(After) Hayskul Layf...

from L to R: me, MM, AB, LP

"all the single ladies" @ Uno Restaurant Deira City Centre

special thanks to MM for organizing this meeting, she came all the way from Abu Dhabi

Noong Biyernes, nagkita-kita kami ng ilang mga klasmeyts nung hayskul na naka-base dito sa UAE para planuhin ang 2nd gift-giving cum grand reunion ng HCC 4-1 Batch '97 na gaganapin sa darating na December 2010. Maganda ang feedback sa nauna naming reunion kaya naman madami sa aming klasmeyts ang nais maulit ito. Na-discover namin na meron pala kaming natatagong ginintuang puso. Sabi nga namin, mukhang malakas yata ang panalangin para sa amin ni Father Aries, ang aming kaklaseng pari. :-)

Isa ako sa naging organizer sa una naming reunion. Nag house to house talaga kami sa mga kaklase namin para siguraduhin na lahat ng aming kaklase ay magiging parte ng aming proyekto. Nakakatuwa kasi nagkakaisa kami. Lahat ay magkakaibigan na bukod sa aming kanya-kanyang barkada noon. Dito ko naging close at kaibigan sina ED at MM kahit magkaiba kami ng grupo noong hayskul. Si ED ay kumare ko na ngayon (nabibigla yung iba naming klasmeyt kasi magkaiba kami ng grupo noon). Napaka-memorable talaga ng aming naging bonding.

Bago pa lang akong may driving license noon. Ang lakas nga ng loob nila at pumayag silang maging driver nila ako sakay ng aming XLT jeep (takot kasi ako mag drive sa highway, 1st tym ko mag-drive sa labas ng barangay namin na walang tagaturo at 1st tym naming muntik mahulog sa kanal..hehe..thank God, nde naman natuloy...nde nila ito makalimutan hanggang ngayon :-) ) Tuwing Sabado noon ay sinusuong namin ang init para mapuntahan ang lahat ng aming kaklase. Nagpunta din kami sa Divisoria para dun bilhin ang mga regalo para sa mga bata. Nakipag-coordinate din kami sa isang bahay ampunan na sakto naman ay nasa pamamahala ng aming dating guro sa Christian Living na si Sis. Tina. Naging very successful ang aming unang reunion. Yun nga lang, one week before nito ay umalis na ako papuntang Dubai. Hindi ko na naabutan ang actual date. Nagkasya na lang ako sa mga pictures na pinadala sa akin ng aking mga klasmeyts. Masaya na ako na naging parte ako ng isang napakagandang adhikain ng aking mga kaklase.

Malamang wala ulit ako sa actual reunion sa Dec 2010 dahil ang aking bakasyon ay sa Sep 2010, gayunpaman nakikiisa pa rin ako sa magandang proyektong ito. Habang nagpapalitan nga kami ng mga suhestiyon, parang naramdaman kong gusto ko din umuwi sa Dec 2010 kahit saglit lang para makadalo sa proyektong ito. Sana mangyari ito. :-) Very positive ako na magiging successful din itong 2nd reunion namin. Nakakatuwang isipin na nag-mature na talaga kami ngayon. We're thinking BIG, plano din naming magtayo ng sariling foundation in the near future. :-)

Why I So Love This Particular Blog?

Before pa ako mag-blog ay isa na akong follower ng mga blogs. Nabanggit ko na din ito sa aking pinakaunang blogpost. Kulang na nga lang i-classify ko ang sarili ko na 'stalker' kasi hindi ko nakakaligtaan na sumilip sa mga blog nila tuwing nag-iinternet ako. Kaya alam na alam ko ang nangyayari sa kanilang buhay base sa kanilang sinusulat. Believe it or not, feeling close at kilala ko sila sa lagi kong pagbisita sa kanila.

Medyo malayo na din ang aking nararating sa aking pagba-blog (hehe..feeling ko lang). Marunong na akong makigulo at makihalubilo sa ibang mga blogger (kaya sobrang feeling ako). Nandyan pa ang minsang nakaka-received ako ng comment na sobrang ikinatutuwa ko talaga. Feeling ko, ibang level na talaga ang blog ko.

