Weekend with Qatar Living

This month I am already one and half years here in Qatar. It all seems just like yesterday. For the first year I really did not find many new friends because I just preferred to go home, open my laptop and surf the Internet to pass my time. But humans being social animals just could not stand solitary confinement and finds a way to socialize with others albeit not in the actual presence.

Like many others hooked on the Internet, I joined a social network. At first I was just a regular browser trying to find meaningful and useful information about Qatar. That is where I found Qatar Living or QL to many users which is the most useful website for practical and everyday things about Qatar. After several months of just browsing through it, I finally joined the forum as a regular member.

And early this year the site administrators launched the QL Forums which are basically focused forums on certain topics, interests and affiliation. There is the Social Group, the Movie Club and many other forums that have since been created or formed to cater to the many interests of the expatriates and local techno-junkies or even casual PC users here in the State of Qatar or even those just planning to go here.

Among the popular forums here is the Filipino Expatriates in Qatar. It has already more than 200 subscribers made up Filipinos and Expats who admire us Filipinos. And the subscriber base keeps growing everyday.

Last month I was made the manager of this group. Our first activity is to reorganize the group and then plan for a Christmas party. We also engaged with other members of the forum who are not members of the Filipino Group.

Over the weekend we were able to join the fishing trip organized by the Social Group. It was my first time to go fishing without using a fishing rod but fishing line on a wooden spool. My friend Mohammad lent me his fishing line and taught me how to put the bait and how to throw it into the water. Since the Wakrah wharf was rocky, my lead weight and bait hook got caught in the rocks twice and we had to cut the line. At first it was frustrating then it got exciting as we started to catch fish.

But the most exciting thing started when a fish that was latched on to my hook was bitten by a sword fish. I thought I got the bigger fish with it but at the last second it let go. It became my mission then to catch the swordfish that got away. Mohammad helped me change to a bigger hook and put a bigger bait for me. Several times the fish bit the bait, would wrestle with us and then let go at the last minute. Even the usually patient Mohammed gave up on the wily fish.

But then another friend, Monty, suggested trying smaller bait. So what did was hook on a fresh small fish bait and then cut its head so blood oozed out. Then I threw it into back into the sea. A few seconds after, I felt the line taut and tried to reel it in. But again the wily fish let go at the last second. Frustrated, I threw back the bait into the sea this time I changed my strategy.

As soon as I felt the line taut, I let go a few more meters. Then I slowly pulled back, then as it taut again I let go a few meters. With a quick jerk I pulled the line back and I saw the fish jump out of the water with the end of the line clearly going into its mouth. This is where it got exciting. It started jumping out and into the water moving sideways and trying to pull back the line as I was trying to pull him in. It thought to myself: “I got you now!” It was my first exciting catch and memories of reading “The Old Man and The Sea” came back to me. Now I understood the emotion that went to the Old Man as he caught the biggest catch of his life. I had never been able to relate to it until now. The wily fish tried to swallow my bait whole and it got stuck in its throat so it wasn't able to let go.

It was an exciting day. The pictures show our catch of the day.

The next day, we had our usual morning jog. But as I was going out of the house, a thick fog met me as I opened the door. This was going to be an interesting jogging day. I quickly went back to my room and grabbed my fleece shirt and my bonnet. This day was going to be colder than the other days.

As we reached the corniche, fog filled the surroundings. It was great jogging during the fog. The air was refreshing and the cold light wind provided a soothing chill on my back. (See pictures on the corniche with other joggers.)

Again we made it to 4000m marker and then on the return back we did a deliberate slow jog for 1000m after which it left our heart pounding away. We continued with a brisk walk until the 1500m marker and back to the slow jog for another 500m. This time we finished the 8km distance in 1hour 15 minutes.

This week a good week spent with friends. Next week we will be having our Christmas party but that is another story.

Winter in Doha

It has been a hectic month of November for me. We are already shorthanded and we are trying to hire additional personnel to help me and my present team on the growing number of client base that we have. Our team is tasked for post-sales support maintenance but we are also helping the pre-sales and implementation teams get their projects going. As such it was too hectic for me to even sit down and type down some of the thoughts that went into my mind the past month and put them into my blog.

While I was waiting for my customer who, as usual, requested me to come ‘first thing in the morning’ – only to find out that I have to wait for him for more than an hour because he has another appointment – I found the time to write in my thoughts for my blog.

As I was opening my laptop, I felt a chill down my back and I immediately checked the setting on the AC that was near me. I realized that the AC system wasn’t even set on cooling. It was just on ‘FAN’ setting. It was due to the weather here that caused the chill on the air blown over by the fan. Yes, it is winter here in Qatar and it is the season I enjoy most here.

Although winter is milder now and has come later compared last year, nevertheless I am really now enjoying the cool mornings and chilly evenings here in Doha. My early morning jogs on weekends and early evening walks are more enjoyable because the sun is not hot on the skin but just soothing warmth after a good run. Also the sun sets early in the afternoon so that 5:00 pm is already dim and a bit chilly. I even bought long sleeved fleece shirts which I wear to keep my arms warm and my body perspiring. I am thinking of buying thermal running gloves because the chill of the early morning breeze makes my hands numb until the sun rises.

There were days that the fog was thick in the morning and made traffic snarl all over the city (as shown on the pictures). Vehicles slowed down to avoid collisions or skids as the dew sets on the paved roads making them slippery.

I love winter time here in Qatar because there is no snow and it is a refreshing chill wind that permeates throughout the season. At the start of the season I also get to enjoy the thousands of migrating birds flying in formation across the blue sky. Most of all, it reminds of my time with my family in Baguio City back home which I think is really our family time together. I am bringing them now here with me to Qatar in January and I hope we get to enjoy together this refreshing season.

