THOUGHTSKOTO

Thursday, March 17, 2011

The 11th Day of March

On March 11, 2011, 3 hours before the will-never-to-be-forgotten catastrophe in the history of Japan and the world, I was on the national radio talking with former Usec Susan Ople, and Ms. Leo Navarro in the RMN News Bantay OFW. I was talking/ranting for nearly 30 minutes about the situation, the lack of system in our embassies and in our government especially with regards to the plights of OFWs, and suggesting about a few things to somehow make things right. I will mention a few here, in a hope that somehow those directly involved in OFW matters will have the chance to read this one. (Asa pa ako)

The topic of the day was about the Saudi 'Day of Rage' and we're grateful that nothing happened that day in our side of the world. The rally was peaceful, perhaps because of the overwhelming presence of police and armies, as well as the lack of support from the local people, and the determination of the Saudi government to quell any protest that they declared illegal. It was a smooth and quiet day. At least that was before I was interviewed. Before the intensity 9 earthquake hit Japan and the gigantic tsunami waves that flatten towns and damaged the nuclear power plant that they are desperately trying to contain now.

Anyway here are some of my suggestions, a few of it I mentioned on air, some I mentioned in my Twitter and Facebook post.

1. Kung gaano po kahigpit ang gobyerno natin sa pagsisingil ng bayad sa OWWA at POEA, and paghahanap ng receipt nito sa immigration, ganun din sana kahigpit ang pagkuha or pagrequire ng mga email address or mobile roaming number ng bawat Pinoy na lumalabas ng bansa.

Through this way I see the opportunity to communicate with the OFWs, informed them about emergencies and other info's that will make things easier. It is envious that foreigners are receiving updates through SMS from their embassies.

2. I hope this will be a feasible suggestion if we can communicate with Smart or Globe and other telecommunication companies if we can setup an international hotline number where we can text or call in any situation if an OFW is in need of help. In this age of technology and information, all this will be visible to take care of our people. Every OFW leave he country with a SIMcard, a roaming SIMCARD where they can receive messages as well as send messages. Some country telco's allows to use this sim to call, other only allows SMS messages. This is a very good opportunity to inform OFWs about news and information. If we can do this, we are showing that we are taking care our people.

3. Lower internet rate especially OFW families. The family, especially the OFW families is disintegrating. It is the terrible price of going abroad. The only thing that connects between them for a year or two or even beyond are the mobile phones, or laptops and computers through the internet. Let us make this a national crusade. I hope our politician will pick up this blog entry and passed a measure given the OFW family, one family per OFW a special discount in internet rate. As we make the internet affordable to OFW's we are connecting families, re-establishing connections between fathers and mothers to sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters.

4. The 72-hour kit, or emergency bag where you have everything ready for grab. Water, cookies, foods, medicine and first aid kit, passports, important documents, money, and few clothes. Since we were young we were taught to have this 3 days emergency kit enough for us to survive for 3 days. I hope OFW’s around the world will follow this simple and yet important counsel especially those of us here in the Middle East where situation is currently volatile.

Talking about 72 hour kit. We know what's going on in Japan. It's better to be ready. Anyway, the least we can do is pray for Japan and its people. They've been so good to the Philippines in humanitarian and development aid. It is such a beautiful country to be devastated by this series of tragedies too. I learn today and hope to reminded always, that no matter how strong and powerful a country is, like US and Japan, God has His way of reminding us that He is the Master of all.

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Where Do I Stand on the National Bloggers Association?

One country, one blogging community

A Manifesto of Filipino bloggers and netizens

March 1, 2011

We, Filipino bloggers and netizens from across the Philippines and those based overseas, coming from diverse backgrounds and specialties, using various new media outlets, hereby come together and call for the formation of a bloggers association of the Philippines that shall unite us around common and beneficial objectives and aspirations, mainly:

The promotion and defense of the right to free expression

The promotion and development of blogging, vlogging, photoblogging, microblogging and other online creative and expressive forms in all their diverse categories, topics and types

The gathering and sharing of Philippine blogging’s best practices that reflect our contributions to ourselves and our online communities, media, causes, organizations and businesses, government, the nation and the world.

