I have been extremely busy. Besides, I have nothing to write or share. It becomes such a bore to share what happens to me every day. I am sure nobody likes that. I don’t like it.

What I want is to share something special. The thing of the matter is, nothing special is happening in my life.

Sure I got a job. Hurray! I am buying what I want. Yipppee! But emotionally, I’m still not getting what I want. Again, so much drama, so I won’t go into that.

Here in this Islamic side of the country, Ramadan is ongoing and it is about to end in a few days. What’s good about this holy season is that we get to work 6 hours a day only. On the other hand, my schedule is stressing me out because I am mostly in the closing shift which lasts until 1 am. The mall in this country is extreme. They open until 1 AM! 1Am! Because it’s fasting for most of the locals and Muslims residing in this country, shops, especially restaurants, is closed during the day. It’s only after “IFTAR” that they operate and do business. So, they open until the wee hours to, perhaps, get the profit they normally get during the regular days. The shop where I work operate on the normal basis. Only our working hours is reduced, as the emirati regulation suggests that we work 6 hours only during this holy month, which is actually good if I look into it. Another thing is, I dropped 4 kilos! I mean, I am not fasting but since I sleep most of the day time and at times when my schedule is on mid shift, I cannot grab a quick bite because restaurants are closed. I get to eat only once in a day! Sometimes, I forget to eat. Several glasses of variety of juices makes it for the day.

Work is good, actually. I like my job and I’m getting paid much higher than what I am actually earning back home. I just wish I would learn how to manage my expenses.
One of which is the high rent here. Every pay day, I always make sure I have the bills separated from the rest of my income. Whatever is left is my allowance for the month. Sadly, I haven’t started saving. I spend too much! On food and on clothes (which, by the way, I am not even wearing!)! This October, I really have to make sacrifices in order to manage my income. I cant go on like this you know, living on a paycheck!

I try to rationalize why I spend so much. But it all boils in to nothing. I just spend so much on unnecessary things! It gives me joy at the moment, filling up this “feeling alone” and “being alone” and this “nobody loves me” state of mind! I want to completely get rid of this disposition that is creeping on me from everywhere. It is much like haunting me, actually. Any suggestions how?

Anyway, I just thought I’d write something. I want to go into drama mode again as to why I am still single, but like I said I won’t go into that. It’ll just pierce my heart.

Dubai Movie

Let me share something about Dubai. I got this FWD message from my work email. I thought I'd post it here so people (especially the Filipinos) who think Dubai is such a great place to work in or live in, or is even thinking of including in their travel plans will really see what is behind all these "Desert Dream" some people have created which is apparently in exchange to the "American Dream" we Filipinos grew up with.

PINOY SA LIKOD NANG KURTINA

Over a thousand Filipinos arrive in Dubai every month. And why not?

Literally, the sun shines here all year round; prosperity is in the air; and it's a place where people have reasons to dream of waking up in the morning as millionaires or with kilos of gold on their lap!

Yun nga lang, habang hindi pa nangyayari yun, iba ang nakikita ng maraming Pinoy pagdilat nila sa umaga --- kurtina!

Betcha by golly wow! Paano ko ie-explain to fascinated Pinoys back home our living condition here!

Noong una akala ko isolated cases. But with the skyrocketing apartment rents in this City of Gold , such conditions are becoming the norm.

Sideways...sidesteps

Hindi yan dance step. That's the latest move ngayon sa mga sharing flats. Sa sobrang liit ng space, patagilid ang galaw. Kaya minsan, mga ka-flatmates, hindi na magkakitaan. "Hoy, where have you been, ba? Hindi ka na umuuwi sa flat!" Kasi nga lagi silang naka-sideview!

Warning: Smoking is dangerous to your room.

Hindi health reasons ang dahilan bakit bawal magyosi, no! Ang styrofoam kuya!

Yes, naunahan ng Pinoy ang IKEA sa innovation na yan --- Yes, styrofoam walls, styrofoam doors, styrofoam room. Di ba nga naman, styrofoam keeps you fresh! Para kang gulay, o kaya ice candy. Pero siguro mas feel mo minsan na 'tuna' ka, o di kaya 'sirena' kung feel mong si Claudine ka.

"Ate, di ba fire hazard yan?" "Anong fire ka dyan? Rent ang mas nakakamatay dito!"

"Illegal ang partions sa Dubai . At least ang styrofoam, pag nagkahulihan, mabilis sa baklasan. Gets mo?!!!" "Yes, Ate."

Therefore, 'no smoking': ang sirena baka maging daing!

Burj Al 'Cupboards'

Hindi lang Emaar Properties ang may 'K' na magtayo ng skyscrapers? Haven't we heard, the Philippines is a major supplier of architects in Dubai ? In other words, nasa dugo natin yan! Kaya ba ng Arabong gumawa ng rooms out of cupboards, luggages and shoe boxes?

Dati sa airport lang bida ang mga luggages, ngayon multi-purpose na: dividers na rin sila --- para ang isang kwarto maging lima !

Pampataas sila sa mga cupboards kasama ng mga shoe boxes na pinaka-antenna.

Siyempre, the taller the better --- you keep your neighbor's eyes away.

Now Showing

Pagpasok ko ng flat, akala ko sinehan, ang daming kurtina. Mga kuarto pala. Pero ang cute, cinematic!!! Parang barangay, complete with eskinitas. Kada bukas ng telon, parang movie --- sari-saring life. May natutulog, may nag-eemote, may nka-curlers, may nakasimangot. Sa panlimang kurtina, may nag-totong-its, sa pang-anim, may naggugupit.

Ang gandang movie, di ba? "Ang Pinoy sa Likod ng Kurtina!"

Paraisong Kurtina

Ayyy! Our Paraisong Kurtina. It can make you laugh, it can make you cry.

Be proud of our Paraisong Kurtina. It exists because we'd rather send our money home than spend more for our comfort. Within its walls, lies our desire for a little privacy, our groans, our tears, our dreams, our struggle for some little savings. My curtain says a lot. It says, "I have saved again, inay; I'll be able to send money next month."

Dream mo pa bang pumunta ng Dubai ????

Mag isip-isip....

The moment I read this, I laughed and towards the end I feel something sad. For it is really true. Dubai may give us the money we need but we suffer in earning it. Some even shed blood. But what is truly "universal" among filipinos here is the "kurtina" experience. My brother-in-law and I pay almost 20,000 pesos for a very small room in a flat in a government owned building. In the Philippines monthly payment of such amount will take me to the posh condos in Libis or Rockwell and even in The Fort! Dubai is extreme. From heat, to culture, to almost everything!

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...and ohh, my friend Mau, arrived here in Dubai last Monday to experience this "Desert Dream" as well. And she can agree, na ang buhay ng pinoy dito sa Dubai ay nagsisimula at nagtatapos sa "kurtina".


Welcome to Dubai Mau! w/ fellow Nabuenos, Allan and Earl.