Celebrating Change

On October 25, Qatar formally launched its bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games. It is the first Middle Eastern country to volunteer itself to host the premier sporting championships. The night was celebrated with revelry and capped by a fireworks display. However, it wasn’t the celebration or the bid itself that struck me most. It was the logo and the theme behind it that got my attention.

The main logo is a representation of the aldahma flower but for those who know how to read Arabic, the logo is a calligraphy of the phrase “Doha 2016”. The theme is “Celebrating change”. As soon as I heard the theme, a question popped into my mind: “Do we really celebrate change?”

Change is often met with doubt, uncertainty, anxiety, fear and other negative feelings. It may be met with enthusiasm at first but when hard choices related to that change start to unravel then uncertainty sets in and confidence wanes. So why celebrate change?

The day after the launch, some expats here were already having mixed feelings regarding the bid. Although many were rooting for Doha to get the IOC nod for this once in a lifetime event, still many were worried about the increase in rent, worsening of traffic and rise in cost of many basic commodities this effort will bring. Fresh in the mind of many was the situation caused by Qatar's hosting of the recent Asian Games. Many hoped rents and food prices will go down after the games but it never happened. Thus to many this bid was not a cause for celebration. Change really brings the best and worst in people.

In my life, there have been a lot of changes. The first big change I can remember was when I first went to school. I was a brash, confident young lad but with a real love of studies. Then came my decision to enter the seminary, not really sure if I wanted to be a priest but I wanted to find out. After several years I found out that it was not a life for me and I left the seminary. However, I immediately found out that secular life was a bit too fast and too worldly a life for me and I struggled to keep balance for myself. I was trying not to be a loner but also not go into the happy-go-lucky man of the world. It was a hard and trying time but somehow I went through it and managed to keep my balance.

My first job was a big change for me as well. It was my first taste of independence. I wasn’t taking any allowance from my parents and I had my salary all to myself. I could sustain my own vices and I can buy whatever I want if I can afford it. My decision to leave that company and try to join a multinational company was another big change. I was being offered a supervisory role but I deemed this new company had a better culture. And indeed it had and I stayed 16 years in this new company.

But then things didn’t go well during the last years of my stay in the company. For the first time in my life I was experiencing burn out. My salary was getting my family nowhere and my career was in hiatus. I was asked to “dance to the music” so my career will go somewhere. But I’d rather keep my dignity intact than dance to their tune of musical chairs. It was a nerve racking decision but I did it and now I am here.

However, the most important change in my life is my decision to have a family. It was the biggest decision because it affected not only my life but another else’s life. All these years changes have only affected me but this time it was a change that affected the lives of two people – me and my wife. And with the birth of our son, then this change now affects a third life. This is the biggest change in my life because from then on every decision has to take into consideration two other innocent lives.

Change is always there in our lives. Whether we meet it with fear and doubt or embrace it wholeheartedly with enthusiasm and hope is really up to us. Looking back into my life I could say that there were a lot of changes I dealt with anxiety and negative feelings and there were those that I embraced with excitement. I now believe that each part of life has prepared me for what I face today and whatever struggles I may face tomorrow. For instance, my life in the seminary has prepared me for a life of an OFW.

And going back to theme of Doha’s application to host the Olympics, I agree that we should celebrate change because with each change we only get wiser and stronger. We should embrace it and nourish it. After all, the only constant in this world is change.

My first off-road driving

Ramadan was supposed to be a light work month for us. Being a Holy month for our Muslim brothers, and Qatar being a devout Muslim country, work hours are limited to 6 hours per day. My company has set our work hours from 9am to 3pm. However, this Ramadan proved to be a very hectic month for me. I even had to work on weekends on a few occasions with no OT pay. Yes, thanks to my exempt position, I don’t get extra pay for hours worked beyond normal office hours. Well, anyway, it keeps me busy during weekends so no worries, for now.
That is why when the Eid holidays came and the company declared a 3-day holiday, I had to find some diversion to unwind and to relieve the pressures of work the past month. Luckily, I have some expatriate friends who have been here quite a while and were happy to welcome me into their holiday getaways.
We had a late afternoon swimming and barbeque along the beach in Al Wakrah, a district just outside Doha. There was a lot of food for the barbeque but we did not get to enjoy swimming very much. It was low tide that afternoon and we were already a kilometer from the shore and still we were wading to a knee high sea water.
And it got worse as the night went on. The previously leg-high water receded to ankle deep. Some people who were also on the beach, especially the kids, amused themselves by catching the small fishes trapped in shallow pools and rocks left by the retreating waters. Some tried to catch the fast running crabs and even some of them dug for shells. All the catch either went to their coolers or directly to the grills lit about the shore. However, it was a good night of stories and eating with new found friends.
So we were still unsatisfied with our night out at Al Wakrah and a few of us from the group thought maybe we can go out on a late evening till early morning and enjoy swimming on the early morning high tide.
But a trip to the seashore near the Sealine Beach Resort in Messaid turned out to be my first taste of driving a 4WD off-road on the desert sand. My first venture into the soft sand with my Mitsubishi Nativa got me stuck in just a few hundred meters. I was so nervous I forgot to shift to 4WD. ‘Eager beaver’, I thought.
During the night I tried to move the vehicle again so we can fix the tent between vehicles. Again the soft sand took the better of me and I got stuck on it. Putting some wood under the tires to get traction did not help. I was thinking to myself, “What do you do now you first time off-roader?” Luckily some experienced Qatari 4WD drivers who were playing with their Toyota Landcruisers and Nissan Patrols on the sand dunes came to our rescue and taught me some tricks of the trade. But since I got stuck so much we needed to push for the van to wiggle its way out of the hole it dug for itself. As soon as the vehicle got off and running, there was clapping and cheering and handshakes all around.
And we did get to enjoy swimming on that dark night. The water was warm and it was amusing to see the planktons reflect a blue light as you move through the water. And up in the sky there were billions of stars now visible against a dark night. A few shooting stars would be streaking out from time to time. It was back to Biology 101 and Astronomy 101 for me and I enjoyed it.
When morning came I became worried with the coming tide. It was coming near the shore where our vehicles were parked. So it was time to move our vehicles. But this time the sand was already wet and now we did not hesitate to call out for help. Again, many came to help and cheering and handshakes where everywhere after the van moved out from its precarious place by the shore.
What struck me during this trip was the voluntary action to help fellow drivers who are in need of assistance. I also noticed the non-stop patrol of a police team in a 4WD whose primary task is to assist drivers in distress. This spontaneous camaraderie of people really made driving off-road something to be enjoyed and not feared.

