First Photo Exhibit

I enrolled in a basic photography course and ended up graduating. One of the highlights of the course is a photo exhibit wherein you send a photo entry that goes with the theme, “Our climate, our actions, our future”. I took a shot of one of my colleague’s daughter (future) and let her hold a globe(actions), with a clear blue sky (climate) at the background.. a rather positive outlook, thus, the title, “My World, My Future”.

It was an experience to see my own work posted with other photo entries. I did not win anything but the pride and joy it gave me was priceless.
It has let me realize that the 3 months worth of waking up early and attending the course every Friday, which is the best day to wake up late, was all worth it. The course did not only let me get a certificate but has given me the opportunity to gain new friends and acquaintances.

The course was spearheaded by Lightform- a Filipino group of photographers whose aim is to help fellow overseas Filipino workers gain knowledge and, if pursued well, may be a means to earn money. True to its sense, a lot of the students have been gaining some customers and experience.

But one thing I will not forget is my own group (all students were segregated into groups), Group 7- we call ourselves, The Raketeers, since we all aim to earn more money (hahaha), and we won the Most Outstanding Group for Batch 19.

My first photo exhibit was truly an experience for the year 2007.

Al Ain Trip

The picture above is the first picture I have taken that is published by our company, it was used in our recruitment brochure.

I took this chance to practice my outdoor photography skills and I loved it.!
Look at the slideshow below for more pics.

Al Ain is one of the seven emirates of UAE. Two hours from Dubai and another 2 hours going to Abu Dhabi.
Our company sponsored a bus trip for all colleagues during Eid. Eid was a celebration by Muslims after a month of fasting called Ramadan.
Hubby and I decided to take this chance to go there, after 3 years, since we went there for an overnight stay I have won in a magazine trivia.

Al Ain is unlike Dubai. “A refreshing view to the eyes” as my hubby told me. There are no construction trucks, barriers along the way… just pure green.. trees, grass and more trees…. Yes , it is a “green” desert.

We went to Al Khadra Park, a park surrounded by mountains.
It was evident that lots of overnight campers were already there a day before.

Next stop was Jafeet Mountain. The trip going there was like going to Baguio. You are right, zigzags. I ould say that this is the highlight of the trip.

Last stop was Al Ain Zoo. The zoo was great in size, the animals were enclosed in an environment close to their habitat. Though a lot different that our own Manila Zoo, the place boast more than a zoo, it is also a park where you can bring some picnic food to bring with you... bring some blanket or banig, hats, food and lie down in oblivion.

It was a fun filled day! My realization at the end of the day.... I have only few pics with hubby coz I was the photographer for the whole group.

Vegetable Rolls-Food

During our early days as a couple, my husband and I were able to invent a dish of 7 vegetables sautéed together with onions and garlic and seasoned with oyster sauce.
Starting from that dish, the recipe revolved to adding more ingredients, making it a dish of more than 7 veggies. Then, he suggested that we use it as a filling to our lumpia.
It did great! Then revisions came, the amount of kinds of veggies reduced but the same taste is achieved.

Receipe

1/4 cup of each:

Mushrooms
Baby corn
Brocolli
Cauliflower
Bean sprouts
Carrots
Green beans
Pork, cut into bits
Potatoes
½ cup oyster sauce
½ cup onions, sliced
4 tablespoons garlic, minced
2 tablespoons oil
Salt and pepper

Lumpia wrapper
1 cup oil for deep frying

Sauce:

½ cup onions
½ cup garlic
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup vinegar
Chillies, fresh, cut into strips.
Salt
Pepper
Brown sugar

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil. Saute garlic and onions, add the pork (or chicken), and the veggies.
Pour oyster sauce. Mix . Season to taste.

Lay down one piece of lumpia wrapper, place 1 tablespoon of the mixture. Wrap securely.
Deep fry. Drain the fried lumpia of oil by using paper towels.

For the sauce, mix all ingredients. Season to taste.

Tinolang Manok- Food

I saw one whole chicken in the freezer one day. We usually buy cut up pieces of chicken so as to make menu planning easier for the rest of the week. So I was surprised that I saw a whole chicken in the freezer. I was never brave enough to buy a whole chicken unless it will be used to make a stuffed whole chicken, which, as far as I could remember was one of my failed attempts, ending up cutting the whole chicken into pieces.

I learned that my husband bought the whole chicken and decided to make 2 dishes, “tinolang manok” and “ginataang adobong manok”. Well, I told him, since he bought it, it is his responsibility. Yup, you are right, he did spent quite a time with the chicken. Fortunately, after going through a chicken butchery course all by himself, he successfully cut up pieces of chicken for his two dishes. Since he was playing the “executive chef”, I have to make ado with the role of a “commis”. I sliced up strips of ginger and garlic. I cut up the green papaya as well. Result: yummy dish!

