Lelet a non-blogger, newly met friend (internet) of mine left this as comment on my other site. I thought of publishing this here on Lukaret because I find her message really encouraging. And I also would like to share this to some friends in real life na ‘medyo’ nagulat or puzzled sa aking pagbabago.

Hello Beng,
I’m Glad to met you here..the other side of you. parang abot kamay ko lang ang Germany thru reading your site though parang nasa Butuan din ako…hihihi…Though I don’t know you much but for sure buotan ka day thru what i read in this pages. What more can I say…ayu-ayo din ha!

May this encourage you:

If there are people in your life that continually disappoint you, break promises, and stomp on your dreams, too judgmental, have different values and don’t have your back during difficult times…that is not a friend. Sometimes in life as you grow, your friends will either grow or go.

Remember what your elders used to say, “Birds of the same feather flock together.” If you’re an eagle, don’t hang around with chickens: Chickens Can’t Fly!

Take care always
lelet

Now let me relate a bit…

Sometimes in life as you grow, your friends will either grow or go.

There is truth in every word you have in here. I can relate dahil nadaanan ko ito. I grow and changed for the better and some friends are left behind dahil naging magkaiba na ang values namin sa buhay. To me values are those things that really matter to each of us … the ideas and beliefs we hold as special. Caring for others, for example, is a value; so is the freedom to express our opinions.

Speaking of “Freedom to express our opinions.” I would like to share some words of wisdom to some friends (again) who have trouble with accepting critic or opinion. I believe, that a constructive critic is made in order to help a person to become himself or herself into a better person, or, say, to become his or her work into a better one. And I know that criticism, however constructive, can be hard to take. Nonetheless, it’s imperative that you take it well, and even with grace and style. It’s about how you can improve on something, make some thing better. You must understand and accept this if you are to listen to what others have to say with an open mind and heart.

So here we go…
Honesty is a prerequisite to a friendship. There must be a willingness to speak the truth, and a willingness to hear the truth. Friends who do not care enough to confront may save themselves a little awkwardness in the present but will end up losing their friendships in the future.

And as the saying goes…
Remember what your elders used to say, “Birds of the same feather flock together.”

Individuals of like character, taste, or background (tend to stay together). Or People of the same (usually, unscrupulous) character associate with one another, as do birds of the same species. The birds will resort unto their like, so will truth return unto them that practise in her.

I love this part very much!
If you’re an eagle, don’t hang around with chickens. Chickens Can’t Fly!
Hehehe, ganun ba yon? Though, chicken can fly din di ba? Hindi nga lang ganun kataas sa lipad ng agila.

This part actually belongs to the quote Lelet left on my comment box, hindi niya lang ito idinagdag. I found it somewhere else.
Over the years my phone book has changed because I changed for the better. At first you think you’re going to be alone, but after a while new people show up in your life that make your life so much sweeter and easier to endure.

AND IT IS SO TRUE!

It was raining hard I as went to downtown with my 5 years old son para magbayad nang mga bills. I used to go to SM Mall dahil meron silang collecting office doon nang mga utilities like PLDT, Davao Light and etc. Dahil nawala nang may-ari ng bahay na una naming tinirhan ang PLDT bill ko, I had no choice than to go to their office directly. It was already 4:35 P.M as we entered their office in Ponciano St., and I was glad because there were only two customers aside from us. The first time I went there to apply for a telephone and DSL connection, their office was sooo crowded. The guy who was standing in the front door handed me a stab with number 1147.

