Earning a living on the streets of Manila

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During a red traffic light on our way home from the family house in Makati, I saw a few girls who are about RJ's age dancing in front of stopped cars. I guess the knocking on car windows to beg for money doesn't work that much anymore? Or maybe they've thought of this new trick for them to be different from all other beggars on the street.

It was a bit dark already. I wonder if the parents know these girls are still on the street, dancing in front of cars to earn a few coins?! I'm sure they won't earn that much, not even enough to buy cheap things from an 88 pesos store (philippine version of a dollar store).

Does DSWD know about this? Since it was night time already, car headlights were already on. The young girls can be seen by everyone because the headlights serve like a spotlight. These girls will get in trouble if they encounter bad people. I hope someone can put a stop to this.

How to Distinguish Real From Fake Philippine Peso Bill

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It’s Christmas season once again. Some people are now taking advantage of this busy “spending” season by distributing fake peso bills.

 

 

Here are the most important things to check whether a peso bill is REAL and not a fake one. This is lifted from the Central Bank of the Philippines’ website.

• Paper should be rough when fingers are run through it.
• Contours of the silhouette of the portrait, on the face of the currency, on relatively new notes can be felt when fingers are run through it.
• Serial number are composed of 1 or 2 prefix letters and 6 or 7 digits and glow under ultra-violet light.

For the complete checklist, visit bsp.gov.ph website and type “Know Your Philippine Currency” on the search box.

News Reporting in the Philippines

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One of the requirement in my son's Social Studies class every quarter is to deliver a news report on what's going on in the country. He's scheduled to share his report, for the last quarter of the school year, in front of the class this coming Thursday.

No school today, because of Chinese New Year celebration, so I asked him to look for a news online that he can share with the class. While he's browsing, I was also checking it out beside him. Depressing. 99.9% of the search results were news that are "not suitable for children". Murder, kidnapping, all kinds of violence are reported every single day.

Are they just too lazy to rack their brains for news that are more worthy to be on print and be shown on tvt? Entrepreneurship for one. Instead of giving ideas to poor people to just commit suicide, or to engage in "monkey business", give them ideas on how they can earn more by putting up a small business that doesn't need much capital.

It's more fun in the Philippines? Based on the news that I read, hear and see everyday - no.

UPLB's Baker Hall

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You're looking at Baker Hall. If you're a student or you've graduated from University of the Philippines at Los Banos, I'm sure you're familiar with this place. This is one of the oldest building in the university and serves as the campus gymnasium.

Baker Hall was named after Charles Fuller Baker. He was the Dean of Agriculture during the pre-war era. The building serves as a Japanese Internment camp during World War II where 2,500 Filipino and American soldiers suffered for 2 years. The prisoners were released on February 23, 1945 when Hunter's ROTC Guerillas (an irregular military unit) seized and finally took control of the Japanese camp.

I was once a student of UPLB. Whenever we visit, my son swims in the pool. Can you spot him in the picture?

i want!

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RJ was so amazed with Kaos. Me too! The story, the singing and especially the acrobats and magical illusions -a must see!

RJ had his picture taken with the white tiger, for 600 pesos, after the show. While waiting for the picture to get printed, which took almost an hour, he asked me if I can buy the lion stuffed toy for him. The big one costs 888 and the small one is 488. Very expensive, so I said no.

But later on, we found out that the toys are on-sale. So yes, the Mama gave in to another "I want" moment!

i almost died today!

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I was hangin' on, literally, for dear life for 30 minutes. My knuckles were so white from gripping the overhead handle bar of the taxi that we're riding on. I dare not gasp everytime the taxi swerves or tries to overtake another vehicle for fear that the driver might drive more recklessly. I was ashen-faced, very dizzy and was trying hard not to vomit on the pavement by the time we reached my sister's house.

foreignassignment

I already notice his reckless driving right from the start of our trip. I even told him that my son is getting dizzy already. He just nods his head and continued driving very fast. Manila taxi drivers doesn't even care for the lives of their passengers. MMDA should replace them with women drivers just like what they're doing with bus drivers.

I hope we don't have this experience during our summer trips. Because no matter how nice the place that we're staying on is, it won't be so nice at all if I get so stressed out.

seminar for household helpers?

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I've been very unlucky with the maids and yaya's that I've hired in the past. Some doesn't want to follow MY rules in the house. I don't even ask them to wear an all-white uniform or any other kind of uniform other maids use.