Recipe:

250 grams chicken, cut into pieces (recommend the bony parts of the chicken with some breast parts so as to maximized the flavor of the dish)
4 tablespoons ginger, cut into strips
4 tablespoons garlic, cut into strips
250 grams green papaya, cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoon fish sauce
Water

Saute ginger in hot oil till lightly browned. Add garlic and continue sauteeeing till lightly brown. Add the fish sauce and chicken. Make sure that the chicken gets cooked by looking into it, no pink blood. Add the papaya slices and pour water just enough to cover the ingredients. Let it simmer for 10 minutes. Serve hot.

Palitaw- Food

My husband was rummaging through our pantry when he saw this opened pack of glutinous flour that we have used when we once made “ginataang bilo-bilo”.
Then he asked me if we can make “palitaw” for the rest of the flour. Palitaw is made by mixing water with the glutinous flour to make a thick dough, formed into balls. Each ball of dough is flattened and dropped into a deep pan of boiling water. After 30 seconds, the flattened dough then surfaces, thus the term, “palitaw”. The palitaw is rolled into a plate of freshly shredded coconut and sprinkled with white sugar and toasted sesame seeds.

Recipe:

2 cups glutinous flour
1 cup water
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cp sugar
1 cup toasted sesame seeds
1 deep pan filled with boiling water

Mix flour with water to form a thick dough. Form balls and flatten each ball. Drop into the boiling water. Wait till the dough surfaces. Use a slotted spoon to get the palitaw.
Roll the palitaw in a plate of shredded coconut and sprinkle with sugar and toasted sesame seeds before serving.

Cruise- Star Virgo

Our first cruise- Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia

We had this cruise after our wedding. Sorry, guys, I just got to learn how to blog a year after our wedding, thus, this might be too late- better than never!

I just want to share our momentous events with my readers- no matter when they happened.
The cruise was Star Virgo-5 days/4 nights- Manila to Singapore. Then, we went to Singapore Cruise terminal to board. Being a first timer, me and my husband went around the ship. I think what made this trip memorable was, you guess it right, the FOOD. The package included 3 meals, with 1 gala dinner and 1 great BBQ dinner..Imagine this:

1. 3 restaurants were opened for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as per inclusion. And, there are still other restaurants you can try, but you have to pay as you consume.
2. Midnight snacks were also offered- we are talking big crab legs here!
3. The BBQ dinner was so fantastic, I ate a whole bucket of grilled prawns with steak. Did not mind the carbos, just take those seafood and steaks. The dessert buffet was so huge in selection, I had 3 cups of tea, with two visits to the toilet.. yeah, you are right, to load more.. i know, i committed Gluttony.
4. the gala dinner was so great, waiters had a show before serving it.

I thought, we will be bored. But the ship was filled with so many activities from line dancing, theatre shows, selection of DVD in the lib and night shows. Stopovers to Phuket and Penang, were to look forward too. Hubby and I got to have the elephant massage us, had authentic thai massage, thai food and see great buddhas and temples.

Another note to be proud: Filipino crew everywhere..the Cruise Director was a Filipina as well.

Should I recommend? YES
Are we going to be back? YES

My First Photo Shoot

I just had my first photo shoot in Dubai Heritage Village.

The group that I had joined is Lightform- a group of volunteer Filipino professional photographers who aims to help fellow OFWs in Dubai to learn photography and, if pursued further, the student can earn more money. We meet once a week in a two hour class, this will be for at least 3 months.

This group is still recognized by the Philippine Consulate in Dubai. So there is no question of legitimacy. Their projects and programs are also supported by the local government in Dubai.

It was our first project as photography students. We came in early as 7 am to the village. The aim was to know how to use our previous lectures on lenses, camera functions and exposures. The task was to shoot as many photos as possible with information of ISO, aperture, focal length, shutter speed and bracketing. Thus, each shot must be underexposed, overexposed, and rightly exposed. Composition was not yet discussed, so it was up to the student to set the subject of his/her photos.

Armed with my newly bought Canon 350D camera, I was limited by my sole lens of 18-55 mm, no tripod. Due to budget constraints, I have to do with what I had. Never mind my fellow students who carried their expensive tripods, cameras and bags of lenses.
I had applied theories and learned to experiment in taking photos.

One good thing that photography has imbibed in me is, I get to see everyday things in a new light. I always pursue angles in everything that I see even when I am in the bus, going home. I sometimes look in a soda and, look at it again, intently, with an immediate question in mind, "how will I take a shot of this soda can that will put meaning into it?"

With the sweltering heat, and, since it is Ramadan here, drinking water in public is not allowed, aggravating our situation more.
I did not use these excuses to give up, instead I used it to propel me more to take shots.

Above is a slide show of some shots I have taken. These were reviewed by our teachers and guess what?... for a beginner, I got the score of "EXCELLENT"! Hope I get to retain it till I graduate!

