Sunday 31 July 2011

I'M SO SORRY...

God is doing something and I learned from it. Now I realized how fool I am when I say God is deserting me, it is because of excessive complain and finding fault to our government rather than praying for them. For the past days, I’ve been reading the news about Filipino Worldwide – an e-news of Philippine Star (www.philstar.com) which caters the plight of Filipino Overseas workers around the World. The comment I always posted is quite sarcastic. In addition to President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address whereby nothing is discussed concerning the so-called ‘”Bayani”. With the circumstances arise on Filipinos abroad, I am, too often seemingly bitter for the action of our government when we talked about OFW’s. With the experiences I had in the past from Saudi Arabia to Qatar, Dubai and Europe’s I have seen many Filipinos who are victims of their employers and the recruiters. Due to poverty the need to go out of country to find greener pastures sometimes falls to be a victim of their fellow countrymen.

The fact that I created this blog is to awaken our government the need to create more jobs and program for the returning OFW’s. A page where you can find the truth behind those giant and 1st World countries, the recent crisis in the Middle East and the Europe’s debt crisis and the like which directly affecting Juan dela Cruz. So when I came to office yesterday morning for some reason I don’t know my hands are beginning to check the books on the shelves and found the booklet, “Daily Bread” and lead me to Day 78 entitled, “Thankful for Government?” That’s it, what God wants from me is to pray our government and not insisting nor trying to re-shape the world the way I think, speak and live. God words always lead us to a life that is pleasing to Him, a Christian life that can be a model to others, a life that is always thankful for no matter what.

It’s always easy to complain
And say that government’s unfair
But God’s word says we should give thanks
And lift our leaders up in prayer. - Hess

daily strength - 31 July 2011

Saturday 30 July 2011

I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU, BUT...


In your life, have you experience the time were God seems desert you?
Last night, whilst contemplating my past days which seemingly no ideas, no wisdom, no poems, nothing and nothing comes in my head and that I’m beginning to ask the Lord, where is He?

In Hebrews 13:5 The Lord says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you...” but what I felt for this past days that I am all alone and that you left me and can’t find you. Seeking of you and found you on those pages of Psalms. Like Israelites you sometimes need to leave us for us to learn and realize how worthy you are. Wake up in the morning, inspired and while taking a bath the thoughts comes and remember that like mother who left their child only to learn to stand on their own and the teacher who left their students with study lesson and assignment. They are the ones who mold us, teach us to make a better person of the future.

So sometimes we need to be all alone for us to apply what we have learned but relying on the one, the Creator.

Friday 29 July 2011

YOU HAVE THE ADVANTAGE

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“...His favor is for a lifetime...”
(Psalm 30:5, AMP)



TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
One definition of the word “favor” is an advantage for success. When you put God first, when you obey His commands, you open the door for His favor — you have the advantage for success! Even if someone may have wronged you and it looks like they have the upper hand, even if it looks like things are never going to change, you need to keep reminding yourself, “I have an advantage. God is in control of my destiny. He’s fighting my battles for me. He is my vindicator. And it’s just a matter of time before things change in my favor.”

I love the scripture in Hebrews that says, “Don’t cast away your confidence.” One translation says, “...for payday is coming.” In the difficult times, you have to remind yourself that payday is on its way. God is a faithful God. If you’ll keep doing the right thing, honoring Him and expecting His favor, God has promised He will pay you back. He will restore everything in your life that the enemy has stolen so you can live the abundant life He has promised to you!



A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, thank You for Your grace, mercy and everlasting favor. I open my heart and mind to You and receive everything You have for me. Thank You for restoring and healing every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

daily strength - 30 July 2011

daily strength - 29 July 2011

Thursday 28 July 2011

CONSIDER YOUR GOD!


TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“...with God all things are possible”
(Matthew 19:26, NIV)



TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
I had a gentleman tell me not long ago that his business was very, very slow. It looked like he would go under. He owned a small manufacturing company with one main competitor in town, a national company that was bigger with more resources. With the economy down, it made it harder and harder for him to stay open. This man was flexible about what he should do next, but he really believed he was in the business God wanted him to be in. So, he kept praying, believing and hoping; and instead of considering his circumstances, he considered his God. And just when he thought he was going to have to close down, his main competitor had a change in leadership and direction and decided to pull out of this market. Now he’s breaking all kinds of records.

