3 months

Time really flies. I’m working for almost 3 months here at Nestle. I started on Dec. 8 last year. Work here is not that hard. I feel almost no pressure although sometimes I feel lacking compared to the rest of the crew here. My body and mind seems to have adjusted fine here. Unlike my 1 year stay at that audit firm (shivers), I’m looking healthy here. it was a good decision for me to just leave on that fateful day in August. I just didn’t show up. It was a very gratifying experience. Sometimes I have nightmares of my former boss. Sigh.

Last night I joined the rest of the TBMC crew for a birthday party. Everyone seem to be drunk including me. I drank about 5 bottles of SMB lite. I didn’t like the taste of brandy for the 1st time.

I’m going home earlier today because I have a task to perform.

Getting sleepy. Yawn.

My day today

I managed to extend my readings from 7:30am to about 9:30am today. I did this random readings in order to check up on any new equipment they might put up or any new meter I should read.

Freaky, I’m going to the high hygiene area here at the plant. Sigh. I am geared up for it with white shirt and white pants.

Feel like a geek in my suit. Sigh.

JM is taking a while with his meeting. Lunch break will be in a few minutes. At least I have work to do this afternoon. Yey! I’m getting to be a bit busy now. Unlike the previous weeks.

I really think when people call you sir it’ll get in your head. That must be the case of that guy. Sigh.

Lunch time break! I’m gonna sleep for a while.

Sigh. People seem to notice that I go to areas every time. They think I’m really busy today. Truth is I am. I feel like a part of the company. And not just a contractual guy. I should have had training at TNC’s Calamba plant when I was there. I should have asked to be transferred somehow. I really need the exposure to real life on the plant and not just inventories during those years. It’s a blessing though that I am able to cope up with the system here at my age.

I’m going home earlier today. The new computer shop very near our house has a very fast internet connection so it’s worth the 1-hour rental. Last night I wrote about 3 or 4 new blogs for publishing today and tomorrow.

The weather is still cold during nights and mornings.

Ate ice cream for snack today. only about an hour left before I go home.

Need to go home. Brought pizza for the kids.

the week starts

January 3



Well this is the real start of work for most of the people here at the plant. It seems a lot has happened in the period where everyone was on vacation. A few of the folks here didn’t quite made it back. They’re either resigned or are at their contract’s end. Still no Delta V data. It’s been 3 days already since the power shutdown. My work really depends on that data. For now, I’ve monitored the readings of just about everything on my list for the last 3 days. ok now I’m technically did my job. I hope I can repeat everything again next week somehow. I want to do it alone again just like the last 2 days.

It’s hot here at the office today. Wearing my sweat shirt would be a waste and it would be too hot. Already the day is half over. The 1st Monday of the month and of the year. Next week will be my 43rd birthday. I think we’ll celebrate it this Sunday with mom, pop and Dodo’s family. I hope we have money on that day.

I hope kulit sets our gathering soon. Sigh. I think they’re waiting for Arnel to be available. I hope I have money then.

Damn it’s so hot.

Lunch break is over for most of us. No Milo on the dispenser. I’m settling for coffee since yesterday.

They have a meeting here again. Sigh.

It’s 1:01pm and already I want to do something else. Our data center is still kaput.

Thinking about it, I can write a couple of stories with my free time here at my PC. I hope I can find inspiration for some fan fiction or original work. It’s that time.

It’s getting cold outside but the air conditioning system in our office seem to be off. I’m really sweating it out here. It’s freaking hot in here.

The guy I replaced appeared today. Looks like he’s coming back here. I wonder what position he’ll be given. Sigh.

I’m on my 2nd cup of latte. Yesterday I drank 2 cups of cappuccino. There’s still no Milo on the dispenser.

Technically finished my duties for the day. I’m on standby for any orders from the top guys.

It’s still a wee 27 minutes before we take our break for the pm.

Finished my afternoon break. It’s less than an hour to go before we all go home.

You can never really get rid of office politics. I hope I won’t have the problems some of the contractual people here had today. I’m totally sweaty today. It’s so damn hot.

Only about 33 minutes to go before I call it a day. I’m just doing some finishing touches on my reports.

That’s my day today. Tomorrow will be another.

