Going out of the country to work on a foreign land for a foreign company has its risks and hazards. Although one is tempted to leave the Pearl of the Orient Seas in the prospect of having higher salaries from what you can get from the same job locally. Juicier compensation doesn't mean always that you get the better of the deal though. Remember that you are still going to be away living and slaving in a land previously unknown to you. That you need to adjust to the environment, culture, religion, local law, etc.

Another positive draw to overseas imployment is the chance to travel to many places. Although this is really fun, the world today is not becoming any safer for outlander (and even native people) visitors anymore. Terrorism, kidnapping and contagious diseases always are threats which might make your expatriate life very unpleasant.

The picture (left) shows a man helping out a bleeding male after a car bomb exploded in the street causing heavy casualties in the establishments nearby and killing and injuring a couple of dozens of people in the walkways.

Being accused of a wrongdoing and forced to confess is the usual procedure for countries with low regards to fair and clean judicial process. Good example: Filipinos arrested in Saudi Arabia for crimes they didn't commit.

Asians working and/or living in western countries often are treated to racial bigotry.

Work meaning not only getting along for a long period of time but actually surviving together all difficulties and challenges a married life brings til you are ready to see each other again in heaven (kind of mushy, isn't it? ala Dear Joe).

ASAWA. This is how I will put together my personal view of the "teknik" as to how the young and upstart couples out there (pwede na rin sa mga older lovers) could actually strengthen the bond of marriage and make it last a whole lot longer than the Spaniards conquered my bayang magiliw.

Affection & Affinity -- This is where you and your partner started. Liking each other whether at first by physical looks, characater and humor, financial capability, fame. A feeling that later developed into LOVE. This feeling of affinity and affection to each other should remain even if all you can see is the kulubot na balat (wrinkled skin) and uban (white hair). Even if your spouse smells like bengay or worse amoy lupa (pano ba sa English ito?). Even if you have to shout just so you can let him hear that he should go back to the toilet and flush the McArthurs because he forgot to.

Sharing, Sacrifice & Sex -- Sharing is a must in every relationship including marriage. I believe that 95% of yourself should be shared to your better half and likewise you should expect and receive the same 95% from him/her. Without sharing everything would be a mess unless one has to sacrifice. Being able to make personal sacrifices so the other can go about his/her preferred way is not an easy task especially if the subject includes either of the following (or combination): religion, politics, lifestyle, vices, other affiliations. Sacrifice in married life is inevitable and nobody said married life is just like a walk in the park. The last S is SEX. I do not believe in all that crap saying that Sex is Holy. I believe it is one of love's pleasure-slash-obligation-slash-pleasure thing rather than being Holy (siguro pag si bradermayk ang partner mo). This part of marriage life is what couples should be enjoying to the maximum as when both of you aged it is going to be increasingly difficult to make love, let alone have an erection. I won't elaborate much about this as I am feeling homesick.

Awareness -- Being aware of your hubby's needs, likes and dislikes is very important. You should know when to give her gifts, say the right words, say nothing at all, do the comforting pat and give the sweet embrace. Of course memorizing the important dates in your life is also necessary.

Wear Trust -- When I say Trust I am not pertaining to the popular brand of condom. Rather I am referring to believing in the honesty and reliability of each other. Trust should be preserved and fortified in each day of your relationship. Trust is not a shirt that you can wear then wash and wear then wash again. So don't let your trust for each other wither to oblivion.

Ambience of mystery -- Without mystery there'll be nothing to discover anymore. No excitement, no adventure, no fervency! When I said that only 95% should be shared to your spouse that's because the remaining five should be reserved for this. Couple should continue discovering things about each other as this will not just freshen up the relationship but might, oftentimes, even tone up your marriage to the point that saying "healthy and happy marriage" would be an understatement. Remember that when you first met each other there is so much unknown that makes both of you want to snuggle underneath the sheets, make love and talk about everything all night long.

Remember that your marriage is not just a piece of paper, not a just a ceremony and certainly not something that you may take for granted. Marriage is a pact of LOVE swore and affirmed before God and the world.