English in a global economy

One of the reasons I took to writing my blog in English is to practice myself with a language not my own. I needed to practice it because it is the business language not only here in Qatar but for many parts of world. Practice makes perfect as many use to say. Without practicing the language I will easily lose whatever mastery I have with it.
Since I spend most of my time in my room after office hours, writing became the natural outlet for me to express my thoughts, feelings and opinions. Besides I can easily correct the sentences I have constructed to convey what I mean in a more coherent manner. But since I am a person who is more technically inclined, I would tend to bring out my thoughts in a more direct way than using a more descriptive or dramatic way as a novelist would. Many a times I would be lost for words to state some of the things I wanted to share. But still I try to express everything in this language.
During my college days I remembered that we have English subjects that teach besides the usual literature topics also introduced us to letter writing particularly business writing. It taught us how write correspondences, application letters, product presentation and even resignation letters. I wonder if this is still taught in college or whether with the advent of the Internet, students just download from thousands of examples from various websites without bothering to make one. Or maybe just maybe Filipinos are so engrossed with the abbreviations of words on SMS messages that many have forgotten the spelling of the original word.
I am saying this because our company has been trying to hire some administrative assistants and secretaries for many months now. Naturally we are hoping that a compatriot be hired for the position. Sadly as of this writing, no Filipino applicant has passed a relatively simple test – to a write either a correspondence or an appointment letter. A simple letter would be filled with misspelled words, grammatical mistakes and abbreviated words as those used on SMS messages. I pity those who don’t make it because it is an opportunity that has passed them by.
For many who want to find work here in the Middle East and for those who are here already and want to get ahead in their career or just get a better contract, I offer this humble advice: Get a good grasp of the English language. You do not have to able to speak in the accent of English kings or write like a poet or a novelist but at least you should be able to communicate in an understandable manner and correspond in a coherent way. Believe me better skills in the English language is a great advantage in a global work environment.

The Corniche Experience

Every weekend now I make it a point to wake up at 4:30 in the morning and take a run. A compatriot nurse who works for Hamad Medical Center told me that the most common ailments plaguing the OFW community in the Middle East are kidney problems, diabetes, and heart diseases. To avoid kidney problems, I drink a lot of fluids – water and fresh juice and I stay away from sodas and sweetened drinks. To avoid diabetes, I stay away from sweets and, ever since I came to Qatar, use pure honey to sweeten my tea or coffee and any other meal that may be more palatable when sweet. To combat heart disease, I have been trying to bring my weight down and jog on weekends.

But as I found out, I easily get bored if I run and see an uninteresting view around me. I tried to use a thread mill but running in front of a wall or a TV set blaring the day’s news or a movie gets boring after sometime. And running just around the neighbor proved hazardous to my health because of the pollution the passing vehicles emit and the danger of being hit by a speeding Landcruiser which in the Middle East is not uncommon occurrence.

I found a place that is frequented by many of the locals and expats as well. I see individuals, couples, families and friends either just taking a leisurely stroll or jogging down its paved, clean path or even just enjoying the view and the breeze along the stretch of break water. This is the Doha Corniche. It is 7.5km stretch of beautiful bay from the Sheraton Hotel to the Marriot Hotel. It is a horseshoe shaped bay with the Palm Tree Island just near the shore. Along the busy boulevard there are the famous buildings and landmarks in Doha. There are distance markers placed along the path so one can record the distance covered on each run.

All these things to see and enjoy along the Corniche, makes running or walking along its course a joyful experience.


Pictures from top left going down left and right alternately:
a. Sunrise with the new Museum in the panorama
b. Sunrise at the Sheraton in the West Bay area
c. View of the West Bay panorama
d. Traditional Dhow docked near the Corniche
e. Doha Asian Games catamaran anchored near the Corniche.

Mga Kawawang Bayani (Pitiful Heroes)

