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School ongoing, parents behave

Ion
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2
School ongoing, parents behave

With natural excitement of a first-time dad I WAS impulsive in sharing my daughter’s life events – out of PRIDE. First spoken words, first walk, first mess, and other fancy firsts. I thought the whole world would want to see.

Nowadays, uploading kids photos and videos has become a ‘norm’ in the parenting world. We have our own criteria of what’s “too good not to share“.

Yes I’m guilty.

But not until she’s in school I realized what should be stopped. It’s not just all about her and us anymore. She has started creating new connections and she’ll be more exposed to the outside world without us by her side.

Let’s be reminded, anything we share online lasts forever.

From a dad’s perspective, here are 12 things I think must not be publicly shared on social media:

1. School milestones

We are all excited to see them read and write their first words, or paint their first artwork, or their first dance. These developments are definitely big accomplishments for us.  But let’s be aware that kids have different stages of development. Some learn to color before talking; Some develop motor skills faster than verbal; Some actively dance than do good in math; and so on.

Do not delight so much if your kids learn particular skills ahead of others. This is normal. Normal.

2. Grades
I understand the pride but be mindful because you might be sending the wrong message. Not all high grades equate to greatness, and not all low grades mean bad.

Don’t create an atmosphere of competition among your friends. There are people posting grades trying to out-do their parent counterparts about the performance of their kids in school. BIG NO!

Kids are shaping up their passion from their earliest days in school. Future athletes don’t necessarily need to keep up with scientists or mathematicians. The future educators don’t really need high grades in arts.

Stop posting report cards or test paper scores online. It will backfire if it becomes a habit. How would you feel if one day your child gets low marks? Set your expectations the right way.

Grades are only results from a school test, they will excel in a lot of other ways, especially if we recognize what their strengths really are.

I’d rather be proud of their good character than high grades.

3. Stars
All kindergartens get stars. There’s no point in bragging about it. They are either rewards for really doing good or consolation for being silly.

4. Minor awards
Best headdress, best in eating hotdogs, best in Bring Me, best in GMRC… people don’t need to see these.

5. Packed lunches
You are blessed if you have the time, money, and energy to prepare decorated meals. Your fancy lunch boxes don’t imply bigger value than those simple yet full meals. I have nothing against the art, especially if it works for your purpose of encouraging your kids to eat well.

It’s all about your intention of sharing it in public. If you want to inspire your friends, continue. Make sure the message says so. To just brag about how beautiful and crafty you make your kids baon, that’s something that should go down the drain.

Ooops, my wife would kill me for this.-=(“,)=-

6. Stories with school whereabouts
Some parents post stories that include the time they drop and pick up the kids – the name of the school, them in uniform.  Not only that you’re vulnerable to people with harmful intentions; school details don’t really matter for the public to see. Don’t tell these stories.

7. Conversations & study sessions transcripts
It’s cute, but only her grandma actually cares a lot about it. Your child is a genius, good. They are sweet, okay. Don’t rub it in. People who do not post their relationship stories might have actually far more real intimate conversations than you.

8. New school supplies and other things
Not everyone is as wealthy as you. You don’t have to post their new notebooks, bags, pencils, shoes – they are irrelevant to your child’s progress.

9. Gifts and rewards
The world doesn’t need to know what you give your kids for their birthdays or for Christmas or for getting high grades.

10. OOTD
Let’s be sensitive that not all our friends can dress up their kids according to trend. Fashion comes with price tags. Some of us tend to overdo this adding bags, shoes, and other accessories to our “little models”. People love to see kids in their cute outfits once in a while BUT not every day. Post with a meaningful purpose, not #OOTDs.

We “unconsciously” contribute to igniting vanity. What could go wrong is the kids’ concept of what’s necessary and what’s not. Don’t allow them to conform to the patterns of this world. They don’t have to.

Simple getup is beautiful. Don’t spend so much money and effort in dressing up your star.

…unless you are in showbiz or in the digital influence business.

(and with that, one Instagram account has just been deleted, FYI.)

11. Shaming photos
Nutella on the face and Halloween costumes are cute, but a boy dressed as a girl, a kid doing business in the potty? Nah! These shaming photos can have devastating effects on kids in the short and long term. Either they become subjects to bullying or they grow to bully themselves. Consider how posting certain pictures online may impact your child at school.

12. Photos with their classmates in it
Your social media manners may not be the same with other parents. So before you post a group picture, ask the other parents involved if it’s okay. Be ethical.

Taking pictures is not the problem, irresponsible posting online is.  Facebook has privacy settings you can modify to manage who sees your photos. You can also just send them as a direct message to the ones who really want to see them – uhmmm grandma and grandpa – unless you are after the approval of others, and you delight in the number of likes and comments.

We are trapped in a celebrity mentality.  We thought our online accounts are our personal ‘fame space.’ At the end of the day, all our babies have tantrums, but we only share happy moments in the limelight.

We have different parenting patterns. Respect. Don’t sound like we are the expert – that we oughta know what’s right.  In fact, this blog won’t sit well with some of you. I respect that.

It all boils down to our goal of posting these things online. It’s about being conscious to who we may harm with insensitive, thought-lacking posts.  If you have meaningful and life-changing intentions, then all I’ve written above don’t direct to you.

