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| www.alltravelspots.com |
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
Golden Harvest in the Philippines
Golden Harvest in the Philippines
Clink on the link to watch the video.
"A cinematic documentary from Chibi Moku about Wing Chun Kung Fu being introduced to the Philippines. Shot over a period of 2 weeks in Manila and Laguna. Featuring Sifu Steve McGowan and Sifu Robert Greene. Also featuring actor Raymond Bagatsing and the rest of the Golden Harvest team. Wing Chun is a Chinese form of martial arts that has quite unique techniques and foundations.
While wing chun can be found all over the world, including the Philippines, it's a creative rarity of forms when passed through it's different lineages."
Clink on the link to watch the video.
"A cinematic documentary from Chibi Moku about Wing Chun Kung Fu being introduced to the Philippines. Shot over a period of 2 weeks in Manila and Laguna. Featuring Sifu Steve McGowan and Sifu Robert Greene. Also featuring actor Raymond Bagatsing and the rest of the Golden Harvest team. Wing Chun is a Chinese form of martial arts that has quite unique techniques and foundations.
While wing chun can be found all over the world, including the Philippines, it's a creative rarity of forms when passed through it's different lineages."
Overseas Filipino... Whatdidyousay?
I remember having a very weird and awkward conversation with a fellow Filipina who was based in Manila. She was in Dubai for a few days to accompany her husband, who was tasked to conduct a workshop for Filipino students in the emirate.
She asked me the usual OFW questions - how long have you been living in Dubai, do you get to go home and see your family, is it hard being away from them, what do you do here. We had a few more minutes to kill, so she decided to ask more questions. How is the business environment here? Is there a demand for software services here? I suppose so, small and medium companies are sprouting every day and they get support from the government. And before I could take a sip of my coffee, she said, "I suppose I could set up a business here. I'm in IT. It's going to be easy running an IT business here." I nodded encouragingly, which I deeply regretted when she blurted out, "But I can't do it. I guess I just really, really love the Philippines." At that point, my tongue froze and my milky coffee seemed to turn into her blood. I was too stunned to respond, so I walked away and didn't give myself a chance to respond. And that is why I have a blog...
"But I can't do it. I guess I just really, really love the Philippines." There is something very, very wrong with that statement. I understand that as newlyweds, she and her husband had already achieved remarkable success at such a young age, and that's great. They had stayed home, paid their taxes, supported the retail and real estate industry, and made a decision to live a conventionally Filipino family life. Awesome.
But there are many other Filipinos who have made different choices and sought success in other places, but never failed to show their love and support for our home country. And they help run the Philippine economy. And the government and global financial authorities have always acknowledged that. Last year the World Bank predicted that in 2012, remittances from overseas Filipinos would hit $24 million. And in recent years, this money has not only been utilized to pay rent, but purchase houses and plots of land and condominium units across the country. Remittances are a huge chunk of our economy, that an official from the National Economic and Development Authority told www.rappler.com that the country couldn't do without remittances from kababayans all over the world. Not yet. Suze Orman even warned OFW families not to be too dependent on remittances, and must learn to earn money on their own, and learn how to save it. (I totally agree with her on that, and I think many families are starting to realize that.)
What I'm getting at is, we help the country despite our physical absence. Consciously, willingly, lovingly. I could have put my money somewhere else, but instead chose to invest in the Philippines. I make sure that I spend at least one holiday there ever year, and do most of my shopping there. I use Milcu instead of Dove. I ditch H&M to spend a whole day in Divisoria. And my best friend Fifi and I make sure that we do our bit to help fellow OFWs. Every single day, I do something great for my country.
Because I love my country. And even though I'm not there 340 days a year, I show my love for it in many, many ways. I've recommended it to many foreigners and actually encouraged some of them to pay it a visit. I'm a walking DOT booth. And with my new job, I will be serving the Filipino community in the UAE.
So Mrs. IT, stop thinking that we are different. It's not always black and white. I'm sure that you also have relatives abroad, and I'm sure you see how excited they are every time they come home or even talk about our country. And if you just broaden your understanding of patriotism, especially against the backdrop of globalization that makes it possible for other countries to utilize their resources for our benefit, you just might get it: We both really, really love the Philippines.
