Give hope

When the person I’m reporting to in the NGO I just joined told me we were going to visit the relocation site of typhoon victims in Laguna, I had mixed feelings. I was a bit apprehensive because I heard the atmosphere was depressing…and I try to stay away from anything that would damage my spirit in any way.

But, I had no choice. I was just hired to write stories about the works of the NGO and it means going around to areas where it extends help to less fortunate people. Off I went trying to separate my emotions from work. “It’s just work. It’s just work. Focus on the work. Interview people. Take pictures. And that’s it.”

I’m glad I went.

The experience was more than just an eye-opener but a learning one. I guess, the most memorable (for the lack of a proper word) is meeting and knowing two young social workers who know that serving people is how they want to spend their lives.

Jerry and Mau are just two of the twenty-something social workers of Operation Compassion International (OC). Jerry has been pulled out from one of OC’s major projects in Bicol (that deserves another story) not only because he is a cum laude from Bicol University but Pastor Dong Cucio, OC’s executive director, believes that he is the perfect person to put things in order at the relocation site in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Indeed, as soon as we arrived, Jerry diligently went to work: gathered data, talked to families, administered first aid to one of the sick children, went to a wake, and tried to come to terms that this would be his home for the next months or so.

Mau, on the other hand, is very focused. She is assigned to look after the families relocated in Binan, Laguna. Her list of things to do is endless but Mau knows what her priorities are. She did not leave until she met with the team leaders of the families who had just arrived, regardless if it was way past lunchtime and we were all starving. Such is her dedication to her chosen vocation.

OC has been in charge to help 1,000 displaced families from Marikina to build their lives anew. OC is one of the very first groups to respond during and right after Typhoon Ondoy. The NGO has been considered an expert in disaster response. Immediately after the first day assessment, the group went to work: coordinated with the social welfare department, Natural Disaster Coordinating Council, barangay officials, packed relief goods which contain among other things personal hygiene needs, gathered more resources and donations, etc.

However, the greatest challenge OC faces is helping rebuild the lives of the families. Pastor Dong met with Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando together with one of OC’s faith-based partners. They offered help and upon learning of OC’s skills in community development, Mayor Fernando assigned the relocated families to OC.

Agony never ends

When I, Pastor Dong, and Jerry arrived in Binan, throngs arrived at the doorstep of Nanay Evangeline, one of the team leaders. Stories of their nightmares poured in. Four families were asked by someone not connected with the Marikina Health Office (tasked to assign families to take to Laguna) to join the other families who were to be transported to Laguna. Sadly, because they were not in the infamous Master List, they remained homeless.

Some people related how they were herded like cattle to a truck at 2 a.m. They brought whatever they could carry. Others told of how their homes were demolished right before their eyes without further notice and asked them to look for their names in the Master List. There are mothers, with infants and toddlers, who were still in evacuation centers before they were brought to the site who complained of one-day notice of relocation: no briefing, no preparation both mentally and emotionally.

My heart broke when a mother cried helplessly remembering her old mother she left in Marikina. I never imagined I would be in that situation when I need to get data and remain calm. I think it was the hardest, and I mean hardest, task I ever did so far.

The kids who, perhaps, have no idea of their fate played outside their new homes. But the pain of the tragedy and being uprooted in their familiar neighborhood showed.

Most of the families are separated from their livelihood in Marikina. Most of the men opted to stay behind because their work is in the city.

But majority of the displaced families are very hopeful of their new life. “I’ll never go back there; it’s better here,” said one mother.

Still, the fact remains that rebuilding a new life is a humongous task. That is why OC is trying to assist them. They are trying to integrate the families to the existing community. It is essential to communicate, not just coordinate, with the local government units, barangay officials, barangay health workers, local social welfare department, and the police.

OC has also assigned a chaplain to help the families in their spiritual needs. It has a feeding program especially for the children held regularly at certain times of the week.

Right now, OC focuses on the children: proper nutrition, vitamins, medicines, new school supplies, new uniforms, books, and most especially, new toys. Stuffed toys, some say, help children cope with the trauma. Maybe because, they can hug the stuffed toys?