Isa din sa dahilan kaya pinilit kong magkaroon ng blog ay para makapag-comment ako sa aking mga sinusubaybayang blog. Madaming beses kasi noon na sobrang gusto kong ipahayag ang aking komento sa mga sinusulat nila pero hindi nangyayari dahil sa "mahiyain" daw ako.

Sa ngayon, medyo nawawala na aking ang aking pagka-mahiyain, naisusulat ko na nga dito ang aking mga nararamdaman. Hindi na din ako nahihiyang mag-comment sa ibang blogs. At home na at home pa nga. :-)

So, bakit ko naisipang i-blog ito? Kagabi, as usual, dalaw ulit ako sa mga sinusubaybayan kong blog. Dumami na sila ngayon (7 na sila to date). Kahit alam kong wala silang bagong post, punta pa rin ako. Kahit comments binabasa ko. hehe. (Adik!). Dun sa mga feeling close ko na (ibig sabihin nde na ako nahihiya sa kanila), nag-iiwan ako ng comment. Pero dito sa blog na ikukwento ko, never pa akong nakapag-iwan ng komento dala na naman sa pagiging 'mahiyain' ko daw..haayyyy....

Dalawang beses kong binalikan ngayon ang blog niya para sana mag-iwan ng comment. Gusto kong ipaabot sana sa kanya ang aking paghanga at simpatiya sa kanyang blog. Gusto kong ipaalam na sobrang follower niya talaga ako. So sana, wag siyang mawalan ng gana sa pagba-blog. Malulungkot talaga ako.

Hindi na ako nabigla nung malaman kong siya ang nanguna sa isang prestihiyosong blog awards. Ganun ako kabilib sa kanyang blog. Malamang kilala ninyo ang aking tinutukoy. Sigurado yon. Hindi ko na papangalanan ang kanyang blog (dahil wala akong permiso at nde naman niya ako kilala).

Ito sana ang gusto kong i-comment sa blog niya pero hindi ko nagawa. Kaya naman, dito sa sa sariling blog ko na lang idinaan. :-)

The Best Shawarma in the UAE

I was listening to Virgin Radio when I heard them announced that Al Farooj won the best shawarma in the UAE (based on the station's text/on line polls). Sobrang natuwa talaga ako nang marinig ito. Feeling winner din ako. :-)

Dito ko na lang naging paborito ang shawarma. Isang beses lang siguro ako nakakakin ng shawarma sa Pinas dati-medyo hindi pa ako nasiyahan. Pero ang shawarma dito ay ang aking food for comfort. As in enjoy na enjoy akong kumain nito. Parang feeling ko laging special day.

Sympre pa alam ng aking mga kaibigan/ofismeyts ang pagkagusto ko sa al farooj, sobrang promote ako pag meron nagpapasaya sa akin. Gusto kong i-share kasi ang nararamdaman kong saya (in other words, makwento talaga ako).

Kaya naman nang manalo ang Al Farooj, ako ang una nilang naalala. Si SB, sobrang na-curious talagang sinadya pa niyang magpunta dito para matikman ito. Since ako ang pinakamalapit dito, nilalakad ko lang, nagdala ako sa ofis para matikman ng aking mga kaibigan/ofismeyts/lunchmeyts (ate CM, RS, SB, JM) ang aking ipinagmamalaking shawarma ng Al Farooj. Sabi nga nila, baka naman daw may commission ako sobrang promote ko daw kasi. Ganito kasi ang statement ko, "nasa Sharjah pa lang ako kilala ko na si Al Farooj, malapit siya sa St. Michael's Church, so tuwing pagkagaling sa church sigurado dun ang aming stopover. Kaya naman laking tuwa ko nang lumipat kami ng tirahan sa Dubai at malaman kong may Al Farooj na malapit sa amin."

