Me and my son just got done voting today. Last time I voted here in the Philippines that was over 23 years ago.

That really was during my college days. I was a registered voter in Cebu City before, that’s were I first experienced my right to vote.

I remember the long line that we waited on that. But we were so patient because we were just so excited to vote. My cousin went with me at that time there.

Trouble Voting?

So today I really thought we could never vote. I got mine and the kids dual citizenship early last year. That same year me and Chris went to register to vote at the Comelec office, that was last October 2012. The people at the registration office told me to wait like about 3 months before our names be on the registration list on the web.

At the Polling Place

So like around end of January this year I started checking my name and my son’s name on the Comelec website (precincts finder).  On the Comelec site it says there that we are not yet registered. So I just waited a few more weeks and try again, same thing happened. Trying a few more times I finally just gave up until last night I checked the site before I went to bed. Same thing happened again. So in the morning I decided not to go vote because I just don’t want to be in the hot sun fighting out with other people looking for my name. My niece told me that it might be like what she experience last time, names not on the web but her name was on the precincts where she’s supposed to vote. So before mid-day today I finally decided to go with Chris for him to experience voting in the Philippines for the first time. I’m glad we did.

Our Voting Experience

Here is the proof – we voted

When we got to the school that we thought we are going to vote, we immediately went to the board were all the precincts number were posted. Our number was not on the list. Luckily lots of volunteers – young people – were really good and were ready to help out there. They told us where to go. I guess our precincts were on the other side of the campus on the high school side. So we have to walk  just a few hundred steps to be there. Finally we found the building it’s in the high school gym, it’s actually on the side of the building. Viola we found our name. So my niece immediately got a small paper from the volunteer person there, we have to write down our name and the voter’s number to be given to the person inside the voting place. After writing everything we were then ushered to our precincts room and starting to fall in line. When I saw the classroom I almost freak out it was full of people. Wow, have to wait for a long time. But thankfully we still had some chairs to sit down while other places they have to stand in line. So I just waited quietly there for our turn.

When the volunteer there found Chris had some disability we were ushered to the faster lane to vote. We then belong to the senior citizen, pregnant women or people with children. Wow it was quicker than I expected. Just within minutes after sitting down to that lane we were voting in no time. I had to help Chris out on his voting. I know some people that he wants to vote for. So it was easy and quick.

While voting, well really all throughout the election campaign I was thinking the Philippines should have 3-4 Senators in every island. Right now all the candidates were from Manila,  only 2 were from Mindanao not sure how many were from the Visayas. Looks like it might only 1 Mindanaoan  can make it to the senate. Hoping for more though.

Well, I’m glad election is over in this part of the world. It’s time for the winners to start working. Time also for the candidates winners and losers  to clean up the signs posted everywhere.

The start of the new beginning again in the Philippines.

Congratulations to the winners old and new of the election 2013. To our readers, one of them could be your family. So Congratulations to you all!

MABUHAY PHILIPPINES!!!

Been watching our television ever since the incident in Boston. Also in Texas. I’m just so saddened by the event, how could anyone do that kind of heinous crime. My heart goes out to the people who lost their lives there. While watching the event it really reminded me of the 9/11 tragedy. When they showed the smoke after the bombed exploded and people were running for safety it really made me think of the Twin towers when the debris and smoke were all over the place.

I was just thinking where on earth is the safest place to live. I know when I was growing up that we thought highly of America. Everyone wants to come and live in the States or the first world for that matter. Like the saying goes ” America is The Melting pot”. I know it still is safe today but just try to be on the look out, and always be aware of your surroundings. We used to lived in Vancouver, Washington USA.

Just after 9/11 tragedy I’ve heard on TV that a lot of those terrorists were having their training place near Portland, Oregon. It just less than 30 minutes away from where we used to lived. It was really a shocking thing to know. I’m pretty sure people there before didn’t think of who their next door neighbor was. I mean we say hi and just leave it at that. We don’t pry on the other people, but I think after 9/11, everyone now tries to know who is living next door to them. I remember on the news that some of them were also staying in Seattle. It would be scary to know that your next door neighbor was one of them.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Really living here in Mindanao, I guess it’s no different than any other place on the first world now. I would not say that they are safer there than us now. I remember people telling me or writing to me how could we sleep at night when Mindanao is not safe. At first it annoys me, but I got used to it and just laughed it off. A lot of them were telling me how in the world that Bob and I brought our kids to live in the chaotic and war zone area. Can you imagine hearing that statement a lot of times? It’s so hard to explaine to people who never set foot in this place and just judged it based on what they hear on the TV and the news. Can’t debate with narrow minded people who already concluded that Mindanao is like a war zone place like in the Middle East. I would say that there are certain areas in Mindanao that I would not advise for any people to visit without a guide or people you know there. Really it’s just like certain area in every city all over the world that the gangsters will hangout. You will not go there unless you have someone you know inside the group.