And if your children ask why you’re not sharing much about them, then it’s an opportunity to teach about the value of humility. Let other people do the talking about the goodness in your kids.

Let me end by sharing this verse from Proverbs:

 
“Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth – a stranger, not your own lips”
Proverbs 27:2

We cannot be perfect parents, but we can be wise.

Biking for fun & fitness in Dubai

Ion
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0

We often fail with fitness resolutions year after year primarily because we don’t have the right formula to make them happen.

We think of ambitious ways to lose weight or to achieve a better shape. Apparently, we are thinking too far from what we really need to be doing. Either that or we’re too obsessive about weight loss.

What we need is to focus on getting fit and using energy, and the weight loss will come in time.


In setting a fitness goal it is important to choose the activities close to our heart – things that we love doing. Otherwise, it’ll end up as just another failed check list.  As what fitness doctors say, “The best exercise program you can do is the one that you will do.“**

So we chose cycling. Who doesn’t love biking?

If your primary goal is to get fit, you don’t need a huge investment to get started. A basic city bike or an affordable mountain bike will do – anything that moves when you step on the pedal is okay 🙂 . Don’t spend much on unnecessary accessories (right away). You don’t have to act like an elite athlete to be fit. It’s all about your effort and energy spent and not the money. Start with small steps slow and steady and you’ll be in the right direction. Your body will eventually tell you when you need to upgrade to more adventurous gears later on.

We got our bikes from Decathlon at a very good discounted price of AED800. We also bought low-cost helmets (AED65) and shades (AED50) and a car rack that carries up to 3 bikes (AED375). Some people recommend Dragonmart for pretty good ‘basic’ bikes – the only tradeoff is the lack good warranty coverage.

IF you have the budget, go for the more popular bikers shops.

Where to bike

Cycling in Dubai justifies that it’s really fun to get fit. The adventure and buzz you get from coasting down hills and being outdoors means you are more likely to continue to cycle regularly, compared to other physical activities that keep you indoors or require special times or places.

There are quite a lot of good cycling tracks in the city where the surrounding landscapes and skylines  inspire you to push the pedal harder. We’ve been to some of them, in fact we bike from one place to another every weekend just to make it more exciting.  Here are some of my top location picks:

I had to take this photo to show the skyline in the background 🙂

Nad Al Sheba Cycling Track
This track near The Meydan provides a great view of Burj Khalifa and the Downtown skyscrapers. It has 8km, 6km and 4km loops. It is well lit at night, but is still advisable to have bike lights for safety reasons. Amenities are all over the path – toilets, changing rooms and lockers.

There is also an educational 850 meter kids course which has roundabouts, road signs and speed bumps to aid you teach the kids about road safety.

The track is free to use for everyone.

Few minutes after sunrise, biking by the lake offers breathtaking views with the swans, ducks and other wild birds.

Al Qudra Cycling Track
This 86-km path along Al Qudra Road is one of the world’s biggest cycling track, also one of the most quiet and secluded one.  The first path totals 18km and connects to the second path at the intersection of the Bab Al Shams and Al Qudra roads. The second track is a 50km loop that takes you through the breathtaking beauty of the sand dunes and past the Bab Al Shams Resort.  Many lucky riders spot some native animals along the way, including wild lizards and few Arabian oryx.

We also checked the off-road way to Al Qudra Lake, where there’s quite a good small area to bike around, and a stunning view of wild birds by the oasis.

The landscape surrounding the cycling lanes at Mushrif Park, Khawaneej Road, Mirdif

Mushrif Park
This is my favorite cycle track inside a park – a 5km stretch around a desert-like picnic haven. The semi-forest atmosphere adds a dramatic feel to the ride. What I love about this track is the several slopes around.

You just cannot start early morning as the park opens 8am. Park entrance ticket for one car is AED10.

Dubai Marina Bike Lane – overlooking Cayan Tower and the yachts.

Dubai Marina
This non-exclusive cycling destination shares the path with joggers and leisure strollers.  Early morning is the advisable time to bike as there are less people strolling in the lane. The path offers a great cityscape view in a 5km loop, and not to mention, tens of cafes and restaurants around.  

Al Nahda Park
A small community park ideal for fun family biking experience.  The single cycling lane is only about 3km short. 

The right diet supplement

Don’t forget about good nutrition. Having variety of vegetables, fruits and juices ensures complete nutrition that helps us attain optimal health.

Right diet is still the biggest factor in becoming fit and healthy. But if you start spending at least an hour a day (or your weekends) biking, months will pass and you’ll feel better, not just physically but mentally and spiritually as well.

Have a buddy who shares the fun and challenges of your fitness goal and you’re off to a great ride.

Do start off moderately. Cycling is not as challenging as other physical activities anyway. With few minutes of pedaling to start with, you will gradually increase without realizing it.

Another area by the Al Qudra Lake

Do not to try to race someone or get competitive when you’re are just starting out. Either you’ll risk injury or you’ll not be able to focus on your actual goal (The Daniel Plan).