Few minutes later, tinawag na ang numero ko and I directly went to the table na itinuro nung mama sa akin. The guy encharge looks so unfriendly, he asked me in an unfriendly tone kong ano daw ang kailangan ko. I must admit that I was a bit intimidated, but then again…I had no choice. So ayon sinabi ko sa kanya na magbabayad ako and that I have no bill to present kasi nawala ito. He asked for my name and telephone number and after checking my account, he scribbled something on a kapiranggot piece of paper and handed it over to me. 3,210.97 Pesos ang figure na nakalagay doon. I was puzzled kong bakit ganun kalaki, so I asked him to tell me the details. The masungit guy said: “Maam, two months kayong hindi nagbayad kaya ganyan kalaki ang halaga.” And I answered: “What????? I paid my bill last month at sobra pa nga ito ng one hundred pesos. So please kindly explain kong bakit nagkaganyan!” He mumured something which I didn’t understand. Before he could open his mouth again, inunahan ko na siya. I asked him if combined ang bill from our former residence to the current. He asked me back kong wala daw ba akong bill na natanggap. “HELLLOOOO? Nakinig ka ba sa sinabi ko kanina? I told you na nawala ang bill kaya ako nandito.” He answered: “Ah basta! Two months ang nakarecord dito na hindi ka nagbayad.” Me:“&/@°^§!ß?%$ Mister, let me tell you something…two months palang kaming nandito sa Pilipinas, and as I said, I paid the bill last month kaya huwag na huwag mong ipagdiinan na two months akong hindi nagbayad! Please be so kind and print me a copy of that damn bill so I can see the details.” Naku, kumulo like lava ang ipot ko talaga sa mamang ito. Kunting-konti nalang at sasabog na sana ako.

So then, he printed nga the bill and I saw there na may charge na 1,200.00 pala ang connection change. Ganun lang yon kadali intindihin noh? But just the same I am not paying anything na naka scribble lang sa isang pirasong papel. The masungit guy was just too lazy to print it, too lazy to stand up para pumunta sa likuran ng counter divider. Pinapahirapan pa ako!

The next mishap happened nung magbabayad na ako. It was just few minutes nalang before closing time. I went to the guy cashier (na mukhang tiyupi) and handed him the bill. Aba, sabi sa akin I need to pull another stab again. Dahil masunurin si Tita Poorshya niyo, tumakbong pumunta ako sa may pintuan. Pero noong kukuha na sana ako…the guy who assited me earlier said na cut-off time na daw. Ibig sabihin wala na akong numerong mahuhugot sa kong saang butas. I went back to the cashier again, kaladkad si Gillian and told the person na wala nang number dahil close na ang box. He only answered coldly na “walang stab walang bayad”. I pleaded him na kong maari tanggapin niya na lang ito. He was so damned heartless and inconsiderate, talaga daw’ng NO. I was fuming with anger and left the counter saying WHAT A BULLSHIT UNFRIENDLY EMPLOYEES!

Hoy! Kayong mga tega PLDT Davao in Ponciano, if you think you have the kili-kili power just because you are sitting prettily at your desk. Please do not forget you are only employees and above all, servants of your customers. You should try to learn how to treat your clients nicely because you are not the only provider here in Davao. Got what I mean? Be considerable naman lalo na sa mga nanay na may kasamang anak. My son and I were all soaked as we got there dahil umuulan that time. Pumunta lang para magbayad, pero ni kaunting konsiderasyon ay WALA KAYO! This is not without consequences…meron pang BAYANTEL dito na malapit lang ang office sa aminnnnn.

I hate to say it but I ABHOR people who blatantly brag in the faces of other people who are struggling in life. It is simply rudeness, unfriendliness and insult to others! I understand that this poor thing, just want to impress others, catch others attention and to stand out from others (like a blinking neon roadside billboard at night). But I don’t think showing off the signature undies to the public is necessary. Okay I got the message, you want to let everyone know that you are all signature from top to bottom.

But how can you be so blind? You think you impressed them much with your €900 LV boots, whatever signature “underwear” and other signature bling-blings you have with you. But my dear, let me tell you something…the naked truth is - they are all making fun out of you. So if I were you, you’d better come down to the ground and act normal. You are not a socialite, you have no breeding so don’t act as if you belong to who’s who level because you are not.