Friend, today I want to encourage you. If there’s something coming against you, consider your God. He has a way to meet every one of your needs. You may not be able to beat the competition in the natural, but God can simply remove the competition. He wants to give you His favor. He wants to give you the advantage for success. Trust Him and believe because with God, all things are possible.



A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father God, today I put my trust in You. I know that You are faithful and have good things in store for my future. Thank You for giving me patience to stand and see Your promises come to pass in every area of my life! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Monday 25 July 2011

PARA SA AKING KAARAWAN... mula sa Qatar

isinulat ng aking mentor na si Francis "Kiko" Morilao na taga Bulacan and here it goes:

Maikling panahong pinagsamahan
walang maalalang sama ng kalooban
malalim na turing ng barkadahan
tunay na hindi makakalimutan

ilang taon na ang nagdaan
ngunit parang kailan lang ang handaan
hanggang umaga ang kantahan
kabi-kabila ang kwentuhan

ngayon sa iyong kaarawan
kahit na hindi kami kapiling sa handaan
hindi namin pwedeng kalimutan
ang araw ng iyong pagsilang

Biyaya ng Diyos ay patuloy na nariyan
Hiling nami'y iyong kalusugan'y ingatan
balang araw'y aming inaasam
ang magkitang muli at magpiktuyran
kuya nep hapi birthday :)

IT'S JUST ANOTHER WONDERFUL DAY!


Blessed to be a blessings!
I thank the Lord for another wonderful and blessed year though I'm spending a day in the middle of North Sea between UK and Netherlands where the vessel is working at the LOGGS Platform. I'm so glad that on the eve of my birthday, greetings were coming in and today it's packed of greetings and numbered to more than 150 greeters. The thoughts comes to my mind to have a number games giving a prizes to those who greets first, to 50th, to 100th, to 150th and 200th greeters to blessed them as I am blessed too. The lucky winners from 1st to 150th already announced and soon the 200th greeters.

The First & no.1 greeter who sent his message is no other than:
Rev. Elben Rodriguez - a pastor of District IV-West and Missionary Chairman - he is the one who sent a message on 24th evening.
2nd - 50th greeter is Given Angeles - IEMELIF friend and volunteer of Typhoon Ondoy
3rd - 100th greeter is Cynthia Barcera Antenor - my former colleagues at Uptown Ind'l
4th - 150th is Danielle Anne Estrada - friend of friends whom I met at Baguio City
5th - 200th greeter is no other than Wendy Gabinay - friends at Qatar Living Filipino Expat based in Qatar
CONGRATULATIONS SA INYONG LAHAT! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SA INYO hehe

daily strength - 25 July 2011

SPEAK TO YOUR MOUNTAINS

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“And Jesus answered them, Truly I say to you, if you have faith (a firm relying trust) and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, it will be done”
(Matthew 21:21, AMP)



TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
We’ve all had seasons when the challenges of life feel overwhelming. During those times, it’s easy to be tempted to talk about how bad things are. Maybe you received a bad medical report, or maybe you’re facing a financial obstacle. But the more you talk about something, the bigger it becomes in your mind. Instead, you’ve got to dig your heels in and say, “No, I am not going to give life to that defeat. I am not going to speak sickness over myself. I’m not going to speak lack. I’m not going to speak fear. I’m choosing a different report. I believe the report of the Lord which says I am blessed. I am favored. I am prosperous. I am healthy. I am whole. I’m a victor, not a victim.”

Remember, even if you don’t see how things could ever work out, God does. You’ve got to speak to those mountains in your life and declare favor over those situations. Instead of talking to God about how big your problems are, talk to your problems about how big your God is! As you speak to your mountains, they will be moved, and you will move forward into the victory God has prepared for you!



A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word which is life to my spirit. I receive Your strength today and choose to speak to the mountains so I can move forward in the victory You have in store for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Sunday 24 July 2011

SA AKING KAARAWAN

Sa karagdagang taon ng aking buhay
Dios kita'y muling pasasalamatan
Kalakasang taglay, biyayang nakamtan
Patuloy kitang papupurihan

Sa mga pangyayaring aking naranasan
Mga pagsubaybay Mo'ng laging nakalaan
'Di mo ko pinabayaan, ni hindi iniwanan
Pag-iingat sa akin lagi mong laan

Sa aking pagkadapa,kasalanang nagawa
Pagpapatawad mo tunay na dakila
Pangunguna kasi na akala ko'y tama
Kaya't ang pagkakamali dapat na itama