She asked me the usual OFW questions - how long have you been living in Dubai, do you get to go home and see your family, is it hard being away from them, what do you do here. We had a few more minutes to kill, so she decided to ask more questions. How is the business environment here? Is there a demand for software services here? I suppose so, small and medium companies are sprouting every day and they get support from the government. And before I could take a sip of my coffee, she said, "I suppose I could set up a business here. I'm in IT. It's going to be easy running an IT business here." I nodded encouragingly, which I deeply regretted when she blurted out, "But I can't do it. I guess I just really, really love the Philippines." At that point, my tongue froze and my milky coffee seemed to turn into her blood. I was too stunned to respond, so I walked away and didn't give myself a chance to respond. And that is why I have a blog...
"But I can't do it. I guess I just really, really love the Philippines." There is something very, very wrong with that statement. I understand that as newlyweds, she and her husband had already achieved remarkable success at such a young age, and that's great. They had stayed home, paid their taxes, supported the retail and real estate industry, and made a decision to live a conventionally Filipino family life. Awesome.
But there are many other Filipinos who have made different choices and sought success in other places, but never failed to show their love and support for our home country. And they help run the Philippine economy. And the government and global financial authorities have always acknowledged that. Last year the World Bank predicted that in 2012, remittances from overseas Filipinos would hit $24 million. And in recent years, this money has not only been utilized to pay rent, but purchase houses and plots of land and condominium units across the country. Remittances are a huge chunk of our economy, that an official from the National Economic and Development Authority told www.rappler.com that the country couldn't do without remittances from kababayans all over the world. Not yet. Suze Orman even warned OFW families not to be too dependent on remittances, and must learn to earn money on their own, and learn how to save it. (I totally agree with her on that, and I think many families are starting to realize that.)
What I'm getting at is, we help the country despite our physical absence. Consciously, willingly, lovingly. I could have put my money somewhere else, but instead chose to invest in the Philippines. I make sure that I spend at least one holiday there ever year, and do most of my shopping there. I use Milcu instead of Dove. I ditch H&M to spend a whole day in Divisoria. And my best friend Fifi and I make sure that we do our bit to help fellow OFWs. Every single day, I do something great for my country.
Because I love my country. And even though I'm not there 340 days a year, I show my love for it in many, many ways. I've recommended it to many foreigners and actually encouraged some of them to pay it a visit. I'm a walking DOT booth. And with my new job, I will be serving the Filipino community in the UAE.
So Mrs. IT, stop thinking that we are different. It's not always black and white. I'm sure that you also have relatives abroad, and I'm sure you see how excited they are every time they come home or even talk about our country. And if you just broaden your understanding of patriotism, especially against the backdrop of globalization that makes it possible for other countries to utilize their resources for our benefit, you just might get it: We both really, really love the Philippines.
Monday, January 07, 2013
5 Twisted Ways I Motivate Myself to Work Out
1. I always, always keep in mind that nobody would ever love me if I got fat. Not even my family, or fat relatives.
2. I work out - sometimes longer than intended - to avoid anything that resembles a household chore. Shhh.
3. I say to myself that if I don't work out today, I would have to resort to extremely unsafe weight loss methods like diet pills or crash diets or bulimia, resulting in my death.
4. I talk to my 15-year-old self and diss her for being chubbier than her peers. It ups my energy during Zumba or RPM.
5. I imagine that all my friends are losing weight except me, and I'm the fattest at our ladies' night drinks.
2. I work out - sometimes longer than intended - to avoid anything that resembles a household chore. Shhh.
3. I say to myself that if I don't work out today, I would have to resort to extremely unsafe weight loss methods like diet pills or crash diets or bulimia, resulting in my death.
