Summer House

You know what? The weather is really the favorite topic in any conversation. I think it's the ultimate ice breaker. As for me, from the time that we have arrived and summer has really kicked in, I think I have blogged about it for four times (whaaat?!).
I just had a thought awhile ago (in the shower) if the weather was also one of the reasons why Americans have summer homes. Was it to beat the cold weather from where they were based? I have noticed in some American movies that I have seen, they have two houses - they have their own house and then they have the "summer" house where all the summer activities take place. Initially I thought that it seems to be a waste of money having two houses aside from the kitchen gadgets and furniture that you had to buy to make both houses 'homey'.

However, now that we are experiencing this much of heat (today, the heat index might reach up to 40 degrees C according to TV Patrol, ABS-CBN), I am really thinking hard if we should get a house as a summer escape from this terrible heat that we are experiencing.

Yes, people do go to the beach or stay in Baguio for a few days but that's it - the perks of being a working individual. I guess the idea of staying somewhere for a month or two is really just for people who owns their time - entrepreneurs, work-from-home individuals or OFWs (these are the only group of people that I can think of right now).

If you dream with me, I have seen a few summer homes on the internet (thanks to Google!).

photo grabbed from elysium.in of Elysium Properties 

I like this summer house. It's near the lake wherein you can take a quick dip if the weather gets really hot and then explore your surroundings or just be one with nature.

photo grabbed from realadventures.com

I like that this house is surrounded by a lot of greenery (something that we lack here in Mandaluyong and to be honest all over Metro Manila). It can be a bit smaller since it's just a summer house. Usually with these houses, it is better off to not equip it with wifi or cable. Yes, of course a television is still necessary but if you can get local channels only, I think that should be fine (as long as you can get the news). If I live here, I would want to get another cooker because I have a feeling that I can bake and make excellent dishes (yes, I think I can do so especially if I am  not feeling all sweaty :/)

I have to stop or else, I might convince R that we need a summer house. I just had another thought... Maybe instead of creating a home in the city, we can do that in the suburbs and then invest on a condo unit in Manila? Hmm... very tricky but far from happening.

Oh well, I just need to endure the heat for now because rainy days are coming very, very soon (I really hope it's sooner!).

What's in your News Feed?

Whenever someone will ask me about this, I feel funny. Well, first being a Journalism graduate, I have this idea that I need to always have a newspaper in hand. Be the one to report about the news and so on.
But I am not.

I think it's safe to say that my dad reads more of the hardcopy version than I do.

I don't read the newspaper but I am super engrossed in getting short tweets via Twitter, news alerts via Facebook (yes, I know they are kind of reliable for me) and compressed news feeds via email.

When I was in Dubai, I subscribed to Arabianbusiness.com, would surf the major dailies like GulfNews and The National. This is to keep me informed of what is happening in the country and if there are any upcoming events that I may want to visit or try. Their news is different from how we handle reporting here in the Philippines. They do not disclose the names of the people involved in a crime scene even if convicted or arrested. They will mask it and identify the person via his initials. Fortunately or unfortunately, you will know about that person if you are associated with him or her.

However, I can say that from over time, some dailies have changed the way they report the news. The only thing is, there is really not a lot of juicy stuff to report about. I guess the crime rate there is contained and there's not a lot of natural disasters that take place (not that we want that to happen).

Now that we are back here in the Philippines, I am currently subscribed to Philippine Star and the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The thing with our news companies is that they report news by the minute or by the hour because true enough a lot of events do happen in this country of ours. May it be big or small, every information counts because we Filipinos are emphatic and some do like the drama (you have to admit).

Though when I get too tired about the ever-fluctuating crime rate, I resort to reading the Opinion section of these news feeds or their Lifestyle section but still online.

I don't know if it's because it's easier to maneuver through our gadgets.

What about you? What do you prefer as a medium?

Feeling the Heat!

Summer is really here!!!

I can feel it heck I have been sweating like crazy. I mean we have already turned on the AC at night and I still sweat (what is wrong with me?!).