I hope dinner’s ready once I arrive home.

January 4

Well this morning was a busy one. I got dusted by debris left over from the construction of some cables near the boiler. I got the ladder from the chiller area. All just to find the reason for our data center’s breakdown. I think I still have concrete on my hair. At least I’m doing something right and I’m not just sitting around.

My hands are sore from carrying that big ladder. Sigh. Still standing by and watching the tech do her job on the delta V data. It seems that lost data stay lost with this program. Sigh. Unlike the last accounting program I used at TNC when we can write a script and all lost data could be retrieved. I think it’s because no outside instruments are involved unlike here at the plant when everything is connected.

I’m going to the bank today to check if my ATM card is already available for release. It’s been 3 weeks already. I do hope it’s available so I can withdraw without being shy or embarrassed.

My head feels like it’ll explode. It’s freezing all of a sudden here. I’m getting hungry. Sigh.

We’re all busy today, the kids are at school, Joyce and me are at work. It seems like a long time since we all were this busy. I wonder how my folks are doing today.

Every day that passes gets me near to my 43rd birthday. What to do on my birthday? Sigh.

I can’t get over the fact that these contractual works jumped from one contractor to the other in the span of 2 days. When their output was in check, everyone was in an uproar. I think it’s a bit unfair on some level. But that’s just me.

Last working day for 2010

Ok, my vacation was on the 24th, 25th and 26th. 3 days was very short. It I enjoyed that holiday period. On the 24th we stayed at mom’s house from lunch time till dinner time. We had debates, fun and food. About 9pm that day Mang Mar and I along with Nelson drank 4 bottles of Red Horse. We ended our drinking session around 1am? That was Christmas morning already. On the 25th we just stayed home. I scolded my daughter. Slapped her face harder than I would like to do. Sigh. That’s our Christmas down point. I was really shouting to let them get my point. Sigh. Oh we had a dinner bash at my aunt’s house but it was not that exciting.

On the 26th we went to Markina for our family reunion. Drank tons of wine again with my cousins’ husbands and my uncle. Luckily I didn’t get drunk because I have work today. I wish the time in Marikina lasted longer. We had fun there. Everyone was not afraid to let loose.

Officially I'm on my new year vacation...no work from tomorrow until the 31st.......

Manic Monday and Just A normal Tuesday

It’s been a very manic Monday for me yesterday. Not only was the data I needed corrupted but this was the 1st time I went and did the weekly routines I inherited here. The weather was not really that conducive but I needed to finish the task before 4pm.

Also, I was distraught on applying for a new payroll account. I wasn’t ready with the requirements. I hope I can do it today.

My cp was caught yesterday. I was pissed off really. The HR guy didn’t approve my cp being brought inside the plant. Pretentious if you ask me.

I need to finish some tacky stuffs.

I finished my daily routine and now I’m just updating some stuffs. I hope to get this right next week. I still got a lot to learn here. I still don’t know where everything is.

I seem to be having a hard time with certain you know what. Red tape is all I see.

Anime in the Philippines

When did it start? I remember as a boy we used to watch Gigantor or Tetsujin-28 on TV before martial law.

After that, we had Speed Racer and Marine Boy.

But this was pale in comparison came 1978. That year the anime phenomenon really hit the Philippines. Chodenji Machine Voltes V was the 1st of a wave of animation from Japan that really made an impact to our culture


The 1st superrobot series which aired at GMA 7, it started a whole slew of other feature animes including Mazinger Z, Mekander Robot, Daimos, UFO Grendizer, Steel Jeeg, Balatak, Getter Robo, Danguard Ace and others.

A year later, then president Marcos for reasons that we cannot fathom during those times, declared these series unfit for air play. Then started other genres for anime to be aired here. Titles like Candy Candy, Ron Ron, Nobody's Child, Alakazam, Paul in Wonderland replaced the superrobots with fantasy and drama stories.

What started as stories cattered to male audiences began to include the female audience showing how broad anime really is.

Presently there are hundreds of anime features TV series and movies that are show here. Familiar titles as Yuyu Hakusho (Ghost Fighter) and the Gundam series



and others like Dragon Ball, Naruto and others.