4. I talk to my 15-year-old self and diss her for being chubbier than her peers. It ups my energy during Zumba or RPM.
5. I imagine that all my friends are losing weight except me, and I'm the fattest at our ladies' night drinks.
Sunday, January 06, 2013
Statement tees, money, and me
I remember that day in 2005 when Fifi and I exploded with excitement. We were brainstorming a new business idea - fresh, hip, and promisingly lucrative - STATEMENT T-SHIRTS! It made sense. My best friend and I were, hands down, the wittiest 23 year-old single Filipino ladies in our respective barangays. We had a million obnoxious/funny/rhyming/smart alecky things to say to our friends/strangers/each other/ the world that deserved to be immortalized on mass produced t-shirts. Plus, my mom was in the garments industry and knew a bunch of suppliers and designers. So that was the plan. The next logical step, of course, was to set up a boutique and have rocks stars and indie actors endorse our brand, which didn't have a name yet.
We were so confident that our business was going to be a big hit that we set up a "luncheon meeting" with our smart friend Terri, whose business acumen we trusted, and whose morals were so solid that we were positive there was no way she would steal our money-making idea. So we wasted no time when she showed up at SushiYa in Tomas Morato. Before our miso soup was even served, we told Terri all about our plan. The greatest t-shirt company was being conceived and was to be born in a few months, possibly C-section, given our scary level of enthusiasm.
Terri patiently listened to us, her smile assuring us that we were on the right track and that she was so impressed that she might actually contribute financially to get the ball rolling. And then she dropped the bomb. Actually, it was more of a simple question: "Do you guys have a business plan?"
Fudge, fudge, fudge. Fifi and I couldn't speak for a few seconds, but I'm sure she was asking the same questions in her head as I was: Why do we need one? Why would you take a dump on our dreams? And most importantly, what is a business plan? From that point on, Fifi and I mellowed, and we gradually let our plans fade into the abyss of not knowing how to create a business plan, and start a million-dollar business empire.
So we flew to Dubai after a few months and saved some money. Every time a business idea came to mind, I swept it under my financially illiterate rug and carried on saving more money, that unfortunately just sat in the bank. I was convinced that my zero knowledge of business and finance and everything in between would not take me anywhere beyond a simple bank account. For six years this went on, and it came to a point where I thought I was rich, and didn't have to think of ways to make my money grow or make more by opening a business. I had savings, and that was enough. As simple as ABC. Until a HUGE emergency forced me to empty my savings account and start over. I lost most of it in two days. Fudge, fudge, fudge. Penniless and desperate, I had no choice but to start saving all over again. Cutting corners. Saying no to nights out. Being a complete idiot.
But I had one big asset: I bought a house. I was forced to, due to circumstances that were two painful to recall and write about in detail. Anyway, it was a lovely three-story, three-bedroom abode in a gated community of twenty houses. A quiet and friendly neighborhood. It's a heavy investment, and I am working my butt off to pay for it, but it's proving to be a great one. So I thought, this must appreciate in value faster that other properties. It's in a great location, and we never ever have floods here. And that's how I started to compute for my net worth, and in the process, get inspired to put the money I've been saving - however little, somewhere else. In short, I started to take interest in financial literacy, after years of forcing my brain to go dormant on the topic. It was, as Brad Pitt would say, "inevitable".
So I asked around. I asked people who knew stuff and humbled myself and resigned to the fact that I didn't know everything. I acknowledged that I had no idea how to handle my finances and optimize passive earning. Fast forward to now, I am learning and reading books and looking up useful, up-to-date information on the internet. And I will continue to educate myself and learn about money and how to use it and grow it and make it work to secure my future. Pension? Sure. Mutual funds? Yep. Real estate? Started already. I may not have much in the bank, but with the correct steps and the Philippine peso getting stronger in recent decades, I may have a shot at retiring comfortably and not depending on my grandchildren for anything.
I am on my way to financial freedom and success! Now that's a statement you can definitely print on a shirt.
We were so confident that our business was going to be a big hit that we set up a "luncheon meeting" with our smart friend Terri, whose business acumen we trusted, and whose morals were so solid that we were positive there was no way she would steal our money-making idea. So we wasted no time when she showed up at SushiYa in Tomas Morato. Before our miso soup was even served, we told Terri all about our plan. The greatest t-shirt company was being conceived and was to be born in a few months, possibly C-section, given our scary level of enthusiasm.
Terri patiently listened to us, her smile assuring us that we were on the right track and that she was so impressed that she might actually contribute financially to get the ball rolling. And then she dropped the bomb. Actually, it was more of a simple question: "Do you guys have a business plan?"
