A construction company is where my housemate works. Quite sad to know that:  The Foreman is paid higher than the Engineer. The Foreman is driving a company car and is living in a company-paid accommodation. The Engineer has none of these add-ons, only his salary. Isn’t it weird? Aren’t salary and incentives directly proportional to rank/position?  Oh well.  Oh well.  Normally.

It’s quite sad for me because the sole reason for this is that the Engineer is a Filipino while the Foreman is, well, from another country. No, the Foreman is not more diligent than the Engineer nor does he do a better job. No, he is not a citizen of this country (because I understand that it’s not unusual for citizens of a particular country to get paid higher by their country than the foreigners). He is someone belonging to a group which this country prioritizes (I won’t mention why, except that it’s not for performance reasons).

There seems to be a price tag to every Filipino and it’s usually cheaper than what should have been. Filipinos are usually cheap because the Filipino workforce is flooding. We’re like mass-produced goods. We’re cheap. The only difference is, I don’t think we’re of low quality (brains or performance-wise). I mean, whichever country, it’s a mixture of.

Of course, you may say one could always refuse an offer if he finds it lesser than expected. But then, usually, another equally qualified and competent Filipino comes in and gets the job (told you, we’re flooding). And of course, you don’t know yet when you joined, that someone lower in rank than you are, is earning higher and enjoying a lot of benefits which you will not be enjoying. (Yes, compensations are supposed to be confidential. But, they do not remain hidden here. They are not as confidential as I thought they are. But that’s another story.)

My point here is that, if only we could all get a decent-paying job in our home country, we won’t all be flooding to a certain country, looking cheap and getting paid like mass-produced items.  Of course, some people would still want to work abroad, but that would be their choice and not a necessity (unlike what I see now).

How we’re treated depends on where we come from.  How we perform (individually) comes a lot later.

We were invited to attend a birthday celebration of a 2-year old kid last night. The food was great, typical Filipino foods which I quite miss.

I can’t forget one child though. He was the playmate of the celebrant. There were only 3 kids in the party including the celebrant herself. I think, one kid was beyond control. He took every toy that caught his eyes and attention. When the other kids were playing something, he also took the toys from them. He didn’t want to share, he just want it all to himself even if he was previously fond with another toy/s. And if said toy was not handed over to him, he would go wild.

The birthday celebrant was so kind to give him everything he would take from her. But the other child tried to test him and perhaps, child as she is too, she did not give in right away . Well, I guess, it’s just fair that she gets to enjoy the toy that she has chosen. The wild child went wild. Then, he got what he wanted.

I hope we will be able to discipline our child well. I just hope. I know it was hard for the parents. I know they might have done their part too but something just went wrong.

I will know how I will score when I’m there. For now, I just have this idea of making my child as proper as I could make him/her.

Discplining kids can be tough and each kid is unique – some are naturally easy, some are not.  That’s why siblings who were disciplined by the same set of parents do not always behave well.

For two consecutive months our salary got delayed.  It used to be on-time because our boss used to make it sure.  He fails with paying suppliers on time but he tries not to do the same to us, his employees.

But recently, things go beyond his control.  We no longer receive our salaries on time.  This month is more delayed than the previous month.  I’m hoping it won’t be next month.

But guess, what’s worse?

Our housemates are not receiving their monthly salary for 4 months already.  Yes, four long months.  And they are with families, depending on them.  They refused to leave their post for fear of not receiving the payment anymore.  They live with card swipes.  Some of them just left and went back to their respective provinces in our home country for they can’t live with it anymore.  They left having their service paid with “thank you” and “inshallah (In God’s grace), when we meet again, we shall pay you.“  God knows when.

Our ex-landlord, who’s working for an International Airport also mentioned that his salary got delayed this month (for the first time in the history of his employment with this company).

These are crystal clear signs.  But we’re (me & hubby) still lucky (Oh, and I’m not going to live with card swipes.  I don’t like to and I don’t have one).  I wonder where we are to go next.

Note: Photo does not belong to me.  It’s taken from this site.

“God,  I’m falling in love with you.”

It feels good the first time a man tells a woman so.  It’s like, he’s helpless, powerless.  He can’t control it.  He’s fallen for you.  He didn’t mean to.  He just did.  He can not do anything about it.  But tell you.

“God, I’m falling in love with you.”

This was how my best friend’s hubby told her of his feelings.  God, she didn’t know what to say.  She is so in love with him too.

Opening…

Do you get regular massages? When I was back in my home country because it’s cheap there and we scheduled the masseuse to come every week.

Do you have an answering machine? No.

What cuss word do you use the most? Shoot (for SHIT)

Are you underweight or overweight? I think over. My OB tells me so.

Can you see your veins? Yes.  Quite clearly.