After a bit more that 30 years, anime is still going strong in our country as adult and kids alike watch gleefully. Now we have tagalog versions of said animes making it more accessible to the masses.

Here's to another 30 years or more.....

Mendicants and the Filipino People

I've been musing over the anti-mendicancy law that the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared. It's still in effect by the way.

Stated as follows:

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1563 June 11, 1978

MALACAÑANG
M a n i l a

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1563

ESTABLISHING AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR THE CONTROL AND ERADICATION OF MENDICANCY, PROVIDING PENALTIES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, the promotion of social justice and protection of life, property and dignity of the citizenry in endangered by rampant mendicancy;

WHEREAS, mendicancy breeds crime, creates traffic hazards, endangers health, and exposes mendicants to indignities and degradation; and

WHEREAS, there is an immediate need to provide appropriate services to enable mendicants to meet their basic needs and develop self-reliance;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and decree:

Section 1. Title And Scope Of The Decree. This Decree shall be known as the Mendicancy Law of 1978. It shall apply to all mendicants, and exploited infants or children who are 8 years old and below, minors found begging and covered by Presidential Decree No. 603 and parents of exploited infants and children criminally liable under Article 59 and 60 of Presidential Decree No. 603.

Section 2. Purpose. This Decree shall be interpreted so as to, among others:

a. Prevent the commission of mendicancy;

b. Prevent the exploitation of infants and children through mendicancy and provide habilitative services for those already exploited or in immediate danger of exploitation; and

c. Promote the rehabilitation of minors found begging and mendicants by providing an integrated developmental package of preventive, habilitative interceptive, remedial, and/or rehabilitative services.

Section 3. Definition Of Terms. As used in this Decree, the following shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed thus:

a. "Mendicant" refers to any person, except those enumerated in Section 4 of this Decree, who has no visible and legal means of support, or lawful employment and who is physically able to work but neglects to apply himself to some lawful calling and instead uses begging as a means of living.

b. "Exploited Infant" or "Child" refers to an infant or child 8 years and below who is used in begging or one who accompanies a habitual vagrant or beggar.

c "Habitual Mendicant" refers to one who has been convicted of mendicancy under this Decree two or more times.

d. "Duly Licensed Child Placement Agency" or "Individual" is an institution or person licensed by the Department of Social Services and Development to assume the care, custody, protection and maintenance of children for placement in any child-caring institution or home under the care and custody of any person for purposes of adoption, guardianship or foster care.

e. Integrated Developmental Package of Services include the following:

1. Preventive services to measures that forestall the occurrence of situations identified as contributory to mendicancy;

2. Habilitative services refer to measures which provide environmental or socio-economic conditions for the exploited infant or child which maximize possibilities and opportunities for the enjoyment of satisfactory equality of life before the formation of undesirable attitudes and values or the onset of conditions most conducive to mendicancy;

3. Interceptive services are measures which channel or direct the growth potential and productive energy of the mendicant infant, child, youth or adult to offset the effect of factors contributing to mendicancy;

4. Remedial services refer to measures intended to meet the basic needs and improve living condition of the mendicant; and

5. Rehabilitative services refer to medical, social, educational, psychological and vocational measures to develop and/or restore the mendicant to the fullest state of well-being or economic usefulness of which he is capable, and to engage in a gainful occupation.

Section 4. Apprehension Of And Services For Persons Found Begging. Any infants or child 8 years old and below who is found begging or is being utilized by a mendicant for purposes of begging shall be apprehended as a neglected child under Article 141 of PD 603 and shall be committed to the custody and care of the Department of Social Services and Development or to any duly licensed child placement agency or individual.

Any minor over 9 years of age under 15 found begging or is being utilized for purposes of begging and who acted without discernment shall be apprehended as a neglected child under Article 141 of Presidential Decree No. 603 and shall be committed to the custody and care of the Department of Social Services and Development or to any duly licensed placement agency or individual.

Any minor over 9 years of age and under 15 who is found begging or is being utilized for the purpose of begging and who acted with discernment shall be proceeded against in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 3, Title VIII of Presidential Decree No. 603.

Any person not otherwise covered in the preceding paragraph of this Section who is found begging and who is physically or mentally incapable of gainful occupation shall be provided the integrated package of services by the Department of Social Services and Development, the Welfare units of local governments and other cooperating agencies.