After x years of being out of the Philippines, this will be my second time to experience what summer is really like here because of global warming and all. I remember a friend of mine has warned me that I will constantly be in the mall so that we get to experience the free AC. Thankfully, we have not resorted to that just yet.

I know that being in the Middle East should have made me accustom to it. The dry months is even hotter in Dubai (it's not ideal to have a stroll because you can die of heat stroke in 30 minutes to an hour depending on how hydrated you are before you started walking). Though it's hot there, the airconditioner can easily be switched on without having to worry about your electric bill because the cost is bearable if you compare it to the Meralco costs here (and to add insult to injury, I have watched in the news that Meralco will have a price increase this April. Boohoo!).

this was a photo of R travelling to our Desert Safari destination

Now that I am a housewife (well, I am a freelancer as well but more of the former), I have become more conscious on how and where should we spend our money --- in other words, expenses. It was different then because we were both earning enough to splurge a little bit but now, we are mindful of how things are being spent that R thinks I am a grinch or Super S (meaning Super Stingy).

I guess you can say that I am still adjusting to our new lifestyle (yeah! still even if it's already 6 months) but I think I'm slowly getting a hang of it.

Though at times, there really are days when reasoning just wants me to let go of my pseudo accounting skills and jump into how my body will be cooled down by the breeze coming from the airconditioner (hahaha!).

Hopefully the sun won't be as harsh as my friend said it would be. 

Familiarising myself

to what Manila has to offer.

You see being away from this country or city for so long. You get to lose the essence of what you know then. The familiar places were either still standing or replaced with something new... sometimes better.

You might say but you have been coming back year after year.

That is true.

However, it feels like I have lost my understanding of the place. Add to the fact that I am not in the place where I used to live. I now reside a jeepney and a tricycle away from what I know as "home". We now live in R's area.

I don't mind because in Dubai, we were so used to moving about that you do not even have the chance to really get to know the place you are in. At times, the people you have lived with for a few months will say goodbye and you will be introduced to new neighbors so I guess moving here was not really a big deal.

The city that I sometimes miss (photo taken by R)

Unfortunately, being away made me feel a bit lost in this city. The only landmarks that I know are of shopping malls because when we were still OFWs, we frequent the malls to meet up with friends we have left behind or just to cool down because of the unbearable heat.

Aside from that fact, I am also taken aback by the prices of food and its portion. I need to understand that the word "to share" in the menu depends on who will eat it. The amount of money that you need to spend in order for us to finally say that we are stuffed (unless of course, we were just laughing out a lot that air fills our tummies temporarily).

Taco Bell experience with my mom - totally deserved a seperate blogpost!! 

The number of people that I see on the streets - of all ages and races. A mix of the working class and the people who try to find a way to steal from the working class (sorry but it is true).

There is still a lot of getting used to...and to re-acquaint ourselves with what the city looks like now.

At times, it's hard. You tend to compare and yearn for the days when we were still in that oil-rich land. I shrug it off because this is the present and we should start living in it.

Is having a Postpaid plan the way to live these days?

This entry is like a continuation of what I have written in my blog post, I think a month ago (read it here ).

Another issue we have now is if one of us should maintain a postpaid service to be in contact most of the time. What we have been doing for the past few months is to re-charge our SIM with credits from the sari-sari store or buy a re-charge card for us to use... for half of the month.

photo grabbed from www.globe.com.ph

To be honest, since I am at home most of the time, I do not need the charge unless of course I had to go out or I need to call someone who is not on Viber, Whatsapp or Facebook. Highly unlikely but that happens most especially when family members (like my mom) who frequents malls and is not home most of the time. Her not being home means she does not have wifi access around hence the need to call her from time to time.

I use this app a lot to communicate with my mom and relatives abroad 

Another thing is when you need to call landline numbers and I always end up going to the reliable sari-sari store to ring someone who doesn't have a mobile phone or does not allow us to contact someone directly (like going through a customer hotline).

A note I had for myself when I had to call a service hotline

A friend suggested to get the lowest postpaid package possible but should also be beneficial to us. I have been thinking about it because as I have mentioned previously, landline numbers and/or postpaid accounts can get you a credit card.