Travels- HK, Shenzhen,Shanghai and Beijing

Group picture -Forbidden City, Beijing, China

Being an OFW myself, a month's vacation is something I look forward to-every year.
Aside from getting to eat my faves, we get to relax, see other places and be with our loved ones.

My hubby and I together with my mom and friends went on a 12 day tour to China including Hong Kong.

It was early 1990’s when I last saw Hong Kong and seeing it this year made me realize that it has grown economically. It has grown so much that buildings are getting closer to each other. As our tourist guide had put it, “you can shake hands with your neighbors in the next building when you open your windows in the morning and greet each other with pleasantries.”
Victoria Peak at night, the harbor view, the food, Bruce Lee and the short boat ride were some of the highlights of the HK tour.

Victoria Peak at Night

Bruce Lee from the Harbor
Boat Ride in HK

Shenzhen is another story,the train ride from HK was fine. We went to "Window on the World" where you can see the whole world with its miniature landmarks. It was a whole day tour, one day is not enough actually.

Arc de Triomphe in Shenzhen

Shanghai was my fave. The "old" and "new" Shanghai were both evident to its present state. The Bund at night was a sight to behold and the TV tower is not be missed.
The Magnetic Levitation train while waiting for the flight was just 10 minutes back and forth to the airport.
Hubby enjoying the sight of the TV tower!

Hubby having a "Bentosa" in Shanghai

Food Trip-siopaos of varied fillings with hubby and Maya, my sister's best friend

Inside the Magnetic Levitation Train with hubby and our friend, Noel
In Beijing, the Great Wall is a must, Forbidden City and Tian'anmen Square must not be forgotten.

Great Wall top view

Great Wall of China with my mom (in front),friends, hubby and me

All throughout our journey, the food gets to be different in each place.
Shenzhen has sweeter side on its dishes, Shanghai gets to be saltier and Beijing gets to be spicier. With more than 10 courses on each meal time except breakfast, I have ballooned so much in such a short time. Of course, who would ever forget the most authentic Peking Duck in Beijing and the mini-siopaos of varied fillings in Shanghai.

With various scenic spots in China, the only challenges we had were:
1. There were almost no English speaking people- but with just signals of our hands and expressions in our faces, they seem to understand.
2.The "squat" phenomenon. Some toilets were ages back, you have to squat to do your thang!

The trip going back was so tiring, we even missed our flight to Manila!
Time to head Home!

Seafood Pasta

This is my first time to post a recipe. An attempt as you may say.

I have since loved food since childhood. I can live without new clothes, shoes, but I cannot let an opportunity pass when trying new food, restaurants, recipes, kitchn gadgets...anything about food, cooking and baking.

As I grew, I got to divert more on desserts, thus my love for baking.
In this first attempt, I decided to make a pasta recipe out of my love to my hubby, who loves pasta and seafood.

My dear readers/bloggers, I am not a professional chef, but I do want to share what I can cook/make/bake.

Seafood Pasta

Heat 2 Tbsp.oil.
Saute 3 tsps chopped garlic and 1/4 cup chopped onions.
Add 1/2 cup each of shrimps, head removed and peeled, sliced squid and fish fillets.
Add Hunt's whole tomatoes with basil.
Add 1/4 cup water.
Season with salt, pepper and sugar to taste.
Cook pasta as directed.


Voila, easy, quick, filling pasta dish!

Apr 25- Admin Professional Day and my 2nd Food blog

So ironic that I posted this blog months after the event. I know I have some backlog to do. This post doubles up as a celebration of a profession and my love for food. Well, better late than never.

My colleagues celebrated the Admin Professional Day, Apr 25, 2007.
We ate in one of our hotel’s signature restaurant, Spectrum on One. A multi-cuisine restaurant which offers Arabic, Chinese, Thai, European and Japanese cuisines, with 7 interactive kitchens.

I had never thought that I would have Administration as my career path. I usually imagined myself in chef’s toque, clean, white chef’s jacket and black and white checkered trousers and of course, white apron… the works. Why? I hate make-up, jewelries, and dressing up, which my job entails me to.

Filipinos back home have a very different perception of Administrative assistant, coordinator, PA or whatever you might call it. In the minds of our kabayans, this is a secretary, who sits behind a desk, putting make-up all day and just smiling and answering calls. That is why, most kabayans on a visit visa looking for a job in Dubai would say, “kahit sekretarya lang, pwede na”.

Well, in this part of world, this position holds a very high responsibility. You do not have to only look good, but you have to have a great, functional brain to go with it. Computer and phone skills are basic. Here, you need to be organized, articulate and responsible. Administration professionals here are mostly either in supervisory or management roles. Critical decision has to be made, and there is no boss who will baby you. You are expected to make fast, precise decisions. If you are faced with problems, you cannot go to your boss and cry like a baby, you have to tell the problem and suggest solutions. In that way, your boss will just tell you which of your suggested solutions are plausible.
In the hospitality industry, administration professionals need to face guest complaints. Face it and deal with it. There is such a high call for this profession. That is why Filipinos here are more challenged with English native speakers seeking the same position. Added to that is the local UAE labor market looking for the same position. It is a very competitive market.

