Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Same same madaam, same same....
That's what they say in Thailand when they mean that's it's all the same size. :)
Well, I was back in Indonesia last weekend where I felt like it's "same same" as Philippines. I felt so much at home, with Padang almost similar to the country side in the Philippines.
Based on physical features, I can pass to be an Indonesian (among many other nationalities that people think I have) as the lady gave me the immigration pass for the locals. The lady beside me started talking to me and really thought that I was an Indonesian. So I said, Filipinos and Indonesians really do look very similar.
She was with her daughter and was interested to find out more about Philippines. I described how traffic in Jakarta is no different from that in Manila. Then they taught me some Bahasa Indonesia words that I can use for shopping and getting discounts. As I was familiarizing myself with some words, I realized how some words were similar to Tagalog, and even some to my own dialect, Ilocano. It goes all the way back before the Spaniards colonized the Philippines and the local tribes are from the Malay-Indo race.
So if you're a Filipino travelling to Indonesia or the other way around, don't be surprised when you realize you're "same-same" in so many ways.
Well, I was back in Indonesia last weekend where I felt like it's "same same" as Philippines. I felt so much at home, with Padang almost similar to the country side in the Philippines.
Based on physical features, I can pass to be an Indonesian (among many other nationalities that people think I have) as the lady gave me the immigration pass for the locals. The lady beside me started talking to me and really thought that I was an Indonesian. So I said, Filipinos and Indonesians really do look very similar.
She was with her daughter and was interested to find out more about Philippines. I described how traffic in Jakarta is no different from that in Manila. Then they taught me some Bahasa Indonesia words that I can use for shopping and getting discounts. As I was familiarizing myself with some words, I realized how some words were similar to Tagalog, and even some to my own dialect, Ilocano. It goes all the way back before the Spaniards colonized the Philippines and the local tribes are from the Malay-Indo race.
So if you're a Filipino travelling to Indonesia or the other way around, don't be surprised when you realize you're "same-same" in so many ways.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Oh happy day(s)
Yeah, a friend of mine commented how I can be so happy for more than 4 days. That was my nic at google talk and just feel so happy this week. I don't see any clear reason why, but things in general are going well and the company I hang out with generally give me that feeling. It has also been a week of realizations of what may be a more interesting month ahead of me.
Going to Indonesia this weekend for an AIESEC conference where I will give a talk on Entrepreneurship and support AIESEC Indonesia's Entrepreneurship Learning Network initiative. At the same time I might be going to Malaysia next weekend, to meet up friends that I haven't managed to visit yet given my 3-month stay in Singapore so far.
Hopefully I can keep on saying "Oh Happy Day!" to keep me smiling! :)
Going to Indonesia this weekend for an AIESEC conference where I will give a talk on Entrepreneurship and support AIESEC Indonesia's Entrepreneurship Learning Network initiative. At the same time I might be going to Malaysia next weekend, to meet up friends that I haven't managed to visit yet given my 3-month stay in Singapore so far.
Hopefully I can keep on saying "Oh Happy Day!" to keep me smiling! :)
Friday, July 13, 2007
Finding employment in Singapore
News Flash: An estimated 450,000 jobs will be available in the next 5 years if the economy grows between 4.5% to 6.5% each year. Growth is broad-based across all industry sectors, especially finance, info-communications, marine and process industries. In 2006, 176,000 jobs were created, of which 40% were sought through foreign employment. (from Ministry of Manpower)
This sounds like really good news especially to people like me who's seeking for an international career abroad. The process was quite simple, apply for an EPEC(Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate), submit the supporting transcripts and copy of diploma, then they allowed me to stay in Singapore for a year to look for a job. My cousin & I immediately got it, and did some follow up on paper work for medical exams and verification of documents at the ICA. The honeymoon period with Singapore is soon to be over, with more work need to be done in terms of really finding a job. Just like any job hunting exercise, it still takes a lot of time, effort and exposure to different networks with job openings that may not always be on the ads.
This is the legal way and still it feels like it's not an easy game to play hide and seek with the available jobs that is said to be here. Although I know that patience and more perseverance will later on allow me to find that perfect match for a life here in Singapore.
Then there's also the illegal way, for people who may not necessarily know they are already being fooled by some agents or so-called agencies. When I went home to the Philippines, I have been told that some agents even start selling EPEC for 17,000PHP (350USD) whereas it's just for free to apply for it. Now I heard stories of agents going to our province and promising them careers in Singapore. They will come in as tourists before they get to apply for the S-pass once they arrive here. Clearly it already sounds dubious, but with some little hope of having a better life, they get desperate and decide to pay a fee of 450USD and 350USD of board and lodging expenses for a month. It doesn't go through any process from the Philippine government agencies (POEA) nor the Singaporean government agencies (MOM) but they take the word of the agent that they have something waiting for them.
Once they were here, they met the officials of the hospital they were supposed to work for. When their tourist visa expired and still no s-pass, they are asked to exit to Malaysia and renew their visa once again. A lot of uncertainty given to them by the agent, until it totally worries them when the hospital withdrew their application for meeting the quota for foreign employees. They try to approach the embassy this time for further help, but with not much evidence available. They didn't have a copy of the contracts they supposedly signed, nor their receipts had valid addresses of their employment agencies.
I asked my aunt what could be the possible solution for this and she just gave me a grin. It's almost impossible with not much evidence to present on the other side. They can probably file a complain to POEA in the Philippines, but not from Singapore as they came in here as tourists in the first place. It's a pity that they suddenly remember to refer to the government when there's a problem but refrain from adhering to proper procedures for them to avoid being in deep trouble.
There is definitely no easy way in getting a foreign employment abroad. Most of the time if it sounds too good to be true, then there must be something wrong. In my case it might take a little more time until I find something. For the rest who are more impatient, it took them a lot of money to come here and maybe to no avail as the agents start hiding from them. Sometimes the legal process may seem too administrative, lots of paper work, takes time and effort but at least you’re sure you'll get there somewhere. Taking too much of this risk will always bring you down further whereby even your initial dreams of making it big somewhere will just be lost forever.
