Fare Increase

OMG! Another fare increase!!!
What's wrong with the world!?!? Prices are going up, spend is going up, but the supply remains the same.

The Philippine Inquirer today published the news about another fare increase that has been approved by local authorities and that will take effect within the week. I remember back during my elementary days (that's about 12 years ago) that the fare was only Php 1.50 per person (Php 1.25 if student). Now, the fare is at Php 8.00 and will be at Php 8.50 within the week. That's almost a 6-fold of its original cost! Wow!

If only the fares are directly proportional to our money-making.

Full story at the Philippine Daily Inquirer here: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080708-147151/UPDATE-NEDA-approves-fare-hike

On Rice Shortage

For the past few days, reading the news or watching late night news programs has been really frustrating. There are a lot of issues on rice shortage in the Philippines, and the government claims that this shortage is normal because of a global crisis. Add the fact that there is a population growth in the country, the basic law of supply and demand is definitely applied in the current rice shortage situation. The Arroyo administration is willing to "spend" Php32 billion for rice procurement and for ensuring that there is enough supply of rice for every hungry mouth in the Philippines. Wow, yay. Should we go out and rejoice then?

You gotta be kidding. What the hell has happened to our rice? Aren't we an agricultural country, and isn't the Philippines claimed to be one of the more abundant rice producers of the world? Why are we then importing rice from the US?? Of all countries, the US!?! The "rice crisis" should have been an opportunity for agricultural countries such as the Philippines. This is where other countries would demand rice, and prices should go high, and we should have been able to benefit from that. We could've been rich, or at least pay most of our debts. But instead we're spending a big PHP32 Billion for rice! How ironic is that!?

Sigh. If only we invested on technology to enhance agricultural productivity. What did we do? Well, maybe you should look at the bellies of the clowns sitting in our government offices.

Vacation is finally over

My summer vacation to Singapore last week is finally over. I've been feeling the "after-effects" of it for the past few days -- pretending I'm working but really my head is floating somewhere -- but now, I kind of realized my happy summer days are gone. Oh well. Snap back to reality: tons of work has come my way. But nevertheless, I DO need work. Precisely because of the fact that my funds have terribly depleted in that vacation week I got. I need to fatten up my financial account so that I can go on another vacation again! Weee.

Anyway, it was my goal this year that I get as much vacation as possible - travel and see different places at experience a lot of things from different cultures. The reason for this is that I might not get another chance again... I've decided that this year will be my last year of not caring about my future. Next year, the real deal begins: I need to actualize my plans for my future. Scary, huh? But at some point, there has got to be some line between just thinking about your life, and thinking about your life in the next few years. Tsk. Side effects of getting old.

I thought about moving to Singapore during my vacation there, and I really really like it a lot in there. Good public transportation, safe environment, great workplace, great place to save a lot of money. But what happens after that? Do I really want to settle down and become a citizen of Singapore? Do I want to raise my kids surrounded by a multitude of cultures and diverse races? I have some standards on how I will raise my kids and how my family will be, and I don't see Singapore as the ideal place for that. *sigh* I'm really getting old.

Yosi Boys sa Sidewalk

Haynako bad trip tong mga tao na mahilig magyosi habang naglalakad sa kalsada. Kala mo sa kanila yung daanan, buga lang ng buga kung kelan nila gusto. Hindi ba nila alam may mga tao na nasa likod nila na sakam na sakam lahat ng binubuga nilang usok!?!

Bad trip talaga pag may makasabay ako sa umaga na nasa harap ko at nagyoyosi kasi lahat ng usok nila eh nalalanghap ko. Masakit na nga sa ilong, masakit pa sa mata!! Alam ba nila ang konsepto ng "downstream" ha!?! Aynako sana naman maging considerate ang mga tao at wag na magyosi habang naglalakad kasi kawawa ang mga nasa likuran nila!!!!

Vacation....

*Sigh*

I've been wanting a vacation ever since that La Union trip... Lately it has just been so stressful. Not exactly from the work I do, but from the pretending-I'm-working situations at work. Ano daw? What I'm trying to say is that my work isn't challenging anymore. Everyday, it's all just the same routine, the same stuff to do, the same files to work on, the same people to contact... It's just so monotonous. Who would have thought that no-brainer jobs can be stressful for someone who's used to fast-paced, critical situations? I thought these jobs would be my personal paradise because I won't have to overwork my brain anymore. But I guessed wrong. My job is boring... too boring that one of my biggest problems everyday is on how to make myself busy the entire day.

