Thank You 2014, Hello 2015

At last after almost 9 years working in the Middle East in one company, we were granted a holiday starting December 31, usually the office is only closed on January 1. This year since January 2 is Friday (weekend in the Middle East), I took 3 days off from work. And since I'm the only one who don't have work on December 31 I need to be in charged in cleaning our house and doing some household chores. Thanks to Trish, my cousin's cousin who spent her New Year with us and helped me in preparing some dishes for our New Year's Eve.

To feel that it only few hours and we will bid good bye to 2014, we decided to put this banner morning pa lang of December 31. It's just a DIY, cut and stapled it to ribbon and voila! 

When 6:00 p.m. stepped up, everyone of us became busy. Cooking and preparing for each others' menu. Its been a tradition to our family even way back home in the Philippines to have plenty of food in our table during New Year's Eve not because of any superstitious beliefs but its one way of declaring the goodness of the Lord for the whole year, how He bless us bountifully and how He can bless us more for the New Year.

 Just waiting 12:00 a.m.

Its been my personal devotion before welcoming the new year to have a quiet time with the Lord as He gives me provisions through His word.

And He gave me these verses.

After my quiet time, I headed to the living room where my cousins and a family of my friend which is also my siblings in Christ is waiting.

New Year's Eve

At exactly 12:00 midnight, we had our family prayer. We thanked God for all that He done for us. 2014 has been a very great and blessed years for us though we had tough times as well still He never leave us. The Lord continue to embrace us and assure us that all will be fine.

Far apart from the celebration in the Philippines, welcoming New Year here in Doha is very silent - no "torotot" or fire crackers so just to feel have a "lusis-like" we lighted the fountain candle that we bought for our cake. 

Welcome 2015!

Happy New Year! - from B2F12

Though we are all away from our immediate families, we are blessed to have each other. I'm blessed though I don't have my parents here and my sister in law and nephews, I have my brother with me and my cousins.

New Year selfie with my brother, and another one...

Though most of us are living in one flat, the B2F12 hindi pa rin matapostapos ang kwentuhan, kantahan and kodakan.

The last part of our New Year's Eve party is giving gifts.

Usually I opened all the gifts I received on New Year's Eve but due to excitement I opened one of the gift on Christmas Eve, though it was not posted in any of my social media accounts it really means a lot for me not only the gift itself and even the effort of wrapping but the friendship and love from the person who gave it. Like these gifts from the people who are really close to my heart.

 Hello 2015

And since all of them in the house has work on the first day of the year, only me and Trish were left at home and of course it includes cleaning again all the things we used for the NYE.

I want to start my year right and I started on a date with my Maker.

I attended church service. Its my first time at Anglican Church complex - we have two church services in a week, Thursday night (English service) at Anglican Church complex and every Friday morning (Tagalog service) at our church villa. I regularly attends in Tagalog service but since there will no service on January 2 I really tried my best though I have colds, cough and flu to attend on Anglican.

 I was happy to be seated with my BS Mansoura family (my previous small group) and with my siblings from SG Bin Mahmoud (my present small group). I never expected that I will see them together in church as well.

I am so happy and blessed to end and start the year in God's presence.
As we welcome 2015, we set new goals and plans on how we will spend our 365 days but before anything else  have we ever lift those goals and plans to our Maker?  Proverbs 19:21
Let the Lord lead us in every plans and in every goals that we're going to fulfill this 2015. May the Lord continue to bless us abundantly and may our heart's desire to be a channel of blessing as well to others.

Happy and Blessed at Eight

I was in a broken road but glory to God for restoring me and leading me in a straight way. Truly God knows the perfect plan for each of us. I never planned to work not even to take a vacation here in Qatar. Life abroad is not that ideal and perfect as think by some I've been into many challenges and experienced so much problems too until I found out that its all for a purpose. I will always be thankful to the Lord for He sharpened be to be the best of who and what I am today.

Thank you to my family, brethren and friends for always being with me on every step that I am taking. Continue to be with me as I continue to walk on my journey. All your love and care are truly appreciated and treasured. My never ending thank you to all of you.

Thank you Lord for giving Qatar to be the channel of blessing to bless me so I can be a blessing to others as well. For the good times and bad times, for the laugh and tears and for even homesickness, thank you.