Ang kanilang nasabi after ng taste test: masarap daw talaga. they love it na din. hehe...:-)

Al Farooj @ Muteena St. Deira, Dubai UAE



kakatuwa itong dalawa, nagpapaalam ako sa kanila
pero look at the pic, kunwari nde nila alam...:-)





ang aking mga paboritong shawarma:
lebanese chicken shawarma (for original)
mexican chicken shawarma (for spicy)

Wishing You A Very Happy Birthday, Friend...:-)

Happy Birthday PC! I'm so thankful to have you as my friend. You make my life here in Dubai more easier and happier. Thank you for hearing my thoughts and opinions (pasencia na for acting your elder sister sometimes, medyo opinionated lang talaga ako. it's also my way of showing concern, medyo nagiging pakialamera ako..hehe).

I'm very happy to see you happy with the way your (love) life is going. Kung sakali mang mag-decide ka na ding iwan ang pagiging single just like my other friends, suportahan taka (medyo nararamdaman ko na kasing malapit ka nang mag-settle down).

Basta, nandito lang ako para sa'yo. You can always count on me. I will always be your friend kahit saan man lupalop sa mundo tayo mapadpad (pero wag kang pumayag na sa bansa ng bf mo kayo manirahan pag ikinasal kayo...joke lng..hehe)

Today 10 Mar 2010 after work @ Pizza Hut, Karama

Happy Birthday ulit, ate PC! :-)

The Day I Said Goodbye...

This is a story (again) about my 2nd company here in Dubai- the final installment. The memories I had there are just too compelling for me. I found lots of friends there, the JAMDABARKADS. I was so inspired working because of gie, who happened to be our manager, my super crush then. And did i mention working in this company was also my dream job? Yes, it had been. I was very vocal in telling my friends that it was my perfect job. I was in control of everything. I loved the deadlines, month-end closings, account reconciliations, overtime, etc. I also loved those multi-tasking activities when i was not busy (emailing/chikahan over the phone while working). I basically loved every minute and every second of my work life there.

So, why did i leave the company? The same question was asked to me when i was interviewed by my current company. I remember I answered career move and financial reason. But these are only partly true. I really loved my work so much. I had given too much of myself to it that I'd expected too much from it. So when that one fateful day happened, my (work) life had never been the same. It had hit me big time. My heart knew it 'nawalan ako ng gana'. But I continued to work as if nothing had changed. I even put extra effort than the usual. It is not really in my vocabulary to sacrifice the quality of my work over my personal 'grudge'/feeling. I admitted my mistakes. But I felt trapped and my only way out is to leave the company even if it hurts.

It was a known fact that our company doesn't issue an NOC therefore, it is impossible/difficult for me to transfer to another company. I'd started to accept my fate & dismiss the thought of leaving the company. In fact, i formally asked my manager to just transfer me to another department. I reached to a point of working myself to death but unhappy. I'd started being 'super' workaholic that I hated it because I just can't stop. I became irritable. Before, I just laugh it off when a teammate would tell me he's just playing (i.e. typing really fast for a show) while i'm busy finalizing our team reports. But i had changed. There was a time, i suggested to my in-charge if i can swap responsibilities to a teammate. Of course, he did not agree. I can't believe he would tell me that my teammate couldn't handle my assigned tasks. That's also the reason why they did not grant my request to be transferred to another department. To my in-charge, i was indispensable to his department.

I tried to forget my frustrations over work. I was successful on this. I focused myself in my upcoming vacation to Phils which was scheduled the whole month of May 2007. I and my friends even planned to take a side trip to Singapore together. However, it was also during this time that i got a job offer from my current company who also can issue me a visa without an NOC. So I grabbed the opportunity.

A colleague kept on reminding me about my cheque in the cashier (advance salary is being given when going vacation). I was torn between proceeding my vacation and having a proper turnover. I decided to cancel my vacation to have a proper turnover. I owe it to my company/my in-charge, they'd/he'd been so good to me.

Two days after i cancelled my vacation, i'd passed my resignation letter to my in-charge. He did not expect it to come too soon for we really had a good working relationship with each other, enough for me to stay. (i and my in-charge had an 'inside joke'. one time before leaving the office, i told him 'sir, i will be sick tomorrow therefore, will not be here'. after that incident, he'd always asked me 'how's my health? and we would just end up laughing.) He advised me to think about it more closely. That he won't forward my resignation to our manager, he'll give me time to really weigh things. I told him i am decided already. It's not an easy decision for me, I'll definitely miss everything in the office, my collegues, my cubicle, my computer, and of course my in-charge. I promised him i'll update everything and i'll make sure proper turnover would take place.

