HAND-CARRY "HAYDEN CAMERA" WHEN YOU LEAVE NAIA

Official Entry to Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards
FILIPINOS ABROAD: Hope of the Nation, Gift to the World

This is no longer a juicy showbiz gossip that you and I used to talk about across the fence.

The Katrina Halili story has become more of an issue of Filipino morality in the modern age, rather than a simple case of sex scandal caught on video. Most often than not, OFWs like us being away from Manila events, a story like this is a main course on our table. And being sexually related thing, people will come around and talk about it with their mind hallucinating on the details of sexual act using DDR3 processors inside their head as they digest the interesting story of “Hayden Camera”. It has already been a Collector’s Item since, being rare and high priced.

The thing is, while most of us compassionately sympathize to the agony of Ms. Halili as she bravely goes through the process, let us not forget and maybe it is worth touching the stories of those OFWs victimized by this devilish act. Sad to admit, unfortunately, Ms. Halili was not the first one on this dilemma and I could say she is still fortunate to have caught the attentions of all the government agencies plus the fact that she has the money to push through with the case, but nevertheless she is still a victim here. But for those other victims of video scandal abroad who are now being haunted by that single mistake they have done out of love and trust, probably until now are hiding away from DVD players.

We never learned from those video scandals made abroad since it was silently distributed and passed over from one USB to another, from desktop to CDs and from phone Bluetooth to other phone. They have become delightful movies during drinking sessions of all nationalities and a must-have copy in the CD rack. The worse thing about it, no one complained but rather swallowed the consequences that are killing them slowly. Well, that’s the reality of life for us who “can’t afford”. What significant here for us OFWs, I mean all of us, gender is immaterial when it comes to video scandal, is the lesson we can take out of Katrina event, that reputations and future are at stake for every dangerous adventurism. Once happened to you, you can never do a fast rewind anymore, unless it has been burned to the CD tracks. This is absolutely a misuse of modern technologies of micro-camcorder.

People back home have high regards on OFWs (especially the Customs officers) as living heroes and heroines of the new generations, not just because we bring more hard-earned dollars but because we brought dignity to the nation. Precisely this what PDOS(Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar) is all about, the Philippines wanted to send Filipino workers equipped with specific tools in specific country of deployment so they could act, react and interact accordingly as they get there. True to say also that the reason why we have the POEA is to see to it that every OFW has the skills on the job he applied for. Of course all of these are certainly to ensure that we are going to be the pride of the nation, rather than to be the shame of the nation.

Sounds negative? I guess not, because the point here is in order for us OFWs to be intelligent enough to read between the lines and not to expect everything will be laid out in layman’s term and be successful. The POEA and PDOS have reminded us in all things about how to conduct ourselves as OFWs before the grand theater of other nations, but some preferred adventurism over this and end up with broken dreams.

We need something that has a strong and extreme sense of warning that it is up to us to choose. You may get in jailed in Saudi Arabia by drinking alcohol, be sent home and after awhile walk as a freeman. You may be deported from Dubai by working while holding a visit visa and face the nation out of NAIA portal as a freeman. You may get fired from military bases in the warzones by possessing pornographic materials and arrived at NAIA as a freeman. But it is hard to pull yourself together, packed up and fly home if you have been a “star for all seasons” around the globe.

The emphasis we have here right now is for us OFWs to focus on success abroad and set aside immoral adventurism that seems to becoming a trend. We need to be aware of the unseen factors aside from the elements of success (hard work, trainings, perseverance, etc) that will surely undermine our standing around the world, and as I said this is the point of morality. Nobody will remind you but yourself about this thing once you are already in a private room, so you need something like a light bulb next to your head, “Ting! Oh yeah, the Lessons of Hayden Camera.”

What more can we give to the nation as a matter of gift when bad stories covered all stories of achievements in the eyes of the world. Fellow folks back home will eventually think that working abroad in not a good idea anymore. We are the ones who are outside the country and in direct contact with the people of the world and it is in our hand to be responsible, not just to strive to success, but also to fight against pornography and videotaping of other's privacy.

As I've observed, the lessons behind Hayden Camera are not just applicable to sexual adventurism but also in all dealings that we are about to do where our personal dignity may be at stake.