Di man nagtagumpay sa ibang aspeto ng buhay
Ngunit sa trabaho'y biyaya at tagumpay
Mga pangako mong aking pinagbubulay-bulay
Taos pusong pasasalamat, Dakila ka't tapat

Kaya't aking laan habang ako'y nabubuhay
Papuri at pagsamba, sa Dios aking Ama
Pagbabalik ng nararapat at tunay na maging tapat
Sa lahat ng tinatangkilik at pagpapalang nakamit

Salamat, salamat, sa lahat-lahat ng natanggap
Patuloy mong dagdagan mga taon sa aking buhay
Maging pagpapala, sa lahat ng mga biyaya
Aking hiling, karunungan, kalakasan at kasaganaan

daily strength - 24 July 2011

Friday 22 July 2011

TULA KAY INAY

Para sa kanyang kaarawan

PARA KAY INAY
by Nepthali Paraiso 21-July 2011 10:45pm

Sa iyong kaarawan, mahal kong Inay
Pagpapala ng Dios muli mong makamtan
Panibagong taon, nadagdag sa iyong buhay
Kalakasan at kapayapaan, kasaganaan at kaligayahan

Aking natandaan, nuong ako’y maliit pa lamang
Kasa-kasama ni Inay, sa palengke ng bayan
Maagang gumising, sa paghahanapbuhay ay kailangan
Sa pagluluto at pagtitinda, para sa aming pamilya

Hirap man ng buhay, pilit kaming iginapang
Makatapos ng pag-aaral, dalangin nya sa maykapal
Hindi sya tumitigil, patuloy na nakikipaglaban
Maisalba ang pamilya, maski sakit di alintana

Hirap na aming naranasan, Pangarap ang naging daan
Nagtaguyod ako sa pag-aaral, sa trabaho’y nagsikhay
Gusto kong maranasan ang pangarap ko sa magulang
Magkaroon ng magandang bahay, masaganang buhay maranasan

Kung ano nga ang iyong itinanim, iyon nga ang aanihin
Nagtyaga ka sa mga anak mo, pagpapala ay nakamtan mo
Nagkaroon ka man ng sakit, kamay ng Dios ang nag-alis
Kalakasan muling ibinigay, sa sakit ay nagtagumpay

Nakakalungkot mang isipin, ng si Itay ay kunin
Pangarap ko sa inyong bahay hindi nya nasilayan
Ngunit alam kong masaya sya, sa kanyang nakikita
Nakarating ka sa America, anak at apo mo’y nakasama

Daig mo pa sina ate, si Revy, BJ at Elsa
Nakasakay ka na ng eroplano, nakarating sa kabilang mundo
Marami ka pang mararanasan, kasaganaan sa buhay
Dalangin ko sa maykapal, patuloy na kalakasan

Patuloy akong nagpapasalamat, sa biyayang natanggap
Sa Dios na laging nagpapala’t sa pamilya ko’y nag-iingat
Marami pang taong dumating, sa Inay kong giliw
Sa iyong kaarawan, kaligayahan patuloy mong makamtan

daily strength 22-July-2011

Thursday 21 July 2011

DELIGHT IN HIM


TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart”
(Psalm 37:4, AMP)



TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
Are you believing God for something that seems to be taking a long time? In the natural, you may have every reason to give up on what God has placed in your heart. At times, you may be tempted to get discouraged, but remember, God knows exactly where you are. He knows the desires He’s placed within you. He knows even the hidden dreams — what the scripture calls the secret petitions of your heart. Those are the things that you haven’t told anyone about. Maybe you thought they would never work out, or you’ve buried them because they didn’t happen on your timetable. But God still has a way to bring them to pass.


Be encouraged today because God is working behind the scenes on your behalf. Delight yourself in Him — find joy in serving Him and make your heart moldable in His hands. Don’t settle for mediocrity because God knows what’s in you, and His plan is to finish the work He began in you!



A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father God, I humbly come to You today, giving You all that I am. Thank You for fulfilling every desire in my heart. Mold me and shape me into Your image. Remove anything from my life that is displeasing to You so that everything I am brings glory to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Wednesday 20 July 2011

MAGPATULOY NA SANA...