Not that we need it or even want to but there are times when the only option to pay is via a Mastercard or Visa.

Also, when we were in Dubai, I had a postpaid line because of the data package it provides. However here in the Philippines, the data package is quite expensive (I do not want to talk about that issue right now because that deserves another blog post) so that was the reason I hesitated.

Now, I have re-think our position about that front and maybe it will benefit us.

Finding your Focus and Purpose

I now have a normal routine that I kind of want to break... yes, sadly I need to.

My morning starts with me saying a prayer to the Creator followed by browsing through Facebook and Instagram.

the two social media apps that make people around the world stay up... all the time!

If R does not give me "that" look, I can probably end up going through these two social sites for the rest of the morning.

After that (depends on my mood), I will again start bidding for projects online. Hoping to finally get some work that does not let me leave home.

So, whilst doing my routine, I chance upon a website that was shared by one of my Facebook friends, theprayingwoman.com

It drew me to read more about the devotional for today (imagine, I saw that post in the morning and up until tonight - time check 10:45pm, I still have the site open).

The title of the devotional is 'When God's Reasons Become Oh So Clear'. As I read through the devotional, I time travelled to when R and I were discussing about our "for good" plan. I have been putting it off for the longest time, almost 5 years to be honest.

click here to read the devotional

I keep giving R reasons as to why we can't go. It was because we were still paying off the house... then I said maybe we can wait for me to reach a certain tenure in the company... then I said we need to save up because we will need X amount of money in order for us to survive without employment and my list goes on and on.

Despite all those, we still went with our decision to go home and we did. I believe this chapter in our life involves God. When we were still in the Middle East, I keep praying and asking God if this is also what He wants us to do. Is this His plan for us, to go home?

In the devotional, one of the points mentioned was to keep our focus on God and not to lose faith on Him. I think as human beings, we always want to be able to have a fool-proof plan of our future. However, this is not the case with God. He wants us not to lose sight of Him and in turn, He will lead us to the place of our milk and honey, our paradise.

It was said that if you have a peace of mind on the plan that you have decided on, it means that it is also God's plan.

That is what I felt.

Right now, I am still trying to understand what is God now trying to tell us about the next step. What are we meant to do here in the Philippines.

I want Him to guide us on what and how we should lead our lives. I am seeking for wisdom and courage to understand and know what is in store for us. I also ask for patience because believe you me, it is hard to be idle when you know you want to do something!

images were grabbed from the following:- 
http://www.forbes.com/companies/facebook/
http://busyevent.com/unleashing-power-instagram-event/

screenshot was from:-
http://theprayingwoman.com

Am I creative enough?

Back when we were kids during my playtime, my cousin and I will have different activities. She will be busy with her crafts or she is downstairs helping out cooking. As for me, I will either be in our room, reading books and when the internet was available - chat and email my friends.

Today she still does her crafts and incorporates it with her baking or when she does her once-in-a-blue-moon creations (invitations). Sad I do not have any of her creations with me. I guess moving around a lot and not having a permanent place to put keepsakes does this to you. 

As for me, I try my hand in crafts from time to time - like my cross stitch obsession and then now to baking.

I have seen a lot of people and some my friends who can make something beautiful from scratch.

Am I creative enough

This is the question I ask myself and so since I have a lot of free time, I thought I will start with sewing things just basic stuff. You know things you have learned in your Home Economics class. Most probably, throw pillow covers... or table runners... or I don't know but something.

Let us see if I can make this happen ;)

Thankfully, I still have our old sewing machine with me (a shopping splurge that we did not intend to do but bought it anyway since we were influenced by a good friend....)

I think my sewing machine looks like this 

(photo grabbed from http://www.overstock.com/Crafts-Sewing/Sewing-Machines/19182/subcat.html)

Now, where to set it up... hmmm... 

The Weather

is something that I/ we need to get used to.

Yes, Dubai is known for it's extreme weather and when we left that city, it was still the dry season. Fortunately there, the electricity charge is not as exorbitant as it is here in Manila.

