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To get there, we have to be together as one

Ion
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To get there, we have to be together as one

With what’s happening around the world today, there should be no room to make mountains out of molehills.

In the Philippines, I’m pretty sure there are hundreds of groups celebrating Independence Day every year. So what’s the difference if more groups in Dubai want to celebrate it too?

Are we really united?

True unity is not only shown through events with scented battle cries. True unity comes with empathy – how we come together especially in times of crisis, and how we rejoice for others’ successes – regardless if we belong to different groups.

Why can’t multiple celebrations co-exist? The worst thing we can do to commemorate what our heroes have done for our country is to be legalistic. Jose Rizal has defied many Spanish legalities when he pushed for reform. Andres Bonifacio was a revolutionist. KKK secretly convened because the legalities are suppressing. Yet we are honoring them. If not for them, there will be no Independence Day at all.

Power of two, not power play

Why can’t we just look at one being an “official” event, and the other as a privately-organized event – a “people’s choice” perhaps?

Is it much easier to throw shades against each other than to throw support? If I see more people celebrating patriotism, I would be elated.

We are not kids anymore. We don’t need petty bickering (I can’t believe I still have to say this). If we can’t shrug off politics, we are taking the public away from the real essence of why we are celebrating Independence Day in the first place. The more we focus on this issue, the more we drift away from the purpose. What’s there to celebrate?

How can we preach freedom if our hearts are locked by hatred, insecurities, and grudge?

People continue to lose their jobs, families have growing health concerns, and the Filipino community is divided on having 2 Independence Day celebrations? C’mon! We are better than this.

Quarantine baking: Why people make bread and cakes during the lockdown?

Ion
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Quarantine baking: Why people make bread and cakes during the lockdown?

“This quarantine has been tough. Let’s bake a cake or make some cookies…”

In a short period of time, baking has become an obvious stress reliever to many wives and moms all over the world.

“Baking Boom” or “Anxiety Baking” (whatever we want to call it) seems like a rising phenomenon during the lockdown as evidenced by the massive surge of posts on Facebook and Instagram with the hashtag #QuarantineBaking. Flour becoming out-of-stock is another strong evidence too.

Our household is not spared. My wife took this lockdown as an opportunity to finally start what she’s been wanting to do for years. She did it not out of stress though. It’s more about using that little extra time since I started working from home. She got more inspiration to do it as the kids give her louder cheers. (If you could only hear the cheers)

I saw her intentionality in researching, watching videos, and asking people. What’s even better is, Aya cheerfully gets involved too. In fact, she’s the most excited. In ONE month, these are all what Raqz has baked.

  • Double layer chocolate moist cake with choco cream cheese filling
  • Banana cake with chips
  • Slice of cake with cream cheese filling
  • The assistant
  • Blueberry muffins
  • Banana muffin with choco chips
  • Chocolate crinkles
  • Soft chocolate muffins with cream frosting
  • The best cheese crinkles in the world

She knows I have a sweet tooth (and the kids too) – so that makes it even more encouraging to continue baking and trying new recipes one after the other. Surprisingly, all her first takes were so good. Now, her to-do list grows longer every day.

So far, this Cheese Crinkles is her best seller, she’s baked this 4 times already.

It gives me joy seeing the light in her eyes as her long-time desire to bake for the family is getting fulfilled – and not stopping any time soon.

Our love tank is always full!

#QuarantineBaking is real

My mom, who has stopped baking for about decades already reconnects to her well-loved passion by revisiting her old recipes to pick what her grandkids would love. Now, she also bakes traditional bread and cakes these days like pandesal, cheese buns, tasty loaf, and more.

We don’t buy bread as much as we did before anymore.

Since then, there’s this mouth-watering scent that lingers inside the house. ‘Amoy panaderia na sa amin, mapapasinghot ka sa sarap…‘

Launching the new you

Life is such a dough. It gets battered, rolled and flattened. In the end, it gets formed into a shape and put in extreme heat. But after all the beating, it comes out as a wonderfully-made sweet thing that satisfies.

See, quarantine is not all about getting stressed with what’s happening outside, it gives also an opportunity to make things happen inside.

It could even launch the new you.