Favourite…

Soap? Not particular.  We keep changing, depending on which one I would find smelling good every time we shop.

Fruit? Lanzones

Kind of red meat? Beef

Fish? Fillet

Candy bar? Not my type

Have You Ever…

Eaten a whole bag of potato chips? A pack is a bag?  If yes, then, yes.  A lot of times.

Eaten lobster? No.  Expensive.

Climbed a mountain? Yes.  With the Trailmakers.

Been skydiving? No. I can’t handle the thrill.

Been water skiing? No.

Do You…

Wish you could change something about your life? Yes.

Like salt and vinegar chips? Yes.

Eat salsa? Yes.  Love it.

Own a boat? No.

What Is…

A small thing that people let slide but that actually has dire consequences? Letting the time pass for doing a positive thing for there is still a next time but there might be not.

Your most macho trait? I am usually not afraid to fight for what I think is right.

The longest relationship you’ve ever had? With my mom.

Your most embarrassing thoughts? Don’t know.

Your most shameful moment? Many but this one I could remember – leaning on someone while on the escalator, thinking it was Honey

This/That…

Bath/Shower? Shower

Markers/ Crayons? Markers

Pens/ Pencils? Pens

Jelly/ Cream Cheese? Cream Cheese.  A jelly is like a softened rubber to me.

Bagel/ Toast? Bagel

Finish…

My greatest weakness is….crying

I wish I was… happy with my job.

Three things I wouldn’t do for a million dollars are… hurt someone intentionally just for the sake of hurting him, suicide-killing, destroy myself/image

The oddest thing I’ve ever put in my mouth is….Comb, to hold it while my hands are busy holding something more important or doing something else.

Firsts…

Credit card you had? Metrobank Visa Femme

Loan you got was for? I never did loan.

Paycheck was for how much? 3,000PHP (65 USD)

Time you had stitches? Never had.  Never wish.

Time you went to the hospital for something? Can’t remember but I think it was to visit someone close to our family

Lasts…

List everything you ate in the last 24 hours? Egyptian Salad, Fried Fish, White Rice, Oatmeal, Samoon Bread, Apple, Salt & Vinegar Junk Food

Last thing you used a credit card for? Skin Toning Lotion (more than a year ago when I still had the card)

What was your job previous to the one you have now? Software Engineer in Japan

Last thing you celebrated? My anniversary (of arriving) here in the UAE last Jan 21.  We had pizza and a huge fight. Hahaha.

Last time you were at a sports bar? Some 4 years ago with friends.

Note: Questions are taken from Reality In Purple.

http://realityinpurple.wordpress.com/

I hate lazy people, people you would need to keep reminding of your request (which is their task) before they finally do it, people who would keep forgetting that they are actually tasked to do something.  I hate people who do not do their jobs responsibly, people who forget that they are actually in the workplace to work (at least when there are some) and only fool around when their main reason for being there is accomplished.  I hate people who seem ignorant about their existence in the workplace and who think and act as if they are there mainly for fun (work aside).

I hate people who can not accept more than 1 simple task, people who acts as if they are doomed when a very simple task is given and who says – “I’m so busy and so much in tension” when in reality there is only one task to accomplish.  I hate people who do not know how to prioritize, to accept more than one task and to know which is which to be done in which sequence, without forgetting that another task is to be done after one task has been accomplished.

I hate people who do not follow Standard Operating Procedure, people you need to tell every time that whenever a task is done, they do this and then that before they could assume that they have completed the job, otherwise those waiting for it wouldn’t know that it’s actually done.  I hate people you have to keep asking – where is the output of the task, etcetera, etcetera, when they are doing the same task everyday (routine) and the same set of things should be done and you still keep telling them every time.

Oh, please, why do I have to keep asking this from you?  Oh, please, why do I have to keep reminding you as if today is your first day, as if you have done this task first time every time?

I’m sick of these people.  I’m just so sick of them.

It surprised me to know that my country, the Philippines, is the world’s largest rice importer.

What a shame that we are importing rice when we are an agricultural country!  What a shame that we are the world’s largest rice importer!

And this because the Administration refused to fund the irrigation system because it is costly.  Sure, it’s costly at the start but then, in the long run, it is very very economical.  News has it that the Administration earns from the import process, so that’ why.  Aha.  That’s why.

Currently, the lowest price per kilo of rice of Php31 (0.7USD) , at the end of 2010, it can go up to Php39 (0.9 USD).  Who can afford to buy even a kilo of rice but the middle class and the rich?  How many of them are there in my country?  What percentage of the population can afford?

Oh, and they said, they will just distribute funds to those who can not afford.  The local government has records, anyway.  Huh?  Like this will solve the problem!  What a solution!  What a really brilliant solution!  This is making the poor even poorer.