So what do we love about cycling again *

  • Low impact – it causes less strain and injuries than most other forms of exercise.
  • A good muscle workout – it uses all of the major muscle groups as you pedal.
  • Easy – unlike some other sports, it does not require high levels of physical skill.
  • Good for strength and stamina – it increases stamina, strength and aerobic fitness.
  • As intense as you want – it can be done at very low intensity or a demanding physical workout.
Another path in Mushrif Park

The benefits of regular cycling include:

  • Increased cardiovascular fitness
  • Increased muscle strength and flexibility
  • Improved joint mobility
  • Decreased stress levels
  • Improved posture and coordination
  • Strengthened bones
  • Decreased body fat levels
  • Prevention or management of disease
  • Reduced anxiety and depression

Hope to see you at the tracks soon!

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* Reference: Better Health Channel
** from The Daniel Plan daily inspirations app 

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A Lahing Ginebra story from Dubai

Ion
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0
When GINEBRA played games in Dubai last year, during the press con, one guest (not from press) blatantly asked the team ‘bakit po ang tagal nang hindi nag-cha-champion ang Ginebra ” Another one asked, “Nasasaktan ba kayo pag sinasabihan kayo ng tao na Kangkong ang Ginebra.”
I felt bad that the team had to deal with those unethically delivered questions. The commissioner and the players were appalled and just laughed them off. Mark Caguioa and JJ Helterbrand responded in jest but still within the professional context.
Then there was a blank look in their faces.
I already had few game-related questions at the start of press con, but I felt the need to throw the final question of the night. I asked about the seemingly impatient coaching changes then, and how challenging it was to mature a strategy with those leadership and roster changes – that seem to contribute to their unfortunate campaigns in recent times.
Not to brag, but that question was also aimed to encourage everyone to ask the right questions in order to get the right responses. That way we develop a good rapport even at that short span of time with the guests.
Commissioner Chito Salud commented, “Aha! Good question, finally!”
At the end of the press con, Mark tapped me and said, “Really good questions tol Mag-cha-champion din tayo!”
AT CHAMPION NA NGA ANG GINEBRA! WALA NANG KANGKUNGAN! 😂
JJ, LA Tenorio and coach Olsen Racela also shared good words.
—
Trivia: I look up to Mark Caguioa since I was 16 years old. I followed Ginebra religiously after Bal David because of his sparkling plays among others. I never thought a day will come where I can talk to him about basketball stuffs. Thank you to the organizers for having me as a little part of PBA events here in Dubai.

Appreciating the wireframes of life

Ion
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0
I had a chat with a friend about the work I do. She wanted to understand what UX is. We talked about WIREFRAMES.

She didn’t quickly understood the value of it because it’s not fancy, no colors and it looks like a skeleton on a scratch pad daw.

I told her, in life, if you don’t value the inner foundation, the character and attitude… the outside beauty is useless.

This is what a website wireframe looks like

In what I do, I should properly create an effective information structure, define efficient functionalities and set the right behaviour and transitions, for me to come up with a usable website or app. These things are not seen by the users, but they feel it when they use the websites.

Design makes it look beautiful outside.

It is true love that lets you appreciate the value of “wireframes in real life.” It sees the beauty within. It makes you appreciate its worth even if you haven’t seen the “design.”

If the wireframe isn’t done well, the good-looking design will be less useful; And beauty without value easily fades out.

Look and appreciate life’s wireframes, not the ‘make-ups.’ Because design without UX could be deceiving.

I so love my job!

New tamper-proof, sexy Philippine e-passport now available

Ion
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28
The new sexy

PILIPINAS Pasaporte has just become one of the most powerful passports in the world – VISUALLY powerful that is. Sexy is an understatement. It boasts of tamper-proof high security features using upgraded microchips.

“Most likely,” some of those who applied or renewed their passports last month could get the new e-passport, which is set to roll out ten days from now.

From minimal to visual.

The new passport features 44 graphically appealing pages printed with the country’s famous landmarks including Vigan, Palawan, San Juanico Bridge, Malacanang, Mt. Pinatubo and Banawe Rice Terraces among others, using microprint UV watermarks (holograms) technology.

Lyrics of Lupang Hinirang, the national anthem, is spread dramatically across the pages.

Alibata, the ancient Filipino alphabet is also featured in the pages.

A fierce Philippine monkey-eating eagle graces the inner front page. Huge flag with  the country’s motto, Maka-Diyos, Maka-tao, Maka-Kalikasan, Maka-Bansa (For God, people, nature and country), derived from Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat ng Pilipinas, is printed at the second cover page.

How many of us still know this by heart?

The cost of getting a new passport or renewal is the same at AED240. Passport validity remains 5 years. Although the much-talked about proposal from no less than President Duterte to extend the validity to 10 years still has to take effect.

In contrary to the pawikan above, new application process promises to be faster.

Another welcome promise is the reduced waiting time for applicants, which is now estimated within 2-3 weeks (from 4-6) because of faster encoding and printing capability of the new technology.  The long and tedious application process is also set to change as the Department of Foreign Affairs is in the works to improve the global appointment system soon.

Because the Filipino is now global, this development is a bold move to remind us about our home traditions, culture and heritage.  Very interesting indeed.

I’m sure you wouldn’t want Kish exit stamps to fill your new passport, eh?

—

Photos from the specimen released by The Philippine Consulate Office Dubai.