Fudge, fudge, fudge. Fifi and I couldn't speak for a few seconds, but I'm sure she was asking the same questions in her head as I was: Why do we need one? Why would you take a dump on our dreams? And most importantly, what is a business plan? From that point on, Fifi and I mellowed, and we gradually let our plans fade into the abyss of not knowing how to create a business plan, and start a million-dollar business empire.
So we flew to Dubai after a few months and saved some money. Every time a business idea came to mind, I swept it under my financially illiterate rug and carried on saving more money, that unfortunately just sat in the bank. I was convinced that my zero knowledge of business and finance and everything in between would not take me anywhere beyond a simple bank account. For six years this went on, and it came to a point where I thought I was rich, and didn't have to think of ways to make my money grow or make more by opening a business. I had savings, and that was enough. As simple as ABC. Until a HUGE emergency forced me to empty my savings account and start over. I lost most of it in two days. Fudge, fudge, fudge. Penniless and desperate, I had no choice but to start saving all over again. Cutting corners. Saying no to nights out. Being a complete idiot.
But I had one big asset: I bought a house. I was forced to, due to circumstances that were two painful to recall and write about in detail. Anyway, it was a lovely three-story, three-bedroom abode in a gated community of twenty houses. A quiet and friendly neighborhood. It's a heavy investment, and I am working my butt off to pay for it, but it's proving to be a great one. So I thought, this must appreciate in value faster that other properties. It's in a great location, and we never ever have floods here. And that's how I started to compute for my net worth, and in the process, get inspired to put the money I've been saving - however little, somewhere else. In short, I started to take interest in financial literacy, after years of forcing my brain to go dormant on the topic. It was, as Brad Pitt would say, "inevitable".
So I asked around. I asked people who knew stuff and humbled myself and resigned to the fact that I didn't know everything. I acknowledged that I had no idea how to handle my finances and optimize passive earning. Fast forward to now, I am learning and reading books and looking up useful, up-to-date information on the internet. And I will continue to educate myself and learn about money and how to use it and grow it and make it work to secure my future. Pension? Sure. Mutual funds? Yep. Real estate? Started already. I may not have much in the bank, but with the correct steps and the Philippine peso getting stronger in recent decades, I may have a shot at retiring comfortably and not depending on my grandchildren for anything.
I am on my way to financial freedom and success! Now that's a statement you can definitely print on a shirt.
Saturday, December 01, 2012
Friday, November 30, 2012
I feel that working on weekends is taking a toll on my social life and everything else I want to do besides work.
Since starting this weekend shift routine, I've never been more eager to visit museums, go to the mall, start sipping on grape at 3 in the afternoon, visit my friends, cook bacon and even iron my clothes. Basically I think of all the things I could be doing if I weren't stuck in an office, even though some of them wouldn't really have interested me if I weren't working on weekends in the first place.
Oh well. You always want what you can't have. And you can't always have what you want. And you always want to want what you have but can't. Okay.
Since starting this weekend shift routine, I've never been more eager to visit museums, go to the mall, start sipping on grape at 3 in the afternoon, visit my friends, cook bacon and even iron my clothes. Basically I think of all the things I could be doing if I weren't stuck in an office, even though some of them wouldn't really have interested me if I weren't working on weekends in the first place.
Oh well. You always want what you can't have. And you can't always have what you want. And you always want to want what you have but can't. Okay.
I woke up to a gray Dubai and I loved it. I wanted to sleep in, but please, please, please forget about what I wanted. I'm now at my desk in the office, blogging about how I don't want to be here.
I should be on the sofa right now, my hair in a messy bun and my body entangled with the blanket, embracing a giant cup of hot chocolate with small heavenly white marshmallows floating on the surface.
Instead I threw on a dress, made the extra effort to cinch a belt around my (shrinking :D) waist, and skipped the shower. Yup. I'm gonna stink the place up with my bed smell.
I should be on the sofa right now, my hair in a messy bun and my body entangled with the blanket, embracing a giant cup of hot chocolate with small heavenly white marshmallows floating on the surface.