Watching the mom of the Boston Marathon bomber whining of how her son was treated in the States after what her sons did baffles me. I guess she thinks highly of her sons after what they did. I really thought her and her husband would be remorseful and feeling sorry for the people. But I didn’t see that from them, instead she keeps going on and on how her kids were the victims and the innocent ones. I had some opinion of her but I better keep it to myself though.

Anyway, I will just say that all of us will just keep our eyes open and on the look out always. Be aware of your surroundings. Know a little bit who the people living next to you.

BE SAFE EVERYONE!!!

I must be getting old already, I should say for not getting the new trend of the younger ones. I had a conversation with my new helper. She came from the province not really far from GenSan. She was narrating to me how hard the life they had. How her dad is just staying home most of the time instead of working. Her mom and her were the ones going around in the fields looking for wild veggies for them to sell to the market. Her dad a lot of times asked her mom for money for his cigarettes and load for cell phone.

I asked her does her mom give the money? She said she has to or else her and her mom will be beaten or will receives not so nice words. I said why don’t you guys go to the DSWD or something to seek help that your dad be put to jail or something. But typical the wife will just let it slide and forgives the husband and moves on. My helper said that’s the reason why she wants to work to help out her mom. She said that lots of times they don’t have food. They just had to get some sweet potatoes or just drink some water.

So now that she’s working, I could tell that she’s really wanting to help. She just doesn’t know what her priorities are. She told me that the first thing she wants to buy when getting paid would be a cell phone. I told her I’m not trying to push or interfere with your plans, don’t you think that first thing you should buy would be personal things and clothing? She’s using our older model cell phone here at the house anyway. She said she wants cell phone that have camera and music. Hmm, that puzzles me because we have radio also at the house too. Well, when she got her money she immediately bought a cell phone. Really I don’t really say much to our maids now. They can do whatever they want to do with their money. I heard today that her mom was asking money from her for their food. So I asked her what did she told her mom? She said that she told her mom that she already bought a cell phone and that she had no money now. I just said okay.

Cell phone is the priority

My helper keeps on telling us that she had disabled sister that her mom takes care of too. That’s why a few times they don’t have food on the tables especially if her mom didn’t go out and find veggies in the fields. Her dad doesn’t help out taking care of his disabled daughter. The mom doesn’t trust him on taking care with the disabled daughter because he will slap and hit her sometimes. She’s even teary eyed when  talking to us about it, and I’m sucked to that sad story that I really wanted to help her out too. But hearing her priorities that really changed my mind now. I told her that I am willing to help out but that person that I am helping were so willing to help herself too. I even told her if she’s good and trying to improve herself that I will help her on her studies. I told her I don’t think she wants to be maid forever. I really want for her to succeed especially that she has a special sister to take care of. Bob and I are softies when it comes to special child. As you know we have one too.

I don’t mind my maids having cell phones but do the job first before texting and chatting. My previous maids listened to the FM radio stations with the Dear Abby kind of show. The DJ will give out cell phone number that those people wanting friends and one of the listeners was my maid.  Gosh, they were so busy with their cell phones then. Even washing dishes using just one hand. Of course the dishes were not clean. Man they can’t concentrate on work anymore especially if you are not around in-front of them. It’s quite annoying that the simple job it takes forever for them to get finish. So I told my helpers I don’t mind you guys texting and talking to your family as long as works done properly. I even told them that if emergency come up their family can call or text me or my nieces anytime.

Have to really set rules for helpers. I had to let go of my other helper a few days ago. She doesn’t want to work. Every time I saw her she was just sitting around and let my other helper do the job. When she applied she told me that she knows how to cook local dishes, when she came here to work she doesn’t know any Filipino dishes. Sus, I’m not happy with her. We had to part ways with her. I could sense also that she will do what one of my maid did. Going out in the middle of the night bringing stuff that didn’t belong to them. Have to say goodbye before its too late. I’m more at peace now than when she’s her. As always I am really hoping for the best of the worker that we have here.

UPDATE:  After only a few weeks of working, long enough to earn money to buy a cell phone, this maid quit.

You probably wonder why I am writing a post about malls here in Davao City. Well, I just want to share with you here the difference between the period of time since we first moved here almost 13 years ago. I can definitely say that from that period to now, there is an enormous difference. When we first moved here Davao just had few malls and to name we had Gaisano Mall, Gaisano Ilustre or Gaisano South CitiMall, Victoria Plaza, NCCC Uyanguren, One Gaisano store somewhere (I can’t remember the location), Newly opened SM opened 10 years ago, NCCC Mall opened a few years after SM, and Chimes about 5 or 6 years ago. The fancy one over the years was SM City mall & Chimes. With-in less than 2 years ago 2 more malls opened and they are the high end malls. Going around Davao was just easy and fast. No Traffic. Now, though, traffic is a nightmare!