10 things you can do at work to keep you fit and healthy

Ion
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0

It’s great to know that the simple activities I do at work allows me to slim down and become healthier.

All of us spend more than half our day in the office – most of our lives actually, so it is just fair to make our body feel good when we’re in the workplace.

The Daniel Plan inspires me every day to take small practical changes that bring big results.  And, don’t get it wrong – unlike traditional diet and fitness program, this one is all about abundance and not deprivation.

Below are my recent health and fitness regimen (plus other suggestions) that enables me to maintain that zest, happiness and mental power at work. You can surely do them too.

GET PHYSICAL

1. Stand up and move from your workstation 
If smokers have cigarette breaks and caffeine lovers have coffee breaks, why not have an exercise break?

Here’s what you can do:

1.1. Staircase walk. Climb up at the fire exit staircase. I do 100 steps up and down every hour, 2nd floor to 6th floor. It only takes 2 minutes to complete one round. It’s not just plain walk – you can use it to ignite thorough thought processes that you need at work.

1.2 Outdoor walk. In cooler months, stroll around the work vicinity few hours after lunch, not only to burn calories, but also to unwind and de-stress with fresh air under the sun.

1.3 10 squats every hour. That’s a total of 80 squats a day – do you think it will not do good to your body? If you can’t do it in your cubicle, go to the washroom.

If you really can’t leave your place, thy these stretching exercises you can do at your desk:

If you exercise before going to office but spend more than two hours sitting, your workout is negated.

2. Do not use lifts
If you’re only going to 1 – 2 floor levels up, use the stairs. Your body will thank you.

3. Park few blocks away from your building
If you have no parking space in the building, park about a block or 2 away so you’ll have to take extra few minutes walk to your office.

The Daniel Plan encourages us to move more than we do yesterday.

WATCH YOUR DIET

3. Drink 2-3 liters of water at work
We don’t usually drink too much at home, so make it a habit to consume 2 to 3 liters of water at work. Have a 1L bottle (or other measurable tumbler) so you could count your intake. Yes it will make you pee more often, but you can do it along with your hourly stretching breaks.

Hydration also saves us from headache attacks from work-related stress.

4. Munch on nuts and dried fruits for your snacks
If you can’t avoid snacking, replace your chips and cookies with almonds, cashew nuts, walnuts or dried figs, prunes or fresh fruits.  You don’t have to deprive yourself of eating. Just replace the junk with the right food.

Nuts are also brain foods. Photo from EAT THIS.


5. Have healthy and light lunches
If you eat breakfast like a king, you can lunch like a prince. Gradually change your diet.

I used to bring “rice cooker” at work. I’m an extra rice guy. I started the change by replacing it with brown rice and with quinoa until I learned and managed not to have rice at all – very non-Pinoy you’d say.

Salads don’t have to be boring – that’s what my wife does.  You can mix chicken or beef, prawns or fish in it.  It’s not costly if prepared at home.

6. Avoid or at least limit coffee and sodas
Coffee is the staple office hot beverage everywhere. It is believed to keep us alert and battle sleepiness. But it can cause you to crash hard later on. If you have dependency on coffee, time to moderate a bit.

I slowly avoided coffee and soft drinks by introducing a replacement – fresh fruit juices and fruits like plums, oranges and apples. It’s not easy to avoid it, but with discipline it is doable.

HYGIENIC HABIT

7. Wash your hands often
Did you know that your computer keyboard have hundreds of times more bacteria than the toilet seat? Your mobile phone too. So it is advisable to wash your hands before and after food. Keep a hand sanitizer at your desk for that in between snacks.

Wash when you reach office – especially if you’re taking public transport – the hand rails of the bus and metro is the favorite hangout of virus and bacteria.

DEALING WITH WORK

8. Work ergonomically
Your posture, your seat and the way you position your devices – especially the height of your monitor towards your eyes – play a significant part in reducing your body strain. It is essential to feel comfortable at work.

9. Manage stress
Work-related stress is unavoidable. But it pays to know yourself and know your limits. Say no if you have to. If you let stress into your body, you’ll start getting headaches that will soon grow into sickness.

Take a nap to recharge.

SOCIALIZE

10. Have a buddy
Having a partner in crime at work who shares the same health and fitness goals with you is truly helpful in keeping on track. Look for somebody who will tap you in case that sugar cravings come along. Somebody who’ll walk with you outdoors and who’ll agree not to use the elevator. Somebody who’ll share a salad with you.

Also, conversations with like-minded people develops your emotional and mental health further. Two are better than one.

Two months ago I was 84kg, now I weigh 75.

It helps to set health and fitness goals to get yourself that extra push to consistently practice the 10 habits and activities above.

But, you cannot manage what you do not measure ( – Rick Warren). Keeping a record of your activities, your breaks, food, water intake, number of walks and others, will help you monitor your progress.

If you want more tips about keeping fit and healthy not only at work, but for all aspects of life, you may want to buy The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life ($15) and The Daniel Plan Cookbook: Healthy Eating for Life ($19) – still learning a lot from these two.

It pays to be healthy.

50+ Practical ways to save money in Dubai

Ion
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2
50+ Practical ways to save money in Dubai

People come to Dubai for money. Inelegant as it may sound, it is the bitter-sweet reality for many.