Should I go on another vacation again? I'm going to Singapore with my sister in two weeks -- partial vacation. My officemate also offered another possible vacation spot that I am most tempted to join. *Sigh* Should I go for it? Despite being broke? Hahaha. Here are the details anyway, you guys might be interested:

Event Date: Mar 29-30 (Ride 1)

Package:
* overnight accommodation
* roundtrip aircon transpo (tourist bus)
* half-day wakeboarding rental with gears
* breakfast meal on DAY 2
* side trips: Eco Village (Bird's Aviary, Gazebo, Chicken Farm), Market, Deer Farm at Ocampo
* with WI-FI internet at Eco-lodge & Coffeeshoppe area
* amenities: game room, swimming pool, skate park
* paid entrance fees
* night swimming

First Come, First Serve! Payment is required. Complete payment procedure will be given upon receiving your reg form.

2900 - those who are staying at an AIRCON studio type rooms with own bathroom, dining area/terrace (21 pax)
2700 - those who are staying at an AIRCON cabin w/ common bath & restroom with hot & cold shower (20 pax) -- reserve for Leia's group
2500 - those who are staying at a FAN cabin w/ common bath & restroom with hot & cold shower (7 pax)

Draft Itinerary:
Mar 28, Friday
9-930PM Meeting Time at Mcdo QAve (giving of IDs)
10:00PM ETD Manila

Mar 29, Saturday
8:30AM ETA Naga City
9-1030AM Naga Public Market/ Pasalubong Buy
10:30AM Brunch at Bigby's Cafe
11:30AM ETD Naga
12:00NN ETD Resort
12:30PM Prepare to leave to wakeboard facility
01:00-05:00PM Wakeboard Lesson
06:00PM Dinner at the resort

Mar 30, Sunday
08:00AM Breakfast at the resort
09:00AM Eco Village Tour/Free Time/Swimming
11:00AM Check-out
11:30AM Lunch at the Resort
12:30PM ETD CamSur Resort
01:30PM ETA Deer Farm
02:30PM ETD Cam Sur

Mar 31, Monday
01:30AM ETA Manila

Pls send all your inquiries and registration form to travel.factor@gmail.com. Pls edit your subject to: Camsur '08: Mar 29-30 and indicate what package price are you reserving for.

Their website is: www.thetravelfactor.org

Blog Break

Haha, I actually forgot to post that I'm on a blog break!
Stupid me! *toinks*

Anyway, I am currently outside of the country and on travel since November 24, and I have limited access to the internet (well actually I have really good access to the internet but I just can't find the time to update my blogs because of work).

Three weeks ago, I was in Vietnam. And I have a detailed story of my adventures there in my other blog. For the past two weeks, I'm in the US. All these trips are for work, unfortunately.

Damn, I'm so homesick right now. I guess I'll update again as soon as I get home this weekend.

Weird...

It's weird when somebody else is wearing the exact same blouse you're wearing. This morning while on my way to work, the girl standing beside me at the MRT station was wearing the same blouse I bought on sale at Forever 21 a about a year ago. I was only a few inches away from her when I realized, "Crap, she has the same top as I have." Good thing, though, is that her blouse is colored green, and mine is colored pink, and I kinda sported the blouse better than she did. Oh well, the moment the MRT train stopped at Shaw station, I immediately went out and sprinted to the office. Lol. Napakamalas ko naman!

Ulan = Baha = Basura

Ang isa sa mga kainakainisan ko tuwing umuulan eh ang lumusob sa mga lugar na may baha o kahit talsik talsik ng tubig lang, lalo na tuwing papunta akong opis or pauwi. Take note, yung piktyur eh yan ang dinadaanan ko lagi. Sa araw araw ba namang nilalakad ko yun, nakikita ko kung gaano kadumi ang dinadaanan ko -- may mga dura, mga plema, mga basura, mga suka (!!) ng lasing, mga natapong mga pagkain, at kung anu-ano pang madumi na nakakalat sa daan. Buti pa kung hindi basa ang daan kasi nakikita ko ang mga dumi at pwede ko itong i-avoid. Pero ngayong umuulan, wala akong choice kundi maglakad sa basang daan na kung saan naghalo halo na ang tubig ulan at mga basura. Naiinis ako lalo na kapag naka-tsinelas lang ako kasi nababasa ang paa ko, at malamang lahat ng bacteria e nadikit na sa mga kuko ko. Eh kadalasan pa naman naka-tsinelas ako kasi ayoko masira ang sapatos ko (pucha vain ito, mare). Kaya pagdating ko sa opisina o sa bahay, todo linis at alcohol ako agad sa paa, kasi kung hindi eh malamang pugad na to ng mga dura, plema, kulangot at suka. Kadirs naman o!! Bat pa kasi nila kelangan magkalat sa daan!!!