Once an OFW left the country, aside from the family responsibilities he carries, he also shoulders a social and personal responsibility to take care of his well-being as a Filipino. While most of OFWs excel abroad, sexual adventurism wasted all of these efforts. . . . and mind you guys, other nationalities take it as collective tag for all of us OFWs, an act of one seems being tagged as act of all. Sexual adventurism usually arises from getting into adulterous relationships, unfaithfulness to present partner, ambitions, homesickness and other vices which are all could be avoided if we think properly and if we put ahead of libido our purposes of going abroad.

I could not blame those OFWs in most video scandal videotaped abroad by the same devil that possessed “direk” Hayden Kho Jr. while having sex with their partners. I am not saying all, but most of those blinded-by-love OFWs were actually aware of what was going on inside the private room. They knew that a video camera was set up for the main show. But as I said it was all about adventures, love and trust without knowing that things could eventually turn upside down once there is a break up in a relationship, much more if it is an illicit one. It does not actually matter whether your affairs is totally different, what counts here is if the event turns against you and you don’t have the original copy of your adventurism . . .if this happens I tell you what, you have a fire out of control and it will burn you down through generations.

Sex is already an adventure itself, whether legit or not, it is a hell of adventures. Why do you have to add some more when you haven’t explore a lot about it? Videotaping a sexual act is insecurity and sign of madness, so if your partner fires up his mobile phone, don’t be just afraid but be very afraid and start dressing up before you end up in a situation where DELETE is never been an option.

As they considered OFWs being "Hope of Nation-Gift to the World", how can you be one, when you can't even consider YOU as gift to yourself anymore....think about that!

And in order to get the positive out of it, the next time you hit NAIA, make sure you have hand-carried the lessons of Hayden Camera.

Welcome aboard!

Official Entry to Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

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Note: Photo posted above is produced in photoshop, definitely not Ms. Halili

FIVE GREATEST SCHOOL TEACHERS OF ALL TIMES.

TEACHERS LOVE US MORE THAN THEIR OWN LIVES.

As I was surfing GMANews.tv this morning (May 6, 2009), the main page showed picture of interchanging photos of teachers asking their salary grade be raised to salary grade 20. A flash of thought came across my memory, I used to receive salary grade 12, I guess, when I was still member of the PNP.

Salary Grade 20 is not that much for the school teachers considering the vast and expanse of public responsiblities their having from time to time, but congressional pork barrel is way to much. There was something in my heart that really made me feel bad, as I see this photo.

I pitty all those teachers for being ignored by the government, some of them are being ignored by their husbands and boyfriends, since most of them are female, and yet all of them are still getting exploited during elections and during public statistics and census season.

My sister is also a public school teacher, I can tell the hardship of the teachers in this generation.

I don't know how could we ever thank our teachers for making all of us what we are today. Nobody could ever be promoted to manager, military general, director, or even get elected to the presidency without school teachers.

Maybe we could generally say that nobody could be somebody without teachers, absolutely no one.

Lawyers can never pass the bar exams, nor doctors can ever wear that white robes, nor engineers can ever read plans, not even a taxi cab driver could ever drive his cab without having a school teacher once in his life.

When my grandfather was still around back in the 90's, he used to tell us that when all of us get up in heaven and line to check our names in the Book of Life, the school teachers are the ones who have the divine priority to go first being considered as the most noble professions humans could have. And they will sit next to the Lord as they have fulfilled lifetimes by educating all people on earth while still living.

Now, have you ever thought about your former teachers, from the most cruel to the most fave one? Have you ever thanked them for being strict and cruel during examinations, otherwise you can not read this.

Have your paths crossed lately? How'd she look like now? You have not recognized her until you get noticed her familiar fashion, right? Teachers have a single fashion they say, whether they are in civilian clothes or in school uniform. Tell me more about your school teachers, and I will share my own stories about them. Join me in sending thanks to our school teachers back home.

Thanks to all those teachers who braved their way into the notorious mountains of Muslim rebels to teach our poor children out there, where some of them are still witheld by the Abu Sayyaf.

Thanks to all those teachers who keep on teaching amidst fierce fire fighting of soldiers and NPAs along the countrysides.

Thanks to all those teachers who volunteered to leave the city life and walk their way to the jungle to teach the barrio people.

Thanks to all those teachers who innovate teaching materials because of limited government fundings.

Thanks to all those teachers who keep on teaching our youths so well amidst having broken hearts, failed dreams, and frustrations in life.

Thanks to all those teachers who keep on teaching our children so well, despite the aching feelings due to the reality that teaching profession receives low salary grade.

Thanks to all those teachers who set aside thinking about their monsterous debts, salary loans, emergency loans and calamity loans, and proceeded on teachings without delays.