I have to admit, I am not much of a kids-person but every time I look into their eyes, I feel a sense of responsibility to do something for them.

There’s a Chip Tsao in all of us

The infamous racial slur of Hong Kong writer Chip Tsao spanned another “revolt” among Filipinos, decrying discrimination and degradation. The whole country was outraged; similar reaction to the video of a comedy show in UK portraying a Filipina househelp in a degrading manner.

I join all those who discriminate against any Filipino in the world. I am outraged of people of any nationality who try to demean us. But I am more incensed at Filipinos who joined such call and failed to look inside them…and realize that they are worse than any Chip Tsao.

There is a Chip Tsao in all of us. I see a lot of them on TV especially on noontime TV shows when celebrities laugh at the mistakes of the contestants. They are not just laughs but laugh that tells how stupid your answer is. There are hosts who make fun of people’s physical disabilities—missing front teeth, flat nose, among others. And we get angry at Chip Tsao? These contestants are no different from Filipinos working abroad. They are also trying their luck looking for ways to live and earn.

In my daily commute Chip Tsaos are everywhere. Passersby suddenly change directions at the sight of a taong grasa, educated Filipinos making fun of other Filipinos’ “bad” English, office workers criticizing other people’s choice of clothes, people trying to judge you at your quietness without looking beyond your appearance, and many more.

But why in the world didn’t we scoff at our president’s own gaffe in calling Filipino overseas workers “Supermaids”? Didn’t we think our own leader prompted a Chip Tsao to write such a thing?

And by calling Chip Tsao names doesn’t make us any different from him.

Delayed review of "Black Christmas Project"

When Wolfgang announced that they would be having a concert last year, I was ecstatic. It had been two years since I last saw them onstage. This is a delayed entry as I contributed this to a paper but was not published.

Sadly, I was unable to see the band's concert just this March due to health reasons. But I heard it was great. Smaller venues are better, I daresay.

Kill me for being honest in my opinion but this is just what I thought of last December's concert.

*******************

It was supposed to be the gig of the year for the die-hard fans of Filipino rock band Wolfgang. Every time the band announces that they would be holding a concert anticipation mounts as the day approaches.

On their recent outing with a concert titled “Black Christmas Project” at Eastwood City, Libis, band members—vocalist Basti Artadi, guitarist Manuel Legarda, and bassist Mon Legaspi--didn’t disappoint. It’s no longer “as if they never left” but “It’s as if they were never apart.” Judging from the energy each band member exuded, they were as excited as the fans.

Opening for the concert was up-and-coming band from Cebu, Powerspoonz, who described their sound as “reggametal.” Razorback, Wolfgang’s contemporary in the 1990s that is still active these days, performed next with their signature songs.

As soon as the band stepped onstage, the fans transformed into rock-hungry creatures. Artadi opened the main show with “Sanctified.” They howled and hollered with the band.

Wolfgang’s memorable songs like “Beast,” “Mata ng Diyos,” “Darkness Fell,” and “Tulisan” alternated with songs from the new album titled “Villains” such as “RP Death Squad,” “Ibrahim,” “John of the Cross,” and “Novus is Burning.” Artadi knew how faithful the fans are to their old songs that sometimes he had to “request” the crowd to allow them to play the new ones. After all, there is nothing like singing along with familiar songs.

But the sound of the songs in “Villains” proved that, together with the band, their music has, for lack of an appropriate word, matured. They tried not to veer away from the old ‘90s rock sound but the songs, like the singer and composers, moved on. It is a refreshing sound that when listened to over and over again, one will come to accept unconsciously, that it is indeed a newer sound with little touches of signature beats.

As promised, bassist Legaspi was given the spotlight for many of the new songs. Artadi said in earlier interviews that, “This is the first Wolfgang album where you can really hear the bass.” Not to be outshone is guitarist Legarda who wowed the crowd with his riffs done with precision. Francis Aquino of Monkeyspank has become a regular stand-in as drummer. He was not missed during the concert as he hit each song with unparalleled enthusiasm.