MRT Security Sucks

Nung isang araw, para akong baliw paikot ikot sa Guadalupe MRT Station kakahingi ng tulong sa mga gwardya dahil nanakawan ako ng celfone. Ang nakakainis lang dito kasi ni isa sa kanila, walang inoffer na tulong, at inichepwera lang ako. "Sori wala na kami magagawa dun," sabi nung isa. "Hindi pwede yun kasi baka magalit yung mga pasahero," sabi naman nung isa nung kinausap ko kung pwede i-inspect naman yung mga palabas na pasahero kasi baka isa sa kanila ang salarin. "Wala na yun, wala tayo magagawa dyan," sabi naman nung tang inang mukhang manager sa ticketing booth. Wala sila nagawa, isang biktima ng pagnanakaw ang humihingi ng tulong pero napaka-walang kwenta ng tinatawag nilang 'security'.

Ano nga ba ang ginagawa ng security system sa MRT? Taga-inspect ng mga bagahe ng mga pasaherong papasok ng waiting area? Eh chismoso at chismosa ang mga guard nila doon. Nag-iinspect kunwari pero hindi naman nakatingin sa ini-inspect nila. San sila naka-tingin? Dun sa ka-chikahan o minsan kalandi-an nilang guard (Lalo na kung babae yung guard). Kung may balak ka magdala ng bomba sa MRT, wag ka matakot kasi sigurado makakalusot ka dun.

Mga security guard din daw nagbabantay sa segregation ng lalaki at babae. Pero asan nga ba sila? Kung hindi nagche-check out sa mga babaeng naghihintay sa ladies waiting area, eh ayun nagchichika sa mga janitor na nagmo-mop ng sahig. Tang inang mga manyak yun. Ang lagkit makatingin lalo na pag may babaeng maporma at nagpapawis habang naghihintay. Kaya andami nakakasingit na lalaki sa first cart e.

Balang araw, may mabibiktima rin ulit dyan sa MRT. Sana lang may magawa na sila.

Weekend na Puro Laro!!

Isa akong batugan. Wala ako ginawa buong weekend kundi maglaro, maglaro, at maglaro. Ng ano? Syempre ng Video Games. Yun lang naman hilig ko na laruin eh. Ano kala nyo?

Nung sabado ng umaga, nanood ako ng laro (o kitams, laro pa din) ni Pam sa Chess. Part kasi ito ng Sportsfest namin. Pagkatapos ng event, hulaan nyo ano ginawa namin? Ano pa, eh di naglaro ulet! Galing ng opis, dumerecho kami sa Shangri-la B-Connected para maglaro ng StarCraft (kasi kasama namin si Tito Gary, eh yun ang hilig nya laruin). Ay sus, nakalimutan ko na paano maglaro ng Starcraft, parang 10 million years ago ko pa nalaro ito. Hehehe, hindi pala ako marunong mag-Zerg. Hanggang Terran at Protoss lang ata ang powers ko.

Anyway, after ng Starcraft, naglaro naman kami ng DotA. Pucha na dota yan, nakaka adik!! Haynako ewan ko ba bakit ako gumagastos para dito. Bwiset. Pero wala eh, ika nga nila, "it's in your blood" kahit na feeling ko uber noob ako, sige lang laro lang ng laro. Nakaka-adik eh.

Nung linggo naman, naku buong araw ang nilaan ko para sa Final Fantasy XII. Oo, yung bago sa FF series. Level 21 pa lang ako, 78 levels to go. Nakaka adik rin, syempre RPG kasi (hilig ko din talaga RPG). At pogi pa nung isang character (si Basch), although ewan ko ba ano problema ng Square Enix at ginawa nilang parang bading yun pag tumatakbo. Anyways, bagong style kasi ang ni-implement ng Square sa battle system. Although Turn-Based pa din, may "Diabl0-like" feel sa kanya. Basta, nakaka-adik rin pag nalaro nyo.

O sige, trabaho na naman ang batugan. Teka, kunwari pa ako. Magpepetiks lang ako e.
Tsk.

The MRT Mentality

Sa araw-araw na ginawa ng Dyos, ang MRT ang nakasanayan kong mode of transportation kasi:

1) Mabilis - walang traffic (unless masira yung tren at stranded ka sa isang station);
2) Aircon (although minsan pag sobrang siksik na, wala ka na maramdaman);
3) mura lang - kasing presyo nya lang rin ang bus, minsan mas mura pa;
4) Simple - meaning, hindi ako maliligaw pag sinakyan ko ang MRT;
5) Exercise - antaas kasi ng kelangan mong akyatin, at minsan malayo ang lalakarin mo.