Over the weekend the Pinoy blogosphere was abuzz with reactions from the People Asia article that was written by a certain socialite wannabee and pachyderm. Many blogs and even many more comments came out since and are still being written. One just has to type her now famous … err… infamous name on Google search and you’ll find her story there. I will not anymore waste my precious blog space to such an obnoxious person and give her the fame she desperately seeks no matter who she maligns in achieving it.
However, her “acerbic” article and proclaimed disgust of OFWs in general, reminded me the way other Filipinos look at their fellow countrymen who chose to leave family and familiar environment to work in a strange country with even stranger customs just to be able to give their loved ones a bright future. The Government hails them as the “Modern-day Heroes” (Makabagong Bayani) while the same people are treated pitifully by Government agencies that are supposed to serve and protect them.
My first taste of this treatment of OFWs was when I was preparing for my trip. It started with the medical examination in which an “authorized” medical testing center will find something that makes you unfit to work when a more established medical institution doesn’t find anything medically wrong with you. To clear this medical examination, one has to cough up a lot of money to pay the retests and seek consultation and clearance only from their authorized specialists who give receipts without tax numbers.
Then came the POEA, for a 'named hire' worker (someone who found a job without the help of an agency), I had to be there more than an hour before the office opened. When it did open, I had to elbow my way to write my name on the list of people they will process for the day. I was wondering with all the fees they were collecting, why don’t they buy a simple queuing machine which gives numbers on a first-come, first-served basis? After that came the OWWA fees. Again, with all the fees they are collecting why are they having a hard time repatriating OFWs each time there is a need to do it. Remember the war in Lebanon?
On the day I was leaving for Qatar, I was at the check-in counter of Emirates Airline. I was 5 kilos over the limit of 20 kilos. I had an e-ticket which is actually an email which did not show my baggage weight limit. Instead of telling me nicely that I was over the luggage weight-limit, the airline employee blurted out disrespectfully: “Next time learn to read your ticket!” in the vernacular so others will hear. Patience got the better of me and I did my best to follow the luggage weight requirement. While I was removing some of my clothes from the luggage, I was thinking to myself: “I am now living the life of an OFW and I have to face and accept such things.”
Even former officemates or acquaintances think I was so desperate in life that I chose to work as an OFW. Yes, to many Filipinos you only think of becoming an OFW when you are desperate. That is how they think about it and I cannot change how they think. There is dignity in what we OFWs do and I am saddened by the fact that it takes people of other nationalities to appreciate and recognize the work we do while my countrymen denigrate us who contribute a lot to our country collectively. Despite their comments, I am content on the fact that now I am paid for what I know and not for whom I know.
Moreover, I know I chose this life for a higher purpose. I want to give my family and myself a future that is brighter and more secure. I have given up career, a work that I love in a prestigious company and left behind friends because I chose family over career. After all, for me the security and happiness of my family is more important than career and prestige.

It is for them I am here.

Something new to look forward to

Fly, fly the butterfly
In the garden it’s flying high
In the meadow it’s flying low
Fly, fly the butterfly

This is one of Trey’s favorite nursery rhymes. Whenever he hears the song, he immediately puts his hands together with fingers interlaced. He then proceeds to mimic the flapping wings of the butterfly. So when I saw the Butterfly Farm in Camp John Hay, I immediately said that we will not miss going to the site.
It was just after an early afternoon shower that we decided to go to the Farm. As we were registering, the caretaker happily told us that the best time to visit a Butterfly Farm is either on a cold cloudy day or just after a rain. He said that butterflies love the warmth of the sun. And since after a rain or on a cold cloudy day the sun it out, butterflies tend to find the nearest source of heat – body heat. So it is easy to let the butterfly rest on any part of your body just for them to enjoy the warmth you give out which is impossible to do on a sunny day. And we very lucky indeed and Trey was very, very happy because he got to touch and enjoy the butterflies hovering near him and even clinging on his shirt.
When we were having our breakfast at the hotel, his eyes were in amazement over the birds that fly just near the open air restaurant. He couldn’t control his laughter when he was able to touch the running water of the fountain. He gazed with astonishment at a small man-made fall on the lawn as he hears the water hitting the rocks. His laughter was loudest as I allowed him to run across the green grass. He would then stop and bend down to touch the grass or pick up a small stone then show it to me. He was in awe with the horses at Wright Park and he enjoyed his time on the bike and a car. He couldn't keep his excitement with all these new things. To him there is always something to new to discover and enjoy each day.
It is quite a sight to see a kid’s eyes in amazement over something new and over something he enjoys. You can’t help but also feel happy at a child’s joy in discovering new things.
Do we still remember the feeling of discovering something new in our life and in the world around us? Trey’s happiness in all this got me to thinking also. Do I still have the same excitement at the start of each day hoping to discover something new in life? Or am I just living life each day trying to catch up with the unfinished worries of yesterday? I have resolved to find something new to enjoy each day so each new morning is always something to look forward to.

Vacation Time !