Walang hanggang pasasalamat po Lord ang tangi kong maibabalik Sa'yo sa lahat ng kabutihan mo at pag-ibig Mo sa akin. Continue to use me for Your glory alone. Alam Mo po yung desire ng puso ko at lahat po ng yon ay sa Iyo ko ipinagkakatiwala. Continue to hold my life Lord till the end.

BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD
I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true.

Now I'm just rolling home
Into my lover's arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you.

That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you.

Happy Blessed EIGHT YEARS to me!

The Filipino Spirit is Waterproof

How many typhoons passed the Philippines and we are victorious to survived it all! Ilang beses na nga ba na binaha ang Pilipinas pero sa bawat bagyo, malalakas na pagulan at matataas na baha hindi nawala sa atin ang pag-asa. That's one of the attitude we have that make us peculiar to others - we are full of hope and positivity in life; that in the midst of storms and lightning we can still smile and laugh. We have a hopeful and positive spirit. 

"Baha ka lang, PINOY po ako" - that's the Filipino spirit! Ang sabi nga matutuyo din naman ang baha, titigil din ang ulan at ang sisikat ang araw ngunit ang pagiging Pilipino natin mananatili. There are worries and fears but its a normal reaction, what matter is how we conquer each day habang nakalubog ang mga paa sa baha, at habang patuloy na bumubuhos ang ulan.

I was asked by one of  my colleagues way back years kung bakit daw ang mga Pilipino parang hindi tumatanda, we look younger daw talaga on our age, unlike their nationality na ang tanda na talaga nilang tingnan for their age. I just answered "cos we are happy people" then he replied "yes I agree, even in a difficult situation you can still smile" That's a Filipino spirit! We can still smile even in the toughest situation we're facing

The positivity within the Filipino comes out naturally - hindi na kinakailangang ituro pa kusang lumalabas in times of overwhelmingly difficult situation. Ienjoy na nga lang naman kung anong meron, ikaw naransan mo bang magtampisaw sa baha at maligo sa ulan noong bata ka pa? aminin mo nagenjoy ka din di ba? Hindi nga naman laging may ulan so instead na magmukmok ieenjoy na lang :-)

Even sila naki-trending din...
Its more fun in Philippines talaga!

But what does the Filipino spirit lifted up? Alam ng bawat Pinoy na may karamay sya sa bawat patak ng ulan at sa matataas na baha na susuungin nya.

That's the Bayanihan spirit!

In times of typhoon, in times of storms you are confident na hindi ka lalakad sa baha na magisa, may aabot ng kamay mo para tulungan kang iahon sa baha, may sasagip sa'yo, may magbibigay ng damit para hindi ka lamigin, may magaabot ng pagkain para mawala ang gutom. Sa panahon na kailangan mo ng tulong alam mo na may taong magkukusa para sa'yo

Walang mahirap or mayaman, walang matalino or mangmang, walang pulitiko o ordinaryong tao, isa lang ang requirement may puso kang handang tumulong at kamay na handang magpagamit.

Compassion is not enough, action must always be taken...

Hindi tayo nagbibilangan ng naitulong, walang malaki or maliit na donations or tulong na nagawa mo ang importante ginawa mo ito sa kapwa nang may pagmamahal.

I-click, i-tweet or hashtag mo man yan as long as ginawa mo yan ng may pagmamahal sa kapwa, like na like yan, no reasons ka na nyan kasi kahit nasa bahay ka pa may way pa rin para makatulong ka.

Kapuso ka man o Kapamilya o Kapatid iisa ang layunin natin ang tumulong at sumagip ng mga kababayan natin, nasaang sulok ka man ng mundo maari mo itong gawin. 

Our spirit as a Filipino is waterproof - no rains, floods or storms can hinder to rise and up again.

The sky maybe grey today and the rain falls very hard but tomorrow or after a day the sun will shine again. Its the hope from every Filipino that keeps our country going - hope that we can make to survive again, hope that there will be a better Philippines tomorrow.

Let's be lifted by the Filipino spirit - a spirit that is waterproof!

God bless every Filipino...

God bless Philippines...

 

Official Clarifies ID Fine Confusion

July 9, 2013 Tuesday when the new Qatar Rules on ID card spread all over the social medias and even in emails as well as memo disseminated by embassies of different country. This morning Peninsula newspaper published the clarifications made by officials regarding to the confusion of many expatriates regarding the 10,000 QR fine .