Thanks to all those teachers who protected us from bullies and school riots.

Thanks to all those teachers who keep on teaching the children until they are 60 years old.

Thanks to all those teachers who take care of our children while we are busy working. They keep our children learn their lessons.

Thanks to all those teachers who became strong pillars of elementary and high schools, the whole basic education system in the Philippines in general.

Thanks to all those teachers who taught us about Ten Little Indians and I Have Two Hands songs.

Thanks to all those teachers who taught us about subjects and predicates.

Thanks to all those teachers who taught us how to dance during foundation days and field days.

Thanks to all those teachers who loved us more than their own children, more than their husbands and wives, and more than their lives.

Thanks to all those teachers who are now sitting in their retirement and seem to have been forgotten by their students..We will never ever forget.

Thanks to all those teachers who gave us ideals, principles and directions in life that's why we have these lives.

Thanks to all those teachers who are more than willing to join the protests but they could not because of old age, and rather chose to sit around with their small and delayed pensions.

Thanks to all those teahcers who dedicated their entire lives and happiness in exchange of school teachings.

Thanks to those teachers who gave us unselfish love and immeasureable care.

Most of all I would like to thank my very own favorite teacher of all times, my mommy, a retired public school teacher who until now a teacher to all of us, with her undying love both of a mother and a school teacher. Mommy still teaches my kids and all her grandchildren at home.

It is my honor to dedicate one entry here in my blog for the FIVE GREATEST SCHOOL TEACHERS OF ALL TIMES.

Lolo Anot, Nicanor Fetalino Formilleza, an energetic and a happy mentor for all of us grandchildren using a very comprehensive old method in teaching Mathematics, back in the old days. Through his times and efforts, most of us grandchildren are now professionals using Mathematics in most of our dealings.

My aunities:

Mrs.Tabetha Formilleza-Fradejas, a public school teacher in V. Mapa High School in Legarda, Manila;

Mrs. Lourdes Formilleza-Fradejas, a public school teacher in Bati-ano Elementary School in Odiongan, Romblon;

Mrs. Villaflor Formilleza-Dayrit, a public school teacher in Padre Burgos Elementary School in Sta. Mesa , Manila.

And of course, my mom, Mrs. Zenaida Formilleza-Fabellore used to be teaching in T. Paez High School in Manila until her retirement in 2003.

I am proud to belong to a clan who had lived to the fullest by the creed of noble teaching, and made our lives easier through the taste of white chalks and lesson plans.

THANK YOU ALL and I LOVE YOU ALL . . there's no way I can repay you but maybe by continuing your legacy of teaching even I am not a school teacher and to live a better life as you all intended for all of us children.

THANK YOU!

SET ASIDE CHARTER CHANGE AND WORK ABROAD

I am not into reading other's blog aside from those of my friends' and those who have special care and efforts in their pages. 

One of my favororite ones is Mareng Winnie Monsod' s blog. The page is really impressive so much the contents. I have read few of her entries and they made me more educated in events back home. I wish I had that ability too to encourage more readers and they would post comments also, but no fighting amongst commentarists and no direct-spelled foul words of course.

I've read her latest blog the other day, please visit the link: http://blogs.gmanews.tv/winnie-monsod/archives/5-Is-Charter-change-really-necessary.html, and the topic was really worth commenting and you could see the freedom of expression from those who posted their comments. 

I rather have my reaction be posted here so that it's kinda more personal view than being a rider of the topic regaridng the proposal to change the constitution of the Philippines. Well, nevertheless this is indeed a rider article.

For a very long time, Filipinos have been focusing on the issue of charter change (cha-cha). Everyone seems floating in limbo if the evil desires will prevail. Our Constitution is a flexible one, in the sense that it can be changed when it is no longer fit to the welfare of the sovereign. But there are certain things to meet and these are not that easy to achieve. People are either in direct or indirect involvement in playing the tune of cha-cha, whether by a plebicit or by a referendum, and somehow through their representatives in the House of Congress. Otherwise we will have consitutions identified by month and year.

One of the claims for cha-cha is the economic growth, that will ensure job oppurtunities, poverty reduction and better quality of living. But what is economy by the way? Nobody could explain this better unless one is well-schooled. Simple laundry woman may not understand economy and she doesn't care, all she wants is to rain with all mud and dusts so there will be more dirty clothes to wash. 