According to respected financial advocate and personal finance expert, Randell Tiongson during his recent talk in Dubai, money is behavioral, not mechanical. It is sentiment-driven. This is very true for many OFWs who live away from their loved ones. They tend to find ways to fill the homesickness which often comes with price tags.

The first and most challenging step to save effectively is to START.  You need to have a goal to save and live with it day by day. Pay yourself first.  Develop the habit of keeping at least 20% of your monthly pay – no matter how much your salary is. Don’t touch it, unless you’ll invest it.

It’s not about how much you are paid for. It’s about how much you save.  The key is to spend less than what you earn. In Dubai, people with bigger salaries are the ones who struggle in savings. Lifestyle and self-discipline play an intertwined role in the success of your finances.

Here are 50+ big and small practical ways to save money in this money-magnetic city:
MARKET AND GROCERIES
1. Go to Carrefour or Union Co-op or Lulu for your monthly groceries. Avoid high-end supermarkets. The margins are really high. You may use the Sallety mobile app to compare commodity prices in many supermarket chains.

2. Make a list and strictly stick to it. You’ll avoid buying unnecessary stuff.

3. Have lunch or dinner first before you go to the supermarket. When we’re hungry, our eyes want to take all the yummy and fancy items into our cart, even if we don’t really need them.

4. Practice the 10-second rule. When you fancy new items for the first time, ask yourself if you really need it. If you don’t get a good answer in 10 seconds, return it to the shelf.

5. Enroll for loyalty cards. The discounts matter in the long run.

6. Buy seafood from the fish market. You’ll be surprised by the huge margins.

7. Don’t buy processed foods (or at least minimize). They’re more expensive than fresh meat and other commodities – and they’re not healthy.

8. Minimize shopping twice a week at most to avoid petrol usage or taxi fares.

9. Buy generic instead of branded items.

 FOOD
10. Do your morning coffee at home; Or, bring a GOOD instant coffee/tea instead of your 15-20 dirhams cup a day. What do you get from that cool cup?

11. Limit dining out.  Have you totaled how much you spend dining out compared to cooking meals at home?

12. If you have to stay at home on weekends, keep yourself busy. Idle time will make you crave for food. Your fridge will quickly empty its stock.

13. In restaurants, do not be a takaw-mata monster (gluttony – ordering too many because they look so enticing in pictures but you’ll end up not eating them all). In such cases, take the extra food home and bring it to the office the following day for lunch.

14. Don’t go for buffets if your appetite is light.

15. Sometimes, do the get-together/meetups at home. Dubai has a popular culture of dining out when socializing. It would be more intimate if we open our doors to our friends.

52. Bring packed lunch at work.

SHOPPING
16. Don’t shop on sale. If something originally costs AED1,000 and you bought it forAED750. You did not save 250, you spent 750 (Googled).

17. Shop ahead of the season. Usually, winter clothes cost less a few months before the temperature goes down.

18. Plan your shopping. Schedule when to buy shoes, clothes, accessories, etc. This will prevent you from becoming impulsive.

19. Take off ‘window shopping’ from your vocabulary because it doesn’t really happen as is. Eventually, you will go out of the mall with at least one shopping bag on your hand. If you’re a fan of Ikea, you are guilty.

20. You may want to check on your Jordan shoe collection – especially if you can’t even shoot, or worse you’re not really playing the game. But if you think you can afford enough, go build a museum!

What makes you buy ‘things that you can live without‘? To feel comfortable? To impress people? Contentment is essential.

ELECTRICITY AND GADGETS
21. Change the default yellowish bulbs in your flat with power-saving and long-lasting bulbs.

22. Put the AC on a timer when you’re sleeping, or switch it to fan after some time.

23. Don’t leave laptops on. Many people are downloading stuff overnight leaving the computer running. Put it on sleep mode.

24. Turn off the lights when not in use. Seriously. I know we all know this but we still ignore it.

25. Buy appliances than can save energy and water consumption.

26. If you’re subscribed to mobile data, use Whatsapp or other instant messaging instead of SMS

Money is 80% behaviour, 20% skills – Dave Ramsay

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
27. Maintain a healthy lifestyle so you won’t have to spend more on medical treatment later on. Eat more fruits and vegetables – they’re not costly here. Exercise. Good mental health follows good physical health. Avoid stress.

28. Embrace discipline. With a lot of beautiful parks in the city, how can you not love jogging or walking? When you’re in proper condition, the chances of getting sick are relatively less.

29. Workout at home to save gym costs – unless you need specific shaping and advanced weight-loss programs. There are thousands of simple workout videos on Youtube that could guide you. One I use is Jordan Yeoh’s 3-4 minutes workout videos.

TRANSPORTATION
30. Do not buy luxury SUVs, unless you really need it and you can afford it. Get a car that simply provides your basic transportation needs, suitable for your family size.  Consider the monthly petrol costs, maintenance, and parts costs and insurance.

