What is the minimum salary in Philippines for a university graduate? The answer would depend on so many things: where you graduated; what profession or degree; where you are having a job. What can you afford as newly graduate? As a neophyte? As a newbie? As a freshperson? A cheaply paid job that is more often than not an insult to your education and effort to finish... or is it? I have to admit it really depends on which one you are: overqualified, underqualified or unidentified. I also have o admit that diplomas are rebuttable as the quality of education all over the country is not the same: others are superior while others, let's admit is, are... well you know what I mean, right?

The topic that I have had with someone last weekend it the poverty in Philippines. This person told me that television is sucking each and every soul of Filipinos. Why? Because of the commercials: buy this car, buy this phone, this TV brand, all the appliances and electronic gadgets you can think of. The truth is, how much does it cost? Say the cellular phone is around Php 10,000 (majority of and you bought it. If you are a newly grad, do you think you can still live for the remaining days of the month after you bought the phone? Say your gross income for the month (an even bigger estimate compare to average) is Php 15, 000, you still have Php 5,000 left. But the truth is, you still have to pay taxes and it's around Php 750. You are left with Php 4,250. Are you renting a place? Are you sharing expenses with parents? Are you buying load for that phone you bought? Are you eating at all? Are you commuting for work? In short, it is very difficult to live with such salary if one has to buy a gadget. Or an electronic appliance for that matter: television set, DVD player, sterio, MP3 player, washing machine and all these things. Add the fact that you have siblings to spend for.

What I am saying is, Filipinos has the same aspirations in terms of material stuffs as western people do. But is the income the same? Television has redefined what is a need and what is luxury: all that is advertised in TV now is somewhat a "NEED". And that is bad. People are having debts just to buy these gadgets... is it good? It is good if you don't get buried in debts which happens usually. It is good if you are not thinking of your future and save for yourself. Why? I have to tell you that you are not 100% healthy all the time. Do you have health insurance? Do you have dental insurance? These things? Think about your future. gadgets only cause you to spend more. Buy the necessary, not the poshy that you don't actually use those functions as I know people can ever hardly use the call function there. Phones are mostly use to brag and that is not so good.

Mind you, here in Netherlands, regular salary, the basic, the lowest salary for a newly graduate is €1,700. And how much is the price of a mobile phone? A colored, with camera, with radio phone can cost as low as €30 and that has a €15 load in it already. Now do you see the difference? The percentage to gross salary in Philippines versus here in Netherlands is 0.0176 % versus 66.67%. Now do you see? Save for your lives, these gadgets can be stolen, lost and even not be properly used. Bragging and making the gadget as a social symbol is a shame. Build your future instead!

As a student in the country’s subsidized university few years back, I was listening to an fm radio while I was doing my accounting worksheet assignment/homework. The dj at that moment have an opinion – related program where there is an issue at hand and listeners can share what they think about. That particular time, the question was something like the responsibility of politicians in our country, the Philippines.

As a strongly opinionated person, I immediately joined and got on air with my views. The same view I had then and now, which if I can count, it was about 5 years back! Is it really the responsibility of politicians? With the fact that they are called “POLITICIANS” and not “statesperson”, I don’t think there is a responsibility that they carry with their position. Don’t get me wrong on this, you nee to continue reading!

Who is to blame? Why is the political situation of the Philippines is very lousy and dirty? I never blame any side. Nor I do not blame any side. Sounds absurd? It is! It’s a big paradox that you need to untangle of what I mean.

First, people in the Philippines about the corruption of officials in the government. But here, I don’t put all the blame to the officials. Why? Because Filipino people are corruptible as well. Who the official would corrupt if each and every Filipino stands for the right? If one in authority asks for Php100, take the bill and slap on that person’s face! We will see what happens. When one politician retires and that politician is poor and never stole the public money the Filipino people would say, “He is so stupid! Look at him, he is still poor when the others simply enriched themselves while in power. If others keep on stealing, why he did not do the same? Poor guy!” It is in the attitude already that we Filipinos are so used being corrupted that we would likely react this way. I don’t see a big percentage of Filipino people clapping their hands for the effort of that retired politician, especially now that he is poor. Whether we admit it or not, MONEY moves the Filipino people.