Every single maid that I've hired doesn't know anything about housekeeping at all! They wait for me to tell, most of the time I have to teach, them what to do. They give me nothing but headaches so I decided not to hire a maid anymore.

How I wish there's a school for maids. Most agencies give a few days of house keeping seminar to would-be maids. But I don't think a few days is enough. A month or two of daily training should make them the best maid in the country.

RJ's view on politics

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Light's out for RJ is at 9 pm. We usually talk about anything and everything during that time. My dad's brother, together with his family, was visiting during christmas week. RJ asked me if my dad's cousin, who ran for senate on the May 2010 elections, will also come to visit. Then he said, "He didn't win because he's not famous."

Our conversation got diverted to politics after that comment. I got interested, and yes -amazed, with how sure he was with what he was saying. He doesn't watch the news. He has classmates who have parents and grandparents in politics, but he said they don't talk about it. Social Studies class maybe?

"Noynoy won because his mom and dad were famous. People thought that he'll be a good leader because of what his parents did for our country. I wanted him to win. But now that he's President, I don't know anymore."

Hmm. That's a 9-year old boy's view on politics.

first time ever

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We always use Philippine Airlines (PAL) in all our domestic travels. But because of the on-going problems of the airline with its employees, I was hesitant to book our flight with them for our trip to the province this Christmas break.

We're flying home via Cebu Pacific, for the first time, for the holidays. I hope I don't experince anything bad with them because I've nothing but praises for PAL customer service.

ilocandia

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My Dad is an Ilocano. But not everyone, namely mom, me and my sisters, can speak and understand the Ilocano dialect. I and my sisters grew up in my mom's hometown in the Bicol region. The region is famous for its spicy delicacies, the almost-perfect coned Mayon Volcano, the gentle giant Butandings of Sorsogon and handmade crafts (not perishable and can be used if cramming for last minute wedding gift ideas).

                                                                                      etravelpilipinas

I've been to Ilocos Region during a school fieldtrip but I have yet to meet relatives on my Dad's side of the family. January of this coming new year, our family will go to Ilocos. Hopefully after that trip, I'll know more about my Dad's Ilocandia as much as I know about my Mom's Bicolandia.

It's about time I touch base with my Dad's side of the family. I will also try to learn the local dialect before the end of the year.

traffic!

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The traffic situation in Manila is most unbearable on fridays. It starts as early as two in the afternoon and ends very late at night. Today is Friday. I am right now on my way to pick up my son from school. I am caught in traffic on a very hot, very humid day.

                                                                                        diplowife

Although cars move in very very slow pace during traffic, accidents still happens. Undisciplined taxi and bus drivers, some private motorists as well, tend to overtake and force their vehicle when given a tiny space between two other vehicles. That causes accidents, undisciplined driving.

So, if you just bought a new car, make sure that you get the best car insurance quotes to get a good deal in case of unforeseen traffic accidents in the future.

are all lawyers liars?

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In my opinion, no. I have relatives, both on my mom and dad's side of the family, who are members of the judicial system in the country. I am not saying that all of them have clean conscience. I am sure though that most of them can be trusted and practice their profession without complicating the lives of their clients. Unlike the lawyer that I have now. He is always late during meetings and even bills us for the assistant that only says a few sentence during meetings.

                              mdean.tripod

I have a feeling also that he is talking with the other party behind our back. Although I am not happy with my current lawyer, I still have faith in the justice system in the Philippines. I just have to look for a new lawyer to replace this unworthy lawyer that my Uncle recommended.

Active Fun's Masquerade Party

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don't let your kids watch the news

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The television networks here in the Philippines are more concerned with their "ratings". They're like kids fighting to get the first piece of a pie. There was a report a few days back about a baby found in an airplane's toilet bin. Everyday after that, news about more abandoned babies were being reported left and right.

A very irresponsible news reporter even interviewed the family of the girl who supposedly abandoned the baby. They don't care at all what the family was going through. They are so heartless. All they care about is topping the news!

More often than not, the news reports on television these days are so worthless!

so heartbreaking

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the most unprofessional people in this country

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... the maids!

I recently hired a maid, after 9 years of not having one. I don't really need one actually, I am a certified multi-tasking-mama. But because I wanted to concentrate on blogging, heck I have been missing lots of opportunities and tasks, I decided to give it a try. Although deep in my heart I know that this is going to be the worst decision that I will make this year.

Everything went smoothly the first week. Who wouldn't love a job that only requires 2 hours of work? RJ doesn't have school yet, at that time, so I just asked her to clean the house and she's free to go afterwards. Did I mention she's a stay-out maid?