It has been almost a month since I last updated my blog. I wasn’t tired of writing nor did I get a writer’s block. The fact is that I just recently came from my vacation.
At first I was so excited to go that I did not find time to write about it. I was busy buying things that my wife emailed me to buy. Would you believe that in the end half of my luggage was baby diapers? There was a sale of diapers in Carrefour that when I did my calculation a diaper would cost only 3.50 pesos. Where in the Philippines would you be able to buy a branded diaper at 3.50 pesos?
Anyway, back to my vacation. Why was I eager to go home? It is Trey’s 2nd birthday. I already missed his first birthday celebration and I will not miss this one now that he knows what a birthday party is and how to blow a candle. My wife has been spending the previous months teaching him how to blow one.
The party was held in Makati Sports Club. This time the weather was on our side. Last year they said it was raining heavily but nevertheless there were many guests. This year the weather was fine so we were expecting more visitors.
And indeed there were many guests, from our relatives to friends, to former officemates, to Trey’s classmates and their families. The main hall was filled and we had to ask additional tables and chairs to be placed almost beside the buffet table. There was even the PBB (Pinoy Big Brother) couple (I forgot their names since I haven’t watched the series anyway).
It was Trey’s night. He was happy running around so many people. He enjoyed the magic show and games. He played and danced around the bubble machine.
He was very happy and was even clapping his hands when we sang the Birthday song to him and in the end he blew the candle excitedly.
It was a happy occasion to share with all those who touched our lives and in turn we and Trey have touched.
This vacation was a time for catching up between me and my family. Since I arrived, Trey has suddenly learned to say the words “Daddy” and “Mommy”. My wife excitedly told me that he wasn’t saying those words before I arrived no matter how much they egged him on. Now, he was calling us every minute or so. It is an indescribable feeling to hear your child call you Daddy and Mommy the first time. It’s is like you have accomplished something very big. You feel proud but at the same time humbled by the responsibility you have. I love hearing it.
It was also worthwhile sending Trey to school at a very young age. “School” which is mostly playtime has been very useful to him. When I first raised the idea to my wife I told her that it is good to send him to a school or a nursery because I found our son very observant. Also I wanted him to gain more social skills since on my last vacation I noticed that he only clings to the people he sees everyday – my wife, my mother-in-law, the maid and the driver. He knew me because he sees my pictures everyday and I sing nursery rhymes to him whenever I call. But he is afraid of other people. It will even take sometime before he goes and plays with his cousins and be with his aunts and uncles.
Now, after just barely 4 months in school, he is very sociable and very active. He now knows a lot of shapes even though he can barely say their names. He has even started to recite the ABC. His teachers even commented that he is the only one in his age group to dance with gusto each time the teachers sing. He easily picks up new things to learn and is not afraid to experiment on his own to discover new things. I was amazed at the way he observes a bouncing ball until it dies on the continuous rebound. I was surprised at how he would compare the rebound of different balls on the floor. I jokingly told him: “Someday you’ll learn about kinetic energy, velocity, gravity, and coefficient of restitution.” as if he understood what I just told him.
We had a lot of time bonding as a family especially on our own time in Baguio. Only that we did not get to enjoy it much because he got sick on our second day there. Anyway we were able to go Mines View and Wright Park. He was so excited to see the horses. Athough he was not able to ride them, he was nevertheless contented just to stare at them. He would mimic the sound the horses made and would laugh heartily if I did it as well. We also went to SM City where saw some pets at a pet store. He was so happy to see the butterflies in the Butterfly Farm. And as we sang one of his favorite songs "Fly, fly the butterfly", he gamely did the action with his hands. But we were really worried with his worsening cough, colds and fever.
So as soon as we came home from Baguio we brought him to his doctor. He was confined just 4 days before I was to leave again. It was disheartening to see him motion to me that he does not want the IV on his arm and is pleading us to remove it. When it was being put into him I was feeling his pain too but it was best for him.
Even though he had his IV, whenever his fever went down, he was back to his bubbly self. So we would walk around the hospital hall with the IV in tow. We had his favorite toys with him and his Mickey Mouse stuffed toy kept him company in bed.
He couldn't hide his happiness when the IV was finally removed on the 3rd day. He only had a bit of colds and cough but the fever was completely gone. He was running around his room and playing in the cabinets.
It was a very happy vacation time for me. Again the days were so short. I wish I could have stayed long and accompany him to school and watch him enjoy his time there. I wish I had more time so I can enjoy more my wife’s company. We didn’t even get to have a quiet dinner just the two of us. Anyway, now I am back in Qatar and I am more excited than ever to have them here with me. If everything pushes through then they will be with me by January 2008. Right now flights are full for December and I am keeping my fingers crossed. Inshallah.

PICTURES:
a. Trey's birthday Mass with his birthday banner at the stage;
b. Family picture with Trey's unusual 'smile' to the camera;
c. Trey blowing the candle which he did several times;
d. With cousins;
e. In Camp John Hay Manor Baguio City, where he enjoyed running on the grass;
f. Playing with Mommy on the way to Baguio;
g. Trey in school;
h. Playing with Daddy while waiting for Mommy;
i. Trey in Asian Hospital;
j. Trey showing his love of sunglasses;
k. Daddy captures Trey's smile on cam.

Salam

Even before I arrived in Qatar, I was already reading about the customs and traditions of the Muslim and Arab world. I did not want to offend the sensibilities of my host country so I wanted to know what are the acceptable norms and ways of interaction with the locals and Middle Eastern peoples. Some customs I came to know through those readings but many I was initiated into when I was already here.
One of the customs which I find very interesting and very laudable is their customary greeting each time they enter a room or a gathering or even when they just meet each other. “Assalamu alaikum” (“Peace be upon you”), the greeter would say. And he would be responded with “Walaikum assalam” (“May peace be upon you too”). Sometimes a simple exchange of “Salam” is enough. It’s a greeting of peace not only between friends but also between strangers.
To me it’s a better greeting than just the customary “hello” or even our “Kumusta?” (“How are you?”). How better can you express friendship and the purity of intention other than conveying that you come in peace? I can’t think of any other way. I admit I am impressed with such a gesture. And I respect a person who comes in and brings in peace.
Then, today in church, I was reminded that this was commanded by Christ to all his followers. “Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.’ (Luke 10:5).” Christ himself wanted his followers to spread His love by a message of peace.
So to you who come and read my blog, I greet you: “Assalamu alaikum”, “Shalom”, “Pace”, “Kapayapaan”…….PEACE.

Your God or mine ?

For 4 months now I have been a member of the forum site http://www.qatarliving.com/ . Although that is my official duration as a member, I have known the site even before I went to Qatar. The site has a lot of information about Qatar which is helpful for expatriates and would be workers coming into this oil and gas-rich Arab Gulf state.
The site has classifieds where goods are sold. I must admit I joined the site so I can contact the sellers when I was looking for a vehicle I can use. It also has a forum where information regarding Qatar is asked and every topic is discussed at length.
I have contributed on some of the topic threads and there were times I did my share of humorous and sometimes controversial pronouncements. I was confident anyway that there is still a certain amount of anonymity since we use our chosen username as our site identity.
However, one of the topics I would tend not to contribute on or give my piece of mind is regarding religion and worship. This is a topic I always notice that does not get to a good conclusion. What I notice is that in the end the topics gets up muddled by comments and ideas that each others religion is the better one or each others God is the True God. Sometimes there are those questioning the existence of God in the light of world events.
In this melting pot of cultures, people will always tend to disagree more than agreeing on this particular subject. And in this disagreement people will try to impose their beliefs, their culture and their way of thinking in order to tell the world that they have a better God and by which they are a better people by such belief.
In this hodgepodge of ideas that at times I get myself to question: is it by what we say and what we write that we are able to convince people that ours is the true belief and others should rightly follow? St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians rightly declared that “If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.” I believe in St. Paul that it is in the outward action of loving can we rightly profess that our God is the True God.
We all know how love changes us to be better persons. And I believe that only a daily witnessing to God by our actions can we convince people of the righteousness and the truth of our belief. How can we convince others that we are children of the True God if we condone the violence and discrimination that some proclaim in the name of what we believe? Only a life filled with true expressions of love, a love that does not discriminate, a love that understands, a love that is patient, will be a living witness to the existence of God. For as St. Paul says, God is Love.
By my words I may not be able to convince you that my God do exist and He loves you. But hopefully my actions and my life be to you a witness to His Love and His existence.

