Responding to harsh comments

How would you respond if someone leaves you the following comment?

" ...parang hindi ka nakatira sa Third World. ...parang novelty sa iyo na mahirap pala ang buhay, ganon pala ang pagtitipid... - not eating out after work, reserving a weekly allowance etc etc. parang ang hirap para sa iyo.

...maybe you mean well when you write, but for many of us who have grown up with this way of life and have endured tragedies brought about by lack of funds, all i can say is - you damn well have nothing to complain about. you don't know anything about poverty or budget

...try selling one of your kidneys just so you can pay for your daughter's chemotherapy. after that, see if you can still complain about not being able to eat out ..."

The above are excerpts from actual comments received by a fellow blogger from an irate commenter. Click here to read the entire post of this fellow blogger, the entire comments from the angry commenter and how the blogger responded.

How one responds to negative comments normally determines what happens next. Either a word war follows or the issue is settled amicably. Many times we let our emotions take control and end up doing stupid things we regret later. We have to remember that we can always control the words we use (most especially true in blogging).

"You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you." - Brain Tracy

Men's Loo in Queenstown, NZ

Someone from one of my yahoogroups emailed this photo of the men's toilet in one of the hotels in Queenstown, NZ. Malapit yon dun kina Ka Atoy. Sa tingin ko nga mukhang si Ka Atoy yata ang jumi-jingle na ito. hehehe.



Ano kayang feeling kapag jumi-jingle sa ganitong toilet? Sa mga girls naman, ano kaya kung may pictures naman ng mga machong boys sa likod ng mga pintuan ng mga cubicles? Wala lang, curious lang.

Three Things You Still Don’t Know About Me

This is an assignment from Bing. Sorry, Tita, late ang assignment ko. Pero finish or not finish pass your papers kaya, eto ginawa ko na rin. Para may theme naman, lahat ng sagot ko tungkol sa pag-aaral.

Three Things You Still Don’t Know About Me

1. I was a delinquent student when I was in grade school. Natandaan ko first day of class sa Prep, nahuli ako ng titser nakikipagdaldalan sa katabi ko. Tinawag kami ng titser at pinapunta sa harap ng class, tapos pinapunta sa isang korner, pinagharap kami nung classmate ko at pinahubo ang aming mga shorts. Isang oras kaming nakatayo nang walang salawal! Nung grade 2 naman ako, muntik akong ma-kick-out sa school. Akala ng mga magulang ko pumapasok ako sa class. Di nila alam, tumatambay lang ako sa gym. Reason ko: takot akong pumasok kasi terror yung titser. Pinakiusapan lang ng mga magulang ko ang iskul kaya di ako na-kick out.

2. Nagseryoso lang ako sa aking pag-aaral, pagkatapos mamatay ng Dad ko nung 10 years old ako. Grade 6 nag-graduate ako with honors. Fourth year, class salutatorian ako. Isa ako sa apat na nakapasa sa UP galing sa school namin. Tinapos ko ang Civil Engineering, na normally ay limang taon sa loob lamang ng 4 and a half years. Wala akong grade na singko sa aking mga subject. Pero may kwatro at Dropped. At least di pa rin considered na bagsak, di ba?

3. Seryoso ma’y pilyo pa rin. First and second year, block section kami sa UP College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Panggabi ang block namin. 5:30 ng hapon tatambay kami nung mga ka-block ko sa first floor ng CAS, room 105, para masulyapan si Dinna Bonnevie. Estudyadnte pa siya non pero sikat na rin sa mga bold movies. Fourth year sa isang engineering science subject, kahit tapos ko na at pasado na ako sa subject na yon, nag-si-sit-in pa rin ako sa class ng isa naming titser. Hindi dahil masipag akong mag-aral. Type ko lang kasi maganda yung titser at parati pang naka-braless! Seryoso naman ako sa pag-aaral, pero masama bang mag-pantasya, paminsan-minsan? Hehehe

Pasa ko naman ito sa tatlo sa mga bago kong nakilala sa blogging. Isang nasa NY, isang nasa Germany at isang nasa Japan - kay LIW, Neng, Diosa4ever.

Using Your GSM Cellphone in NZ

Disclaimer: Information here is valid only as at the date this was written. For updated and more information, please see the Vodafone website. http://www.vodafone.co.nz.

In NZ, there are only two cellphone networks -- Vodafone and Telecom. Of these two, Vodafone seems to be more popular because of its wider coverage and international support. Vodafone prepay connection packs at $35 each can be bought from any Vodafone outlet. It includes a SIM2 card for your GSM handset and $5 worth of airtime loaded. In addition you can also get $10 extra airtime by answering a questionnaire.

TXT, PXT and Video PXT cost $0.20 to send locally or anywhere in the world. Vodafone to Vodafone or Vodafone to local landline calls cost $0.49/min. All others including international calls cost $1.39/min.