The drafting and adoption of a code of ethics that underscore the community’s responsibility and maturity; and

The discussion of issues and concerns that confront the community and members of the community

The promotion of more affordable, reliable and better internet access in the country

The association we aspire to form is voluntary in character, national in scope, democratic in decision-making, and progressive in outlook.

We draw inspiration from and ask the participation of the city-wide, provincial, regional and island-wide associations, summits and conventions initiated by bloggers across the country.

We want an association that makes decisions based on democratic processes, consensus-building and mutual benefit.

A long time has passed since the first blog posts and first blogging events. We are now a bigger, stronger and influential community. Businesses, causes and government have started to organize themselves to interact and engage with us. And we also face challenges within and outside our growing community.

The Philippines, our country and people are also expecting more from us, and we bravely and fearlessly say that we want to do more and achieve more.

In view of all these and more, we declare that there’s no stopping the formation of a most awesome bloggers association for our country.

One country, one blogging community.

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By posting this manifesto on my blog, I express my desire to be a founding member of the association.

I also nominate the following bloggers to be founding members as well:

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Last year, I suggested the creation of a bloggers’ association to some PEBA officers. The idea came from our experiences in the Kabayan Bloggers (KaBlogs), where we have to deal with anti-OFW blog posts and bloggers. However, we brushed off the idea because we lack PEBA volunteers and the time for another huge undertaking.

I received a copy of the manifesto on the making of the National Bloggers Association and these are some of the questions I asked from Tonyo Cruz, one of the brain behind the idea:

• Are the items in themanifesto final?

• Can this be refined?

• Who were given a copy of this manifesto?

• From the line, “The association we aspire to form is voluntary in character, national in scope,” where do the OFWs fit?

• From the line, “We draw inspirations from and ask...” Can OFW bloggers be

also included in this line?

• Can we change the phrase “most awesome bloggers association”? It connotes that PEBA, or other bloggers associations, is not that awesome.

I asked him if I can reply regarding the manifesto the following day but Tonyo said he needs the suggestions pronto so he can share it with others.

After a few days, I was asked by other bloggers in Visayas and Mindanao why they were not informed about the creation of a National Bloggers Association. I asked Tonyo and he said he is going to Visayas and Mindanao to meet the group of bloggers there. I asked him to please make sure that no one will be left out.

I consulted this matter to several officers and volunteers of PEBA. Majority of them have reservations in joining. Aside from the questions above, here are some more questions from the group:

1. What is “national?” Where does PEBA fit in? What is the scope of the National Bloggers Association? PEBA represents the expats and OFWs. The title “national association” limits the reach of this group.

2. What are the guiding principles of the NBA? If it is “to unite the bloggers at a national level,” how can PEBA and other international Pinoy blogging organizations be integrated in its mission-vision?

3. Who will uphold the code of ethics that will be drafted and adapted? Who will say which is right or wrong? What will be our standards?

4. “We draw inspiration from and ask the participation of the city-wide, provincial, regional and island-wide associations, summits and conventions initiated by bloggers across the country.” Again, where is the international Filipino bloggers community here?

Our suggestions:

Do not use the word “national.” It connotes a limited scope where OFWs and expats are not included.

Organize regional blogs first.

From these regional groups, gather representatives that will create the NBA.

The group should not be used for political agenda.

Consider uniting the Filipino bloggers communities in the Philippines for the NBA first. The PEBA (and other international Filipino blogging communities) can become its partner. If the NBA has already solidified their stand, mission-vision, agenda, etc., then that’s when we consider the integration of both the national and international Filipino blogging communities.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

A Prayer for OFWs

Dear God,

You crossed every border between divinity and
humanity to make your home with us. Bless our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters
who have travelled to foreign lands with faith in their heart leaving their
families behind as they break through the barriers of people, cultures, and languages
to escape oppression and poverty.

There are
many things going on that are beyond us even with our collective power. We come
to thee in supplication and heartfelt pleadings as we are mindful of the ordeals
of others.

We thank thee for hearing the prayers of your
people as China grant reprieve to our three OFWs and may the Chinese government
grant a lesser penalty to their case.

We pray for the thousands of OFWs who were incarcerated
and imprisoned in the Middle East, Asia and other continents, may thou please grant
them the chance to get back to their families and find a new life, justice and
freedom as they entrust their lives into thy hands. May Thou enlighten our leaders
to put the plights of distressed OFWs as a priority and withdraw from plans to
cut the DFA social service and legal assistance funds.