I know that what you are doing is human nature. Everyone of us tries to make the people around us and the people we come in contact with, think very highly of us. But see, your way is completely off the mark. There are so many ways to impress people. I don’t know of a specific ways. But I am sure, people would like you for being you and not for trying to be like anyone else. And you know what? Perhaps we’d be more impressed with one another if we did not try to impress each other under the pretense of being judged.

I’m dreading Christmas here in Germany, I really am. I feel the spiritual side of Christmas has been completely lost and I can’t cope with stress of everything I have to buy and do. Christmas means misery to me and not celebration, because I’m the one who has to take care of everything. Like buying presents, plan and cook the meal for Christmas eve and Christmas and host all of them. I really don’t want to sound like an old git, but I’m old enough to remember when Christmas in the Philippines was special in so many ways. We received some gifts that we never had at any other time, we had food that we spent 364 days only dreaming of and people wished you a happy Christmas and meant it.

There is so much to be said for the good old days, but sadly I can’t turn back time. How I wish I’m home…

P.S
Tita Beng is currently enjoying the FLU, so pasensiya na muna kayo ha?

Have you ever experienced a moment where you wanted to yell at someone due to her/his sheer incompetence? I do, and I lost count of the amount of times that I got infuriated due to some people’s inability. Let me share you some of my emotionally-charged experiences in the past.

Philippine Embassy (this happen just recently)

I called there to ask about the Balikbayan program. Di nga ba’t balak naming umuwi or mag-stay ng medyo matagal sa Pilipinas? Really, it’s not that I don’t understand what is written kundi meron lang akong gustong linawin doon sa mga nakalistang requirements. On list number six (6) it says that:

The former Philippine citizen shall declare before a Philippine Immigration Officer at the port of entry that she/he is availing of the balikbayan privilege and shall present his/her valid passport in addition to ANY of the following documents:

1. cancelled Philippine passport
2. birth certificate
3. naturalization papers to show former Philippine citizenship

Malinaw na nakasulat ang ANY so para sa akin maari kong i-present sa kanila ang isa sa mga nakalagay na requirements doon. But I was not really sure about it kaya naisipan kong tumawag sa embassy para lang makasiguro.

Phone conversation:

Lady employee: Philippine Embassy good afternoon.
Me: Here is Mrs. Hafner, good afternoon.
Lady employee: Yes how can I help you?
Me: Meron sana akong gustong itanong tungkol dito sa mga requirements ng Balikbayan program.
Lady employee: Ano po yan?
Me: Nakalagay dito sa number six nang program na…blah blah blah.
Lady employee: Hindi ko ho alam yan. Saan niyo yan nakuha?
Me: Miss nasa website niyo ito. Teka, encharge ka dito di ba, bakit hindi mo alam?
Lady employee: Sandali lang ho babasahin ko muna. a short pause then Ay Ma’am kong ano po yang nakasulat diyan yan, lahat po yan ay i-present niyo.
Me: Miss, kaya ko gustong makasiguro dahil wala na sa akin ang Philippine passport ko. I remember na, pinadala ito noon diyan ng German Foreign Affairs.
Lady employee: Ay Ma’am sorry but I can’t help you, yan po ang patakaran kaya yan po ang sundi niyo.
Me: Ah ganun, eh di ibalik niyo sa akin ang luma kong passport. Ganun lang din yon kadali di ba?
Lady employee: Ma’am imposible hong mangyari yan dahil dahil wala na sa amin ito.
Me: Eh yon naman pala eh, so why are you people requiring that? And besides bakit nakalagay sa listahan na ANY? Hay naku it looks like hindi mo ako matutulungan so thank you miss for your time and effort. Bye!

I have heard so many negative comments about Philippine Embassy employees regarding their working abilities and how they treat people when it comes to serious matters. But I never imagined I’m going to experience it myself. Sabagay, bakit nga naman maiba ano? Honestly speaking, umuusok ang dalawang butas ng ilong sa ganitong sitwasyon. I mean how can they employ someone who has no idea what she’s doing? Hindi na ba uso ang briefing ngayon?