Send money to the Philippines FREE using GCash option in Denarii Cash

Ion
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Send money to the Philippines FREE using GCash option in Denarii Cash

Sending money to the Philippines without any transaction fees – zero, nada, nil – is possible today. Thanks to the recent partnership between GCash and UAE-based company, Denarii Cash.

Sharing the same commitment of offering convenient and affordable financial services to Filipinos, GCash and Denarii Cash are waiving the transaction fees on every money transfer.

How to send money using the GCash option?

Users just need to download the Denarii Cash app from the Google PlayStore or App Store and add their recipient’s GCash details on the app.

Denarii Cash also offers several ways for OFWs to pay their transfer so they can send money as soon as they need to. The recipient will immediately receive the money in their GCash account. Both companies are exploring more ways to reach out to OFWs with better solutions and more affordable offers in the future.

“We believe that Filipinos deserve a faster, cheaper, and safer option to send to their families back home especially at a time like this. We partnered with GCash, the number one mobile wallet in the Philippines because we think that both companies share the same vision,” 

Denarii Cash Founder, Jon Santillan 

For his part, Fred Levy, the Chief Commercial Officer at GCash said, “We see this as a strategic partnership as we aim to help OFWs and their families in the Philippines have access to innovative solutions like GCash for a fast, convenient and secure way of sending money thereby supporting our purpose of financial inclusion.“

GCash is operated by Mynt and a partnership between Ayala Globe, and Ant Financial. It is a micropayment service that transforms the mobile phone into a virtual wallet for secure, fast, and convenient money transfer. It currently has 20 million subscribers and more than 70K merchant partners that allow cashless transactions.

The free money transfer is valid until 30th June 2020 only. However, a discount of 50% will be in place from 1st July to 31st August 2020.

Denarii Cash is now one of the leading cross-border money transfer apps in UAE that takes care of overseas Filipino’ money-sending and bills payment needs. It was founded by a team of OFWs with most of its employees being OFWs as well.

Soon, Denarii Cash will be expanding services across the Middle East so more OFWs can experience the same benefits.

Are there bats in Dubai?

Ion
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Are there bats in Dubai?

What is it? I bet it’s a bat!

This afternoon, there were 2 birds chirping so loud in the balcony like they were fighting. At a closer look, we saw they were trying to attack this small species. And in a snap, this creature flew about a meter and dropped off the floor – motionless.

It was too small – about 3 inches when it folded its wings. My daughter was screaming upon the sight of this poor creature.

The slippers was already there. It looked like it squeezed itself under it.

I presume it ‘dropped dead’ as it only moved once when it folded its wings. Probably it was hurt by the bigger birds.

Are there bats in the UAE?

I did a quick search and found this information from Exotic Dubai website:

Several species of bats occur in the UAE. The most common insect-eating bats are the mouse-tailed bat (Rhinopoma muscatellum) and the sheath-tailed bat (Taphozous nudiventris) followed by the leaf-nosed bat (Asellia tridens). These are small bats with bodies only a few cms in length and a wingspan of 20 to 25cm. All three are active at night, spending their days suspended from the ceiling of a cave, in rock crevices, hollow trees or under the roofs of old buildings

Here’s a short clip as I saw it:

Top photo: Unsplash

Should we worry about a locust swarm in Dubai?

Ion
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Should we worry about a locust swarm in Dubai?

They may be teeny tiny, but in swarms, locusts can create major agricultural destruction which can lead to food shortages especially in a city that is unprepared to deal with the loss of crop.

Recent sightings of locust swarms in some areas in Dubai sparked concerns if the biggest locust outbreak in 70 years is invading the UAE soon. 

Twenty-three countries across East Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia particularly India and Pakistan, lately, reported destructive locust and desert locust attacks – considered the biggest outbreak in recent times, according to the World Bank.

What are desert locusts?

The ones usually seen in the UAE are the Desert Locusts, a notorious species, according to the National Geographic. They can travel up to 150 kilometers a day, sometimes in swarms as large as 250 kilometers across, eating up every bit of greenery on their way.

According to Reuters, In Kenya, the locusts are eating in one day the amount of food consumed by all Kenyans in two days.

Is this the first locusts swarm in the UAE?

The National said that the last sighting of a locust swarm, probably the UAE’s worst plague in half a century, happened a decade ago when swarms devastated much of Al Ain’s date palms.