We
pray to Thee that our OFWs in Taiwan will soon be reprieved of taking all the
heat of the current Taiwan-Philippines rift. May the government emissary would
soon find resolution to this issue so that those more than five thousand
scheduled for deployment will now be allowed to take on their jobs, and
the nearly a hundred thousand currently employed may keep their jobs and be
able to sustain their families.

We pray that may Thou please keep our overseas
Filipinos safe in the escalating conflict in countries where democratic
renaissance in Muslim nations is unfolding from Morocco, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain
and Libya as they await the immediate repatriation efforts being taken by our
government agencies.

We pray for Thy protection
and guidance of the more than thirty thousand OFW’s in Libya. May their
families in the Philippines be freed from fear and worries of their condition
and that the OFWs safety is assured despite the worsening condition.

We
pray that may Thou save from harm our Filipino workers in war torn countries of
Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as OFWs in Nigeria, Somalia, Lebanon and Jordan,
who have taken great risks to continue their fight against poverty to support
their families in the Philippines despite of the work deployment ban imposed in
these countries.

We pray for the safety of the Filipino nurses trapped in the
rubbles during the earthquake in New Zealand, and the rest of the OFWs and
Expats around the world who are suffering from natural calamities, diseases and
injustices that they may find comfort through faith in Thee.

Hear our prayer Lord, to end the corruption that has
become the plague of our nation, to end poverty that afflicts and besets Thy
people, to end violence and war that displaces millions of our Filipinos from
their homes, which separate, divide and break families.

As we await for the signs of time when the Filipinos around
the world, the fathers and mothers brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters
may be reunited as one happy family.

We pray for Thine tender love and kind mercy, with our
faith, with our hope, with our love to thee, we pray for power greater than us
all, we pray for divine intervention.

This is a joint call from the Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards, or
PEBA, Inc, along with its 300+ KABLOGS, the RMN News Bantay OFW radio program
and the Blas Ople Policy Center and we are asking for your prayers or support
by reposting this to your blog, posting this link in your FB, Friendster and
Twitter accounts or sending this as email to your networks.

The original photo where the image was taken in this post was an official entry by
Erwin Serrano from Riyadh Saudi Arabia, 10^th rank winner to the 2010
PEBA International Photo Contest.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Stormed and Flooded, Still Here!

What year is it now? It's been like century if not forever that I haven't updated my blog, I have so many thoughts, but it seems to me that those thoughts can't find their way to blog post. Aside from the repost dito, repost doon, and copying my statuses from my Facebook, I haven't really have a real blog entry.

So awake, and arise and shine! Naks, parang scriptural terms or nakikipagdigmaan. Hehe

After PEBA 2010, there is just too much work to do, and so much things to attend to especially now that my lady is carrying our 2nd child and she is having a hard time with some pregnancy related extra curricular activities! Forgive my terms, I am so out of thoughts with regards to that. Haha

I will be back soon, with my powerful windows mobile phone, I can do blogging even I am at work.

Someone said, "I guess you are happy in your life." I am? I asked with a smile. How do we define happiness? Really? Sabi ko nga sa Facebook status ko one time,

As I grow older (oh my, I have to admit it! :) I realized fame, learning, beauty or riches doesn't define success and happiness - it's in planning and prioritizing things.

I have had a lot of experiences lately, and some of them are not so easy to bear. The Thoughtskoto's been to a lot of challenges and trials and yet we are here surviving, trying our best to endure, because nothing is really over until we stop trying.

I remember we have this really old electric fan back home when I was a teenage boy. The fan was broken and was sewed by copper wire. The cover bend and straightened. It was a typical small electric fan that was beaten, fall several times, and yet the amazing thing is that - it is still usable! it is still working!

Life is like that. Sometimes we are tried, tempted, beaten, wearied, and yet we endure, we persevere, we hold on because we believe that life is not just about surviving, it is enjoying. There will be times we maybe sad, we maybe down, we may be tempted, we fail, but it doesn't mean we will give up. We are still around, we may be quiet, but we gather strength and we face the world again with a smile, not minding those failings and bitterness we have had in life.