Administration professionals here open a lot of avenues for career growth. It is just up to the person to which field he/she wants to specialize.

So as my colleagues enjoy our dinner, we truly felt that we deserve this celebration.
A long table was waiting for us. Fully set up in a non smoking area, the ambience was light (as pictured above).

We were given the drinks menu and the a la carte menu.

For my drinks, I ordered virgin strawberry daiquiri.


We ordered various appetizers in which portions are to share. Dim sums and siu mai from Chinese cuisine, sushi, maki rolls and ebi tempura from Japanese cuisine and Arabic appetizers that looks like our very own “empanadas”.

Then, we decided to order our main course. Each has to decide on its own.

I ordered Black Angus Beef Tournedos Rossini- this is with baby carrots, button mushrooms, Madeira sauce and pan seared foie gras. I clearly stated that I wanted my steak in medium doneness.


The beef was like soft butter when I cut it. The true flavor of the meat was very obvious. A few teaspoons of the sauce only enhanced its true flavor rather than masking it. The vegetables maybe few but not overcooked. Slices of thin potatoes were complementary to the texture of the meat.


I ordered another drink, as to the recommendation of my colleague, Jasmin our food and beverage coordinator. I tried her ginger mint drink. I was thankful that I ordered it because it refreshes my mouth, as if washing the intense flavor of the meat.

For my dessert, well, I was the only one who ordered dessert because my colleagues were filled up to the throat. I had Molten Chocolate cake, served with a scoop of coffee ice cream and strawberry slices with a small shot glass of what I perceived as a malt. The cake was small but rich.

It was good that my friend, Rosario, our recruitment coordinator, shared this sinful dessert with me. Otherwise, am sure my sugar level will be at high time again.

A fudgy, warm center that oozes out of the cake as you slice a bite was heavenly.

The service was prompt, friendly and smooth flow of service was evident. As if the servers were dancing in one tune.

That was a very meaningful and enjoyable dinner.

Again, my dear admins…. Happy Admin Day!!! 

Wedding....again in The Philippines (views of an overseas bride)

A year and 3 months after our civil wedding, Chris and I got married in Manila. 8th January 2006- d’day.

I can make a novel out of my experiences during our wedding preparation, but I won’t do that. Let me just state how it was to be an overseas bride.

1. Internet will be your best friend. Your research abilities will become very handy. It was great that I can “google” anything.
2. Preparing from miles away, a very good friend who will serve as your “eye” to check out suppliers’ legitimacy is a must especially if you cannot afford a full coordination package. In this matter, I had Noel Galang.
3. Have a plan. Write it. This will make you stick to your plan more. For me, writing a plan is the first sign of commitment.
4. Know what kind of wedding you want to have- consider finances, time, and most of all, be realistic.
5. Be proactive.

All couples will always remember their wedding. But what makes my wedding more memorable were:

1. My best friend since college, Carla, has to move her wedding a month after to give way to my wedding date.
2. My very good friend who sacrificed a lot coordinating my wedding to fulfill the wedding plans, Noel Galang, had to leave one day before my wedding to pursue his job in a passenger cruise liner.
3. Our family and friends who were very supportive since the preparation began and stuck with us all the way through.

Was it all worth it?.... Definitely, a YES!

Getting Married in Dubai- my love story

"I now pronounce you man and wife..."


I was single and very much available when I arrived in Dubai, year 2002.
I met my husband here. Also a Filipino. Ironic... we both lived in the Philippines and only here in Dubai that we got to meet and fell in love.

We used to work in the same company. But we were from different department.
We first became barkadas- Chris (my hubby), Randie, Yzel and me.The usual barkada lakads to the beach, bars and restaurants turned to solo dates for Chris and me.

To make a long story short, Chris proposed to me in Canada while we were enjoying fully his prize for being the "Star Employee of the Year", a trip for two to any branch of our hotel of our choice, airline tickets, free food and beverage to any restaurants within the hotel of our choice, free hotel stays and an extra US$500.00.

After enjoying that trip, we went to Phils for a vacation and he met my family and I met his. He then already stated his intention to marry me to both of our families.

Since I believe that we should not work in the same company as a future couple, we decided to apply outside to other companies, still in Dubai. Whoever gets to have a good offer, will resign in our company. Chris got to have a good offer first and he took it. So, at that time, I was not entitled for a single accommodation so he needs to live out.

Remember, that in Dubai, it is difficult for a couple to be seen living together without marriage because it is not allowed by Islam religion. If caught, both will be subjected to imprisonment (i think for one year) and deportation after serving sentence.Realistically, kabayans know all about this, but still kept doing it. Malalakas yata ang loob ng ating mga kababayan.