Excerpt from tomorrow issue of Manila Bulletin page 8 July 21, 2011

Sana nga tuloy tuloy na tayo sa pagbabago at ibalik ung tamang dapat gawin... kaya sobrang polluted sa metro cities ng ating bansa is because ang daming sasakyan, kotse, bus, sobrang daming jeep, tricyle, motors, trucks, etc. Dito sa UK hindi gaano ang pollution dahil bus lang ang public transport at taxi na iilan lang at meron tamang lugar sa kanila otherwise tatawag ka for taxi... bus ay may franchise at hindi basta-basta magparami ng bus at may tamang lugar din ang babaan at sakayan... walang jeep dito at tricycle... kakatuwa nga dahil most of the time ay nagbi bike ang mga tao which is healthy at less pollution... sana ganito rin ang gawin sa atin... umpisahan na nating pangalagaan ang ating mundo... tulong-tulong... alisin ang corruption...

IT'S ALL IN THE MIND


This is what I learned from them...

Yeah, it’s my third time na sumakay ng barko and thanking God seems nasasanay na ko sa mga alon... totoo its all in the mind lang... kasi iniisip mo na masusuka ka, iniisip mo ma mahihilo ka... what should be in your mind is the $! Though I’ve been travelling for a quiet a long time in Philippine sea, from Manila to Mindanao, to Visayas area, malaki talaga ang difference between working in Pacific and North Sea. Na experience ko and I’ve seen those waves na tila baga’y magtataob ng sinasakyan nyong barko especially pag may bagyo sa laot. May mga araw ding parang patay ang dagat at wala kang mababakas na alon na matatawag mong payapa. Dahil sa mga along iyan ay nakabuo ako ng tula, dahil din sa mga along iyan, kumikita kami ng malaking pera... Ang pagiging seafarer talaga ay lakasan ng loob... It’s all in the mind!

Before entering into this kind of industry which I never thought it would happen, kasi ang alam ko at marami sa atin na we need to take Maritime studies and the like. At first hesitant pa akong mag apply and it takes 3 months para puntahan si Dante Lomiguen, ang crew manager ng PTC. That’s the start of my adventure... biro mo kailangan din pala ng admin sa barko? Dito pala ako dadalhin ni Lord, for me, is the most high paying job at ang masaya pa is, you will work for only two months then bakasyon ng isang buwan with pay.

It’s all in the mind... iniisip natin na malulunod tayo... iniisip natin na hindi natin makakaya... iniisip natin na hindi tayo makakapasa sa rigid training but it’s all in the mind... just take a look at Philippians 4:13... ano naman yan... that’s a secret! Magbukas ka kaya at magbasa ng Bible? Just try! I did! This is the project I don’t put patches at the back of my ear... ano naman yan... ito ung medicine para makaiwas sa hilo at pagsusuka... it’s all in the mind... nakaya ko syempre I ask pa rin si Lord na bigyan nya ko ng lakas at positive attitude. It’s all in the mind lang pala!

UK UK made in Great Britain





(United Kingdom)by Nep Paraiso

Dito sa UK maraming Sale
Akala mo tuloy ukay ukay
Kabi-kabila iyong makikita
Napakaraming paninda

Imported ang tinintinda nila
Signature naman talaga
Di mo tuloy maiwasan
Tuloy mapapabili ka

Sa tulad kong mahilig
Magshopping sa plaza
Maakit ka talaga
Mababa na at maganda

Itong brand na Calvin Klein
Ang favourite kong bilhin
Kaya naman nakakuha
Boxer brief na maganda
Sa Gap ka pumunta
Pag sale sila
Sobrang baba ang presyo
Kaskas ako kaskas dito

Mahirap para sa akin
Na tulad kong impulse buyer
Pag may nagustuhan
Pilit kong bibilhan
Marami ng napamili
Mabigat tuloy ang bagahe
Ngunit alam kong magugustuhan
Ng aking mga reregaluhan