31. Avoid Salik gates (but develop patience in traffic).

32. Drive consciously to avoid traffic violation fines.

33. Use RTA’s prepaid seasonal parking cards usable in select parking zones instead of paying on an hourly and daily basis. It saves you lots, especially if you are using the parking for the whole office hours. The new Category A card costs AED1,400 for three months, Dh2,500 for six months, and Dh4,500 for one year. The new rates for Category B are Dh700 for three months, Dh1,300 for six months, and Dh2,500 for one year.

BANKING AND BILLS PAYMENT 

34. Automate and pay your bills online so you won’t have to spend extra going to payment centers.

35. Avoid cross-withdrawing from ATM of another bank to save on transaction charges. Plan your withdrawals. If you withdraw 3 times a week, the total charge is 12aed a month, 144 a year (Two dirhams charge per transaction on another bank’s ATM).

TRAVELS
36. Avoid impulsive seat sale buying. You will end up spending more on that whole trip itinerary (hotels, food, tour packages). Plan your travels so won’t have the worries

37. Plan your holiday trips on the low-peak season.

38. Opt to rent a private room (like AirBnB) instead of booking a hotel.

 FURNITURE AND HOME APPLIANCES
39. Consider buying used furniture and other basic home appliances from popular websites such as Dubizze and Biddi. Dubai community is very transient and it’s not hard to find items that are still in good quality.

40. Do not over-decorate your household unless you’ll be staying here for ages. 

41. Sell stuff you don’t use.

HOUSEHOLD
42. Pest control – Moving from one flat to another is a common scenario for many expats. Pests, unfortunately, often surprise us once we’re settled in. Hire professionals in the pest control business. Unlike the ones that insert leaflets to your doors, professional services offer 6-12 months warranty. Better, keep the house clean at all times so you won’t even need to hire them.

43. Learn basic DIY’s so you won’t have to hire services to make your cable wires orderly, replace the bulbs, repair the broken bidet, or assemble new furniture.

44. Use grocery bags for bins instead of buying pricey trash bags.


 KIDS
45. Lessen the kids’ exposure to arcade games. On cooler months, bring them to outdoor parks or beaches instead of malls. It’s more fun to play on the grass – and you’ll save cost for tokens.

46. Do not allow the kids to overuse the gadgets. Their abuse of iPads and mobile phones requires more charging, more electricity consumption. Stretch those muscles up and engage them in more fun physical games.

47. For soon-to-be moms, breastfeed your babies. Think that you can. Our daughter was breastfed for 2+ years and just imagine how much we saved on formula milk – more than 5,000 dirhams.

51. Do not celebrate every birthday with a party bash. The first birthday and seventh would be ideal. You can celebrate the other birthday years in a simpler get-together at home or at the parks (during cooler months).

BUHAY OFW
48. Minimize balik-bayan box sending. Instead, send your family enough money to cover their expenses. Nothing’s wrong with a cargo box, especially during occasions, but we have a tendency to fill in every inch and space of the box to ‘maximize’ it.  They can surely buy cooking oil or toothpaste or bath soaps there anyway.

49. Subscribe to Pinoy-friendly postpaid mobile plans if you have to call home more frequently than usual.

50. You are not obliged to give pasalubong to the whole barangay when you go back home. You are not obliged to throw street parties or school reunions when you’re there.  In fact, your friends should treat you instead of you having to treat them all – THAT SHOULD BE THE NEW NORM! You deserve a welcome party. And you deserve a welcome money when you return to Dubai.

—————-

Another small but effective way is to keep our ‘excess’ fifty fils or dirham coins in a box. We can use the coins to pay for parking, grocery carts, or for tipping the delivery guys.

Generosity in savings
Saving also allows us to give more. Contentment and generosity works together. Contentment leads to hearty habit of saving, which enables us to be generous to people in need.

“We can take control of our financial destiny by making critical changes in the way we do things.” – Randell Tiongson in his book, Everyday Moneyfesto

At the end of the day, what do we value? Refresh your way of thinking about how, what and why we buy things. As what Bloomberg Businessweek’s Chris Farrell says, “being frugal is not about living miserly.” It’s about wasting less yet getting more from our every dirham. (in reference to his book, The New Frugality: How to Consume Less, Save More, and Live Better.)

It is never too late to change.

Let’s not make money a memory. Saving should be a habit, no… let’s make it a vice.

—
Top image from Souqalmal.com – leading comparison website in the Middle East that lets you compare financial products.

Imagine You and Me showing in Dubai

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We were at the Dubai premiere showing of this first ‪#‎AlDub‬ movie last night and I think it’s good – surprisingly good from GMA Films. Light but fun. Maine did really well. Her wit is natural. I like her 😉

The breathtaking picturesque view of Como, Italy adds enticing flavor to the film.

In the film, Alden is Andrew, a heartbroken guy based in Italy. Maine, meanwhile, is Gara, a hopeless romantic overseas foreign worker in search for her Romeo to be her forever Mr. Right. It was not smooth sailing though, when Gara found her true love.

Andrew and Gara belong to different worlds and have opposing views on love. In short, they are incompatible.

Is there a chance for the two people like Andrew and Gara to fall in love with each other?

The script is well-written. Less cast, which is very unlikely for a Filipino mainstream film, but not less of substance for a romantic comedy.

A feel-good refresher for fans and even non-fans of AlDub, basta hindi basher.

Showing in select UAE cinemas from July 28.