Dubai

I was awakened by the beeping sound from my cell phone. The plane was already on its approach to the tarmac. That beep signaled that I have changed cell phone service provider. I glanced on my mobile phone and the message displayed “Welcome to the UAE”. I have finally arrived in Dubai.
This is really my first time in Dubai. Last time I arrived here was just for a stop over on their world famous and impressive international airport. Now I am really stepping out into the city. I am here on my first training since I went to Qatar.
My first impression was that Dubai is a busy city, busier than Doha and more developed. I think it is around 5 to 10 years ahead of Doha. But a more lasting impression of Dubai came to my mind just a few minutes into the city. The first few minutes from the airport to the hotel reminded me of the streets of Manila. Traffic was backed up about 3 to 4 kilometers on major intersections. I thought maybe Dubai was a victim of its own progress. It is just my first few hours. I still have to discover a lot about Dubai.

On my second day I went to a place I wanted to see for myself. No, it’s not the 7-star hotel – the Burj Al Arab. I thought that icon of Dubai has been seen and featured so many times on TV documentaries and tourism ads that I am reserving seeing it to another time.
The place I went to is the creation of ambition and imagination. Where else in the world is it 45ºC outside and yet is freezing inside? This is Ski Dubai. The ski slope attraction is part of Mall of the Emirates – the biggest mall outside North America. I was amazed when I saw the snow attraction. People were really playing in the snow. Imagine that scene in the middle of the Arabian summer! By the way. the day I was leaving was the scheduled opening of the newest attraction in the entertainment and restaurant scene in the Dubai. The place is called Chillout and everything inside the restaurant is made of ice. The chairs, tables, walls even the glasses and cutlery. You have to wear a parka, ice shoes and gloves inside!

The Mall of the Emirates itself was very, very big. I was overwhelmed by its expanse. The mall flyer said there are 350 shops. Every luxury brand in fashion and accessories I can think of had a boutique there. My legs hurt trying to walk through it and I didn’t even get to see everything. I am not sure how it matches to the Mall of Asia back home.

The reason I am here in Dubai is to attend a Cisco training course. The training center is on the famous Sheikh Zayed road. The thoroughfare is lined with impressive and artful skyscrapers. The still under construction Burj Dubai is nearby. It will soon be the tallest building in the world. The whole scene in Dubai’s business district reminded me much of Singapore and HongKong.
What amazed me about Dubai was that it developed so fast because of only one natural resource – oil. But they also had the realization that this resource will not be there forever so they turned their Sheikdom into the commercial hub of the Arabian Gulf.
The Philippines has a lot more natural resources than Dubai yet we are years away in development. If our government, political and business leaders can only be united in one vision for our country than spend time in bringing down each other and the country with them, I believe our country will be more developed than Dubai. I think this is the dream of every OFW for our homeland. I hope and pray this does not remain just a dream.

(Pictures: a. The World Trade Center buildings in Dubai; b. Scene in Ski Dubai; c. Inside the Mall of the Emirates; d. Sheik Zayed Road with the Burj Dubai in the far background)

41

We are going into the middle of summer here in Doha. Temperature is rising everyday and 8:30 in the morning is like 10:30 in the Philippines. The sun is already up high and the heat is almost unbearable. It is 41 today not only due to the temperature but also for me personally.
Yes, today is my birthday and I’m 41. It’s the second time that I’m celebrating alone. Last year, I just arrived here in Doha and the only person I know was on vacation. This year, he is out of the country on training. I have new found friends here but they have their activity today – a sports activity and I don’t want to spoil their preparations for it. I begged off from the activity but I did not tell them it’s my birthday.
Anyway, I get to spend again this time to be with myself and reflect on the past 41 years of my life. Last year was the start of ‘new life’ – of living the adage: “Life begins at 40”.
A lot has happened in one year and even more so in 41 years. How time flies. I can recall so many happy moments and a few challenging ones. Remembering those challenges now made me realize that instead of letting those moments break me they have actually made me stronger and wiser even.
Of all the things that have happened in my life, two things that I think has greatly changed everything for me. First was when I got married and second, when I became a Daddy. They were indeed life changing events.
The first, I pledged to love my wife and be with for the rest of my life. I dedicated my life to her on the day we were married. And each day since has been a constant effort to be a testament to that pledge. Everyday I endeavour to be faithful to that promise to love her and to keep her till the day I die. I hope that I have lived up to that pledge to this day.
The second was as challenging as the first. From the first moment I held my son on my arms I realized that this is a human being whose life is now totally dependent on me. He was so helpless and needed my total attention and dedication to guide him through the trials of daily life. I brought him into this world and I am now responsible to help him live in this world. Whatever he becomes later in life will be because of how I have nurtured him now and in the days to come.
So here I am on my 41st birthday hoping and praying that the days and years ahead be a faithful confirmation of the vows I made and a fulfillment of the oath we took to mold our son into the child of God.