In Dubai, you can still enjoy the cool breeze of the air conditioner if the condition persists. Apart from that, it is the heat that is your enemy. Unlike here in the Philippines, you need to think a thousand (yes, a thousand times) before switching on the air conditioner (or is it just us being stingy?). More than the heat, it's the humidity that I think is causing a concern for me and R. That sticky feeling, you know (yes, that's the one).

Now it really makes me get very scared when the summer season kicks in.

I need to find alternatives to stay cool under the summer heat in the Philippines.

Mr. Sun 

(source: http://freedesignfile.com/13215-elements-of-summer-sun-vector-art-03/)

And so here we are...

It has been two weeks since we have moved back here.... yep, in the Philippines.

We were welcomed by traffic, endless sweat and nonstop rain! Hahaha but overall, it was a fun welcome most especially since I get to see my family (mom, dad and sissy).

Until this moment, I do not have any strange feeling about the decision that we have made. Friends have said (or actually analyzed) that it is probably because I still feel that this is a vacation.

I think so too...

I don't feel any fear to be quite honest. I am not sure why but it's like my doubts about how the financial aspect will turn out seems to be a distant issue now. It felt like the Almighty has given me the peace of mind regarding this decision.

I am still in touch with my friends and colleagues at work back in Dubai but have not touched base with my friends here in Manila. Not that I do not want to see them (of course, I do!). It is just that I want to savor this moment with R. I feel that finally, we are building our own home and not just a temporary one.

We get to decide where to put what. To let you in a secret (sort of), I think we still try to put everything in our room! I guess it is because in Dubai, we only have a room for ourselves (except for kitchen items, of course). Slowly, we now make use of the other areas in the house!

Our house is slowly becoming a home... though we still have a lot of stuff coming in the next few months (5 boxes!!)

I just have to say, it is hard to pack everything up and close a decade of your life in another country.... because you do not only temporarily close it but you have to familiarise yourself with what is in front of you, what is in store for you in the place you are in.

Slowly, we will get there but for now, I enjoy the peace (though at times, the bickering!!) our home brings :)

Favoured and Blessed

I went to hear the Victory church service today and was totally moved by one of the inspirational song that the Praise and Worship team sang.

This is the entire lyrics of the song.

Planetshakers - Favoured Lyrics

Artist: Planetshakers

Album: Nothing Is Impossible

Genre: Christian

Send "Favoured" Ringtone to your Cell

Listen while you read!

VERSE: 
You?re my Saviour, You?re my Healer 
You?re everything I need
You?re my comfort, You?re my best friend 
Forever You will reign 

PRE-CHORUS:
You are high and lifted up
And Your Kingdom will have no end

CHORUS:
I am favoured I am blessed
By the cross, and the blood that was shed
I am favoured I am blessed
I can do all things, because of what You?ve done for me

BRIDGE:
Nothing is impossible for those that believe
Nothing is to difficult for our God
Nothing is impossible for those that believe
I believe, I believe in You

Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/planetshakers/favoured-lyrics/#wriEzjFpGHQotUtK.99

I am moved by this song because I have been asking him my "whys" and telling him a lot of "it's unfair" but never really see what He has given me.

This song brought me back and snapped me back to reality that I am favoured and blessed. God not giving me what I asked for does not mean he has forgotten my other needs.

It is sometimes difficult to accept when we are not given what we wanted that we tend to forget what is being given to us without even asking for it... Ironic isn't it?

So, I thank you God for letting me know that you have not forgotten me and is working at me... preparing me for the promise that He has in store for me.

I know this is not the right time to be selfish but instead be selfless most especially because of the turn of events that has happened in the Philippines - the scam, the civil unrest, the earthquake and the typhoon - all happened I think a few weeks apart.

I hope people who were affected by all of the natural disasters will be able to stand up again and I know they will because they have God on their side :)

(from youtube) 

Random thoughts

Things have been going well these past few days.

My only worry now is the results of my dad's test results from the lab (background: my dad had his annual check-up and they found out that he has Diabetes Type II. The nurse said that I should not worry because this type of Diabetes can still be cured. My dad just needs to move around a bit more and exercise.