After few hours, our manager (gie) asked me to go to his office. He's encouraging me to stay in the company- he told me i'll be transferred to another dept (suddenly he remembered my long overdue request); he promised promotion, salary increase etc; he also cited some negative possibilities that i might encounter in the new company like do i know if the new company's stable and more. 'Do not decide today', he told me. Let me know your decision tomorrow. I just kept silent. But to me, my decision is very clear and final.

I served my almost one-month notice with so much energy. I was back to my old self. I want to savour every minute of my time left in the company.

On my last working day, as I bid farewell to my colleagues i can't help but find myself shedding tears. I will really miss all of them.


Present: Once in a while, i still visit this company. I always feel the 'seems it was like yesterday' feeling. I feel very welcome. I'm actually 'at home na at home'. :-)

A 'Love' Letter To My Boss...

Caution: Huwag tularan. When you have the guts to write your boss a letter, be prepared and expect the worst things that can happen to you- your boss might take it against you, every little details of your work will be monitored and finally, the possibility of being terminated/deported.

I was aware of these consequences and yet, these did not prevent me from writing a letter to my boss. I was thinking back then, atleast i have to get to air my grievances. I was on this notion that the only right I have in this country is 'the right to remain silent'. I want to breakfree.

Background: It was in March 18, 2007 when my 1st company here in Dubai was sold to another company. The employees were absorbed by new management. I have been wanting to look for another job before this but a 'ban' will be more likely to be imposed on me. Employer here has a right to ban anyone should he not finish his contract usually a 3-year contract. I do not want to jeopardize my future and my family's so i have no choice but to love my 1st company whether i like it or not. When they sold our company, i saw it as a great opportunity for me to leave. It took only days when i was offered a job by another company and in less than a month, i was working afresh in my 2nd company here in Dubai.

Everything's going well except for the fact that my visa is still not transferred. Apparently, my 1st company (now with a new management) to my opinion, doesn't want to give me an NOC though they assure me of giving one when i resigned otherwise, i won't decide to leave. An NOC (no objection letter) is required so they can issue me a new visa. I have been following up to them (old and new mgt) for almost everyday. I was also personally going to the old and new office (al garhoud and bur dubai respectively) from time to time to secure the same but I was unsuccesful. I got tired and exhausted. I wanted to give up.

In my 2nd company, my boss/in-charge is very supportive of me. He understands my status. Legally, i was not their employee. I do not have yet a visa. I can be sued for working illegally. Since i was new and had no user account (our tasks were computer-related), i was working but literally doing nothing. My mind was always up in the sky- will my 1st company ever give me an NOC?

When I knew I have given my 100% to something, I can wholeheartedly accept whatever the outcomes. It's now outside my area of responsibility therefore, outside my control.

With all these in my mind, i wrote my first ever letter to my boss! (dtd April 2007). In the letter, i requested for an indefinete leave from office until i get NOC (anyway, they can never issue a visa to me without it). i also wrote about being paid in the office eventhough i'm not really working (very noble? but that's how i really felt).

My Boss' Reaction
Naturally, he called me in his office. He reiterated to me that everything will going to be okay. He added, the management expects me to do nothing in the office until they provide me a user account.There is no problem with that according to him. The management is aware of my condition. He also offered his help should i need him to talk to my 1st company (my boss is Jordanian therefore, speaks Arabic). After this talk, i felt relieved and free from all worries.


I knew right there and then, I made the right decision. I also do not forget to lift up everything to HIM. I do believe He has always a good purpose in everything that's happening to me.

The Unforgettable (Work) Experience...

I believe I am a very hardworking person. I take my work seriously and professionally. But you will never hear me talking about my work when i'm outside the office nor see me doing/taking work at home. I make sure that everything that needs to be done should be done in the office during working hours. Afterall, that's what I get paid for . Though I won't mind extending my time if there's really a need to.