For my small understanding, I will apply economy as an OFW, to see if we need charter change. I used to work in Iraq in 2005 and now I am here in Afghanistan where both are banned for OFW deployment. In my experiences of dangers in both worlds, changing the constitutions is far dangerous than the streets of these countries. I listed the comparisson:

1. I am wearing a bullet proof vest and Kevlar Helmet to give me better chance of surviving in an event of an attack, while changing the constitution leaves my whole family vulnerable to abuse. Why? because there is uncertainty and we need no more further explaination to that . The only clear thing is that something bad will happen and it's gonna be soon after the cha-cha.

2. I have an AK-47 here now as a Design Engineer in addition to my basic design tools, back there I don't have weapon against an abusive goverment that will surface right after the cha-cha.

3. I have better salary here to feed more my family, but what awaits the OFWs after the charter change where we have been so abused in the present government theme, "Mga Bagong Bayani". We felt much of a milking cow than a hero, though.

4. Powerful Family and Political Sydicate are giants that eat up all aspects of life, not only on their feeding ground but also licking up dry even the tin plates of hungry Filipinos in the country. Here we could have better food away from them and sure line of supplies to our families in the Philippines.

5. I could send my children now in better school in exchange of threats in the street of Kabul and Kandahar. I had twarted bullets from bad elements in the streets of Metro Manila when I was a PNP member and my kids walked their way to a public school, nonetheless, it was better public school.

6. I could even look straight to the eyes (with my pitbull staffordshire smile) of hungry alligators in the goverment as they sense the smell of US Dollar bills in my pocket, while my peso bills before could end me thrown out in the street.  Although I used to be an as---le cop before, it's a culture.

7. Militants here are far more different from militants in the Philippines, while Muslim militants are adhering to the calling of faith, Filipino militants are paid street actors and blind activities who joined the rally for experience, so there will be more Moro-moro in the street afterwards.

We can see all the abuses happening around us, name-droppings, abused strong connnections, political killings, and worst political set up and yet most of us are so busy not to pay attention  to these, we thought we are not so close to get affected. Changing the constitution is like giving the grids the chance to wear the cloak of a magician that can and will fool every one of us in a snap.

In my view, concentration on charter change in relation to economic growth should better be circumnavigated in the dollar remittance of the OFWs. We better invest in all our skilled workers abroad, and to those who have the talent but have no finacial capability for all processings to work outside the country. This is better alternative to help the economy in lieu of foreign direct investment (putting all the Arroyos and their allies behind bars may be an option). Create more technical schools with short comprehensive courses in all municipalities, and have contengency plans for the graduates in order to send them directly to employer abroad for a "fly-now pay-later scheme", remove private placement agency in the history of the Philippines and let them be processed directly by the government. Bang hard the heads of POLO and Embassy officials against the wall to have a close on-hand monitoring of all the Filipinos under their AOR. 

We have ran out of natural resources because of too much politics and to much fooling around our much-spent laws, therefore we rather get the last resource that we have in order to earn money for our peope, that is sending more skilled workers abroad. This idea has been around for years but never gets the proper attention.

Lift all the travel bans in all dangerous countries since these stand no wall at all to the hungry Filipinos. We are not the only ones at risks in these areas, all nationalities are here for bigger money. Afterall, travel bans are becoming a source of corruption in all exits ports in the Philippines. What we need is a closed facilitation system of Filipinos by the government to ensure they will be employed by UN, US, NATO, and their affiliated international companies, and other world organizations that protect and ensure the safety of all foreign workers. Funny to think, government imposed travel bans as if they are really caring for the OWFs' safety. I doubt it.

Now, if we will go further to favor the charter change how much assurance that our lives will be better than ever? With the presence of all the elements of doom, are we going to gamble? If we're gonna check the ruling party, check the president, check the leaders of Congress, and check all those others sitting in the positions in the government, and their notorious activities, we could still get a mate by pawn at the end.

If there is a need for immediate change, that is the immediate change of administration. Let us not vote for the party that has been around for a long time and has done nothing small good but rather caused big hardship to the Filipinos around the world. The party that has put us all in the billboard of controversy and embarrassment in the history of mankind, bigger than that of the Marcoses'.

I don't like to sound pessimistic, but we have to face the reality the strong and noble men stand no chance with the lady. Cavaliers failed and other cavaliers feed on flesh of those comrades who failed and had forgotten instead their sacred creed.

Let's change the Constitution . .but NOT NOW! We rather wait until the better administration has come in order not to get betrayed again (don't forget EDSA=2). But for now . .  set aside charter change and let's work abroad, you'll have a better chance here. Think about that.