The concert did not only serve as an album launching of sorts but as always, the gathering of devoted fans. Only, the crowd at the Eastwood City concert seemed a bit “tamer” as the concert progresses as opposed to those who attended the Music Museum concerts in early 2007.

Some claimed they were “bitin” with 15 songs for a two-hour concert. It may be bitin because Artadi had to just carry on with the songs for the lack of enthusiastic reaction from the audience. It was contrary to what the press release stated prior to the concert: “Expect lots of singing, dancing, drinking and all-around head-banging because it’s gonna be a hell of a party!”

Artadi attempted to connect with the crowd many times during the concert but to no avail. Credit goes to Artadi, though, for trying to resurrect the rapport when he belted out the old songs and much admiration to the band for giving a performance worthy of the ticket price.

Wolfgang’s last album “Black Mantra” was released eight years ago. They occasionally held “reunion” concerts in-between those years. The new album was conceived by Artadi and Legarda communicating online as the former lives in the United States.

I miss blogging

*sigh* I miss blogging :(

Life's a...

Posting here is not an immediate task until a friend pointed out that I haven’t been updating it for a while. I’m not tinatamad, I just felt there is nothing interesting enough to write.

I know this is one way of communicating with friends from afar. In fact, I feel I’m much closer to my friends abroad than those who are here with me in the Philippines. Well, maybe because we often take for granted those who are near to us or the things we already have.

Anyway, where do I start?

I’m now doing what I’ve always wanted to do but couldn’t. I’m freelancing and am currently volunteering in animal welfare groups. Well, my job doesn’t pay as much as that with my last two employers but it’s the first time I can really say that “I like what I’m doing…so far.” I always include that part “so far” because I know that time will come when I’ll tire of doing the same thing over and over again; I will find something else to do different from the previous one although I’m already sure of what I am capable of doing and I hope that it will arm me in my journey into this bloodsucking, no bed of roses yet wonderful world.

Life is a journey. Cliché but it is.

As I look back, everything that happened in my life was a preparation for what I am destined to do in the future. But of course we don’t realize that when we’re young and idealist and naïve.

I still have bouts of mini-depression, the longing of security of a bigger paycheck, the idle times just chatting about Hollywood and books I read with my best friend during office hours and the occasional travel perks.

But I no longer feel unlucky with the consequences of my decision because it led me to where I am now. The path getting here was hard: 6 months of hell in a market research company (the pay was way better but as I mentioned, it’s hell).

I’m not saying there will no longer be bouts of “sayang”. I miss media events, the months of monetary benefits, the parties toward the end of the year, the overflowing food, the gifts, and most especially the different types of people I get to work with. Yes including the assholes and the slave drivers.

But if I want to survive which I have every reason to now ;) I need to focus on the good things. I learned that what we thought was important in life turns out it wasn’t at all.
Simple things like: I learned that I can survive without a credit card! I used to have three and I always felt cool when I bring out the gold card. I also learned that eating out is not only bad for the pocket but bad for health too. We never know what other people put into our food: tons of MSG, flavoring, salt? I learned that I am not deprived if I don’t get to have the latest signature stuff in the market. Yes, of course who wouldn’t like it but hey, we have to set priorities. I learned that the fastest way to get where I’m going is not by cab…but by walking. In this Metro Manila traffic? You’re kidding me. Even with all the pollution, I still prefer to walk (as long as the sun is not that hot :P)

I’m still vain. I still watch fashion shows and beauty and modeling programs on TV. I still want to be updated with the latest fashion trend even if I don’t buy them because they are ridiculously priced, I still like to know who’s the newest Hollywood star or the latest Victoria’s Secret model, who’s on the cover of GQ, where Brad Pitt’s going to build another house, or whose ass will my favorite tennis star Roger Federer’s going to kick.

Even if you’re vain you can still put something in your head and heart. Doing noble things doesn’t mean becoming a drag or vice versa. It’s just a matter of balancing two things. We can’t have the best of both worlds but we can pick the nice things we can afford to keep in those worlds.