Anyway, plug-in ko lang po, ang latest ko na entry sa the Kablogs Journal Online Magazine. Hope you will keep reading and contributing sa TKJ. If you want to support,

please email: thekablogsjournal@gmail.com

"For love is not assuming, it is free of anything. It is giving. It is making other person happy. It is bringing out the best to people. It is inspiring, it doesn’t seek for glory or return, it is without condition, description, or qualification – who and what you are does not matter anymore. What matters is that you are happy, and most importantly the one you love is happy."

Belated happy hearts day sa lahat!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

PEBA 2011 SLOGAN MAKING CONTEST

OFW and Expats homecoming or popularly called "BalikBayan" is a not just a classical journey of an OFW to his hometown but rather it is a homecoming beyond emotions. For every returning "Balikbayan Pinoy" is a fulfillment of his promise that he will return to his family and native land filled with stories of success from his battles overseas. For each homecoming, the nation benefits from each balikabayan family gatherings as they fill the super malls, fine restaurants, resorts and theme parks with each spendings promote tourism, investments and creates job opportunities to our kababayan in the Philippines.

Thus, the PEBA 2011 Organizing Committee has conceptualized this year's theme "Pagbabalikbayan Tungo sa Pagkakaisa at Kaunlaran" which aims to raise the conciousness not only of our Pinoy OFWs and Expats, but the entire Filipino people all over the world that Balikbayan is not just as poignant voyage and reunion of flesh and blood but it is a renewal of love; brings new hopes; drives tourism & investments and raises the spirit of nationalism.

PEBA also pins its hopes through the power of blogs to institute change in the Government policy that will provide a real and effective program with a clear implementing guidelines that will benefit our OFW kababayans on the reintegration of our distressed OFWs and the influx of thousands of OFWs from Iraq and Afghanistan that will be coming home full of uncertainties as they will soon be joining the oceans of unemployed souls in our country.

Compose a brief, catchy slogan or tagline to popularize PEBA 2011 theme concept on "Coming Home Towards Solidarity and Progress" ("Pagbabalikbayan Tungo Pagkakaisa at Kaunlaran")

The slogan must convey its message based on its relevance to the PEBA 2011 concept and to revolve on the recommended words/tagline as follows:

OFW, BALIKBAYAN, HOME COMING, COMINGHOME, VACATION, FAMILY, NATION, HOPE, PROGRESS, REUNION, INVESTMENT, TOURISM.

However, it does not require that entries to literally adopt or use these tag words in the slogan making but rather to serve as word references only.

Gumawa ng slogan para sa magiging theme ng PEBA 2011 na may kinalaman sa mga keywords na ito sa ibaba.

OFW, BALIKBAYAN, HOME COMING, COMINGHOME, VACATION, FAMILY, NATION, HOPE, PROGRESS, REUNION, INVESTMENT, TOURISM.

A. Sinong Pwedeng Sumali: Lahat ng BLOGGER na nakalista sa KABLOGS, PEBA Facebook Fans, KABLOGS FANS, PEBA Twitter Followers.Maging ang ibang volunteer ng PEBA ay pwedeng sumali sa patimpalak na ito.

B. Paano ang Pagsali:

Ang mga sumusunod ang mga paraan para sa pagsali

1. Magpost ng Status sa Facebook na nakalink ang PEBA Fanpage site
Format = Post your status entry ayon sa format na ito.

(PEBA Facebook Fanpage Link) “ (Your Slogan/Theme in English/Tagalog) ” (additional wordings, asking to Like your Theme/Slogan or asking others to join too)

2. Magpost ng COMMENT sa Blog Entry na makikita dito

(http://www.pinoyblogawards.com/2011/02/peba-2011-slogan-making-contest.html)

3. Pwedeng magpost ng inyong entry slogan sa COMMENT sa POST na ITO SA PEBA Notes

4. Pwedeng magpost sa Twitter na nakatag ang @PEBAWARDS, or #PEBA2011

C. Ilan ang pwedeng maging Entry?

Walang limit sa entry as long as pasok ang mga ito sa mga keywords na ibinigay namin sa itaas.

D. Hanggang kelan ang pakontest?

Ang lahat ng slogan ay dapat naisubmit na hatinggabi ng February 21, 2011, Philippine Time

E. Anong mapapanalunan?

Ang mapapanalunan ng pakontest na ito ay

Cash na P2011.00

Smart Plug and Talk Service,

A tote bag with Books from Book Divas.