Second, I don’t blame the Filipino people for putting dirty officials in the power. The voting public don’t have any better choice anyway. Whoever they vote, the same results happen. People run in election for public office and public authority with a financial gain in mind. Whoever disagrees with this note is blind and deaf of what is the situation in the Philippines. SUHOL! That is the term! Nasusuhulan ang lahat, from a child to an old man. I don’t know why. In the rallies, I often see old people, who seems ignorant of everything around them, yet they hold placards saying something. I don’t even have any idea if they have taken a look what the writings in the placards say!

For sure lots of Filipinos need education. For most the word “corruption” only refers to government officials and to the government together with people in authority. But this is not true! This is absolutely a wrong belief! The moment you give money to your child for a perfect score in school that is corruption! That child will be get used to that system and now, see what’s the nation is all about…CORRUPTED! How many parents use this practice in the Philippines? Millions, I am sure! Who is to blame then?


We are angry and felt oppressed of the government officials and people in authority when it’s in the news that they did something against our belief. But 99% of those who became politicians themselves get “dirtied”. People only clamor when they have nothing in them, no money given to them, but all have mouth shut if they are shoved with money! Look at the clamoring MNLF before… all clamors, all long to be given a representative. They had their leader put in power, and when that leader was in power, what he has done to his people? Never! All have their hidden motives, self interest and own goals. No one really stands for the real cause! All in the goal is the possibility of having money, thus, others use the organizations and the people. Who is to blame? If you let yourself be used, you are to blame as well.

Now, who is to blame? Look at yourself in the mirror before you can examine others!

Knowledge is the first line of defense. Truth and acknowledgement of reality are the factors that can set us free. A cancer can only be cured if we know that it exists or if we know that we have them. The earlier we acknowledge and we know that we have a cancer, the more curable it can be. The more we ignore a cancer or the later we act upon it, the cancer cells multiply and the cancer becomes acute.

The same is true with Sex education. If children be educated about sex, it would be their first step to face reality. If youngsters realize the consequences of their actions, their would be lesser unwanted pregnancies and lesser thrown fetuses! Moreover, the use of contraceptives would lessen the fast population growth in the Philippines and would at least ease poverty.
The Sex Education in the Philippines is very difficult to succeed though. It is because of the ever-present and ever-opposing catholic church in the country. HYPOCRISY and HIPOCRISY again! I am a Catholic and sometimes I regret being one. I strongly believe in God and I am sure God wants the best for its creations. No sufferings, like a father to his children, the best is what the father desires.

Children/Youngsters will always F-CK! If they want and the mere absence of contraception and the possibility of pre-marital pregnancy don’t stop them from F__iNG so! The church is a blind duck! It chooses to protect it’s unreasonable ethics! I am disappointed to think that the church wants children to beg and be born without a bright future in exchange of educating youngsters about contraceptives and encouraging them to use one.

Is sex a sin? Pre-marital sex is a sin? And how about many priests with children?
If having sex is a sin, why do you exist in this world then? Your parents are sinners! And how many percent couple marry with a big bellied bride because she is pregnant? Why the church marry them anyway? They are sinner, RIGHT? What is the difference? They too F-cked before marriage!

And sex education be let to parents? And do you know how ignorant Filipino parents are when it comes to this topic? And because of the teachings of the church, do you know how malicious Filipinos have become when sex is the topic? How many mothers in the Philippines would answer the correct answer? The usual answer a child gets when asking about his/her origin, is that she just came out one day! Education s the best answer! Knowledge is freedom! Knowledge and truth must be promoted. If a youngster know better, he/she has a bright future. He/she would not be a burden to society and government.

Ohhh…and one more thing! If that youngster succeeds and earn much someday, HE/SHE WILL DONATE to the church, so I guess, it’s an investment, Father? Think about it!

Some readings and basies came from LifeSiteNews .

Afraid to be poor? Afraid to be down? Why don't you pull your friends with you so you are not alone? Why don't you pull your neighbors down so you have companions? This is the usual understanding and explanation of a "crabness" or crab mentality. "If I cannot have it, no one must have it." When a crab doesn't want to get cooked inside a cooking pot or"kawali" or anything for cooking, they pull each other for survival or simply to get even but in the end, they all get cooked! This is the same situation in the Philippines. In short, INGGIT!

But is this really the case? The one that I see which is the biggest hindrance to the success of Filipinos is a little revision of this so called "crab mentality". It it not INGGIT per se but the "asa" thing. I do hate this concept and system in the country. I HATE IT SO MUCH! I know a lot of my readers and a lot of you may disagree but this is how I see it.