Section 5. Criminal Liability. A mendicant as defined in Paragraph (a) Section 3 hereof, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not exceeding P500.00 or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 2 years or both at the discretion of the court.

A habitual mendicant shall be punished by a fine not exceeding P1,000.00 or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 4 years or both at the discretion of the court.

Parents of exploited infants or minors under Section 4 of this Decree shall be proceeded against in accordance with Articles 59 and 60 of Presidential Decree No. 603, unless they are themselves mendicants.

Any person who abets mendicancy by giving alms directly to mendicants, exploited infants and minors on public roads, sidewalks, parks and bridges shall be punished by a fine nor exceeding P20.00.

Section 6. Information Program. The Department of Public Information shall conduct a nationwide educational and information program on the Mendicancy Law and educate the public to contribute only to lawful fund raising projects and prevent the community in giving alms except through organized agencies, subject to such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Department of Public Information may promulgate.

Section 7. Local Programs And Facilities. Local governments shall provide socio-economic programs and establish operating units including reception and action centers, sheltered workshops, constitute homes and other facilities for mendicants, subject to such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Department of Local Government and Community Development may promulgate.

Section 8. Health Needs. The Department of Health shall provide the necessary measures in meeting the health needs of mendicants, subject to such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Department of Health may promulgate.

Section 9. Law Enforcement. The Department of National Defense shall provide the necessary law enforcement and other related services for the implementation of this Decree, subject to such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Department of National Defense may promulgate.

Section 10. Integrated Network Of Services. The Department of Social Services and Development shall provide an integrated network of appropriate services to exploited infants and children 8 years old and below as well as mendicant minors and adult mendicants and shall coordinate the services related to the implementation of this Decree, subject to such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Department of Social Services and Development may promulgate.

Section 11. Appropriations. The sum of two million pesos (P2,000,000) is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury that are not otherwise appropriated, in order to support the activities under this Decree.

Section 12. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with this Decree are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 13. Separability Of Provisions. If for any reason any section of provision of this Decree is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions thereof which are not affected thereby shall continue in full force and effect.

Section 14. Effectivity. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 11th day of June, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-eight.



An observation of Filipino culture sees us as a people who dislikes being poor, but we sell a national image of poverty so that foreign investors might take notice.
Another observation is that those who begs seem to have letters with seals from either the local government or the DSWD. Whichever agency has allowed these people to roam the streets should think twice.

In the bible, Jesus told us it is blessed to be poor. And that being poor doesn't really mean indignity.
Beggars come to people for alms. The law said that it is illegal to give alms which seem to contradict the command in the New Testament.
I hope the Philippine government acts to help these people. Homeless, displaced or simply victims of circumstances.

Help the poor. Feed the poor. Give to the poor.

Damn Marcos for giving this kind of law.

What's going on?

Ever wonder why the earth is so restless now of all times? We're experiencing global upheaval not seen since well, eons.
People should realize the signs of the times. Maybe it's getting near that day where all those religious fanatics would celebrate their being "the true followers" or what other doomsayers keep on talking about.
I don't really know. I'm just your average joe minding his own business. Trying to earn a living.
Wish it would rain though.

Weekend with my pops and the kids

Yesterday we went to Rizal Memorial to watch my nephew compete in Tae Kwon Do. I was with my dad, my kids, my brother and his kids. We got up real early. We had fun and the usual experience during outdoor activities. Needless to say, we were not disappointed with my nephew's performance since he bagged gold.
Even if it was really tiring because of the weather. Too hot again. It took about the whole day to watch and then had pizza afterwards. All in all, the bonding was a nice change of phase in this fast times.

Walang Pagbabago

Lumuwas na naman ako as I do weekly now. I've been to Quezon City and then to Manila. Sabi sa inyo, I thought I've forgotten how to get there. Manila is still the same 20 years ago. Yung mga building parang yun pa rin. Yung kalat, yung traffic. Parehong pareho. It's like going back in time.
The only difference I saw was this new terminal near the old Metropolitan theatre. Wala pa yun nung nasa Manila ako.
Escolta's basically the same. Although yung entrance sa Letran is different from when I was there.
Anyway.....What a day it was....tired...