Dahil dito, mas pipiliin kong mag MRT kaysa mag bus o mag jeep o mag taxi lalo na kung nagmamadali ako. Pinaka-efficient way of transpo, at least for me.

Kaso lang, minsan nakakainis talaga ang mga tao dito. Isa-isahin ko kung bakit:

1. Sa bilihan ng ticket/card: Meron mga booth na para sa exact fare (yung express lane), at meron para sa mga hindi. Ang hindi ko maintindihan, andami pa ring tao na pumipila sa exact fare lane, eh buo naman yung pera nila. May nakalagay naman dun na "Exact Fare" lane, at may translation pa ata nito sa Tagalog. Haynaku bakit kaya hindi sila nagbabasa. Minsan ito nagiging dahilan kung bakit bumabagal yung takbo ng linya.

2. Sa pagpasok sa waiting area: Para makapasok ka sa waiting area, kelangan mo ipasok yung card/ticket mo dun sa parang swiping device. Eh syempre, meron directions kung pano gawin yun, na yung butas eh dapat nasa top left. May arrow pa nga eh. Minsan sobrang bagal ng usad ng linya dahil ang mga tao stuck sa pag-swipe ng card nila. Nakakainis na hindi nila binabasa, pasok lang ng pasok, walang paki. Pucha ganito ba ang Pinoy?

3. Sa segregation ng women and children's cart at sa men's cart: Andaming pasimpleng mga lalaki na nakiki-singit sa women's cart!! Pakshet kayo! Alam mo yung kung kelan malapit na magsara yung pinto, saka sila tatakbo sa women's cart tas isisiksik yung sarili nila sa mga babae dun. Eh pucha minsan pawis pawis pa at mabaho. Women and Children's Cart nga eh, wala ba kayong mga utak!? Wag nyo sabihing male-late kayo, kasalanan nyo yun di kayo maaga umalis ng bahay nyo.

4. Sa mga babaeng ayaw gumitna: Pakshet din tong mga to. Anluwag luwag sa gitna, ayaw pumasok dun. Nagsisiksikan at nagtutulakan tuloy ang mga bagong pasok. Bakit kamo ayaw nila pumasok? Eh para mas mabilis maka-baba. Langya, napaka-kupal naman na rason na yan. Wala pakundangan sa ibang tao, puro sarili iniiisip. Eh kung sila kaya yung isa sa mga nakikisiksik para makasakay ng tren, tas meron kups na nakaharang at ayaw gumitna? Kasi naman, konting tiis lang ayaw pa gawin. Puro paganda ng buhay ang iniisip. Ayan tuloy, umuusad ba ang bansa!?

5. Sa mga nakikisingit sa pila para mas mabilis maka-labas ng waiting area: eto kayo (,|,) !!! Takbuhan pa tong mga to eh, kala mo may apocalypse na paparating. Lalong tumatagal kasi kahit saan na lang nakikisiksik sila. Lahat naman nagmamadali eh, hindi lang naman sila. Pero napakakapal ng mukha, sisingit talaga para ma-isahan yung mga nasa likuran. Lagi talaga nilang gusto ng easy way out. Pucha, mga ganitong ugali ang dahilan kung bakit hanggang ngayon, 3rd world pa din tayo.

Bottom line is, andaming epal sa MRT!!
But the real deal is, mga ganitong tao ang nagiging dahilan kung bakit walang asenso ang bansa. Sa MRT pa nga lang ganito na eh, ano pa kaya sa ibang bagay.

Pakshet!

Men Happiest with Smart Women

I had the chance of looking at Sir Tiger's Blog, and found this interesting article:

Survey: Men Happiest With Smart Wives

Men in search of true happiness should steer clear of bimbos and dumb blondes: research shows men are happiest if they marry smart women.

Every extra year of education a wife has under her belt significantly increases the chances her husband will report being highly satisfied with life. But Shane Mathew Worner, of the Australian National University's economics program, says it may be that an educated woman's earning power is her biggest asset.

In a paper to be presented at the HILDA Survey Research conference this week, he says "the higher the education level of the wife, the happier the husband is."

The study is based on a sample of more than 5000 Australians drawn from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey.

Sounds great doesn't it? But note of this sentence: "it may be that an educated woman's earning power is her biggest asset" ... What the... what happened to female housewives and men being the breadwinner of the family? Darnit, I've always wanted to be a housewife. Oh well.