In a family where there are four children (typical of a Pinoy family), and of course, a mother and a father. The mother and father let (or force) child number 1 to study....study...study...study and make your life better. Then you will let your younger siblings study with your income. This we start with parents' irresponsibilities again. Because for me, the total welfare of the children are all the responsibilities of the parents. NOT of the other child, especially the older one.

Kuya/Ate has graduated and must spend for the other younger siblings. Also MUST give some amount to parents. While kuya/ate suffers from debts, tiredness and overtime and cannot even make even a 2% savings of her income, Nanay and Tatay are so proud of Kuya/Ate for he/she is the breadwinner now. And the younger siblings enjoy their allowance, spend here, smoke there and drink everywhere.

Kuya/Ate grow old with responsibility. At times, the younger siblings are not able to graduate because after all, kuya/ate is there to give money and provide. And kuya/ate who strived hard HAS NO WAY to improve his/her own life. Has no way to breath better, has no way to invest in his/her future. And this situation is not only one in the country...almost all. And among the four children, there is no one who becomes "better off" in life. When kuya/ate gets married, the parents feel bad. Yes, they don't have enough enjoyment of kuya/ate's remittance yet. And when Kuya/Ate starts a family, he/she must start from zero, debts, without investment and poor. And the cycle goes on and on and on and no improvement. And now we ask why majority of the Filipinos are poor? Just see at the syste, I have explained.

I can see that Filipinos can be caring and loving but all is priced with money. Only hypocrites do not admit this. Parents want their children to have rich spouse, or have better work...mostly because they are expecting something back. I hate the family system in my country. I have to tell. I hate the family system in Philippines. Where one relies to one in the family who has resources, where one of the family member has a chance to be better, the rich of the family is pulling him/her down. And the rest of the family become irresposnsible because the breadwinner is there. But overall, it is how the parents teach the children. The children are brainwashed and really feel that it is their responsibilty when in fact, it is the parents' responsibility. And if you/kuya/ate has little and save for herself/himself and just give out just enough, you/kuya/ate is already bad in the eyes of the public. THIS IS AN INJUSTICE THAT EVERYONE IN THE PHILIPPINES TOLERATES!




I do hope a law will be passed in the country that if a parent cannot make their child/children graduate in school of at least two years college, they will be imprisoned. In this way, population will be controlled and potential irresponsible parents wont F_CK simply to create a child without responsibility. I cannot tell how many of the parents in the country are irresponsible. But i can say AT LEAST seventy-five percent. This is my observation and you can comment what you have observed. You are welcome here.

Philippines is still the best. Not as anything else but as a home. You can see my previous posts that they are a bit negative but they are NOT negative per se but simply to awaken Filipinos. I have a lot of discontentment of our culture and practices that leads to the sufferings of much of us in the country. How I want all of us to have freedom not only on the June 12 celebration but also in our way of life and the way we feel.. We are still NOT free if I am to be asked of it. We are still opressed by multinationals and capitalists taking our situation for granted... taking for granted our poverty and for this, they pay us less but we are like hungry mongrels grabbing their offer as if it's a favor for us. The truth is, we have just no other "BETTER" choice.

What I want to say here is the Philippines is still a best home for me. Here in Europe, there is no sun. And I do miss the "sinaing" rice by now. I eat pasta as the main course daily and all beef..beef..and beef. Sometimes chicken too but I miss the native chicken taste and the "lechon" turkey of my "lolo".

To those who dream of snow, I tell you to stop! again STOP! Don't hate our hot weather for it it much better than the cold. You don't know how it is to be cold. You don't know how it is to carry/wear clothes that are so heavy beacue you need it not to be sick or get frozen/die. I cannot go out and breath the air (my nose is not patterned to it!) and I cannot go out with a wet hair. Drying my hair every after shower is a real work! grrrr! I miss my sleveless and backless clothes! Here boots is a necessity and it's so tiring to wear a pair them! I have to tell you that the cold is more tiring than our heat there. Add when it's summer here, it's really hotter than there. It's great to go and visit other countries to learn and be as a tourist but not too good to live in their weather. Yes, they are a lot more organized and with better facilities I have to admit.