I can fairly say that i am an employable person (praying that i will stay as is while writing this, no one's indispensable during this time of economic crisis). I've been working in Dubai for 4 years now. I got 4 employers & 3 residence visas on my account. Last Nov 2009, i almost joined another company that will make my record to be 1 year: 1 visa ratio but it's not just bound to happen yet. My friends would joked me if only employers were boyfriends, i could have had 4 bf's in Dubai to date. haha.


1st employer -Dec 1, 2005 to Dec 24, 2005- short period only; still under visit visa
2nd employer-Jan 1, 2006 to April 13, 2007-1st company with residence visa issued
3rd employer-Apr 14, 2007 to May 31, 2008-2nd company with residence visa issued
4th employer-June 1, 2008 to present - 3rd company with residence visa issued


I have a lot of memories to all these companies. But the most memorable and unforgettable experience to me was that of the 3rd employer (see, i even highlighted it in red color..hehe)

There are lots of good things/changes that happened to me during this time- moved from Sharjah to Dubai, started going out, had made lots of friends, 1st time had a crush on a colleague which happens to be our manager; homesickness' gone; felt free in this very conservative country and many more.

But the most memorable out of these memorable experiences is when my credibility as a worker was questioned and put into test by none other than our manager, who also happenned to be my super crush, who i gave a code name 'gie' meaning guwapo. :-)

How could I forget that day? It was such a fine day. Just got finished my deadlines ahead of time. Everyone in the office seemed so happy. As usual, I and my Filipino colleagues/friends were the most happiest. We don't just have dull moments in the office. Our most anticipated time was during lunch break, it's our time for chikahan/kulitan/bonding etc. That's not enough for us, we also emailed each other while in the office which mostly if not all are initiated by me.

Since it's not a busy time in the office and i got nothing left to do at that time, i sent my usual email to all my Filipino colleagues/friends (7 nos) to keep our circle alive and fun (also prevent the feeling of boredom in the office). The beginning was like this- 'let's play a game then i listed some of my most favorites, most memorable etc asking them to do the same....imagine me receiving and answering back their replies at the same time, i had fun really. Since, they too were not busy, the emails kept on coming. We moved from one topic to another.

Then suddenly, the assistant of my manager went to my area and told me that gie wanted to see me in his office. Naturally, i was glad upon hearing that. I was more than happy to see him. I gathered myself and went to his office. I told myself this is my time to prove myself (meaning magpa-cute at makita niya how i worked- i'm technically doing all the work in our dept; my in-charge was aware of this; i'd want to reiterate what i'd felt for gie is just a pure crush/paghanga)

OUR CONVERSATION (inside gie's office)

gie: how are you? how's work?

me: i'm doing fine. we're updated sir. (while smiling at him)

then suddenly gie changed his tone of voice- now higher but still composed

gie: so that's the reason why you've done all these ?!?(pointing to the printed emails in his table with thickness about one rim of bond paper !)

me: (speechless and felt like crying; still shocked, i never thought emailing was such a big deal; guilty as charged)

gie: i can't believe you'd do this. Of all people, you are the least person i'd expected to have done this. you disappointed me. you even printed your emails! ( i saw my name printed in the header indicating that they were printed thru my computer)

me: sir, i admit it's my mistake. i know very well it's against our company's rules. I break a rule, it's just right to subject me to a disciplinary action. i'd be willing to accept whatever it is. i also want you to know that i maybe guilty emailing personal but i will never print personal emails/documents using company's printer. i was not the one who printed those emails. (who would waste one rim of bondpaper for an evidence?)

Intermission: March 3, 2010 10:30pm Dubai time

Just got home, galing na naman kami ni PC sa aming Bagong Tambayan. :-). Bago ako magpatuloy sa kwento ko, i would like to thank LordCM & The Pope sa pag-iwan ng kanilang komento kahit pa nga nde pa tapos ito. You're really making me happy. Salamat ulit!