Tuesday 19 July 2011

HE WILL CARRY YOU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi8tajO11SM

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A SOLUTION

Bakit nga ba laging may problema? Bakit hindi tayo nauubusan ng problema? Mga tanong na meron namang kasagutan... Sabi nga ng iba, “Problems are here to make us strong...” sabi ni Merriam, “A matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome”. “A thing difficult to achieve or accomplish”. Ang sabi ko naman, Problems are here because we’re still alive and problems always has a solution. Problems sometimes created by us, our loved ones, and some cause by life’s circumstances. But we created by God’s own image (Gen. 1:27) and so we have a wisdom in solving every problems we have. Since the existence of problems when it was experienced by Adam & Eve, and was solved by their own feeling, and you know what happen next... There’s a consequence and there’s a good result. At times, meron tayong problemang na solved but panandalian lamang and in the end pinagsisisihan natin... Likewise we have a problem na ayaw nating harapin because takot tayong magkamali at minsan nga tinatakasan natin ang mga ito, right? But one thing I reminded is that, we cannot run into it. Did you know the story of Jonah (from the Bible)? (If you have no idea, just email me and I’ll send the details). Yes, you’ll say masyado namang ‘banal’ ito, “Christian” thingy. But I’ll say to you, if you have not believed in God otherwise the opposite of it. Dalawa lang naman yan e, God or Satan. Choose from the two or... ask yourself why on earth should I be here? What is the reason for my existence?


Siguro nga if Adam & Eve choose what is right and follow what the rule is, we might have been facing any problem until now... Yes until such time mawala tayo sa mundong ito, tapos na rin ang problema mo but... be sure hindi mo iniwanan ng problema ang mga mahal mo sa buhay... maybe listening to the song, “He will carry you” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi8tajO11SM might be a help in times of problems you are facing. Yes we are not perfect para hindi magkamali, kaya we need to solve through the Ones who knows and that is God... Let Him solve our problems, let God knows (even He already knows), cry out to Him... iyon ang gusto ni Lord, na huwag nating syang pangunahan but we always tend to solve in our own especially pag madalian... Have you ever tried to cry out to God then after you are relieved of it? I did! Magaan ang feeling and seems no problems at all. So if you encounter any problems, just call this number: Jeremiah 33:3.

God bless!

TO MAKE HIM KNOWN...

to make Him known is one reason why I always shared everyday's daily strength and scripture for you to think about... it's a one way of letting you how the Lord blessed so much that words cannot express... as I always say, I will praise Him!

Don’t Downplay Your Blessing

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“For this I will give you thanks and extol You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing praises to Your name”
(2 Samuel 22:50, AMP)


TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
In this life, anytime you begin to succeed and walk in the blessing of God to the fullness, people are going to criticize. People will judge you. People will be jealous. But you know what? That’s their problem. Don’t apologize for what God is doing in your life. When you make excuses for God’s goodness, when you downplay His blessings and favor or call it luck or coincidence, really, that’s an insult to our God. The scripture says in Deuteronomy that “It is the Lord that gives you the power to get wealth.” That means God is the One giving you the ideas. He’s the One that’s giving you the creativity. He’s giving you the strength to succeed. He gave you the favor. He gave you the good breaks. As long as you stay humble and give Him all the credit, you have nothing to apologize for. Our job as believers is to make Him known. We should be examples of His goodness, peace, hope, joy and life.

Today, don’t shrink back from giving God all the credit. Don’t downplay your blessing. Thank Him and praise Him for what He’s doing in your life now and what He will do in your future. Make Him known and give Him all the glory!


A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your hand of blessing upon my life. I give You all the glory, honor and praise because I know that every good and perfect gift is from You. I open my heart and mind to receive what You have in store for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

daily strength - 19 July 2011

Monday 18 July 2011

daily strength - 18 July 2011

US deficit: Obama in further congressional crisis talks


BBC News

US President Barack Obama has held further private meetings with congressional leaders aimed at averting a US default.

The US must raise its $14.3tn (£8.9tn) debt ceiling if it is to borrow beyond 2 August and be able to pay its bills.

But cross-party talks have so far failed to make a breakthrough and Mr Obama has warned time is running out.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14175329

Republicans have rejected the president's proposals to increase taxes on wealthier Americans to raise funds.

They say doing so would stifle investment and job growth.

Republicans, who control the House of Representatives, say they will not raise the debt limit unless Democrats agree to major spending cuts.

Mr Obama's spokesman Dan Pfeiffer said the president was discussing "various options" during Saturday's private talks with congressional leaders.

In his weekly national address, Mr Obama said all Americans had to play their part in resolving the crisis, saying: "We're all in this together."

"The truth is, you can't solve our deficit without cutting spending," he said.

Ratings down

"But you also can't solve it without asking the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share - or without taking on loopholes that give special interests and big corporations tax breaks that middle-class Americans don't get."

