Just recently, my Canadian employer gave me official signal to prepare and start processing my documents for travel. They want me to spend a vacation in Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada, in few months between July and December, this year. Since hopefully this will be my first-time travel experience if my forthcoming visa application gets approved by the Canadian embassy in Manila, I am definitely very excited and I can’t wait to see my employer and his family in person.
Starting this post, I will start writing about my Canadian visa preparations and share with you my stories. Prior to my employer’s official vacation invitation, I have gradually worked for the required documents of the visa application. Last January, I got my Philippine passport (machine-readable edition) from Department of Foreign Affairs (Davao Office) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance for upcoming visa application. These few of many documents required for Canadian visa application.
Tags: Travel Journal
Sometimes, it is hard to become the eldest brother of the family. Culturally it is widely accepted that the big brother or big sister picks up the parent-like responsibilities in the family. In the previous months, I was able to experience them in action. It has been nine months since I graduated from my tertiary school and since I had my first official “graduate job.” I’m very glad though because in that short span of time, I’ve strode very far (compared to most of my college friends) – however, the responsibilities surged in parallel also.
Ever since I started earning, I became very fond of making the shopping list and doing the shopping of groceries and goods for the family in the mall – one of the things I’ve really missed in my childhood. In my teenage years, my family didn’t really do much shopping (except my mother – but not “shopping much”), because of the financial slump that hit our family caused by many factors. Every pay day when I go to Davao, I make it sure to buy canned goods (like tunas, corned beef, hygiene things, etc).
Last month, I bought one sack of rice (when I sensed that my father didn’t have the money to buy). Good thing that I had cash on hand that day. My mother also borrowed a good amount to support our family’s daily expenses. I have two brothers who go to school every day and one of them commutes with a bus to his college more than 20 kilometers away from home.
For myself, I was able to buy a folder bed few months ago – putting my sleep-in-the-floor experience to an end at age 20. It was not classy, but a good one otherwise (but it’s badly damaged now – lol). I was also able to buy a stand fan as well. For ages, we’ve suffered from warm and very humid evenings and days in our living room. At least now, it feels cooler and it is better.
I realized that I’m in the real world now, not anymore in the four corners of the classroom discussing mostly theories. There are responsibilities and decisions I have to take and make in my own many ways, especially for me as the eldest and I am becoming like the “bread and butter” these years. I have no regrets of being one and I accept it with open arms, I just hope I will find happiness on the way.
Hard work pays off, right? I hope it does.
Tags: Struck Through The Heart
Yesterday, I was able to publish a post about my workplace in the day at John Raul dot Com’s main blog. I was really surprised that it gained so many views quite rapidly. I am very much aware about the contrast between the office and home environment. It gave me a reason why I should congratulate myself for enduring those things or difficulties whatsoever for six months. But trust me, it’s all what I’ve got for now.
Well, I usually do multiple tasks (or “multitasking”) when I work. I listen to music or watch movies while write articles, chat with friends sometimes as they pop up to bother me (seriously, they just want to know how I am doing – which is good ‘coz I feel so lonely without them), and finally, eat snacks while working. Just recently, I got green mangoes and shrimp paste. It’s the snack I’ve missed for years – the last time I ate it was when I was still a student. Parents always discourage their children to buy such snacks especially because they are labeled “street foods” – unless you buy them yourself in the market. And so I did! Well, not me. I just asked our house helper to buy some fresh, green mangoes in market at the neighboring city of Panabo (five kilometers from us). I was jumping in rejoice when I saw what she bought.
Raw green mangoes are very sour, which make the salty shrimp paste a perfect condiment. This combination makes anyone who watches to drool – no wonder why mango is our national fruit in the Philippines. I’m taking shrimp paste moderately because it’s seafood – the kind of foods I’m sensitive or allergic (even if I like them).
Overall, I had fun eating those mangoes while working. It’s very munchy. However, the next few days, I realized that I’ve eaten quite too much – I suffered stomach flu and darn it, I was with my friends in the mall when I felt the tremors. Good thing, I survived it! That event won’t stop me eating green mangoes again anyway though. That was just an isolated case!