If you run out of credit and need to use your phone you can get a Prepay IOU $2 top-up by simply texting IOU to 468. In other words utang muna ng $2. Quite convenient especially in case of emergency. The next time you top-up your mobile Vodafone will deduct $2 from the amount of the top-up. Recharge cards are sold at $20 each. Airtime is valid for 365 days.

When I was in the Philippines I bought a SMART SIM. I was not impressed with SMART because it was only later that I realized that their loads only last for a few days unlike here which is 1 year. A short validity period of the loads forces people to use airtime unnecessarilly because if they don't, load credits gets wasted.

Read more of my rant about this at PinoyATBP and why I think SMART has been outSMARTing the public. Click here. Mukhang naiisahan tayo ng SMART!

Tag ni Jun

Kasagutan ko ito dun sa tag ni Felix J.

Is It Really Bad to Stare?

Tulad din ng sinabi ni Felix J, depende sa tinititigan at sa sitwasyon. Kapag may dumaan o nasalubong akong seksi sa daan, natur reaction ko ang titigan siya. Hindi lang sa mata, mulo paa hanggang ulo pa. Sa aking palagay flattery pa nga yon para sa chick. Pero iba ang sitwasyon kung kasama niyang naglalakad ang syota niya. Para sa chick, okay lang titigan siya. Pero para sa syota niya, iisipin niyang pambabastos ito. Kaya sa ganitong situation, huwag kang tumitig, para iwas gulo.

Naalala ko sa Saudi, meron mga nakukulong dahil lang dito. Doon huwag na huwag mong titingnan ang babae kapag kasama ang kanyang asawa. Yun lalaki na lang titigan mo. Hay! Type!

Panghuling advice ko, kung may tititigan ka, siguraduhing hindi nakanganga ang bibig mo at baka mapasukan ng kung anong UFO o insekto.

Do You Have a Favorite Song?

Favorite ko yung “Impossible Dream”. Matagal ko nang favorite ito. Long before Ninoy died, narinig ko na ito. It was in the movie “Don Quixote de la Mancha” that I heard it first. It evokes a sense of idealism kasi kaya gusto ko yung song. Tapos yung mga role models na hinahangaan ko yung mga medyo may tililing o may pagka-weird katulad ni Don Quixote, at yung sikat na pintor na si Vincent Van Gogh.

Pasa ko naman ito sa mga chicks, kasi sila ang madalas na matitigan. Kay Agring, Ghie, Maui, at Trotsky (na isang James Taylor fan na tulad ko).

NZ Income Tax

Sabi nila there are two certainties in life – death and taxes. Ewan ko kung totoo yon. Death definitely. Pero taxes, di naman lahat ng bansa may tax. Sa Saudi alam ko tax-free and kita mo. Ganun din sa Brunei. Sa Las Vegas din yata ganun din. But in most countries tulad ng NZ lahat ng income may tax.

Dahil di naman ako accountant and definitely not a tax expert, I’ll just give a summary of the income tax rates for individuals in NZ. If you need more information, I suggest you go to the website of the NZ Inland Revenue Department (BIR ng NZ).

Taxable Income	Tax Rate
Up to $38,000	19.5 %
$38,001 to $60,000	33 %
$60,0001 and over	39 %

For example if a person has an annual income of $65,238, his tax due is computed as follows:

$0 to $38,000 @ 19.5%	=	$7,410.00
$38,001 to $60,000 @ 33 %	=	$7,260.00
$60,0001 to $65,238 @ 39%	=	$2,042.82
Total Tax Due	=	$16,712.82

The NZ tax year starts on April 1 and ends on March 31^st of the following year. Everything you earn within this period is considered as your income. Some expenses can be deducted from your income and therefore won’t be taxed. These are called rebates. Examples of rebates are:

• Below $9880 rebate – if your income is under $9880
• Below $38k rebate – if your income is under $38000
• Child Rebate – if you are under 19 yrs old and attending school
• Donations – if you donated $5 or more to any charitable organization
• Childcare – if you have paid for childcare as a working parent
• Housekeeper – if you have paid for a housekeeper

For details and the maximum amount you can claim for each rebate, please consult the IRD website. Note that you must include receipts with your claims for donations, childcare and/or housekeeper.

Your total income minus all the rebates will give you your total taxable income. You then use this reduced figure to calculate your tax due.

If you work for a company, meaning you’re not self-employed or does not own a business, your salary is automatically deducted of tax. Your employer takes care of this. At the end of the year, you normally, don’t need to worry about filing any income tax return. However, if you want to claim any rebate and therefore claim a tax refund, you’ll need to fill up a separate form (IR526).You can download the form online, print it, fill it up and submit it to Inland Revenue at the end of the tax year.