It’s just a matter of how we look at things. We cannot always want what others have. Sometimes, we have to learn to want what we already have. I learn to live simply…so the others--like the poorer ones and the abused animals--can simply live.

At the end of the day (literally, this is the most abused phrase these days but I really mean “at the end of each day”) when I shut the office door behind me, after I sent my last accomplished assignment for the day, if all my projects bear fruit, and if I can change the life of one animal into a better one, I can say I’m fulfilled.

Money cannot buy the sense of making a difference in the world.

My first motorcycle ride

“It was not scary as I first thought it was,” I told “my Arthur” after our half-day joyride yesterday.

I had my first motorcycle ride in a Suzuki bike courtesy of “my Arthur.” I was afraid initially but when I got on and “fastened” my left hand at the back and my right to him, I didn’t have any fears at all. Well, of course he didn’t drove that fast because we were searching the inner streets.

He was so nice and thoughtful always asking if I’m okay and I guess that helped because I didn’t want him to worry about driving and a baggage like me.

It was great especially because I experienced it (no pun intended) it with “my Arthur.*”

(*I shall explain why I call my boyfriend “my Arthur” in future posts.)

Financial planning

If there is one lesson I learned from being unemployed that is to plan my finances. I’ve been doing this budgeting for quite sometime but only for the household. It gets depressing when you see your resources depleting and you don’t have an income to replenish your savings. It was like Superman’s strength being drained off by Kryptonite.

This week, when I am quite in the brink of depression some good things came up. I risked a certain amount of money for a small business so I can recoup what I lost in my savings. I took my chance into this business because I saw how fast the return of investment is.

I also “might” get into freelance publicity (not press relations because it involves doing media rounds which if I get employed I won’t be able to do) services.

And then, there is the market research consultancy that I am doing with my friend from my previous company. This one, I am determined to pursue because market research is a lucrative business especially with the competitive environment of commercialism. Manufacturers will always want to outshine each other with their “more improved” products. I’ve learned the basics of market research and although there are still so many things to know but I’m willing to do that.

I also fixed my ebay store and will convert my Multiply account to an online bookshop (Bookshelf). The income may be small but it’s fun selling books and dealing with other ebayers. I’ve always dreamed of having my own bookshop, something like the one in “You’ve Got Mail” or “Notting Hill.” Nothing big like Fully Booked at The Fort (this is what I call Heaven on Earth with four-stories of nothing but books!) or my favorite meeting place with friends Powerbooks in Greenbelt; just a small intimate bookshop with limited editions of award-winning titles. But for now, I’ll settle for my humble Amazon.com like online bookshop.

Hopefully, I’ll get that job in a non-government organization which advocates something that is very close to my heart. Raquel said she feels optimistic about it because it’s something I am used to doing.

With all these opportunities after a brief storm in my life (my Arthur is right, when it comes, it comes in bundles) I am bent on making good decisions financially. I am more aware now of how important financial planning is because when I resigned from that *&^%$# company, I didn’t have a plan.

Last night on “Oprah,” I was inspired by the confession of financial adviser Suze Orman who was once in debt of a quarter of a million dollars. I am inspired that with that experience she is teaching women to be knowledgeable when it comes to finances and learn how to plan. These are just few of the things I learned:

1. When you don’t know what to do with your money (if to invest on individual stocks or mutual funds) do nothing. It is safer not to touch your money if you are not knowledgeable with the market. Be an all or nothing investor.
--What I did when I was in this situation was I asked friends who already have investments in certain products and certain companies. I always went with the most trusted friend. I already discussed in previous post what I decided to go for Mutual Fund (Balanced).

2. You are your best financial adviser because only you know your needs.

3. If you can raise kids and manage your home, you can manage your finances.

4. Pay your debts. If you can no longer pay credit cards at the usual rate, you can always negotiate payment schemes of two to four years to pay perhaps. --Always aim for debt independence. Hold the future for a while and try to deal with your credit problems today (which I will do as soon as I get the job. BTW, I discarded ALL my three credit cards and it feels so good).

