine hotdogs along New York’s street for lunch instead of parking his ass on a million-peso lunch seat. Of course, this received negative remarks from some officials, commenting that our OFWs are not packages or balikbayan boxes to load in a plane not designed for human transport. Instead, they insisted the government should have enough funds for chartering flights.
The problem with our national administration can be summarized into 3 things. First, there’s just too much disagreement about every topic known to man. Second, there’s too much pride that we embark on things that, obviously, the country is not yet capable of. And above these 2, there is corruption.
I can’t see anything wrong with loading a C-130 with evacuees. If I were to evacuate, I would frankly choose to be boarded on the C-130 just for the heck experience of it. I could ride an A380 or 747 any day, but not a military aircraft. Of course, not everyone is as adventurous as me, but the point is, people should be moved. In times of crises, it doesn’t matter if everyone is seated comfy in business class, champagne with pricked olives in one hand. The important thing is you move people out.
BUT, who the devil got the idea that our rescue teams will be of any use to Japan’s situation? Aren’t we aware that everyone is still fresh from how we demonstrated our prime incompetence, live on national television broadcast, in saving a busload of Hong Kong tourists merely 7 months ago? Right in our own land? How did they surmise we will be any better overseas? In the freezing harsh winter of North Asia? Even Japan was very quick to judge saying that the rescue, if ever, should be self-sufficient. At the moment, the plane is still on hold.
I’m not trying to play the devil’s advocate here, but it’s time we have to be sensible. Enough of that Filipino pride which, all of these years, led us to nowhere. Go back to basics, face the facts, and be humble.
To save its face, the Philippines decided to send bananas (one of its top export products) to Japan, where around 95% of bananas consumed comes from our country. Fortunately, the administration got it right this time. We are not yet ready to place our men in frontline. That is something implicit, but our bananas would be more than helpful, I’m sure.
Afterall, Maghanap ka ng puno sa buong Pilipinas, saging lang..Saging lang ang may puso.
Period Location Age # of Days
07 Jun 1983 - 21 Aug 2005 Philippines 22 8,112
22 Aug 2005 - 08 Oct 2005 Hong Kong, PRC 48
09 Oct 2005 Macau, PRC 1
10 Oct 2005 - 18 Dec 2005 Hong Kong, PRC 70
19 Dec 2005 - 04 Jan 2006 Philippines 17
05 Jan 2006 - 28 Jan 2006 Hong Kong, PRC 24
29 Jan 2006 - 31 Jan 2006 Taipei, TW 3
01 Feb 2006 - 28 Apr 2006 Hong Kong, PRC 87
29 Apr 2006 - 14 May 2006 Philippines 16
15 May 2006 - 31 Aug 2006 Hong Kong, PRC 23 109
01 Sep 2006 - 17 Sep 2006 Philippines 17
18 Sep 2006 - 15 Dec 2006 Hong Kong, PRC 89
16 Dec 2006 - 07 Jan 2007 Philippines 23
08 Jan 2007 - 28 Apr 2007 Hong Kong, PRC 111
29 Apr 2007 - 15 May 2007 Philippines 17
16 May 2007 - 01 Aug 2007 Hong Kong, PRC 24 78
02 Aug 2007 Guangzhou, CN 1
03 Aug 2007 Shenzhen, CN 1
04 Aug 2007 - 20 Sep 2007 Hong Kong, PRC 48
21 Sep 2007 - 16 Jun 2008 Philippines 25 270
17 Jun 2008 - 30 Aug 2008 Minnesota, USA 75
31 Aug 2008 - 07 Sep 2008 Mexico City, MX 8
08 Sep 2008 - 14 Sep 2008 Minnesota, USA 7
15 Sep 2008 - 16 Dec 2008 Philippines 93
17 Dec 2008 Sydney, AU 1
18 Dec 2008 - 14 Sep 2009 New Zealand 26 271
15 Sep 2009 - 25 Dec 2009 Singapore 102
26 Dec 2009 - 27 Dec 2009 Malacca, MY 2
28 Dec 2009 - 12 Feb 2010 Singapore 47
13 Feb 2010 - 15 Feb 2010 Bintan, ID 3
16 Feb 2010 - 04 Jun 2010 Singapore 109
05 Jun 2010 - 08 Jun 2010 Kuala Lumpur, MY 27 4
09 Jun 2010 - 07 Oct 2010 Singapore 121
08 Oct 2010 Rembau, MY 1
09 Oct 2010 - 04 Nov 2010 Singapore 27
05 Nov 2010 - 06 Nov 2010 Desaru, MY 2
07 Nov 2010 - 29 Dec 2010 Singapore 53
30 Dec 2010 - 02 Jan 2011 Langkawi, MY 4
03 Jan 2010 Penang, MY 1
04 Jan 2011 - 01 Feb 2011 Singapore 29
02 Feb 2011 - 09 Feb 2011 Philippines 8
10 Feb 2011 - present Singapore 42
For some reasons I had to take down my whereabouts for the last 3 years, but then I had too much time in my hands I decided to take note where I was from the beginning up to now. I put in bold for the duration that includes my birthday, and I highlighted in red all the periods where I was at home, in the Philippines.
Of the 10,150 days I lived so far, I spent 8,573 days, or 84.46% in the Philippines, and 1,577 days outside, which is 15.54%. Since leaving the country on 22nd of August 2005, I spent 461 days in the Philippines or 22.62% vs 1,577 days abroad, that is 77.38%.
I was back at home earlier this February, and one of the things on my list to do is a prenup shoot of my sister, JM, and her fiance Jake. This is my first attempt taking prenups photos but I hope it turned out alright. Location is just in our town (recently became a city) Binan, and it’s a couple of minutes walk from our home. The swampy area is actually a part of Laguna de Bay, where we spent some occasions playing around the area when we were smaller. 
Flickr set link is here -> http://www.flickr.com/photos/30678116@N00/sets/72157626152145792/ , but they’re actually the same pictures on this page.