Next time, I might write something about how you can avoid paying more taxes legally. Note: Legal po ito. Walang hocus-pocus at walang pandaraya. Pero pagiisipan ko muna at baka mali ang masabi ko at ma-audit pa ako ng IRD.

Impressions from a Balikbayan

First day of work ko ngayon galing sa bakasyon. Hirap bumalik sa "work" mode. Hangover pa rin after weeks of shopping, pamamasyal at masasarap na pagkain sa atin. Pero bago ko makalimutan ang lahat let me just enumerate some of my impressions about the Philippines during our 3 weeks stay after being away from our country for nearly 6 years.

• I observed significant improvements in Metro Manila traffic. The traffic flow along EDSA was noticeably much better compared to what it was in 2000.
  
  
• The impact of the LRT and MRT systems to mass transport was dramatic. The roads and flyovers all over Manila also made a huge difference.
  
  
• Travel along the North Expresseway was a joy and a breeze. From Balintawak (wala na rin ang amoy ng palengke doon at ang mga nagtitinda hindi na nagooverflow sa EDSA) to San Fernando, kuha na in half an hour. Medyo mahal nga lang ang toll.
  

• MMDA and its traffic enforcers seem to be doing a good job. Public jeeps and buses are loading and unloading in designated areas much better. The commuters and pedestrians also seemed to be more disciplined.

• Malls and shopping centers are everywhere! Naubusan na nga kami ng time para pasyalan lahat. Ang gaganda ng mga malls sa atin. World class talaga! Even those I've seen in LA, Sydney and Gold Coast, are no match to our malls. And the best part is mas mura sa atin!

• Food in the Philippines are tastier. Sabi ng anak ko mas malasa daw ang mga pagkain natin. Masarap pa rin ang Jollibee Chicken Joy at Champ.
  

• People everywhere seems to be friendlier, more polite and more helpful. Everywhere you go, at the airport, in malls and restaurants, you’re greeted “good morning sir/mam”. Sa provincial buses, mas mabait at matulungin ang mga driver at mga konduktor.
  
  
• I noticed Pinays are slimmer, sexier and more beautiful compared to what I recalled the last time I was in the country 6 years ago. Lots of women are skinny, but some of the men have big tummies.
  
  
• Brand new cars are everywhere. Much more compared here in NZ, where people generally are content with second hand Japanese and European cars.
  
  
• Huge two/three storey houses have sprouted everywhere. In Manila and even in the provinces you immediately noticed these new dwellings with colored tile roofs and manicured gardens.
  

• It seems that only people in Manila and those belonging to a certain class in society are aware of or care about the goings on in the national government. For most people, especially those in the provinces, they seem indifferent. Tuloy lang sila sa mga everyday na gawain nila.

Overall, I was very pleased with what I’ve seen in the Philippines, that it made me want to come back again soon. I wasn't that pleased and impressed when I was home in 2000. There is improvement everywhere, despite the bunglings of politicians. It only shows how resilient a people we are and that there is hope for us as a people. Kung naging mahusay pa ang national government natin lalo pa sana tayong maunlad ngayon. Sa susunod na balik ko sa Pinas, siguro (sana) mahusay na.

I'm back!

Kahapon lang kami nakabalik sa Auckland. 5AM ng umaga nung dumating kami. Pagdating sa bahay diretcho sa bed at antok na antok kami kasi di kami nakatulog sa plane. Okay naman yung trip from Manila to Auckland. Although parang ang haba ng trip namin kasi nag-overnight pa kami sa Brunei. Imagine Friday kami umalis ng Manila nakarating kami sa Auckland Sunday na!

We left Manila Friday 5PM via Royal Brunei Airways. Manila to Brunei only took 1.5 hours. Gabi na nang dumating kami sa Brunei kaya kinailangan namin magovernight sa Brunei Hotel. I was very impressed with the service from RBA as well as Brunei Hotel. Sarap nga ng complimentary breakfast sa hotel. Ang ganda-ganda pala ng Brunei. Spotless! Linis talaga. Malinis pa nga kaysa sa NZ. Walang masyadong tao kaya hindi crowded at wala ring pollution. Parang NZ din. Eto post ako ng isang photo of a mosque near the Brunei Hotel were we stayed. Sabi nila totoong Gold Plated yung mosque na ito.



Short muna ang post ko today. Medyo may hangover pa ng vacation eh. I’m also still catching up with all emails. Imagine pagbukas ko ng inbox ko, 2300 new messages! Pasensiya na kung di ko mabasa lahat at di ako makapag-reply sa mga emails at comments ninyo. Kung may importante kayong email during the past 3 weeks paki re-send na lang at baka kasi na-delete ko.

Thank you to everyone who visited and left comments and messages here while I was away. Missed all my blogging friends. I'll make up for lost time, promise.