F. Para sa may comprehensive at masusing explanation para sa pakontest na ito please bisitahin ang blogpost na ito.

http://www.pinoyblogawards.com/2011/02/peba-2011-slogan-making-contest.html

Kung may mga katanungan, please email contact@pinoyblogawards.com

Saturday, February 05, 2011

Is TRUTH hard to find?

"We grow up believing that certain truths are etched in stone and are therefore eternal and unchanging. A lot of what is supposed to be eternal has to do with beliefs and morals that are supposed to affect and guide the way we think and conduct ourselves." Said Haring Liwanag over his Pansitan blog. HL or most popularly known as one of the APO singer Jim Paredes, is one of the most insightful blogger I meet and befriended with in the web. For many years now, he has been a source of inspiration to a lot of Filipinos, not only through his blogging, but his songs, photography, books, and columns.

In his "FINDING TRUTH IN A CHANGING WORLD" blog post, he expound truth, and belief. "Truth is absolute" , he said. "Beliefs can be positive or negative...and they reach their expiration date."

There was once a boy who was confused and wanted to find the truth. He stumbled over James 1:5. which says " 5 ^aIf any of you lack ^bwisdom, let him ask of God, that ^cgiveth to all men liberally, and ^dupbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

God is the one true source of truth, because He is the way, the truth and yes, even Life.

I don't want to sound preachy for honestly there are so much more truth that I need to know. One of the tenets of my faith and one of my favorite is this, “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things“ and "the glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth."

I leave a comment to HL post thats sounds like this;

I agree Kuya Jim, that the world is full of confusion and sometimes it's hard to find the truth. But God didn't left us all alone to wander without any help or guide. The Holy Spirit, is still around, like the light of the sun, wherever we are, we can reach Him. We only need to come out from the dark. But sometimes, in our busy lives and in our noisy world, we seldom find time to listen and hear the still, small voice, and thats what makes it hard to find the truth.

The mind says this and that, while our heart feels this and that. The mind has its reason, but the heart has a mind of its own, and sometimes truth, inspirations, and guidance come and felt through the heart. And most often truth can be felt in the heart.

Elder Richard G. Scott expound it profoundly here

"The process of identifying truth sometimes necessitates enormous effort coupled with profound faith in {God}...A knowledge of truth is of little value unless we apply it in making correct decisions."

Thursday, January 06, 2011

A Brighter Future and Renewed Hope

This is my latest post at the Kablogs Journal.

Check out the whole issue about Hope.

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Naging isang malaking story ang 2010 para sa akin at maging sa maraming Filipino sa kahit saan mang panig ng mundo. Ang daming nangyari -- some were good; others, too bad.

Downside: The broken promises of those who won in the 2010 s and the many blunders committed by some of the newly-elected officials disappointed us all. The hostage crisis in Manila that turned into a nightmare was a crucible to all Filipinos worldwide. The cutting of OFW and education budget, and the fatalities of OFW's in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and many others, were additional wounds to a bigger affliction.

Upside: PEBA soared to a higher ground, and along with the expansion, came sponsors to somehow cover up the expenses, but it is not yet enough. We have to spend a few thousands of our money, and devote most of our time just to make it happen. It happened. Not yet perfect, with so many things to improve, but somehow, good enough, all for the glory of OFW and Filipino bloggers.

And twenty ten finally ended. It will always be remembered.

In comes 2011 promising us a brighter future and a renewed hope that things will be better.

I hope it will be a year of moving forward. I hope it will be a year of quiet reflections on what really matters in life. We have been so busy chasing destiny when we should be slowing down and focussing our time and efforts in building a better family. BEcause for me, families are forever.

In 2011, let's all invest in three things: health, education and a piece of land -- some of the things in life that we importantly need.

A good and healthy life to keep us going. What good is acquisition of so much wealth if all the things we need is just a strong, energetic and healthy body?

May we also invest in education, of our goods or personal advancement? Competition is stiff. It eats people. May we further our knowledge, and gain more wisdom because these are the only things we will bring to our grave: the knowledge we learned and the wisdom we gained.

And lastly, may we materially possess a piece of land, or build a good house where we can live as a family. Sort of an investment. It will be for our posterity.

Happy New Year everyone, and God bless us all!