In between selling and supporting

Selling seems to me a dreaded word. All my 18 years in the industry was spent on Post-Sales Support. This means I was always responding to customer calls and problems. Always making sure that the solution they bought is running as it was designed. In my days of supporting the mainframe platform, my focus was to understand the customer’s business and how their IT infrastructure supports their business continuously 24/7. This was how I was taught by my predecessors and managers - to focus always on customer satisfaction. This was how, they say, our company gets a repeat business.
But I have always wondered how come most companies focus always on the salesman. We, technical personnel, are always seen as a cost center. So we always end up with a small piece of the rewards pie. Maybe it is because the salesman always directly brings in money but we on the technical side are just indirectly bringing it in.
But in order to have a repeat sale or a repeat business, I dare argue, a customer must have a happy and rewarding experience, isn't it? Think about it. If we go to a restaurant and don’t get good service, we often decide not come back despite the savory menu they offer. Or we may buy a very expensive and popular appliance brand but if the service is unsatisfactory or after-sales support is marginal at best then we end up not patronizing the same brand for whatever modern appliance or fancy gadget they may offer next.
During my first year in my previous employer, we were shown a video of Tom Peters’ “A Passion for Customer Satisfaction”. I was so inspired by this lecture that it became my principle to this day. It was my personal basis of success. I was more happy receiving compliments from my customers. Their favorable comments was to me a measure of my job well done. This “passion for customer satisfaction” may explain why until today I remain on the customer support side of the business. Always being called upon when the customer is in distress.
But I see changes in the horizon. This brings me back to my statement above regarding selling.
For some time now, my new manager has been egging me on to accept the network maintenance sales role which has been vacant for a half year now. I had been reluctant because of my not so favorable experience in the Philippines. I was preparing the documentations, pricing and approvals but in the end I was never rewarded for those effort. I never had a gainful experience and that has made me think that selling may not be for me. That unfavorable experience became one of my reasons to resign and head to Qatar. And in my contract I had specifically clarified that I will not do any sales role.
But in order to mature professionally in this business, I know that I have to be well-rounded on all the aspects of the business and selling is what I haven’t done so far.
So now I am in the middle of deciding whether to accept a role to sell post-sales network maintenance on top of leading a team that will perform the actual maintenance. Maybe it will be easier for me since I know the clients who decide on the maintenance and they know how I deliver. But then, it may not be. I did some haggling with my manager yesterday before I accept any role not in my basic contract. I am not keen on having the same woeful experience I had. So it’s up to my managers now if they will give what I ask in return. Should they agree to my terms then it will be a whole new world for me. Insha’allah.

Hard Work, Diligence, Initiative

Throughout my one year here in Qatar, I deliberately was not into socializing with other people other than a few of my office mates. I wanted to observe first the cultures, customs and behavior of the different nationalities I will be in contact here in Qatar. This included the Filipino community. I am not sure if it's a bad thing but I wanted to get to know first the established norms in Qatar before I fully immerse myself into it.
One thing I have noticed is how Filipinos stand out from a crowd. You look at a group of Asians and you know who is a Filipino and who is not. There's something in the Filipino that makes him stand out. What is more important is how well Filipinos are known be diligent and hard working professionals. Go to the different online forums here in Qatar and the rest of the Gulf, you are sure to find stories that tell of the Filipinos’ professional and exceptional work. There are the honest and reliable taxi drivers, the courteous and caring nurse, the diligent and professional engineers, and so forth and so on. And yet we have the often raised question as to why Filipinos excel abroad but not in their country?
Comparing a Filipino to a worker of a different nationality (which I dare not say), an Arab Project Manager in our company once said: “I prefer a Filipino technician. If I tell him to connect a wiring, he will not only connect it but also see to it that the wiring is laid straight and proper. Then he will come back and ask me if there is anything more to do for the day. If I give the same job to a (nationality withheld) technician, he will do the connection for the next 8 hours and will not even arrange the wiring layout!” I have observed the same behavior. If I give a technician (not Filipino) a job he will only do what you asked of him he will not go beyond what you instructed him to do. You have to specify each and every detail of the work flow to get the job done right. But with a Filipino, tell him the current situation and tell him what you need in the end, he will take care of filling in the blanks. (NB. I am not bashing other nationalities I am just stating personal experiences.)
So what makes the Filipino standout? Yes, it’s his hard work, diligence and initiative. They are the selling points and differentiators of every OFW. But really why does it seem Filipinos excel more in another country but not their own?
I do not dare say that I know the answer to this question but I think there are certain practices, often taken for granted, that lead Filipinos not to draw out the innate talent in themselves.

Money talks
As youngsters we were already initiated into a world where “money talks”. You have the Mr. and Ms. Elementary school contest or any variation of it. In the guise of being a talent contest, it is actually a fund raising and the winner is determined by the number of tickets they can sell. And parents, in their eagerness to give their child the glory and honor of being the winner, really spend money. In the end only those with money wins and the kid who may be exuding in talent ends up losing. So as kids we are imparted early on that no matter how good you are, without money you are a loser. But we all know this is not true yet we perpetuate such practice. I hope our school teachers teach our future generations better and do away with this.

Influence
When I was a fresh college graduate it was hard for me to find a job at a “reputable” company. You know why? The job ads most of these companies often read “graduates of UP, La Salle, Ateneo” – rich schools with a lot of influence. Why you ask? I have always wondered so. Then as I was working I realized that to do and succeed in business in our country, most of your employees should have connections in Government. Positions in management and marketing go to sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc. of an influential person in Government or Business. And these kids study in these schools. Haven’t the graduates of these same schools been running our Government for the past 61 years and yet we are still in a mess? I hope more companies will give a break to children from average families to succeed and become leaders in business and industry because of what they know and not whom they know.

Yet there is still hope. Because when the playing field is even, when success is gained through hard work and merit, the Filipino stands out against others. He is able to show the rest of the world that his race is hard working, diligent, and has initiative. Add to it the Filipino traits of honesty, patience, discipline, dedication and loyalty.