He was given some meds for a month and then they will see how it goes. He is scheduled to do another test by the end of October so I am keeping my fingers crossed that things will be a-ok.

Most definitely a daddy's girl

xxx

I am beginning to read books again. Not the hard copy but more on my Kindle. Since I have a few minutes in my hands, I read through my Kindle while waiting for the bus or waiting for friends (which by the way is very rare as I always come late in meetings!!!).

It has been a good way for me to catch up with my books! I didn't think I will get the hang of it but I did so here's to more reading till forever!

photo courtesy of Wikipedia

xxx

R is still on a crappy shift. We had worst days and sometimes I think this is why he asks for a break. A complete break from all of this. I tend to agree with him on some days but at times, I put my financial guru hat on and I keep asking myself if we will survive should we decide to take the plunge.

Will we?

A question that haunts me more now then ever before. I have already set a date but I think I am (again) leaning to change it... R says he understands but I can sense the sadness in either his voice or see it in his eyes. It breaks my heart but I have to think about the future.

However, when I look at the people who have decided to set their feet on one place... they seem happy and satisfied with what they have... I sometimes wonder if that will work for us too... after being exposed to a place where everything you want is just within your reach (if you have either a credit card or funds)... will we make it -- this is the question that I always have in my head.

Smile

I saw this online article about Calidad Humana which was started our by Chilean ambassador to Manila Roberto Mayorga and his wife Paulina.

They have been inspired by our smiles, the Filipino smile and have decided to use this element or characteristic of ours to promote our country and our people.

Smile! 

(video grabbed from youtube, Smiles for the World AVP)

This does mean a lot. 

Weird as it may sound but we, Filipinos, do know how to make the most of what we have. OFWs here in Dubai will always have a sad story to tell about how they got here but still they do not lose hope that there is still something in store for them... for their future and their families. 

No need to dwell on the past 

This is usually what Filipinos would say. Since Dubai is a melting pot of different nationalities, a lot of them are amazed with how the Filipinos cope with almost everything - from their core family up to their extended families and sometimes, make-up families (like friends, friends of friends, etc).

I guess, it is because we always have the "never give up" attitude. Always knowing deep in our hearts that all of the hardships will bring fruit... we just don't know it yet.

So for you, my reader(s), SMILE... :)

To read more about Calidad Humana (click on this link).

*source: Rappler.com

Do you have the ___________ dream?

In between having my brunch and reading an e-book in my Kindle, my housemate joined me in the kitchen to have his breakfast as well. 

Sensing, I need to have some manners and strike a conversation with him, I decided to put down my Kindle and chatted a bit about things happening around. 

We went to the topic of our friends and families going to Canada. We talked about their struggles and also how their start up is the same as ours here in Dubai. 

I then asked him if he is also planning to go to Canada soon and he said no. He further explained that if given the chance now and choice, he would go back home to the Philippines. 

I thought to myself, I share his sentiments. Though travelling or visiting is not a bad idea but to live there? I am not sure. 

I just realised, a lot of people in the Philippines have the (             ) dream. It can be interpreted in different countries / regions: It started off with the American dream next the European dream, the Canada dream and I think a few have the Gulf dream. 

When I was a kid, people talk endlessly about how having an American dream can solve all the problems they had then. Being in the US, where the money is overflowing, your dependents will also be part of the pail of money that you have. 

Suddenly, the attention was directed to the European dream. Since most of us Pinoys are accustomed to skilled labour, we got the idea that this dream will help us fulfil our wishes to our family. 

Another country would come out and you'd see Filipinos striving to go there and start building their dreams.... what about the Philippines? Doesn't anyone have a Philippine dream?

I ask myself the same thing. 

For one, I did not have a Gulf dream. Being in this country was merely a step. A step closer to going for my true love, R. However, if you will ask me, I have not really seen myself having any of those dreams. 

Sure, I may want to visit those places but the comfort of being in your country is different. The Philippines is not perfect and so is in other countries, it has its ups and downs but nevertheless, it can still shine like the rest. :) 

Now, writing about this just makes me all the more excited to go back! :) 

from http://www.marsman-tours.com.ph/map_philippines.htm