Tags: Foods
I recently chatted with my distant aunt, Lauri Young, whom I met four years ago when she visited us in Lasang, Davao City, along with my newly-knowned lolas (or grandmothers). My aunt is now a CEO of Getchee, a GIS-related company based on Taiwan serving big clients such as Starbucks, HSBC, L’Oreal, among others. She grew up in Seattle, Washington, USA. Her late mother is a Filipino native and her late father is from Montreal, a Canadian but became a naturalized American citizen.
She gave me nice advices upon hearing that I want to work for Western people, my personal ambitions to live and get a life abroad:
I can speak on Americans when it comes to ‘utang na loob’ or debt of the mind. Overall I don’t think Americans understand not respect the concept.
‘Utang na loob’ has a lot of depth from my point of view. it is something that North Americans (Americans & Canadians) may take for granted. Meaning, that they do not fully understand nor appreciate any hardship that you may be going through in order to respect your obligation.
Sooooo… my suggestion to you is: Do not put a lot of faith in your morals or beliefs when dealing with foreigners - because they will not respect OR understand where you are coming from. Basically, you might break your back to help them - and they will not even notice. - SO DON’T BREAK YOUR BACK!!!
Respect is a concept that is revered in Asia and shunned in Western Countries.
Such as the concept of ‘face.’ North Americans do not get it. really.
I have experienced it first hand.
face as in ‘loss of face’ = respect to ones frame of mind
So, try and have a strong back when you are dealing with foreigners, because they will not see your nobleness as special or sincere - they will just see it as simple
well i think that for Filipinos - it is hard to understand north American ways of doing business because they are more than willing to embarrass you (face) - so it is uncomfortable if you are not used to it.
It is true that money $$$ is important. you should never assume that people just ‘like you.’ Be an economist - always consider how you economically help them - that is why they like you.
Everything can be related to economics.
Well don’t be stressed out - just always look at the world with your ‘eyes wide open’ so that you are never so naive.
The Filipino heart is so sweet and gentle - however the world is rough - so always be awake, ok?
My Personal Standpoint
I appreciate the advices given to me by my Aunt. I knew that her kind words carry an air of truthfulness since she lived and grew up exactly in the culture she described and referred. I strongly believe, though I might be wrong estimating the gap between cultures, that there are always bad eggs anywhere, everywhere I go. I would fall in love to a person who will dare to prove my Aunt’s opinions wrong, despite its obvious reality. And to that person, I am willing to break my back but I won’t kill myself. 
Tags: Notices
Last month, I went to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Office and applied for Philippine passport – a document required for every citizen who intends to travel abroad. It took me three hours there until my name is called and I submitted my identification documents along with the processing fee of 500 pesos (PHP 500). I saw on the receipt the release date and time of my passport which was scheduled January 23, 1PM.
On January 24, I went to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Davao City to claim my passport. I thought I would have a hard time getting my passport since I appeared a day after the scheduled release. Luckily, I was able to get it. The process was smooth and amazingly fast. They showed me documents and let me signed on to it to certify that I have acquired my passport issued by them.
The passport application process took over a month from the usual two weeks time for expedited processing and three weeks time for regular processing. It was because the Department of Foreign Affairs was still adopting the new system brought about by the implementation of machine-readable passports that was launched on November 2007.
Well, now that I have my passport. I am one step ahead, ready to travel abroad. One of my goals is to work and live somewhere together with open-minded people, help my family and to get a life.
Tags: Travel Journal
Maayong adlaw (Good day).
What the heck is this blog?
This blog is a lighter version of John Raul dot Com, perhaps in a different taste. Actually, I am trying to use this as my daily journal and freedom wall. I hope you’ll find this blog more interesting to read.
So, one blog isn’t enough for you?
Yeah, unfortunately. If I can only divide my mind for you then probably you’ll get so many content-filled pieces. Each piece is equivalent to one blog of a specific topic! Yup, my mind is talking and I need you to listen. Reserve your violent reactions please. lol
Tags: Blah Blah Blah