5. When paying credit card debt, pay the one with higher interest rate (even if its smaller in amount) than the ones with lower interest rate (even if this is much bigger in amount than in the former).

These are just few of the things I learned and I have clippings of write-ups in the Inquirer about managing your finances. I am also trying to learn basic Accounting (God, why I hated Math?) I hope I can maintain this enthusiasm. “My Arthur” asked me why I’m doing this. I told him my objective. “Gusto kong yumaman.”
This is what unemployment did to me.

Manny Pacquiao and the salmon

Four world titles. I think the cynics can keep their skepticism from themselves as to whether Manny Pacquiao is a “real boxer” or not.

I won’t dwell on the contention whether he is the greatest Filipino boxer of all time. I just want to make a comment on the coverage done during his arrival.

While his win is an historic one, I just don’t understand why in the world what he ate for breakfast preceded news on the update of Sulpicio Lines tragedy? I’m all for Pacman but this question is intended for the people in charge of the news program.

Where have the newsworthiness gone?

Investment for the future

Yesterday, I decided to invest a portion of my separation pay from my previous company to Mutual Funds. I already have an insurance/retirement plan (Sun Exclusive Plus) from SunLife Philippines and a Unit Investment Treasury Fund (UITF) at Banco de Oro.

I took the Balanced Fund of SunLife because I feel that it is the safest compared to Equity and Government Securities; and also because my fren and financial adviser, Normandy, also has one.

Why did I decide to have some professionals manage my money instead of coming up with a business? I’m not that good at running a business unlike my mom. So, my dream of becoming an employer instead of an employee is quite far-fetched which I don’t really mind.

Also, one of the reasons I try to invest as much as I can no matter how small the amount is I want to have a worry-free retirement in the distant future. It’s a selfish act of not relying too much on my kid/s or on Vincent or my would-be husband or partner when I get old. I want to be as financially dependent as possible.

Why on Mutual Funds? Because it’s the “in” thing. Seriously, I surveyed my friends first if I should just Time Deposit it or invest it. I decided to invest it.

According to the Prospectus, Balanced Fund is safe because the company invests your money in both the Equity and Government Securities albeit not on equal terms. It is also necessary to choose the company to invest in. I learned that SunLife invests only on blue chip.

Incidentally, there is an article in the Business Monday section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer which discusses stock investment. It states that it is the best time to buy when the prices are low instead of when the market is bullish when the stocks are high. Common sense tells us that there is no other way to go but up so I hope I made the right move in buying now because I don’t have plans of withdrawing my investment in the next 20 years. This is a long-term investment.

Although the article suggests that investing “regularly” is still a best option, it is not quite practical these days because of the constant rise in prices making the cost of living unstable. Personally, I suggest that when you get a lump sum from whatever source, it is best to invest instead of just letting it hang in the bank for years. Although, make sure that you have a six months of expenses rolling savings in the bank in case of emergency.

I haven’t been good at savings but these days when I am jobless, I am slowly realizing the value of having a savings in the bank. I don’t really regret my quitting Inquirer that much because I am learning many things not only on career and personal life but also in other aspects like finances, frugality, and wise buying. Before, I save to buy something now I save because I see it as a “necessity” and not just something to do on the side.

I may not have millions now but I just want to secure a future free from financial worries. I want to work abroad but I have a teenage nephew to look after. Working overseas hasn’t been this enticing until I realized that in a few years’ time Vincent will be in college plus the fact that the once unlikely idea of having a child of my own can now be a possibility.

Right now, all I can do for that future is having investment no matter how small they are. I always ask and survey friends before I make a move. I read a lot and try to understand where I’m putting my hard-earned money.

For the middle-income workers, there is no harm in trying to invest your money. It’s good that banks and other companies offer such products for us. It is just a matter of how much of a risk-taker you are and how much money are you willing to lose or earn. (I am, btw, a moderate investment risk-taker according to the brief test I took.)