Notes:

(1)  The price per kilo mentioned herewith might not be shockingly expensive compared to that of the other countries, however, the salary of the Filipinos in the Philippines remains low.  There is no balance between the prices of goods and the salary system.
(2)  More details of the  post is found here.

I had a long converstation with my sis via sms.  I just can’t help but be proud of my 3-year old niece.  Two months ago, she turned 3.
At 3, I think she’s quite amazing.

She could now sing the whole Philipine National Anthem Tagalog version (“Lupang Hinirang”) and  I am a Filipino (“Ako Ay Pilipino”) which are sung every morning during the Flag Ceremony.

My sister, being a teacher, wakes up at 4am.  My cutie niece also wakes up at the same time (What a shame, I hate waking up even at 6:45a.m!).  She takes her breakfast when my sister takes her coffee.  She takes a bath when my sister takes hers.  She dresses herself up when my sister does the same.  She takes her bag and goes to school with my sister.

She attends the class (second year high school) my sister is handling.  I was worried that she’d destruct the class but she doesn’t (We’re lucky the school principal allowed her to join the class) .  While the whole class is busy with their business, she is busy with her own books – coloring stuffs and drawing shapes.  When she’s bored inside the classroom, she goes to the computer lab (when there’s no class) and she studies the Encarta Encyclopedia (computer-installed version).  She is particularly interested with animals.  She knows how to click the mouse to navigate to a certain page (to view a bigger picture of an animal, for instance) when she wants to.  It’s amazing but she knows the names of unfamiliar animals as well.

She dances well too and isn’t ashame of the crowd.

Oh, I am so happy and proud.

I had a good night sleep.  Long one.  I thought I’ll have a good day.  But I am silly. Sometimes.

We’re almost late for work (as usual).  I was dressing up.  I was scanning through my blouses. Nothing looked right.  Nothing would fit right.  I grabbed a spaghetti top and thought of putting a blouse on top of it.  Hubby commented about the spaghetti top – my cleavage would be visible and all (He thought I wasn’t gonna wear a blouse on top of it, only a jacket opened in front).  I cried.  I cried because I found him noisy.  Annoying.  I am in the midst of trouble finding the right outfit, we’re almost late for work and I am getting impatient at finding the right outfit because I only have a few and there he was trying to comment on something I know I won’t do.

I went on with the spaghetti top, a blouse and a jacket.

My tears kept running.  I have several thoughts in my mind.  I was exagerrating the situation.

I cried in the elevator.  He apologized.  But I cried still.  Even more.  I explained my tears – self-pitty over not having proper clothes while hubby looks so decent.  Etcetera.  Etcetera.  He apologized in the office and I started crying again.

Silly.  Yes, I am silly.

And in the afternoon, I have seen pictures of the victims of earthquake in Haiti from this blog.  How terrible!  I feel so bad for the victims.  So so bad.

This made me realize even more how silly I really am – while the rest of the world are feeling sorry over a real pain, I am feeling bad over some petty things.   And no, I don’t want to attribute this to being pregnant.  I am just plain silly, at times (with hubby).

Last Thursday, we visited my OB for my monthly checkup.   We were hoping my OB would then have a hint of our angel’s gender.  The ultrasound didn’t show her any hint though.  So, we’ll have to wait a little longer.  More.  I’m thinking it’s a baby girl.

Bad thing is that, I gained 4kg.  I knew I gained a lot of weight because from the not-so-pregnant to look at, hubby said, I turned into someone looking so pregnant.  And I could feel it.  I just didn’t think the gain is that much.  It’s alarming!  My OB said it’s fine though, because I didn’t gain any weight in my previous visits but then she warned me to be careful to gain just a kg or 2/month.   Honestly, I am so dismayed of myself and so alarmed as well.  But, I’ll take it easy.

I have still to take 2 tabs of hemoglobin supplement a day and a tab or calcium.  I hate that I have to drink hemoglobin tabs 2x.  I honestly don’t feel like drinking my vits.  Even before, when I wasn’t yet pregnant, I don’t resort to drinking medicines immediately when I get sick.  I always give myself time to heal.  The vits might be different but I still feel the same way.   Good thing hubby is so keen at reminding me.

We went to Sharjah City Center (shopping mall) after the checkup and a lady from the Ponds Institute called my attention while we’re walking around.  She invited me to join in their Promotion.  I just had to write my name and a few information about the beauty products I’m using and then I’ll draw a special price and be given a Ponds Moisturizer sample.

Hubby asked if a pregnant woman is lucky and the lady said, “Oh, she’s pregnant!”  because she hasn’t seen my belly.  Without waiting for her answer, I picked my price and there, I got lucky.  I got a “Romantic Dinner for 2 at the Hilton Hotel.” Hubby’s so thrilled.