Amen!

 According to NationMaster.com, Philippines is ranked #129 in the world in the average life expectancy. This is a not so good ranking as this is right in the middle of the pack of 220 nations ranked by the said web site, only four places higher than our Asian neighbor Indonesia.

Many factors contribute to the longevity of the populace in a nation such as lifestyle, environment, food intake and overall morale. Of the top ten countries in the chart below, four are from Asia (Macau, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan). What do these four have in common? Good economy, peaceful environment, comes from the Yellow Race (from or major part of population comes from Yellow Race), favors fish meat over farm meat. Plus all of these countries are basically islands which enjoy soothing sea breeze all year long. I wonder if most of the people from these states have more vitamin C and E sources in their diet which according to some nutritionists, scientists and medical experts provides added years in one's life meter.

Until now there is no clear and indicative data that will prove that the people of nations with high life expectancy tend to do certain rituals, prefer to eat and sleep right, drink wine moderately and do all the other "tips and techniques" to prolong their lifespan.

Sa Pilipinas, it is being put in a very simple kasabihan: "Matagal mamatay ang masamang damo."

I wonder sometimes... how about ang masamang kabayo? or ang mabuting kabayo na kumain ng masamang damo? :)

 

Snapshot taken from www.NationMaster.com.

Recently, the Philippines tops the list for women executives (percentage-wise) among all other Asian countries. Here is the article:

Philippines tops list for women executives

The Philippines has topped a survey among all asian countries with Filipinas holding senior management positions.

New findings from the Grant Thornton International Business Report showed 97 per cent of businesses in the Philippines have women in top managerial positions... keep reading

The picture on the left side (top) is a typical parada sa bario having the little girls, the teenagers and even the grown up ladies go on a bario-wide parade either by walking or by riding pedicabs or karosa.

I am not so interested in lechon though. I miss my dinaing na bangus, inihaw na tilapia, kare kare (with lots of veggies) at chopseuy!!!

Why do Filipinos excel more in individual sports than team sports? Can't we produce an Asian Games basketball champion team? How about a formidable football squad that can rival with some of the Europian foots band? And what the hell happened to our RP Blue Boys who are once feared in the Asian baseball circuit?

Is our inclination on being successful in individual sports (and disinclination in winning in team sports) any way indicative that Pinoys prefer to achieve "individual greatness" rather than "collective triump or group victory"? Is Filipino team work not good enough?

Just a thought... Anyway here's a short list of successful (both past and present) Pinoy champion sportsmen:

1. Manny Pacquiao - Boxing
2. Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco - Boxing
3. Gabriel "Flash" Elorde - Boxing
4. Efren "Bata" Reyes - Billiards
5. Francisco Bustamante - Billiards
6. Ronato Alcano - Billiards
7. Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski - Equestrian
8. Tony Leviste - Equestrian
9. Paeng Nepomuceno - Bowling (Hall of Fame)
10. Eric Buhain - Swimming
11. Teofilo "Ilocano Shark" Yldefonso - Swimming
12. Lydia De Vega - Athletics
13. Elma Muros - Athletics
14. Simeon Toribio - Athletics (Filipino Field Athlete of the Half Century)
15. Eugenio Torre - Chess
16. Jethro Dionisio - Shooting
17. Dorothy Delasin - Golf
18. Jennifer Rosales - Golf
19. Donal David Geisler -Taekwando
20. Salvador Del Rosario - Weightlifting
    

I'll be blogging again not from my old blog site but here in BlogText.

Not that I want to leave Blogger.com, I just want to try something new and make a new web log of more mature entries :)

My first web log was really just a practice. Started on 2003 with Blogger.com with random web logs since I didn't really have any theme or specific motif that time... 

Now I'll try to focus on two three key (broad) topics namely:

1. The Philippines (including its people, places, culture, etc) <-- this is too broad
   
2. Sports (hmmm i'll try pick only those that interest me... F1, NBA, Efren "Bata" Reyes, etc)
3. All things under the sun (which is practically anything on earth or the solar system hehe)***