For more info, you may follow Filipino Events in Dubai on Facebook

Review: Little Manila’s big time Kalayaan boodle fight

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Little Manila’s Sarao Jeepney inspired interior

I was a bit hesitant to go back to Little Manila because of the bad reviews that stormed its Facebook page during its first few months.  My personal experience of dissatisfaction also tells  the same.

But when I heard about the changes in management, it gave me hope that everything will change as well. The interiors are well-thought, so I hope the food compliments. True enough, I started to see better feedback in Facebook.

They enhanced the recipes, added items to the menu, offered value to their meals. And they introduced variety of in-demand dining sets among Pinoys, a.k.a. BOODLE FIGHT!

Add the improved customer relations to the list.

These days, you can tell the goodness of Pinoy restaurants in Dubai through their boodle fight packages.

We tried the ‘Kalayaan‘ boodle package for 4-6 persons from JJ’s Inasal. Chicken, beef, seafood, veggies and fruits. Here’s what’s in it:

  • Chicken barbecue
  • Fried chicken
  • Beef belly barbecue
  • Crispy shrimps
  • Grilled tilapia
  • Grilled squid
  • Bulalo
  • Ox tripe kare-kare
  • Fried eggplant
  • Nilagang garlic kangkong with bagoong
  • Ensaladang mangga (green mango salad)

The set comes with garlic rice and loads of plain rice (unlimited siempre). Fruit platter (watermelon) and one-round 2 liters of red tea also included.

For those not familiar with “boodle fight,” it is a traditional military style of eating where long tables are prepared with banana leaves and foods are placed on top of it. No utensils used but bare hands. This style of eating among troops symbolizes fraternity and unity.

There are plastic gloves to use in Little Manila for those not too comfy with bare hands.

Pritong talong, Beef belly barbecue and Chicken barbecue sticks view

The beef belly barbecue and crispy shrimps are my favorite in the boodle. I mistaken the beef for pork as it resembles the tender meat, and its flavor is close to tocino. We were told that one of the secrets lies in the delicate process of marinating which takes days.  Crispy shrimps are so crunchy you can eat everything – leave me with this and I’ll be fine.  The house vinegar dips adds more appetizing and mild spicy flavor.

Chicken barbecue sticks are juicy and tasty. They’re good with rice.

The unique Filipino veggies kangkong with bagoong and fried eggplant, and the ensaladang mangga complete this authentic Pinoy dinner.

Grilled squid, Crispy shrimps, Garlic kangkong on top

Bulalo is a good soup starter. Kare-kare seems out of place when your bare hands are busy on the plate, banana leaves, but it’s not really bad.

The amount of food, especially rice, is too much for the six of us. Priced at AED 199, this one’s a good deal huh.

Personally, I think it would taste better if the eggplants are cut thinner so it would be well-fried. An added grill time to the squid could enhance its taste. Other than these two, everything is okay.

We’ve also tried Chicken Inasal in JJ’s few weeks ago and we’re happy about it. In fact, maybe they could replace the fried chicken with inasal in the package.

People queue for this

We also had some bites of ensaymada from Bread Shop. It’s soft, fluffy texture and the right amount of sweetness and the balance of cheese and butter makes it the best-seller of the shop. People wait in line for this.

It was indeed a great experience worth writing for. True enough, they have improved by a mile. We will definitely come back.

Check out their website at www.littlemanila.com, Facebook and Instagram to know more about the food court. You may need to call for reservation especially for dinner and on weekends as they’re beginning to see long queues again, more frequent than usual.

—-

* Thank you Little Manila for inviting us to try your new offerings.

Why we quit CFC

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Why we quit CFC

One of the reasons we joined CFC was the sense of community—to belong. My wife was pregnant then, and we thought it would be great for our child to grow up in an environment of kind-hearted, Godly people.

It was a momentous event to complete the CLP.  True happiness.

We’re active at weekly household meetings. We were at assemblies and national events. But we ‘can not’ participate in marriage enrichment retreats because we’re not married in church. We cannot be assigned to any leadership responsibilities because we’re not married in church. We cannot attend other gatherings because we are not married in church. It’s sad that they inflict these limitations even though we wholeheartedly want to participate. But we understand the policy because CFC follows the Catholic doctrine anyway.

It was generally fun and rewarding. We learned new things. We rediscovered our spiritual life. The relationship with God was so alive. We felt a sense of belonging.

We gained friends. We developed a support group. We enjoyed hanging out. The sharing sessions were enlightening and, at times, empowering.

What went wrong?

We were transferred into a new group and we felt the weekly household meetings became a burden.  It was repetitive and we didn’t feel growth anymore.

We ALWAYS start late. HOURS LATE. For a ‘busy’ person like me, time is very important. Time is my currency.

There’s an evident lack of respect for time.  Unfortunately, it’s a norm in Couples FC.

We also felt bad that our 2-year-old daughter had to stay up late because of household meetings.
Prayers became verbal recital. Shallow. We read prayer books but we don’t meditate. We pray the rosary while someone snores in the middle of the prayer. We gather around the cross but the solemnity is distracted by our playful and rowdy kids. How can we pray sincerely if there’s a lot of screaming and toys flying around? No intimacy. No depth. Just ineffective patterns.