Should residents be worried?

Strong winds brought the locusts from Africa to the UAE. However, Dubai authorities assure the public that there is an effort to control the (impending) swarm and eventually eliminate them completely.

“Pest control teams are intensifying their efforts to eliminate them permanently… The situation is under control and there’s no need to worry.”

Dubai Municipality, via Emarat Al-Youm

Do locusts attack people?

Locusts do not attack people or animals – especially if you don’t live within huge vegetation or agricultural area. They won’t transmit viruses as don’t carry diseases.

But some experts worry that locust plagues will worsen in a warming world, which means more crop damage and less food for the hungry.

Top photo by National Geographic

What activities are allowed without a face mask in Dubai?

Ion
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What activities are allowed without a face mask in Dubai?

As part of easing of restrictions, the Dubai authorities via the Dubai Media Office, announced that removing of masks is allowed in the following conditions:

  1. During rigorous exercise
    including jogging outdoors
  2. Alone in the office
    and, not surrounded by many
  3. Driving alone
    or, with members of the same family
  4. Dining indoor or outdoor
    when you are about to eat

Exemptions in wearing masks in Dubai

  1. People with cognitive, intellectual and sensory disorders
    an official medical report is needed
  2. People with severe respiratory conditions
    who require supplemental oxygen; an official medical report is needed
  3. Children under the age of 6
    infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers included

Here are the announcements made by Dubai Media Office viaTwitter:

People in Dubai are bartering their gadgets and accessories in exchange for food

Ion
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People in Dubai are bartering their gadgets and accessories in exchange for food

The barter has indeed returned – and in a very amicable fashion. Quite surprisingly, people in Dubai barter with kindness, not with the price of their items.

A newly formed Facebook group, Amicable Barter Community in Dubai (ABCD), gave every Dubai resident a ‘search warrant’ to look for preloved items they may want to exchange for another’s items.

Since its formation, more than 30,000 people have been searching their bedrooms, stock rooms, and cupboards for what to barter. And many have found a new reason to stay up all night to vigilantly stand by and not miss a great deal.

Kidding aside, it warms my heart to see that majority of the posts are bartering their designer bags, shoes, and gadgets for essentials like food and supplements. What makes it even more special is that most of the exchanges for food will go to various donations. Truly a refreshing perspective look at generosity.

“A generous person will prosper, and whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

Proverbs 11:25

What a beautiful way to barter. Here are some:

Rice is life

It’s not that people have been kind, it also underscores that Filipinos love rice.

Spam is lifer

For some reasons, SPAM – the American brand meatloaf – is in hot demand!

Jeff, summarizes what everyone exactly plans doing…

Hats off to you, Rocky and Lou Parroco for making everybody move in an enjoyable way even in the middle of a crisis. This is such a great initiative. God loves a cheerful giver and everybody’s having fun.

Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching

Ion
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Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching

When I design t-shirts, I make sure that I only use licensed software, and a licensed font, or at least the royalty-free ones.

Whenever I use stock photos for my articles, videos, or background music for my vlog, I make sure they are royalty-free. If it requires credit, I give credit.

When we opened a business, we registered to get an e-Commerce license to do things the right way.

Even though I still falter at times, this is how integrity is becoming a way of life in our family. I was attacked on integrity in the past and had to learn my lessons the hardest way. And thanks to his amazing grace, God has saved and brought me up to strive with integrity, no matter how big or small the situation I may be in.

Leading by example

Every time I am in a ‘negotiating’ situation, I always get reminded to think about my kids. Kids? Yes! What would they take away from me as an example?

Last week, we went to an ophthalmologist to have my daughter’s eyes checked. Here in Dubai we’re enjoying zero pay on all our medical needs for quite some time now. So when her checkup came out good, she was not prescribed to wear a graded lens. Instead, she was advised to wear protective eyeglasses.

So we inquired in one optical shop for a pair of specs, but since it’s a no-grade prescription, it was not covered by the insurance – and it was costly.

However, the guy from the optical shop said he can make it appear like a graded prescription in the bill, so we could get covered. Sounds like a good deal huh! While I appreciate the gesture, that didn’t sit well with me and my wife. There was an instant conviction – especially on her. We talked about it for a minute and we refused. We paid for the eyeglasses.