Vic Plaza

Victoria Mall - located in Bajada. I think really most people that shop there are the masses. They just like the simplicity of the mall. People are not intimidated in entering the place just wearing shorts and flip flops. I like to shop there too because I like to see their kitchen stuff on the third floor. For me they have more kitchen stuff to chose from.  I also like to see their fabrics and craft stuff there, they used to have good selections, not that much now. Most of the second floor, stalls, were selling cheap brand of clothes which affordable to the masses, I like to window shop there. At the grocery stores some products were cheaper from the other stores. Lots of other stores and kiosk inside the mall. They had post office and other shipping courier there too.

GMall

Gaisano Mall or G-Mall - Located in Bajada too. I’ve heard people say it’s the largest Gaisano Mall in the Philippines.  Especially now, they just had an expansion and more parking space. Not too far from Victoria mall. They are also serving similar to Victoria. G-mall is way bigger than Victoria.With good restaurants upstairs at the expansion and also computer stores too. I’ve heard people saying that G-mall had the cheapest prices for clothing and other stuff. I like to go there personally, they have more imported products to chose from at the grocery area compared to others malls. I just like to browse around and see what they have there at the grocery store. Me and my niece like to see what they have for baking. They also have good kitchen products there. I also like to go to the hardware store there near to the kitchen wares store and grocery stores.

Gaisano South

Gaisano South Citimall Davao - Similar to the other malls. With grocery stores at the ground floor, kiosk and other small eating area. With pharmacy and hardware stores downstairs. With parking lot at the underground area. They also have good clothing lines  for sale with good prices too. At the fifth floor a very good Italian restaurant there, they serve good pizza and pasta. Love the osso bucco and the risotto there. Just talking about food makes me hungry here.

The C

NCCC Mall or Bob likes to call it “THE C” - It caters to A, B and C classes of people. People with sari-sari stores like to shop there. They sell large quantity of products. I tried buying at the wholesale area buying stuff for the less fortunate people it took me forever waiting for the products and it just slow there. But for the sari-sari store owners it’s worth the wait for them. I guess they get good discounts there. The “C” also has a department store, nice cinema, kiosk, computer stores, hardware store, drugstore, restaurant and others.

NCCC Uyanguren - The haven for the sari-sari store owners. They can buy bulk stuff from there with a good discount. They also have good selections of fabric there for any occasions. The place is located at the heart of China Town (Uyanguren) here in the city. Outside NCCC Uyanguren, you can shop and find almost anything with a really good and decent price.

SM City Davao

SM South in Matina - 10 years ago SM was the fancy mall in Davao. It’s clean and just a bit nicer than the other malls that I mentioned above. SM North & South Mall I think has the biggest space for parking among the other  malls, and they have a nice movie theater too same as the “C”. They also have appliance center, good place to shop around for a good quality appliances. The grocery area also has good products, but a bit more in price compared to the other malls above that I mentioned. We always buy our meat there.

Chimes Mall - The upscale mall here in Davao. They used to had good selection of kitchen stuff and bed and bath. They still had good stuff and furniture for babies and toddlers. Lots of name brand products. They also have a grocery store downstairs. Still with in the mall you can find restaurant, gourmet deli (you can order good and fresh herbs and veggies). With pastries and coffee shop too. With good parking garage on the second level.

Abreeza

Abreeza Mall - Located in the heart of Davao. The first Ayala mall in Davao. Really fancy place to hang out with. With the first TGIF restaurant in Davao. Few nice coffee shops inside the mall franchise from here and abroad. Name brand products. Franchise companies from abroad like True Value hardware, Krispy Kreme, Starbucks, ArmyNavy, Mark & Spencer, Ace Hardware, Toys “R” Us, and many more. With a nice and clean grocery store with fresh fruits from North America.  Shopping there you have to bring along with you your thick wallet and plenty of cards (Visa, Master Card, etc).

SM Lanang Premier

SM Lanang Premier North - The second SM mall in Davao City.  The biggest shopping mall in Mindanao. Located in the northern part of the city.  With the spacious atrium of all the malls here in Davao city. With IMAX theater, the first in the city. Same with Abreeza, SM too has lots of franchise companies from here and abroad. They had one store there that I kinda liked, it’s “Our Home”, but when I asked the price of a bed sheet I was turned off. It’s way too much than what I was expecting. The price was Php 10,000 and its already on sale. Wow, was the understatement. The saleslady could tell that I am shocked when she told me the price. The sales lady then explained to me the count of the thread or something. I’m not even hearing what she was saying. My mind was just totally out. I was blown away. Ha ha ha. I’m not going to buy anything from there if they don’t have any good sale though.

Really we are looking forward to the opening of S & R Davao which is sometime in May.

Happy shopping everyone!