So for us to live together, we decided to get married in Dubai via Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi. We asked for the requirements: This was 2004

1. CENOMAR from NSO duly approved and red ribboned by DFA, Malacanang and UAE Embassy in Phils
2. Birth certificate
3. Application form
4. Passport copies of the couple and sponsors or witnesses (min of 2)

Then our wedding banns were displayed for 15 days. After that we got a call for wedding date confirmation.
With two witnesses, Randie and Lourdes, a hired car lift driven by a fellow kabayan, Kuya Jun, we drove to Abu Dhabi for 2 hours from Dubai.

When we arrived, we were the sixth couple. I am the only one not pregnant and the only one with a bloody red bouquet of roses. We had a mass wedding, short and concise. The trip was longer than the ceremony.

Then we had a buffet lunch back in Dubai.

Now, the Phil. Consulate located in Dubai can perform marriage rites to Filipinos.

And just last Jan 8 2006, we had our Church Wedding in the Philippines.
And better yet, I am now entitled for a single accommodation provided by my company, so my hubby is living with me.

burgers

Quite ironic that i hve confessed my addiction to dessert that my first review is.... burgers.
Let me start first that all my reviews of any food establishment is of my own opinion. You, as a reader, have the option to try, believe or say something otherwise. I do not have any intent to mar reputations of the food establishments featured here.

Ok... burgers is one of the most common food served worldwide. I can say that for every trip I made, there is an assurance for every tourist that when they see that "M", "BK" etc, they somehow feel that security that they can eat something.... not for me. I do away with it as much as I can, but sometimes I just have that craving to load myself with those sinful calories, or maybe yet I have this ulterior motive that it is not the burger that I have come,but for the other "accompaniments" in the menu...

My hubby and I just went to Johnny Rockets last Saturday. This was our second time.
The first time was in their Jumeirah branch due to the fact that we have read a very good review of a well known magazine here. Out of curiosity, we tried it and never regretted it.
Johnny Rockets is an all-American Diner you usually see in movies or tv series.
Diner set-ups, counter tops, brightly lit areas... and they also sing and dance to "YMCA" while doing all the preps, cooking and serving, giving that total good "All-American feel". And I am pleased to say that most of the servers and cooks here, even the supervisors are FILIPINOS.

Johnny Rockets in Mall of Emirates, Dubai. One of the branches of the restaurant within the city. 

"half and Half" does not look like one.

This is supposed to be half serving of fries and half serving of onion rings. Well, obviously does not look like it is. Both are not greasy. They are crunchy to the bite and hot inside. Served with a styrofoamed bowl of bbq sauce and a smiley bowl of catsup.

An order of a "Single Rocket" in all its glory

This is what I have ordered. I have watched the cook grill these patties. He picked up a ball of fresh beef. Placed it directly to the hot grill, flattened with his flipper, add some salt and pepper and after a few minutes, flipped to the other side and gave it to the "sandwich maker" who has been doing an assembly line of buns. He then added the onions, cheese, tomatoes and another bun on top. He wrapped each "rockets" to the logoed paper. Ready to serve.
My hubby and I sat in the counter top and saw the other diners order the double version of this "rocket". Just imagine how big their appetites are.

The real reason for coming here, real, thick chocolate shake!

Thick, real, chocolatey shake topped with whipped cream. So thick,that I would rather spoon it and lick it to the last drop. The one serving they usually make is more than enough to fill this glass. They will also serve the stainless big tumbler with what i call the "best residue" filling up one fourths of the tumbler.

1 order of Single Rockets
1 order of St. Louis burger
1 order of half and half
1 order of chocolate shake
Roughly AED 85.00

Working and Living in Dubai

There are 3 ways I know that one can enter Dubai:

1. Transit Visa- 48 hours visa that is usually used by business travellers having a short stop in Dubai for a connecting flight.
2. Visit Visa- the most popular type of visa for tourists and job hunters alike. Usually is valid for two months and is renewable.
3. Resident visa- stamped to passports owned by people who are being sponsored either by a company (like me) or by husband/father (both are subject to salary range)
This type of visa is usually valid for three years and renewable.

The most common industry Filipinos here can be seen is the Hospitality industry- hotels, restaurants, clubs, golf courses, salons. Filipinos are very warm, friendly and always smiles...characteristics that even foreigners can testify.

We also have engineers, accountants, administrators who works in oil and gas, blue chip companies and we have a few designers, architects and teachers. Few are in the medical industry like ob-gynes, pediatricians but most are nurses.