Winning in the right battle

In another instance, we availed of a basic spa package in a hotel. In one of our visits, I forgot to bring the membership card. I told the attendant, we only paid for the basic package. She said she will ‘secretly’ give us the higher package for that session and she won’t tell her boss about it. Again, we appreciated the offer, but we refused. We would’ve taken it had it been an honest complimentary offer in the beginning – but it wasn’t.

In another, a parking attendant was not on his post and I needed to leave. Looks like I can get away free! But, alas, I opted to leave my payment on his desk before driving away.

Sometimes, being in the ‘losing end’ is actually winning. It is always important to win the right battles.

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
    but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.

Proverbs 10:9, among other messages in the Bible, is always a great reminder

And when your thought process is always right, it’s much much easier to set an example to everybody, especially to our kids.

We cannot demand honesty and integrity if in little ways we compromise them. The best way to preach integrity is to practice it even in the smallest of things, even when no one is watching.

Is it illegal to sell on social media in the UAE?

Ion
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Is it illegal to sell on social media in the UAE?

UAE residents who sell anything online without a license may face stiff penalties up to AED500,000 – that was what news reports say. This includes stay-at-home moms who are operating online food catering, tailoring, beauty businesses, and apparel, among others.

Does this include selling on Facebook and WhatsApp?

Two years ago, the UAE Ministry of Economy had teamed up with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority to shut down unauthorized e-commerce websites and social media pages.

In the UAE, residents are required to have a trade license in order to carry out any commercial activities online, including Facebook, Instagram, etc. Sellers in Amazon need a license to be eligible to sell too.

But it is pandemic, is this law not relaxed?

The number of people selling on social media in the UAE has drastically increased in the last 3-4 months. Most of the new sellers are those who have been laid off from their jobs. During these difficult times, online selling is the most available opportunity to stay afloat.

Unfortunately, in the UAE, it is not legally acknowledged. Every type of business needs to abide by certain compliance in order to operate. Food businesses need to comply with health and sanitation standards; beauty products need to be governed by cosmetics regulations; online selling needs quality assurance and security, etc. These standards are required to protect consumers. Especially during this pandemic, it is highly advised that transactions between businesses and consumers go through rigid disinfection and sanitization measures.

If there’s money involve, it must be done legally

According to a report by The National, “if you are doing any kind of activity that involves money, then you are bound to register yourself with the relevant authorities”

In a chat with Atty. Barney Almazar of Gulf Law, he said, “the minimum requirement is an e-Commerce license. Food business though needs more than a license. They need to undergo inspection and obtain clearance.”

Asked if there can be any ‘humanitarian consideration’ especially during these times, he said, “Food safety is very important. The licensed businesses are under strict compliance rules, so it is unlikely that the government will not be imposing stricter measures against those who are not licensed.”

Rightly so. If customers face food poisoning and other health issues, these unlicensed businesses could face stiffer sanctions and penalties.

How about the buying customers?

I must admit, I indirectly bought from one seller recently, and the conviction settled in only after realizing that I played a role in tolerating the activity. It is actually between tolerance and support. My consciousness that time was toward supporting that someone in need and not in the guilt of tolerating their activities.

If the person was a friend, I would advise him to do it the legal way than to succumb to regretful and conscientious consequences later.

What are the consequences?

We are all facing tough situations. Employees are losing jobs, and so are legit companies closing businesses.

The regulations around doing such small-scale businesses are usually taken for granted because cottage-industries are so common and acceptable in our home countries.

Yes, you may not be harming people…

But, it is not fair to those people who duly comply with the regulations and pay for a license to do certain online business activities.

What if a customer would want to return an accessory? What if the virus gets transmitted through the exchange of commercial goods? What if food poisoning happens? Who will protect who?

In addition to putting themselves at risk of incurring hefty fines and possible criminal sanctions, the guilt and conviction of doing something not legal will always be there to cloud your thoughts.

Atty. Barney Almazar suggests that those who want to sell on social media better partner with someone who is licensed.

Do we see the landscape changing?

If it’s only a matter of making both ends meet, and not really about pursuing a business, will there be any special considerations? UAE, being a pro-consumer and pro-business country, may not have such a resolution at the moment. The authorities would always ensure that it is fair to both businesses and consumers.