Here's the continuation:

gie: you disappointed me really. how can you do this? see you started them all (now looking at the emails)

me: i am really very sorry sir. (feeling really very sorry then long silence)

Then gie, went out of his room and called his assistant. While i'm alone in his office, i got a chance to browse the printed emails. To my surprise, i saw our emails which were days ago. It seems to me that they've been monitoring my activities, someone's watching me. They probably printed my emails via remote access thru our IT Dept. :-(

My colleagues/friends have no idea during this time that i was summoned to gie's office. After few minutes, gie came back at the office.

gie: i know how you worked, your in-charge always praise you. but what you've done is not acceptable.

Then someone knocked on the door. It's DG, one of my email buddies & the most active respondent to emails (hehe). He had no idea what's happening inside. Apparently, he was also summoned.

gie: please come in DG. personal emailing is not allowed in our company. so please stop doing this.

DG: sorry sir, sorry sir, it won't happen again.

gie: ok, thank you.

Just like that...DG went outside the room while me was still sitting inside waiting for the final verdict. During this time, i was trying to be tough as much as i can. I do not want to shed tears in front of gie.

Gie kept on repeating what i have done. He kept on making 'sermons' to me (sobrang pagkasabon ko talaga). I was not used to it. Masakit sa dibdib for i know i'm giving my 100% to my work. And just because i was having fun while in the office, masisira na ito. After maybe an hour of gie's sermons, wala pa ding nangyayari. He's still exasperated. So I again brought up the idea of me being subjected to a disciplinary action (para matapos na ito).

me: i am really very sorry sir. i am willing to accept any disciplinary action that you will impose on me. i will understand if you will suspend me.

gie: (shocked with my statement) do you think i 'd want that? you will not be here in my office if i'd want that to happen. i can easily raise this issue to HR if i like.

me: (now very silent....what will i say?)

gie: (on normal tone of voice) ok, make sure it won't happen again. and please let your friends know that personal emailing is not allowed here.

me: thank you sir.

Then i returned to my workstation. My friends still don't have an idea of what had happened, they're still sending emails. I had unread messages of maybe more than 5o from them. I immediately composed a new email addressed to all them:

Subject: please stop emailing

i will explain this to you later.

After i sent the above, my phone rang. It's was my In-charge (he just arrived from shop audit). He asked me to come to his office. (Oh no, another 'sermon' is coming?!?)

The Last Part: March 4, 2010 11pm

I went to my in-charge office. He told me they already informed him what just happened. He gave his share of sermons. This time, i let my tears fall (first time i cried in the office). I can't take it anymore (mabigat sa dibdib ang sinesermunan ako ng paulit-ulit, tapos hindi ko maipagtanggol ang sarili ko dahil alam kong ako ang nagkamali). He asked me what is our manager's action. I answered him i don't know. I told him i am open to a possibility of suspension. No, he said. He won't let that happen.

He admitted that he, too, is emailing in the office but he make sure he will not be caught in the act. Again, he's wondering why of all people, i was the one caught by gie's himself? (would i be flattered? i was the chosen one).My in-charge is trying to lighten up the atmosphere. But i was not that keen on talking when i really feel bad. My mind's telling me right at that moment that i have to find another job asap.

The phone rang. gie's on the other line, he's talking to my in-charge in Arabic. But i know they're talking about me for i heard them mentioned my name.

After my in-charge wrapped up all the 'sermons' and advices, he specifically told me that he needs me in the office the next day. He probably read what's on my mind for i was really thinking & determined to call in sick.

Our office timing is until 6:30pm only but we finished past 7pm. All my friends/colleagues were all waiting for me downstairs. Their presence is more than enough to keep me sane (para kasing lumilipad isip ko nun). I was really touched for the moral support they'd given me.

The Day After The Unforgettable Day

I was present in the office as committed to my in-charge. I did my usual work. But i intentionally did not open my outlook. My in-charge would always ring me to say that he has an email for me. Also on this day, would you believe i got a job interview already which really boost my morale! (out of spite, i submitted my resume to a prospect employer the night of the unforgettable day). Since we're only half day during Thursday, i immediately agree to the interview in the afternoon. My two friends/colleagues (given such a short notice) drove me all the way to the place of interview and patiently waited for me. Although, that attempt was unsuccessful (that happened in Nov 2007; i left our company in June 2008), it had helped me a lot to move on and to be back right on track.