Dubai is not America. One cannot come here to work in various establishments on part-time basis. If you are sponsored by a company, you can only work for them. If the company gets to know that you are having a "sideline" to another company, they can easily cancel your resident visa and put a ban on you. Then it is time to head back home.
We have here what we call sponsorship transfer. As I have experienced, if after serving a year or two, depending upon your contract, you can resign, receive gratuity and ask for NOC (No Objection Certificate) from your employer so that the new company you will be joining will be the one to process your visa under the new company's sponsorship.

If you are on husband's or father's visa, life is much easier because you can get work easily because the company does not need to spend money on your sponsorship. And if you are not happy, you do not need NOC from the employer. Drawbacks are, if your husband or father gets terminated or resigns from the company sponsoring them, your visa is the first to be cancelled. And the second is, this type of visa is under the condition of salary range as assigned by the UAE government.

Proliferation of Filipinos on visit visa today is really high. So high as their hopes of having a better life. But i guess, there is a wrong perception of Dubai in Philippines. The proof of increasing cases of sex slaves, abused domestic helpers, and "takas" ( Dubai's version of TNT).

Looking for a Job

I can say that I have been approached by so many kabayans on visit visa asking where the HR is located or where they can look for jobs. I directly reply to them that i suggest that they go back home and look for a job via a legit agency than waste time looking for a job here. Why???? Let me set a scenario.

"Baby is on a visit visa. She got here in Dubai out of the concerned help of a cousin. Baby bought the plane ticket and sent money to her cousin here in Dubai so that she can process her visit visa. Baby's cousin lives in Satwa, Dubai. She is a bedspacer that pays AED 800.00 inclusive of water and electricity per month and shares a room with 3 more girls. It is a double decker bed. Two of these will accommodate 4. Luckily, one space will be vacated. So Baby was informed that her accommodation will not be a problem. She just needs to budget AED 800.00 for two months ( the validity of her visit visa) and some extra for food, transport,and other essentials.
Baby arrives in Dubai. She was fetched by her cousin using a car lift (a privately owned car used to earn money by the owner, illegally). This is a cheaper option that get a cab from the airport.
Baby settles then in Satwa with her cousin occupying the upper bed. She places her clothes in a tiny square space inside a single cabinet and hangs some of her "office suits" in a zipped up plastic tokador. She rounds up the nearest vicinity within Satwa and learns bus routes ( basic is AED 1.50, the farther your trip, of course, additional fee), nearest supermarkets where she can buy instant noodles, coffee, bread and some occasional pork for that sinigang craving.
Baby started looking for a job.She looked in the ads, but was disappointed as the ads say: "Wanted Secretary, AED 10k + benefits Required: Native English Speaker". She browsed in the internet (AED 3.00 per hour) and she visited offices by using the bus.
Two months had passed and still no job. But there is an option. She can extend her visit visa for a fee (am not sure if it will be around AED 350.00) for another month.
After a month, still no job. Again, there is an option. She can exit Dubai and go anywhere and be back to Dubai. Cheapest, most popular option for this one is going to Kish( there is a package of plane ticket, accommodation and food while waiting for your visit visa to Dubai, another fee again). When Baby comes back from Kish, she will be having a visit visa again for two months. And in these two months, fingers crossed, hopefully, she will be able to find a job. And if her savings from Phils. be gone, she has a choice- to go home in Phils or to be a "takas".

If you are looking for a job in Dubai via a legit agency back in Phils. just calculate your expenses if you are still in the Phils. And I believe, the best thing that this situation contributes is that you are not forced to sign the contract and you will be able to have a good research if the salary being offered is reasonable enough for you to leave home. If you are earning quite good in Phils, calculate the taxes deducted, giving you a net income. Compare your expenses if you are living in the Phils and if you are living in Dubai. Calculate the savings, if there is any. If the difference is not that big, why would you settle for the first offer you're gonna get? Apply to other companies offered by the agency until you find a job that suits your goals.

This is the situation a visit visa holder on a job hunt purpose cannot afford to have. The first goal of a visit visa holder is to find a job in less than 2 months.
And employers here know that. Some were being promised that they will be sponsored by the company and after two months, the employer will say that they are no longer interested for your service due to poor performance.. etc. And there you are, expiring visa and a definite need to extend, exit or go home.

There are so many Babys in Dubai. Not only our kabayans but this also happens to Indians, Pakistans, Nepalese, Chinese.

Though there are some who are lucky enough to have a job and does not have to go through what Baby had experienced.

Sabi nga nila, "Ang kapalaran ni Pedro ay hindi kapalaran ni Juan."


Signing the Job Contract

If you gained your job via a legit agency from Philippines or if you have successfully gained a job here in Dubai, there is always a stage for a contract to be signed.

Again, another advantage if you got a job via a legit agency in Phils. You will not feel hurried to decide.