But can authorities look at providing more affordable permits for a limited period – just to help people get by? Can authorities offer the same stringent compliance measures for wanna-be online traders at a lower rate?

For sellers, would you be willing to cooperate with the government and secure the right permit? Would you be willing to comply with health and sanitation standards? Would you, at least, be willing to put expiration dates and storage information in your food packages?

Would you be willing to uphold consumer protection with high regard as you do business?

Until the answer is yes to the questions above, I would advise you not to take the risk, especially in times when people are going contactless and being extra cautious about what they buy.

I wish I could encourage you to keep going because I’m an advocate of entrepreneurship myself – and I would do the same had the regulations not been in place. But I would go to what the legal counsel suggests – find partners that may help share the cost of a license with you. That could be one of the best and practical options to consider.

The strong conviction in watching pirated movies and media

Ion
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The strong conviction in watching pirated movies and media
I never got too excited to watch anything on Netflix until The Last Dance, Michael Jordan’s 10-part docu happened. It was my Game of Thrones.

After the first 2 episodes, I found myself wanting more. ‘Bitin!‘ A few people sent me links to download the remaining 8 episodes so I can satisfy my want. But I didn’t. First, I won’t burn late-night hours to binge-watch. Second, there was a strong conviction that it was against my renewed moral standards.

I’m happy and proud to finished all 10 episodes as per Netflix’s scheduled release.

Watching anything pirated is stealing. I don’t want to steal. The Lord’s commandment tells us so. And rightfully, as I was reading Exodus 22 yesterday, I was reminded how God keeps an eye on how we should protect our properties and someone else’s, and how something stolen can be restored.

I’ve been there. I was the guy who would search for crack codes to make softwares work. I was the guy who’ll download Youtube videos, convert them to MP3s, and sell them. I was someone who didn’t care about watching pirated CDs back then. 

But today, being someone who was saved from a big mess and restored by God’s grace, there’s always a strong conscious conviction to always abide by what is pleasing to God.

Before doing anything with consciousness, I always ask, “What would Jesus say?” If not me, my wife would remind me what is pleasing and not pleasing to the Lord.

Since the ‘awakening’ in my life, I stopped watching illegal live streams and started paying for media and subscriptions to legally do so.

From a content creator’s perspective

The recently successful online streaming of Ang Huling El Bimbo also faced the same dilemma:

pls dont turn smthn good into smthn bad 🙏 pic.twitter.com/g3D4gTL0UB

— Gab Pangilinan (@gabpangilinan) May 11, 2020

As a blogger, I often find myself a victim of copying and plagiarism. For years, my content gets passed on countless times without proper credit to my blog. Just recently, my friends were tagging me on people’s Facebook posts they knew were originally mine but without credits. Sadly, people just resorted to adding #CTTO (credit to the owner) to the posts.

One time, a Facebook friend sent me a chat commending how beautiful my post was. After a few minutes, I saw him posted the article with the source credit omitted and replaced with #CTTO.

Ironically, CTTO does not give credit and due respect to the original – especially if you are aware of who the owner is.

Another one copied the entire message and changed a few words to sound like they own it. You are not only stealing the output. You are also disrespecting the valuable thought process I put in it. It’s glorified plagiarism.

My t-shirt designs go through a rigorous creative process – from ideation, research, brainstorming, AB testing, design – that involves huge amounts of time and effort.  As an entrepreneur, it’s frustrating that someone will just copy and claim it their own and sell it.

As a visual designer, it’s disappointing to see my works being used multiple times without my consent.

As a content creator, it is disrespectful and highly unethical to ignore credits and uphold the rights of the original creators, far more, against moral standards.

You understand by now why I have this much consciousness about this topic.

The conviction

Unfortunately, not too many people are as conscious as I am. I know people who would go out of their way just to download full copies of their favorite Korean series, movies, or games.
It’s easy to ignore these “little” things if we are not directly affected.

But, you know you’re a moral person when you do the right thing even when there’s no one looking.  James 4:17 says, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

If you are doing it unconsciously, I hope this message educates you well. It is not worthy to satisfy our wants at the compromise of our moral and spiritual liability.

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