OFFICIAL CLARIFIES ID FINE CONFUSION

BY MOBIN PANDIT and MOHAMED OSMAN

DOHA: It is not a crime punishable with a fine if an expatriate does not carry with him his Qatar identity (ID) card, a senior official from the Ministry of Interior has clarified.

However, if one refuses to produce any identification document (ID or passport) despite the insistence of a law-enforcement official, he would be taken to task.

He would be referred to the court at the ministry’s Search and Follow-Up Department (SFD) through the department’s prosecution. The court can impose a fine of up to QR10,000 on such a person. That is the maximum fine, but if he admits his mistake with the Prosecution, he could walk away with a “reconciliatory” fine of QR1,000.

And even if the erring person is referred to the SFD court by the Prosecution, the court could impose a fine of just QR1,000. “It is the court’s discretion.”

The Director of the SFD, Brigadier Nasser Mohamed Eisa Al Sayed, told The Peninsula yesterday that sleuths from his department always demand ID from suspects.

For example, someone driving late in the night can be stopped by the SFD personnel and asked to produce his identification.

In situations where someone is unable to produce ID or passport, one would be held back until one proves who he is. “Once you prove who you are, you can walk away.”

Asked what happens to people who go on long walks or jog or do some sporting activity and leave their IDs behind in their cars, Al Sayed said: “ID is always demanded from suspects, not from such people”.

The official said sections of the local media have carried misleading reports, creating confusion on the ID issue. “What they have reported is not true.” 

The reports that went viral on the local social media were based on an interface of the Interior Ministry with representatives of expatriate communities on Sunday. Many people found it surprising that such a huge fine could be imposed for not carrying one’s ID. 

Al Sayed reiterated: “You are committing a crime only when you refuse to produce any identification document on the insistence of a law-enforcement official. Just not carrying your ID isn’t an offence punishable with a fine.”

Talking about passports of expatriates, the SFD Director said that legally the employee should keep it with him. Many companies and personal sponsors prefer to keep the passports of their expatriate employees. This is to avoid complications like delay in getting an employee’s residence permit (RP) renewed in time because it is a sponsor’s responsibility.

“Workers sometimes forget to renew their RPs if they have their passports with them,” said Al Sayed.

However, if a worker asks for his passport from his employer, he must give it to him. “If he refuses, the worker can approach the SFD and file a formal complaint. Action would be taken against the sponsor because he doesn’t have the right to refuse to part with an employee’s passport”.

About the ministry’s meeting (seminar on issues like community policing and visa and related issues) with the expatriate communities, Al Sayed said he didn’t attend it. “I wasn’t there but sections of the print media have even used my file picture with the misleading report about the ID issue, while the presentation was actually made by a colleague.”

The Peninsula

Let's Vote In: Overseas Absentee Voting 2013

I was reminded since last week that the election are already on going here in Qatar and any other country. I'm referring to the Philippines National-Local-ARMM Elections and we OFW(Overseas Flipino Workers) are privileged that even we're working away from the country we can still exercise our right to suffrage.

And yesterday after the morning church service, one of my brethren Ate Tin asked us during our lunch if we are a registered voters, and after we agreed to proceed to Philippine Embassy to vote.

It's my first time to visit the Philippine Embassy here in Qatar after they transferred office on January 2013. Honestly, its far from the old office and its not accessible to most people especially if you don't have your own car. You need to spend much riyals for your taxi fare, as I'm calculating yesterday if I will going to take a cab, maybe it may cost 50QR (more or less 550PHP) for one way only. Thanks to Ate Tin and Kuya Noel for the free ride.

But in fairness, the new embassy office is bigger than the old one. There are rooms for each transactions unlike before na talagang siksikan kasi nga sama-sama lang sa iisang rooms. Well, no wonder how much the Philippine embassy is paying for the new office, logically its the people who are paying so we deserved it for our convenience.

Philippine Embassy Doha, Qatar 
St.860 Zone 68, Jelaiah Area
Doha State of Qatar
Click here: MAP LOCATION

Article V Section 1 of Philippine Constitution

"Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one year, and in the place wherein they propose to vote, for at least six months immediately preceding the election. No literacy, property, or other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage."

