Month: July 2021

Expat life: why you should and shouldn’t do it

Six years ago, I decided to be an expat. I wasn’t pressured nor forced into it. It was a decision that, after two months or so of careful thought process, I made for myself. There were no external factors either, such as the need to feed a family or a desire to please parents who obliged me to. Simply put, I had the freedom to choose whether or not I’ll go.

Unfortunately not all Filipinos who decide to go overseas and be an expat have the same circumstance as myself. While the need to provide for the family isn’t always the reason why Filipinos try their luck overseas, in most cases, it is. And I can just imagine the pain and sacrifice one has to go through when deciding to leave everything behind, whether they like it or not, just so they can provide a better future for their family.

Expat: noun, a person who lives outside their native country.

However, if you are one of the lucky few who have the luxury to say “I’ll think about it” should an opportunity to go overseas arise, then I suggest that you really really reeeeeaally do think about it. It’s definitely not a walk in a park but if you manage to pull through, 9 out of 10 I guarantee you, you will become 100% way better than you are right now in so many ways you can only imagine.

Continue reading “Expat life: why you should and shouldn’t do it” →

Why are Filipinos so hard-headed?

Kids waiving Philippine flag

For the almost five years I have lived here in Australia, and all the times I was able to travel to other parts of South East Asia (HK, Singapore, Indonesia), I see Filipinos who abide by the local laws. I see Filipinos who are obedient, who are disciplined, and who are commendable. And yet when you take these same Filipinos and bring them back in The Philippines, they’d be having a hard time following laws. So I can’t help but wonder, why are Filipinos so hard-headed?

I ask this question all the time whenever I’m back home, or when I watch or hear news or trending posts on social media about people deliberately disobeying the law or not following the rules.

And I’m not even talking about rules during lockdown periods or super-strict city ordinances. I’m talking about simple rules like, I don’t know, crossing the street? Or getting on and off the bus/jeepneys. Or very basic road rules regarding counter-flowing or driving on sidewalks.

One doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out these rules. And yet, some Filipinos find it really hard to follow them.

Continue reading “Why are Filipinos so hard-headed?” →

Getting the Covid vaccine: what it’s like

Yesterday, I had my 2nd dose of the Covid vaccine. Obviously, it’s been 21 days since my first one, which was on the 1st of July. Getting the 2nd dose of the vaccine, aka getting “fully vaccinated”, feels good and quite literally, feels bad. If you haven’t had your full dose yet, or even your 1st one, then this is what you can expect. Take note that what is outlined here is my experience in getting the vaccine here in NSW, Australia. You may have a different experience getting your vaccine wherever you’re from.

The 1st jab

I had my 1st jab scheduled at 9:30 in the morning. I arrived in the vaccination center (St. George Hospital, Kogarah) 45 minutes early. Upon arrival, I knew I should have come earlier. There was already a long queue of people waiting just to get to the lift. The vaccination center was on the 4th floor and they only allowed four persons per lift to allow social distancing.

While we waited in line, one staff member went around and asked us for the text message that we received from NSW Health a day prior regarding our scheduled vaccination. I think they were checking just to make sure there were no walk-ins and that everyone properly booked their vaccination via the NSW Health website.

Once I arrived on the floor, I had to wait again for my turn to be “processed”. In processing, they confirmed my details and asked me a bunch of questions regarding the Covid vaccine. They also asked me for my driver’s license and my Medicare card but I reckon any valid ID would have sufficed. It’s just easier to ask for those two since those are what most people always have with them.

After processing, I was asked to wait again for my turn to be vaccinated.

Continue reading “Getting the Covid vaccine: what it’s like” →

“Puhon”: The most beautiful Bisaya word

There are three languages that I speak: Tagalog, English, and Bisaya. In that order.

Filipino or Tagalog, my mother tongue; English, because we’ve been taught how to read and write in English since kids, and; Visaya or Bisaya, the native language, or dialect if you prefer, of major parts of central and southern Philippines.

I started learning how to speak Bisaya when I was in high school. It is my 3rd language. Because although I was born and raised in a city in the southern part of the country, our local dialect is Tagalog. My mom, who is from Batangas, far up north in Luzon, and my dad, who is half-Chinese, both speak Tagalog. Ironically, my dad doesn’t speak a word in Mandarin nor Hokkien. He does speak Hiligaynon, more commonly known as Ilonggo, and Maguindanaon, the language of Muslim people. So it is natural for us to be speaking Tagalog at home.

When I moved to Iligan City, in the northern region of Mindanao, that’s when I was fully-immersed in the Visayan language. My classmates, my professors, the store attendants in the canteen, the campus security guard, the jeepney driver…everyone spoke Bisaya.

Continue reading ““Puhon”: The most beautiful Bisaya word” →

Failing forward: why it’s okay to fail and why failing is necessary

Is failing something you avoid? Is it something that frustrates or angers you? Do you get sleepless nights when you fail at something?

If you’re the type of person who abhors failing and would feel like a total failure whenever things don’t go according to your plan, don’t worry. There are literally 7 billion plus people in the planet and you’re not the only one who feels that way. As a matter of fact, being outraged when you’re failing or when you fail at something is pretty normal. It’s the default human reaction.

But there’s another type of people who welcomes failures. These people have accepted that failing is a natural part of the process. Be it the process of being a parent or the process of learning something new (like photography) or the process of falling in love, failing for them is not an “if” question, but rather, a “when”.

Me? Oh, I’m part of the first group. I hate failing. I’m outraged each time I fail at something.

Being angry at failing is normal

LOLJK not really. I’m the I-failed-but-I-wonder-why type of person.

Continue reading “Failing forward: why it’s okay to fail and why failing is necessary” →