When school started already, I told her to just be in the house at 9 AM. She has two kids and as a mom myself I know that she wants to bring her kids to school herself. She was always late.

I have to pick up my son everyday from school. She has the house all to herself from 1:45 PM until 5:00 PM. When I open the front door at 5:00 PM, that is also her cue to wake up from her deep sleep. She sleeps the whole time I am out of the house.

To cut the long story short, she didn't report to work since yesterday. When I tried calling her, she turned off her phone. She still owe me money. I gave her an advance salary. Stupid me. She said she doesn't have money to buy school materials for her kids.

I will never, ever get a maid! They are all liars.

Well, this is going to be me for the next century. I get to exercise (mopping the floor, doing the laundry, etc). And I will have peace of mind.

rj's experience at the inauguration of PNoy

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RJ's Ninong gave him this invitation last night. Oh yes, RJ was so disappointed. Who wouldn't be? He won't be able to wear Barong and hobnob with the newly elected officials of the Philippine government and yes with the celebrities. No, that's actually not the reason. He's not happy with the seats they were given because only the people in the "Barong" wing gets to be called VIP's. And yes they also get free food!

Blame your Dad, he asked for tickets just last week. Yes, his Ninong was in the we-have-free-food seat.

Anyway, he still opted to attend the inauguration. And as usual, he and his Dad were late! They arrived at 9:45 am. They didn't find their seats. And when I called, RJ was complaining, "It's so hot here!". With the freebie umbrella that you got, it's still hot? 

I didn't go with them. I decided to wait for them at Harrison Plaza where the car was parked.

They were supposed to attend the street party at 6 PM but decided not to because of the following:

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  Didn't find their seats because the organizer allowed people without invites to go in. So unorganized!
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  Dad almost broke his back because he had to carry RJ (on his back while standing on a chair), so RJ can see the stage.
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  Broke the freebie yellow umbrella, good thing I just made them bring one - I still have the other one!
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  They had to walk from Quirino Grandstand to Taft Avenue to get a taxi.
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  No taxi at Taft Avenue, rode a jeepney to Century Park Hotel.
• 
  
  Ate lunch at 3PM already.

Here's the one and only picture RJ captured with my camera. Who is that guy anyway? "I don't need to take pictures, Mama. I have it all stored in my mind".

He gave me these petals, how sweet! There were helicopters dropping confetti and he tried to get some so he can have a "pasalubong" for me!

artist in the making

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Let your child's potentials in the arts grow in an environment of fun and discovery uniquely provided by a children's interactive museum! Museo Pambata has prepared it's Arts Cool summer workshops that will keep kids up on their toes this summer. Starting April, Museo Pambata will be holding various workshops for young children, teens, and adults too.

source: Museo Pambata

it's time everyone doesn't fly...cebu pacific

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I have never availed of the low airfares offered by the airline company in the Philippines-Cebu Pacific. I am not comfortable with the 1peso (yes, you read it right ONE PESO. around $0.02), plus of course the taxes and terminal fees, seat sale offered by the airline year round.

The news yesterday about the embarrassing situation that was inflicted by Cebu Pacific crew members on a special child (and family) really made me sad and angry at the same time.

I symphatize with the boy's family, not because I have a nephew diagnosed with mild autism, but because this was so irresponsible and unfair of an airline with a motto "It's time everyone flies...Cebu Pacific".

I just don't understand why they only allow 2 people with special needs inside an aircraft. That was their reason why they wanted the family to leave the airplane. This was an international flight, is the aircraft that small that they don't have enough crew members for more than 2 people with special needs inside the plane? People with special needs will not travel anyway without other family members with them (to of course give them the care and attention they need). So, crew members shouldn't worry about having 2 0r more people with special needs on board the plane.

Given that they have rules (or whatever they call it) like that, why did they allow them to buy tickets, gave them boarding passes and allowed them to board the aircraft in the first place? (Do other airlines have the same rules also?) There were a lot of opportunities for them to tell the family, PRIVATELY since they were inside the plane already, without the not-needed-embarrassement infront of other people. Since the airport crew already made the mistake of letting them board the aircraft, why didn't they just inform the family of their rules. They could have allowed them to join the flight with the condition that next time they should inform the airport personnel that one member of the family has special needs and to please check the manifest if the flight they are joining doesn't have another special child/adult already.

Could have saved them (airline) embarrassment also and a lawsuit. I salute the mom for protecting her child and for standing for her child's rights. May she be an inspiration to other mom's with or without a child with special needs.