Phony members, pretentious characters, politics, fake conversations, shallow prayers… Some people wear masks to project their lives are blossoming. Leaders creating conflict with members, instead of protecting them.

Members talk about people. Gossips here and there. Whatever shared in one household goes to another – especially because the shuffling of members happens a lot.

I criticize some speaker’s inability to connect to the audience during assemblies. I feel so bad that key topics such as Financial Stewardship, cannot be delivered in an understandable way. Mairaos lang.

I also feel the lack of more practical topics to discuss in the group. Why were there no financial literacy, entrepreneurship, parenting, business, family planning, and other necessary and practical pointers for couples? I can’t help but compare the group with other Christian groups that are so rich in such activities.

Some activities were also unclear to me.  Why do they need to print different t-shirts for every occasion? My CFC shirts have outnumbered my basketball jerseys in 2 years.  The cost of the shirts could do significant changes in other people’s lives.

I could go on and on.

These negative thoughts filled my heart. My wife and I agreed to leave the group. We can continue serving the Lord even if we’re not part of any community, as long as we remain obedient to Him and refrain from harming people. That’s what we thought.

I was not looking for perfection. I’m looking for the lead to righteousness.

We went on hiatus.

No more weekly household meetings; No weekend church activities. We have a good life. I can do all the things that ‘make me happy.’ Blessings come one after another. We remain prayerful.

But…

I was not looking at my shortcomings, my imperfections, myself, my wife. I lacked effort in discovering the real meaning of community.  I lacked the initiative to learn beyond what I received.

I judged – and that was totally uncalled for.

I cared more about what I could have done (or earned) instead of the time spent in CFC.

I was reading the book, ‘What on Earth Am I Here For? Purpose Driven Life Expanded Edition‘ by Rick Warren. Midway through it talks about fellowship.

“We are created for community, fashioned for fellowship, and formed for a family, and none of us can fulfill God’s purposes by ourselves.“

Yes, we can have a personal relationship with God (as I believe so), but it should never be private.  Following Christ includes belonging, not just believing.

While we continued doing good in life, I experienced spiritual dryness along the road.

I was wrong about what I thought of CFC. We left because I was only looking at the negatives. I closed my eyes on the rewards. I was not thinking about what I could give to the community, to the Lord. I failed to focus on the gifts God has given me to initiate something that could address the issues in the group. I was self-centered.

I LIMITED GOD.  I could be pursuing greater activities, and experiencing blessings and joys, yet I settle for mediocrity in my spiritual life (Unlimiting God). One of my main reflections these days is how to unlimit myself in realizing that God is with me all along. He allowed me to increase my capacity to understand Him and His will from a better perspective.

Leaving was an immature decision.

My issues are only about a few people. There will always be crooks in any fellowship, anywhere. There will always be one or two difficult people in any group – sometimes they even lead.


The Learning

Learning from several books and podcasts these days reminds me of courtesy. We need to respect our differences, be considerate and learn to be patient with people who irritate us.

This article is a response to a calling. It’s telling me that I have a role to play in His family. I don’t have to find a perfect group or a perfect church because it simply doesn’t exist. We are all called to love imperfect sinners, just as God does.

The people I criticized and judged could just be having difficult times in their lives, and I did not consider that.  So wrong. God accepts every one. Who am I not to?

Every single Proverbs verse speaks to me. I need to rebuild myself with wisdom.

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established.” Proverbs 24:3

I feel that leaving CFC has a purpose. The Bible says, “There’s a time for everything and a season for every activity…”

And indeed there is a right way to do everything.

All these reflections humbled me. Today I desire for more heartfelt and in-depth sharing, for authenticity. I want to experience mutual responsibilities through faith. I want to give and experience affirmations. I want to commit to these things TOGETHER with other members of any small group or community. I want the frequency of a fellowship that not only listens but also encourages one another.

“Live in harmony with each other. Don’t try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all” – Romans 12:16

Very grateful to our friends who never get tired encouraging us to go back.  Eventually, in our journey, we will always need someone to walk through the path. The longing for belonging is inevitable.

The Transformation

I grew up active in the church. I started serving when I was 8 years old. I was an altar boy, a lector, a commentator, a collector, a choir (yeah?!), and always active in community outreach programs. I was a devoted volunteer. I thought I was equipped enough with strong faith.

…and that CFC experience happened.

Transformation happens to any of us who truly connects to God, regardless if we are part of any group, or what church we attend to.

Are we joining another Christian group? No plans.

Are we going back to CFC? I can only trust God’s plan. We’re happily walking on this path towards learning and discovering our purpose, in a very special journey with friends, who generously share their time and effort to ensure we keep our spiritual relationship healthy.

The strong presence of the Holy Spirit is constantly strengthening our faith, kahit na we’re ‘not married in church’.

Today I stand in front of Him with a renewed passion to pursue this spiritual development. I surrendered whatever resentment I had with the group. How I’ve grown my spiritual capacity is what I love to teach others who could be in the same frame of thinking as my old self.

If you’re ever in the same story, please DO NOT QUIT. Let’s not look at our church leaders, let’s look at God.

—-

Former members of CFC Sharjah | 2012 – 2014.

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