What does a contract include:

Position/Job Title
Salary- is it all inclusive(meaning the food, transpo and accommodation is already included but not provided by the company), so you have to look for a place to live and settle and budget your salary accdg to your needs. e.g. AED6k per month all in
- or it will just state AED 6k per month

Transportation- e.g. AED 500.00 per month or it will state, included in the salary quote
Accommodation- to be provided by company. If it is provided, will it be sharing (how many people in a room) or solo / or included in salary quote
Food- to be provided/or included in salary quote
Medical- company provided
Annual leave- will the ticket(two way) be provided by the company? How many days?
Is it convertible to cash?
Duration of contract
Visa- who will provide? if provided by company, is it deductible to your monthly salary?
These are the basic concerns if you are considering a contract to be signed.
In addition, be aware of some inclusions or clauses like you cannot transfer to a competitor company.
Emergency leave/Maternity Leave

Living in Dubai

The cost of living in Dubai is high.

Accommodation:

Bedspace- approx AED 800.00 per month inclusive of utilities
Sharing room- good for couples, partitioned by either big cabinets or curtains, approx AED 1,500.00/per month + utilities cost divided by the number of occupants
Sharing a flat- AED 2,500 per month + utilities
Some flats are being rented by fellow kabayans. She will be your landlord. She can give post dated cheques to the real landlord and she is the one signing the tenancy contract. Now it is up to her, how much she will charge to her "tenants" per room.
Depends, meaning if she wants to earn by letting others rent the rooms or simply just to be able to have a room for "free". For example, Trina and her husband has rented a 3 bedroom flat with one sharing bathroom and 1 sharing kitchen for AED 60,000 per year. The couple signed the contract issued by the real landlord and at the same time pays via cheques post dated. AED 5000 per month (60000/12 months).
There are 3 bedrooms- AED 1666.67 per room per month (5000/3 rooms).Now if Trina and her husband just wants a decent place to live and be able to sustain it, they will just let their own tenants to pay AED 1666.67 per month for one room. But if they want to stay for "free", their room which cost AED 1666.67 will be divided to two (because there are only 2 rooms for occupation) and be added to the tenant's rent, thus AED 1666.67/2 tenants= AED 833.35. AED 833.35 + AED 1666.67 = AED 2500. Trina's own tenants should pay her AED 2500 per month each. This may increase if the couple decides to make a "business" out of the situation. Then the utilities will be divided to the number of occupants per month. With this scenario, I am sure the couple will chose their occupants to be couples as well for there is only 1 sharing bathroom, and that the couples must be both working so that the utilities will be low. So if you will be one of Trina's tenants, you have to budget at least AED 4000 per month for your living allowance.

Utilities expense depends on how your flatmates uses it. If they iron clothes just before wearing them, so it means they use the iron everyday. If your flatmates have a computer and kills himself playing games all night. And the most brutal is if your flatmates uses the A/C non stop esp. during summer months, and am sure you will too.

Of course, once you find a place to stay, you should buy your bed, cabinets, pillows, linens, toiletries and some form of entertainment if you cannot live without a radio cum CD player or TV. Here in Dubai, there are lots of second hand furnitures, particularly in Karama and Deira.

Or for a more sosyal option, IKEA is always there.

For your food, the cost of the gas will be shared by the occupants. The cost of LPG, the smallest is around AED 50.00 for refill + you have to buy the tank (AED 150.00).
Pork is approx AED 15.00 per kilo. Bangus,tilapia, gg, approx AED 10-12 per kilo.
Garlic, onions, tomatoes, approx AED 4.00 per kilo each, depending if you are just getting the locally produced ones.
Small bread, approx AED 1.50 - 2.00 each. Fresh milk, approx AED 3.00 per liter.

Depending on the location, you should consider traffic (Dubai is worst), how many buses to take to and from work, your 3 meals a day,and of course your "padala" every month to the Phils.

All the costs here mentioned are near approximates for year 2007.
With these costs laid out, you should have a rough estimate how much you have to earn to live decently and still be able to send money back home and save for your own.

This scenario becomes fully reversed when everything is provided by the company. This is common in most hotel employers. Do not be surprised if your salary is below AED 1000 per month for a room attendant. Why?

The company provides you a place to stay, fully furnished. They have a cafeteria in your accommodation and in the hotel, usually buffet style with unlimited coffee, softdrinks and water. And an option, if you want to cook, there is a kitchen provided with the oven, stove, microwave oven, fully airconditioned with exhaust fan.
Your uniform is being laundered by the company. And they will provide washing machine and dryers for your personal clothes. They also provide leisure facilities like swimming pools, billiards, internet facilities, gym, basketball courts complete with sport equipments for volleyball, cricket, basketball, tennis, badminton and they even provide playstation and videoke. Transportation to and from work is every hour, and city shuttles everyday on popular malls. Church shuttles every Sunday for Catholics and Muslims to mosques every Fridays. And most companies provide Cable TV so your TFC is free. And you can have your a/c turned on for 24 hrs, for all you care. No electricity and water costs to pay.