Instead I threw on a dress, made the extra effort to cinch a belt around my (shrinking :D) waist, and skipped the shower. Yup. I'm gonna stink the place up with my bed smell.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
5 Reasons I Should Quit Coffee
1. It's keeping me awake 24/7.
2. It makes me extremely jumpy throughout the day.
3. It's wreaking havoc on my daily budget.
4. It's got two of the worst ingredients ever - sugar and dairy. (I only drink latte.)
5. It makes me look super pretentious and corporate and all that shiz. (Except when I get my fix from McDonald's).
2. It makes me extremely jumpy throughout the day.
3. It's wreaking havoc on my daily budget.
4. It's got two of the worst ingredients ever - sugar and dairy. (I only drink latte.)
5. It makes me look super pretentious and corporate and all that shiz. (Except when I get my fix from McDonald's).
Monday, November 26, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Thursday, November 08, 2012
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
I want this Tadashi Shoji paillette embroidered lace v-neck cocktail dress. Now!
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| www.tadashishoji.com |
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| www.tadashishoji.com |
Cleanliness is next to insanity.
That's what it seems to me.
I had half a week to do something great while home alone, and I chose to do some redecorating, with the help of my friend Dardar, a superfudgingawesome interior designer.
And with the front room's new found coziness and functionality, I decided to clean the entire place, save for the balcony, which is still covered by a gross blanket of desert dust.
But the rest of the apartment? Spotless.
I dusted the shelves and cupboards and tables and wiped the sinks and counter to a shiny kind of clean.
I picked my hairballs off the muddy floor before sweeping and mopping it until it was a gleaming light beige color again.
I had to tiptoe around the house to admire my work without ruining it.
And then I put away all the washed dishes, washed some clothes.
Folded some shirts.
Organized my closet by buying a hanging shoe pockets and a bunch of bleached teeth-white hangers.
Gave the mirrors a good wipe.
Cleaned the toilet, the tub, the door handles, the soap dishes.
Got rid of rotting stuff in the fridge.
Slapped the throw pillows to a perfect fluff.
Watered the plants.
Took out the garbage.
Cleaned the garbage bin.
Everyday for three straight days I would go crazy doing a couple of chores, and before I knew it, it was half past three in the morning.
Cleaning the place and seeing to it that it remained clean drove me nuts.
I ate like a member of the royal family. I carefully sipped my tea and put whole spoonfuls of food in my mouth to avoid any spillage.
It was driving me nuts and it had to stop!!!
When LBT arrives tonight, I will stop. And I'm guessing it'll take quite a while before I go on a psycho scrubbin' and sweepin' and huffin' and puffin' spree again.
I had half a week to do something great while home alone, and I chose to do some redecorating, with the help of my friend Dardar, a superfudgingawesome interior designer.
And with the front room's new found coziness and functionality, I decided to clean the entire place, save for the balcony, which is still covered by a gross blanket of desert dust.
But the rest of the apartment? Spotless.
I dusted the shelves and cupboards and tables and wiped the sinks and counter to a shiny kind of clean.
I picked my hairballs off the muddy floor before sweeping and mopping it until it was a gleaming light beige color again.
I had to tiptoe around the house to admire my work without ruining it.
And then I put away all the washed dishes, washed some clothes.
Folded some shirts.
Organized my closet by buying a hanging shoe pockets and a bunch of bleached teeth-white hangers.
Gave the mirrors a good wipe.
Cleaned the toilet, the tub, the door handles, the soap dishes.
Got rid of rotting stuff in the fridge.
Slapped the throw pillows to a perfect fluff.
Watered the plants.
Took out the garbage.
Cleaned the garbage bin.
Everyday for three straight days I would go crazy doing a couple of chores, and before I knew it, it was half past three in the morning.
Cleaning the place and seeing to it that it remained clean drove me nuts.
I ate like a member of the royal family. I carefully sipped my tea and put whole spoonfuls of food in my mouth to avoid any spillage.
It was driving me nuts and it had to stop!!!
When LBT arrives tonight, I will stop. And I'm guessing it'll take quite a while before I go on a psycho scrubbin' and sweepin' and huffin' and puffin' spree again.