===========================
US federal government debt
===========================

- US government currently runs a $1.5tn budget deficit, requiring it to issue debt in the form of treasury bills, bonds and other securities
- Public debt was $14.3tn on 31 May, up from $10.6tn when Mr Obama took office in January 2009
- Most is held by the public, with the rest held in US government accounts
- Congress has voted to raise the US debt limit 10 times since 2001

Sources: US Treasury, Congressional Research Service, Congressional Budget Office


Mr Obama has said he is prepared to enact cuts to benefits and welfare schemes, but would need Republicans to consider some revenue increases in return.

On Friday, he said a failure to raise the debt limit would mean "effectively a tax increase for everybody".

In the Republicans' weekly address on Saturday, Sen Orrin Hatch of Utah said only a solution which required a balanced budget was acceptable.

This would put the US on "a path to fiscal health and would prevent this White House or any future White House from forcing more debt on the American people," he said.

Analysts say any failing to reach a deal would rattle a world economy still trying to put the 2008 downturn behind it and could potentially lead to the US entering another recession.

On Thursday, Standard & Poor's became the second of the major credit rating agencies to place US debt under review, citing an increasing risk of a payment default.

Another ratings agency, Moody's, warned a day earlier that it might cut Washington's triple-A debt rating.

The Philippines: The world's hotline


By Kate McGeown
BBC News, Manila

It's three o'clock in the morning and Jaycee Solis is taking a call from a client who wants to book a flight from Detroit to New York.

Jaycee's American accent is so convincing that the US caller is almost certainly unaware that he's actually on the other the side of the world, in the Philippines.

He's even got a special American-sounding phone name - Kevin.

It's this accent, coupled with the high number of fluent English speakers, that is making the Philippines the new destination of choice for international companies wanting to outsource their call centres - especially for the lucrative US market.

"In voice-based business, we really excel," says Bong Borja, the Philippine president of the Aegis People Support, a call centre company.

"To an American, the Philippine accent appears clear and neutral."

In fact, to American ears, Filipinos often sound clearer than agents in India - the erstwhile king of the call centre industry.

We have definitely shown an edge over India," Mr Borja says.

"I think even companies in India would admit to that, and that's the reason some of them are moving to the Philippines. The big name players are all here now."

Talking American
Recent research conducted by IBM shows there are now more call centre agents in the Philippines than there are in India.

The Contact Center Association of the Philippines estimates that 350,000 Filipinos work in call centres, compared to 330,000 Indians.


It's not just the clarity of speech that is in the Philippines' favour. According to Mr Borja, the Philippines "is very much attuned to the US culture. There's a very strong affinity with everything American."

The Philippines was once an American colony, and it has not lost this part of its identity.

The national sporting obsession is basketball not football, the school system and legal framework are American, and Filipinos are the second largest immigrant group to the United States after Mexicans.

In fact former first lady Imelda Marcos even referred to the Philippines as 'America junior'.

So it's not surprising that the country is winning fans among US companies that need to hire phone operators to sell products or answer complaints.

The situation is more complex than the Philippines simply taking over from India though.

Indian reach
Many of the call centre operations moving to the Philippines are actually offshoots of companies that already have a presence in India.

Some are even run by Indians, and many - Aegis People Support included - employ a high number of Indian expatriates on their management staff.

“Right now it's 60% voice, 40% non-voice... but in a few years, it will be the other way round”
Christino Panlilio, Philippine Department of Trade and Industry

People with these management skills "can only really be found in India - they have the expertise and they were there a couple of years ahead of us," says Mr Borja.

Many company executives have discovered that it makes business sense to move voice-based services to the Philippines while keeping the non-voice-based parts of the industry - such as HR, accounting and paralegal work- in Mumbai or Bangalore.

In other words, the Indians have started outsourcing some of their outsourcing.

The statistics show this clearly. While there are more voice-based operations in the Philippines, the number of non-voice based services here is still dwarfed by what's on offer in India.

Last year India's overall business process outsourcing (BPO) revenue was $70bn, compared to the Philippines' $9bn.

Doubling revenue
Expanding non-voiced-based services is something the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sees as the next step for the country's BPO sector.

"Right now it's 60% voice, 40% non-voice," says Undersecretary Christino Panlilio. "But in a few years, it will be the other way round."

The DTI and industry leaders are confident that, by doing this, BPOs will continue their rapid expansion here.

Mr Panlilio projects that there will be more than a million jobs in the sector within two years, and that the revenue generated will double by at least 2016.

The government has put a series of measures into place to encourage international companies to look to the Philippines: no income tax for the first four years, then 5% of gross income earned and no customs duties on equipment brought into the country.

But it knows that, ultimately, the most important requirement these companies are looking for is skilled manpower.