My next experience happened in 2005, I won a back and forth flight ticket to Philippines. Gusto ko sanang i-encash nalang ito dahil kauuwi ko lang the previous year. Oo nga libre ang ticket pero alam naman nating lahat ano na mas malaki pa dito ang kailangang allowance compared to airfare. Since hindi pala pwedeng i-encash, napilitan nalang akong umuwi with my little boy. Hubby even suggested na mag-stay daw ako ng matagal doon habang hindi pa pumapasok sa Kindergarten ang bata. So ayon, pina-schedule ko ang lipad namin ng January tapos balik April. Almost three months din yon dahil end of January kami lumipad. (more…)

Our dream…

Two years ago, I wrote about our purchased housing lot in Villa de Mercedes, in Catigan,Toril, Davao City. The place is supposed to be our Refugium or the place where we want to retire later. We consider ourselves lucky to have acquired the lot as Euro exchange rate was still high. To date, the price per square meter has doubled and may double again.

Hopes…dying!

The economy here in Germany is getting worst. Everything is getting expensive and everything is increasing its price, and jobs are paid lower and lower every year. And taxes getting higher and insurance premiums going up. Summa summarum (altogether) what’s left is only enough to pay the bills and for food and further than that…no more. At the end of the month, there’s absolutely nothing left to save for rainy days or for retirement. This is the reason why I said “hopes dying” because I see no financial improvement in the future. It’s a nightmare! Fact is, gobyerno nalang ang nakikinabang sa kinikita ng mga ordinary citizens like me. Ang nakakatakot pa diyan, everytime na kinukulang ang Haushaltsetat (municipal budget) ng government, bagong tax gimik kaagad ang kanilang naiisip. Like last year, they decided to increase VAT from 16 to 19% and it started this year. Para pantakip daw ito sa gaping hole ng Staatskasse (treasury). They were successful indeed…they got more than 3 billions surplus just within 10 months. Ang masaklap, sa halip na pag-uusapan ng mga honghang na politicians kong ano ang dapat paglalaanan ng pera…nag-aaway sila. Pagkatapos ng napakahabang debate…sa bandang huli ay nagkaisa din sila. Nagkaisa silang taasan ang kanilang sahod.

Oh before I forget, the government advised the younger citizens to get an additional private pension fund aside from the public retirement insurance. They said that the staatliche Rente (public or state pension) (we are paying for this monthly) will be insufficient in the future. Great huh? From hand to mouth na nga lang ang net income mo dahil sa dinadami nang social security contributions deductions. Tapos at the end wala ka rin palang makukuha doon sa binabayaran mo pagdating ng panahon. How inspiring and reassuring. Tongue-in-cheek!

To make the long story short :) ang kasalukuyang sitwasyon dito sa Germany ay halos para na ring sa Pilipinas. So, kong iisipin, bakit ko kailangang magpakagagang magtiis sa lamig at hopeless na sitwasyon dito kong maari din naman akong magtiis sa kaunting halagang aking kikitain sa mainit na lugar? Gets niyo ba sinabi ko? Mahirap i-explain pero I hope you get the message (hehehe).

Goodbye Deutschland!

More than 100,000 Germans emigrate annually, and it’s only the beginning…kabilang na kami dito very soon!

Balik Tayo Sa Tsapter Ng “DREAMS”

The land developer sent us an update of their house models. May lima silang bago ngayon and oh my gosh, they are so nice and sooooo expensive. Siyempre noh, bawat model may swimming pool at kong anek-anek pang paek-ek.

Papa G and I ay biglang natunganga ng makita namin ang illustrasyon ng mga modelong bahay. At lalo kaming napanganga ng makita namin ang presyo. Dahil di kaya ng aming pocket…we settled for something smaller and affordable.

Ito ngayon ang aming dream house… (more…)