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
Robyn - Dancing On My Own
Between waking up and hopping in the shower this morning, I spent a whole hour dancing to this song.
YouTube doesn't have a repeat function, so when the song finished, I just ran to my computer and pressed the replay button. Again. And again and again.
I would've carried on, but I had work.
Will do it again tonight.
Love Robyn!
Rudimental's "Not Giving In" was shot in the slums of Manila
It's so nice to know that London-based Rudimental shot one of his music videos in Manila.
According to his website, the whole concept was inspired by the life of friend, a Filipino B-boy who moved to London after being homeless at the age of eight.
Pretty incredible story. And the music's not bad too.
Got the info on www.spot.ph.
Here's a link to the website, and the vid:
http://www.onepointfour.co/2012/10/19/flip-out/
Monday, November 05, 2012
Girls Season 1 (HBO)
In my early 20s, I remember thinking to myself many many times a day:
Who the fudge has this life? I'm a college graduate, I'm really nice to everyone and I smell okay, but I'm still stuck in a sucky job, I have no money to support my smoking habit, a very, very cheap vice - which gives you an idea of how poor I was - and I seem to have done something wrong to a guy in my past life because I'm feeling the karma and I'm sure the gods of love and romance and serendipitous encounters put a curse on me so that I may remain miserable in the dating department for. ev. er.
Also, I remember deciding in my head that I was Carrie in Sex and the City, while drinking wine I stole from my landlord's stash. Because like me, Carrie was unhappy and she turned every single thing into a dramafest.
I got it all wrong. Life is no SATC, because I didn't wear stilettos to coffee with friends or get a pap smear or get wined and dined by a handsome businessy type jerk during that period in my life. There was none of that glitz and glamor that came with being a conflicted, frustrated, sad woman.
Where was Hannah and this super awesome series that seem to tell the story of every forgotten young woman who has nothing to show for but has a lot to offer the world? The world doesn't care about them. High school and college stories of struggling to pass exams and getting caught making out with a stranger by mom and dad are told all the time. So do tales of the tough chick who wears high heels to work and can afford 5 skinny lattes a day and can easily buy a Hermes bag without sweating or looking like she worked hard for it. But Hannah? Me in 2006? Not a single sign of support from the universe.
Sure, there's that occasional story of the 20-something shopaholic who's addicted to designer brands and klutzes out every other minute, but there's usually a twist. She either lands a great job as an fashion writer by writing a stupid article about how women are like expensive shoes, or meets the man of her dreams who helps her straighten out her life.
But Hannah' story is different. As the plot thickens, reeking realities that were once swept under the rug are exposed to the whole world unapologetically, butt cellulite and all.
Sure, there's that occasional story of the 20-something shopaholic who's addicted to designer brands and klutzes out every other minute, but there's usually a twist. She either lands a great job as an fashion writer by writing a stupid article about how women are like expensive shoes, or meets the man of her dreams who helps her straighten out her life.
But Hannah' story is different. As the plot thickens, reeking realities that were once swept under the rug are exposed to the whole world unapologetically, butt cellulite and all.
That is why my body is shaking with nostalgia and pride from having survived the horror of my early twenties as I watch every episode of Girls Season 1. High five, 23-year-old Zins.
I was Lena Dunham. I'm sure you once were, too.
Back to the show.
Saturday, November 03, 2012
Shreds
A song I wrote twelve years ago in college.
You got away with what is yours
What's mine is still unknown
How can you not know?
You cost me my patience
I've never seen your shadow, never walked through your door
I've never seen you happy or sad
I don't know what you have
But you tear me down to shreds
and I like it
Confetti in your mind, that's what I am
I will shower you with me
Would that be all right?
I don't get tired of you
When you're not aware of me
You gave me too many daydreams
I can't relate to life
I cannot see what is beyond your eyes and hands
But I do know there is a way
So how long will I have to wait?
Because you tear me down to shreds
and I like it
Confetti in your mind, that's what I am
I will shower you with me
Would that be all right?
And if you let me in your dreams tonight
Do I have the right to stay tonight
And never wake you up?
Because it feels so right
Doesn't it feel all right?
Feels all right
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