I remember the first time I voted for Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), vacation that time and we're busy for my cousin 18th birthday so almost everyday nasa practice ako ng cotillion sa bahay nila and most of the participants on the cotillion is an active member already of SK, so in short nung nagkaroon ng registration doon ako nagregister, not knowing what will be its impact. I don't take it seriously basta register lang and don ako bumoto nung nagSK election kaya naman ang ending gusto ko man na magjoin sa mga activities minsan ng mga SK sa lugar namin, hindi ko nagawa....kakahiya naman,hehehe

The Sangguniang Kabataan is the youth legislature in every local village or community. They are in the age bracket of 15 to 18 years old during the time of election. They initiate policies, programs and projects for the development of youth in their respective political territories.

Youths, please do not do what I did. And don't take for granted the right given to you to vote. Don't think na wala kang magagawa or walang magagawa yung nagiisang boto mo, meron and you should participate. Until now, minsan naiisip ko what if I participated actively to SK activities at least man lang siguro I contributed something to my fellow youths. It's not yet late for you. On October 18, 2013 you'll be having a chance again to vote for SK election, don't just throw your right to vote..participate and make a voice.

After that experienced in the SK election, I didn't take for granted all the elections from Barangay to Local to National elections. I remember my Political Science days, one of my professor Mr. Renzon really emphasized how important for us to use our right to vote. According to him walang kang karapatan na magreklamo kung paano ang government system pinapatakbo kasi you didn't participate naman to elections, the point is all the time, means and right to register and to vote was given to us already, so its within us if how we will use that right. I guess exposure with all my Political Science subjects, teachers and moreover meeting friends in my graduate studies influenced me to be aware that the need to exercise such right and to participate in elections. Well, thanks guys!

Yesterday was my second time to participate to OAV (Overseas Absentee Voting) here in Doha, Qatar; the first one was on 2010 Presidential election.

Far different from the elections in Philippines, mas kokonti ang mga voters dito kaya hindi talaga masikip. Like that we have in Philippines, you need to check your precinct number first so you will be guided.

Precinct #1 where I voted

The manner of voting here is still manual, different from what we have in Philippines that you only need to shade and insert in the machine and finish. But as my colleague inform me, its because maybe there is only a small number of voters here compare to Hongkong, they also using automated and using PCOS (Precinct Count Optical Scan) machines like as in Philippines.

Doha registered voters, don't forget to bring your Qatar ID. You need to present it before they allow you to vote and to sign in line with your name on the voter's list.

While waiting for others and sitting at the lobby, I noticed this informative poster from TFC. I learned from the poster that overseas absentee voters were given one month to vote from April 13 - May 13. Kung sa Pinas one day lang dito one month, siguro naman we don't have any reasons na para di makaboto unless hindi ka talaga nakaregister.

FYI: Mobile and taking pictures are not allowed inside the voting precinct. I already took pictures when I learned it from the one of their staff. Meron palang mga nakapost na bawal ang pagtetelepono at picture hindi ko napansin, sorry po. I asked the staff if she wants to see the picture that I took and delete it kung di talaga pwede yung mga picture na kinuhanan ko, and she said ok na daw basta wag na lang daw magpicture pa, pipicturan ko pa naman sana how I dropped my ballot to the box =)

 

Instead of indelible ink, they use thumb mark here

People I think is more informed now on where does their votes lead us, maybe one of the reason as well na kahit mainit ang weather, malayo and seems hassle for others, marami pa rin ang bumoboto, unlike the previous (2010) I voted na halos mabibilang lang sa daliri talaga ang nakasabay ko sa pagboto.

some members of Filipino community organization who cast their votes yesterday

"SAAN MAN KAYO SA MUNDO, BOTO NYO KINABUKASAN NG BAWAT PILIPINO"

The HAPPY VOTER, the HAPPY ME =)

Happy Filipino Citizens

Hind kailangan "pag may time" ang pagboto, kailangan bigyan ng time :)

Let's vote in!

Right of suffrage is a right of every Filipino citizens that can have equally. Sa pagboto lahat pantay-pantay, walang mahirap walang mayaman, hindi mo kinakailangan ng diploma or ng salary certificate para magrant. It is one of the privilege given to every Filipino and our way to make our choice of whom we trust our country's future - our future and the next generations' future. 

Exercise your right to vote and help to make a change!