Passionately M

My friend is 60 years old, working in a company engaged in A/C maintenance and other building maintenance works. Since the owner is his friend and a 'brother' in a religious organization, he gave his best self to help in other jobs like driving and sometimes bookkeeping. Since his first year 5 years ago, has not gone to the home country yet, and no annual leave taken, nor annual leave pay if on local leave. His contract will expire early next year, 3rd of 2-year labor contracts.Tough times, so in addition to understanding the boss, his thought was to save all so he can have big take-home pay upon exit. But with the new end-of-service gratuity law, he can only take end-of-service benefits equivalent to two (2) years' basic earnings.  Anxiety attacks hit him. He has two daughters, both with family of their own, but even until these days, they ask help from him not regularly though, but somehow this affects his lifestyle as it means sacrifices in other things. At certain times...

Since I was a small child, I have loved to read newspapers. I used to go to my mother's dress shop in the old public market every Saturday and sit on the pallet bench in an area where people used to read tented comics and other reading materials. It brought me an immense joy. Some stall vendors recycled newspapers and used those as paper bags for the items they sold like fruits, coffee, etc., which I flattened after opening and read whatever was there. In high school, we had a subject on current events in Social Studies. There was an additional reading material for us to digest to know what was going on in our country and around the world.  My mother did not buy a television set for us intentionally, since she wanted my brother and me to focus on our studies. Yes I never experienced to have our own TV set at home for a score of my life (20 years or two decades). I had to go to my neighbors / friends' houses on weekends or school days-off, to watch my favorite shows, and in betw...

  In the history of the Christian world, the Good Friday is the celebration of the most momentous event. It commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and His death at the Calvary. This basically reminds us of my favorite Bible verse, according to John 3:16 NIV -- For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. When I was young, I remember that in our community, some families would host the reading of the Passion of Christ. People used to gather together to read the contents by singing, 24 hours a day, by shift. The host would prepare foods and snacks for all. Always there would be such a delicious hot ginger tea to soothe the throat. We did not eat meat, only fish and vegetables. Those who had no medical issue, would fast, as a way of expressing feeling the grief. Then we used to go to the church full of devotees. Images and statues were covered with lavender fabric.  There was a deafening silence. ...

  Last night I watched Netflix's three-episode documentary "Aftershock: Everest and the Nepal Earthquake". Many times I held my breath. It is like a movie with a scriptwriter behind, but it's real. It really happened -- shocking, keeping me awake for some hours.  With many bad news around, I really feel scared with what is going on. There are some missile tests and nuclear war threats, not to mention the coronavirus and other health challenges to humanity. Am I overthinking? Just living alone without the immediate family in a foreign land is very tough. Focus is on daily survival. When the day ends, I gather all strength remaining for another day.  Of all, emotional strength matters, and at the core of it, my faith in God. Hope -- always hope -- is a propeller that keeps me going and believe that things will get better. The priorities of many of us is survival -- how to get through each single day for self and for the families if there are dependents. My heart goes to...

The largest visa and entry reforms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) came into effect last 3 October 2022, Monday. It is now active in the system, according to some typing centers, and as expected, many people inside and outside the country are interested to know more, and apply, if eligible. Khaleej Times wrote, "According to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP), the new scheme includes more than 15 types of visas , such as those for tourists, job-seekers, Golden and Green residencies and entry permits for truck drivers through land ports." The UAE Green visa is positioned like in the middle, midway between the Golden visa and the rest. The Green visa holder can sponsor himself / herself for five (5) years without the need for a local (UAE) national or employer to sponsor his / her visa. This is renewable on the same term upon expiry. As shown in UAE government portal , the Green visa provides many benefits, including -- getting...

Many people in the UAE are excited to welcome September 2022 and this excitement, for almost half a year, has greatly rippled that definitely stretches outside the country. Few months ago (April), the UAE Cabinet approved some visas with a new system of entry and residence, which is considered to be one of the biggest overhauls in the visa residency system in years, according to "The National ".  The aim is to attract and retain global talents and skilled workers. It further says that flexible visas will boost "competitiveness and flexibility of the job market and foster high sense of stability among UAE residents and families".   People on visit visa can stay up to 60 days, instead of 30 days only. A f ive-year multi-entry tourist visa was introduced in addition to the regular tourist visa. The tourist can stay in the country up to 90 days in a row, and can be extended for another same period, so total of 180 days in a year. No sponsor is needed. A proof of havi...

  Those with at least a basic gadget that can connect to the internet, are privileged to have an access to unlimited information available on the web. Everyone is a student who can learn many things in the Information Age. The challenge is how to filter that vast information so that what comes into our minds are verified true and correct, particularly if they have something to do with important / critical / sensitive issues. Since childhood I have been hungry for information and when I learned how to generate money at an early age, I used to subscribe to some leading newspapers and Reader's Digest. I am interested in current events and creativity of advertising agencies when they put their AIDA concept in print (get the a ttention, i nterest, d esire and a ction of target buyers) . Some of my roots were / are authors / writers and as such, it runs in my DNA . Writers read a lot to know more about life and their subject / s.  To come up with a newspaper, printed or digital or b...

  I set my alarm clock at 8 AM, as it was announced that the funeral mass for a dear friend, would be at 2 PM, Philippine time. She died on 4 August 2022, after several hours in comatose. The cause was a bleeding in the brains after she got out of balance in the toilet and fell down on the floor. I do not know yet the exact medical findings as of writing. There was no online funeral mass. I just said a silent special prayer with a heavy heart. Few days back, my son always told me to go home, repeatedly saying the same line. He did not say other words to me. Perhaps it was the time that the mother of his close friend who was like an elder brother to him, was in a critical condition, and he was feeling his pains.  He did not tell me anything related to this. I learned the news from my youngest daughter who advised me to talk to my godson, for comfort and strength, while the mother was fighting for life in the hospital. It was a devastating news. Last month she celebrated her 71s...