So, you are earning only less than AED 800.00 per month plus tip/ service charge.
Calculate and see if you can still save with this scenario. Remember, in Dubai, your salary is tax free. If you live simply and fully use these benefits, your whole AED 800.00 is for you to either save or spend. The tips/service charge are just extras.

my first food blog

ok, i hve to be honest. i am a foodie. i love baking, sweets, cakes, any desserts. i would rather have an expensive dessert, budget my main course and do away with appetizers. that is how i read menus.

i would rather eat, try restaurants than shop for clothes, make-up, shoes and bags. i guess that is why my hubby tells me i am a low maintenance wife.

i was inspired by food blogs of fellow Filipinos. however, i opted to do more than a food blog. food here in dubai is expensive, if you are for quality, michelin star chef- prepared food. I would say that competition of restaurants here is very stiff. As i hve mentioned before in "going to dubai" post, this city has so many people of diverse cultures. It is due to this type of market that hotels conceptualized restaurants that offers more than 5 cuisines in one sitting. So you can have your caprese salad, a selection of sushi and sashimi or french onion soup,then have pork char siu with yang chow fried rice, or a medium t-bone steak or a chicken biryani or lobster thermidore and finish it off with a plate of miniature desserts from creme brulee of different flavors, a small slice of baklava or that mini chocolate decadent cake or maybe yet try some fried green tea ice cream... and we are talking a la carte. Just imagine a menu consisting of more than 5 cuisines . Each type has its own app/soup, main course and dessert menu (whew), difficult choices to make....

Of course, you will never get away with friday brunches... friday here is sunday in Phils. Fri is rest day. Again, brunches go a looooong way....with overflowing bubbly, a buffet of different dishes of different cuisines, to kid's buffet, to bbq in the beach.. Brunch price starts at AED 250.00 to AED 400.00.

For the foodies out there, Dubai is a place to use that appetite for culinary adventure.

Going to Dubai

Dubai is one of the seven emirates of the United Arab of Emirates located in the Middle East.
One of the most modern city, Dubai is what we call an open-city. You can have an alcoholic drink (need an alcohol license), pork, go to Catholic church, go to clubs at night, and you can even smoke either a cigarette of your choice or a cigar. This city boasts of so many people of different nationalities, cultures, language,beliefs and purpose.


I have been living in Dubai for 5 years. I came to Dubai to work in a hospitality industry via an employment agency back in the Phils. Yes, I went through the usual selection, one on one interview, and reading my employment contract. Upon signing, took the usual waiting times, then I got a call from the agency that I need to have my medical check-up coz i will be leaving in 2 days.

I saw my colleagues-to-be from all over the Phils., but mostly came from Cebu. I think we occupied half of the plane. The usual jitters, excitement and an instant longing that i felt was there.

We arrived in Dubai after 8 hours of flight, in addition to 1 hour of stop over in Bangkok. It was night time.
We were met by a representative from the company, and off we rode that Avis shuttle bus straight to our new home. At night time, there are the usual tall buildings with lights just like driving through Ayala Avenue, only the spaces in between the buildings are a lot bigger than Ayala. I was so tired, that I dozed off. I did not know how long (or short) that I have closed my eyes, but I suddenly realized, there were no buildings, very few lights and the rest is just black.
One thing that assured me of my safety is my seatmate and I was not the only one scared (so selfish of me ).

Then the bus stopped in front of a big gate with a big spotlight. Gates opened and I saw fellow Filipinos waving at us... welcoming us.

We were greeted by fellow Filipinos ( just then I realized our batch is not the first one to arrive).
Carrying our luggages, we went straight to the cafeteria, greeted by a sweet, blonde lady (happens to be one of the HR members). We were told that this will be our home...gave us our first hold of an AED money.. AED 100.00 to start a life, buy few essentials. Then we went to our own rooms. Each room has its own toilet and bath, 2 beds with mattress and linens, 2 cabinets, a/c , 2 side tables, one center table and some welcome biscuits. My roommate, Mercy, a Filipina
took her side of the room. I dropped my luggage and slept.

When I woke up at 7 am, I suddenly had a full realization, I am in a new place. The bed does not feel right, the walls are new and I took a glimpse in the window, and I had to have a hard look.... i saw a camel walking. i opened the sliding glass window and i saw desert. our "home" is in the middle of the desert!

This was my unforgettable 1st day in Dubai!

my first post-finally!!!!

Reading other people's blog can be inspiring. It makes you want to share what you can, and contribute to each other's interconnectedness with the rest of the world.

What kind of blog will I have... i do not know. Maybe my husband is right... without a focus, this blog will be a blob. I initially expressed my intention to have a blog with my hubby, kinda of wife and man team, however, i just got to know that is impossible. so i decided to make it on my own.

I aim to post my love for food, travel and share what is really like living here in Dubai.

This city has been a great part of my lyf... you will get to have a peek.