In demand
Working in a call centre is already seen as a graduate job - very few agents are accepted without a degree - but now the government is planning to work with universities to incorporate hands-on call centre training into the curricula, to ensure that there are enough skilled applicants entering the job market.

There's certainly no shortage of people wanting the work, despite the fact that most of it is overnight.

An agent's salary is usually about 1000 pesos (about $20) a shift - more than twice the minimum wage - and with more than 12 million Filipinos unemployed at the moment, there are few other options.

Almost every day, queues of people wait in the reception area of Aegis People Support for their turn to be interviewed.

Not all of them are fresh graduates: some have years of experience in other careers. On the day we visited, we met three nurses who had just been made redundant, and an engineer who said he would make more money answering calls than doing his current job.

There was also a man who had just come back from Iraq - one of more than nine million Filipinos who work overseas. He said he missed his wife and son, and wanted a job back at home.

As for Jaycee, he's already spent four years working in call centres, and so far he has no plans to do anything else.

He says he enjoys speaking to people on the other side of the world, and he's even got used to working overnight.

In the years to come more and more Filipinos look set to join him.

Saturday 16 July 2011

A busiest and long tiring day...

Project Mobilisation


Around midday, one by one are coming for our new Project Mobilisation. I need to prepare some paper works for the briefing, familiarisation, checklist, shiftlist, and other things that project admin is doing. I started to type our Daily Project Report (DPR) which needs to submit tomorrow morning. Reports pointed out the 2400hr previous breakdown which includes personnel joined vessel, status of gas, fuels, water etc. I met new personnel and core crew staff. All are busy in their duties and responsibilities preparing for Monday transit to field of work.

daily strength - 16 July 2011

Friday 15 July 2011

LIFE AS ITS FULLEST...


Such a privilege Part 2
Filled with excitement, I returned to the place I discussed yesterday (Such a privilege)the historical Portobello, packed with my camera and spare of batteries. Again, it took 30mins run/jog to reach the place, I take some pictures from promenade gate heading towards the Portobello so you'll see how far it was. By the way, as I informed yesterday about the armies (crews) I'll be with, are no longer available for they have no money(?). I don't know why money is always the reason for others not to enjoy the beauty of nature, to feel the fresh air at the seashore, to look and find what Scotland has to offer, etc. etc. I don't even spend a single penny for just a walk or run around the city 'coz I sometimes bring chocolates with me and water. Though in the Philippines I spent around £30 pence to run/jog along Roxas Blvd and CCP complex (despite polluted metropolis).
As I reached the west of Portobello watery and tired for continuous jog, I grab my camera in my bagbelt and started photoshooting.


Firstly, the bar called the Forth View and the cute siamese(?) cat at the table (no customer at that moment) here at the west side of Portobello. Do I need to inform you details by details or I will post a picture and let your imagination works (lol). For others, a couple of time sitting on the bench overlooking the beautiful bay of North Sea while chatting with friends, reminiscing, playing or anything you want to is quite a relieve for stressful activity.

Scotland, here in the city of Edinburgh in fact is a great and good defender of earth. Yeah, its true! this are people I wish we have in Philippines. People who has a compassion on preserving the earth and its environment, animals, human rights, etc. I desire that Filipinos, too often be aware and concern with our forest, seashore, rivers, lake and the like. Here in Scotland as I noticed (as you see in the pictures) you cannot find any squatters in shoreline, you cannot find any animal brutality, I remember one lady who is fined and imprison because of throwing her cat in garbage bin. Even the birds is protected, it is forbidden to kill. Recently one man is imprison of shooting the birds. Criminality is less compare to others (maybe because of huge cctv camera place on roads and different locations).

One of the vision of ecologist and nature peace corps is to start treating the earth as something precious that needs our protection and careful management. Thus, we all need a planet that is ecologically healthy and able to nurture life in all its diversity. We have a full responsibility in taking care of the earth God has given us to live on. Scotland is good steward of his environment. I envy this country as such but as I've told from my previous blog, there is no such PERFECT government.


Back to Portobello, I enjoyed taking photo from side to side, far and behind as continue walking down the isles of Portobello. Here you will find amusement center, there are many playgrounds for kids and childlike, comfort rooms are available in certain place, I saw a Sailing and kayaking club, the Portobello swim center and so much more that you will enjoy and stay for a while. There you are, a beautiful town of Portobello in Edinburgh Scotland.