We have heard so many stories of success of Filipino workers. Every OFW is inspiring the future generation that hard work, diligence and initiative will bring success and happiness in life. So as long as every Filipino aspires and works for a better educated and inspired next generation, then future Filipinos will succeed not only abroad but most specially in our country – even without using influence.

Training to motivate

It is another hot day in Doha. I met my team in the office today so together we can go to a customer and present to them our services.
When I first boarded this company, I was designated as the Team Leader for the Post-sales Network Support Services team. It is a start-up team. Just 2 CCNPs (Cisco Certified Network Professional) and a CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate). Although we were recently reduced to 3 when one of the CCNPs was dedicated for on site support to a customer. Being a Team Leader was somewhat of a boost on my morale having never been given the same opportunity in my previous employer of 16 years.
Ever since I started to lead the team I was always conscious of finding ways to motivate them. We were just 3 individuals tasked to support around 10 major customers and more than 20 medium sized companies plus several more small networking installations. But as Sun Tzu said in his 'Art of War': "The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men." I did monthly meetings, positive reinforcement and giving separate responsibilities to each individual. Lee Iacocca, in his autobiography, stated that "Management is all about motivation". What could be a better way motivate my teammates?
I believe that training was a good way, if not the best way, to motivate my team. It breeds confidence and hard work. As 'The Sphinx' said to 'Mr. Furious' in the movie 'Mystery Men: "He who questions training is training to ask questions." With this belief in mind, I tried to get several trainings approved for my team. After 8 months of trying to get the trainings approved, I finally got management's go ahead for 2 courses for each team member. Each training course was in line with my plan of having each member a specialization of his own.
I could not believe the immediate change it had on my team members when I showed them the approval of their training. It was easier to assign work to them and they were more responsive to my leadership. They do not question my decisions and have been willing to volunteer themselves to additional tasks. To them I was someone who looked after their development as professionals. They knew how I worked and fought to get their trainings approved and I think their response now is a way to thank me for the effort I did. All I wanted was to get my job easier to delegate to them and make our team more dynamic in order to achieve my ultimate goal of customer satisfaction.
We are on the post-sales support. Most often customers will call on us when they have problems and what I need was team willing to work to get customer back on track. Customers will appreciate more a team that gets their business going. Only a properly prepared and motivated team can achieve that.
Now I have a better outlook on the future of our team. My next goal is to add new members to our team to replace the one who was reassigned and get more customers to sign up to our services. I think we can achieve both before the year is out.

Al in Qatar

Welcome to my Blog. I created this blog to share with you my experiences not only on working and living in Qatar but also my past experiences before I decided to become one of the millions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
I started this blog on the occasion of my one year anniversary here in Doha, Qatar. One year. Time flies really fast and to think when I first set foot on the hot tarmac of Doha Airport I could not stop a tear from flowing thinking of the family I left behind.
The first days were really a test of my resolve to start a new life in Qatar. My dreams for my family were all tied to this decision to succeed in this new company and start saving for our future. I thought then that in a few days I will be celebrating my 40th birthday. "Life begins at 40", they used to say. And that 'life' really begins for me and my family now. I arrived at the start of the 'dreaded' Doha summer months.
I did resign before. The year was 1999. It was an easy decision then. Back then I was single and I was keen on 'widening my horizons' with an overseas experience. I felt stagnant in a position I had been for almost ten years and being left behind in terms of training and opportunities for growth. I thought a few years of overseas experience will be a good addition to my resume and was good for my career. But, I received several signals that going to the Middle East at that time wasn't for me. First, my contract was sent with the salary figures not having the correct decimal place - a typo error admitted by the company although they never bothered to send the corrected contract. No person in his right mind will sign a contract with a wrong figure specially the salary. Second, for the first time in any of my decisions in life, my father advised me against it. Then, I also received a promise of getting the trainings I never did receive and a promotion to Technical Support in a year's time.
But this time It was not an easy decision. Leaving behind close family and friends only added to the burden of the decision. Also, choosing to leave a job I loved and a company I worked for 16 years was not making resignation an easy undertaking. This may be a career ending decision. But most specially it was hard to leave behind a family I love so much specially that my young son was only 10 and a half months old at that time. But it was mainly for him and my wife that I have made my decision.
It took me 8 months, a lot of tears and a lot of prayers to finally come to a decision. I broke the beads of my rosary one time in the agony of what I was going through. My wife and I decided that if it is God's will that I go then we will just follow His lead. So here I am one year of going through His will for us.
It was both a happy and trying one year. I missed my son's first birthday celebration. I did not get to see him struggle from stages of crawling, standing and walking. When I left, he was a baby being carried in my arms. When I had my first vacation, he was already a young boy running around.
But the most trying time was in September 2006, when Typhoon Milenyo struck the Philippines hard. It was the middle of Ramadan here in Qatar when I had a sudden ill feeling. I then received a distressing phone call from my wife that our house went under mud and water due to a flash flood. My wife, son, mother-in-law and household have to save their lives by climbing to the roof. It was the most difficult experience in our lives. I was barely four months so I was not allowed a vacation. I wanted to resign and go back but what future do we have if I did. All I can do was drop on my knees and begged to understand the will God had for us.
It was then I remembered that we were praying for a fresh start. And maybe indeed God was giving us a fresh start. So we held on to our prayer and our belief that "God's will be done!"
In retrospect, my job here although more demanding and more complex than what I previously held, did not offer as much pressure as before. I was relieved off the tensions at work I had before. One of the best things that happened is that I haven't had an attack of migraine in a year! On top of this I get to enjoy my weekends more. Now I know my capacity for sacrifice, loneliness, patience with other cultures and nationalities and withstand the heat of the Doha summer.
I hope this 'new year' ahead of me will be more fruitful and less trying. But as always, God's will be done. I will have my family here with me by the end of the this year. And I am looking forward to it.
I will discuss my experiences more on my future blogs. I hope you enjoyed and learned something from this introductory.