What is my point? My point is, don't be fooled by TV. Caucasians look cool with their outfits in TV but it is because you don't feel the cold that they feel. I am in Italy and it is the hottest part of Europe. But still, I feel cold. I miss the sun. I MISS THE SUN! And I miss Coca cola! I drink wine at least 4 glasses a day. Coke here is more expensive! Rice here is 2 euro a kilo! Oh my God! Really Philippines is the best place to live. If you ask how, just see the number of tourists dying to be there. Wanting to be there.

But even I tell this, I still want to emphasize that simply because I like to live in Philippines I shut my mouth off for all its hypocrisy. To be deaf in all its shortcomings. NEVER! I will always have an open eye here so when I go home, my country is a little better... and I do hope I can help it to be "more" better! Bangon Pinas!


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Of course I have to edit this post to add my appreciation of the award I got from a friend here, The Meliorist. Actually, I don't know nothing about this award and i feel so warm and good about this... but because the theme of my blog is not into awards, I hope it is all right with here if i post it here... I DO APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH! Click here to visit THE MELIORIST.

And now, I am passing this award to the one blogger I really noticed these past weeks. She is young at heart but have this very good mindset. I like how she thinks and I like her posts. She is a student and I like her ideas. Together with the

Meliorist, she is listed in my favorite bookmarked list here. To tell you the truth, I am very difficult to satisfy so to be in my fave list is really abig thing. So congratulations Weng. This blog of the month award I am bestowing to Weng now.

To visit her blog, just click Weng's Aller La-bas Blog.

Weng, this is for you now. I hope you gladly accept it.





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To my fellow Filipinos, I hope this post finds you well. With more or less a hundred million of us in the country are you aware that the small thing that you do can be repeated a million times by other Filipinos? This is the law of multiplication and if one does this activity or action, for sure it will be done by others too and the effect is not as small as you or we might have thought. This is for all of us, but since I am already practising these things, it means now to be for YOU, Pinoys and Pinay!

First, is with our treatment of garbage. When you have the urge to throw a tinypiece of candy wrapper and you think that it is only a very little thing and will not impact the amount of garbage, I tell you that YOU ARE WRONG! It is not just a little garbage because if there are ten persons who thinklike you do, your ten little garbage put all together is not little anymore. And as I have said, we are around 100 million in philippines, what if all the rest think like you do? Philippines will be all garbage!


Second. For the men and boys of Philippines please refrain from pissing/urinating anywhere. You have no reason to pollute the country for free because the women are suffering the foul ammoniac on most walls and streets. Why are you so shamelss in doing so? This is just a little sacrifice for your country, for your fellow Filipinos and to the future generation. Aside from garbage, you add bad smell...and this is dirty as well! There are hundreds of thousand (if not millions) of you Filipino men/boys who do this shameful act!




Third: Be responsible! Not to others but to yourself. Don't allow anyone to corrupt you. Corruption in the country is anywhere. Even in the homes it exists when parents have to pay for a perfect score made by the child in school. Remember that if we planted garbage and wrong mindset, we will reap much more volume of garbage. Think of the future, do not just think of what is good for today. There is no "Bahala Na!" There is no "Mamaya Na!" and The saying that "Habang Buhay May Pag-asa". Why? People in comatose are alive... and not all of them have "pag-asa per se".

These three are so simple and yet if all do these, there will be a great impact in the country. Or even just one, the number one. Please let us make the Philippines a better place to live in and I hope in few years and in the next generation, it's still Filipinos owning the country and with freedom. Philippines is still opressed. No liberty, no freedom because of the poverty and abuse... well, cause by its inhabitants of course!

With my travels so far, only Filipino men I have seen are without shame pissing everywhere they feel like pissing! I don't really know where this habit have originated and how the country have tolerated this. To be honest, this is not only happening in the Metro manila area, nor solely in the cities but everywhere in the country.



When I was still a kid and was walking my way to school, friends and schoolmates just pee around like this is the most correct action ever! Until high school, college, university, work and until now, this pissing scene is still very active and growing!. Indeed the government has a big role in providing public toilets for everyone but this is not an alibi. Why women do not urinate just anywhere? It means that it is really the fault of men (Pinoys). If women can contain their urge to pee, why men cannot? And why are they excused to pollute the surroundings? Such a schifo!




Filipino men do not understand the meaning of respect and urbanity! I feel sad when they just blame the government for all the negative things in their lives but they do not look at the mirror and see how wrong they are even in the smallest of acts. They don't understand that with this kind of habit and attitude, they should be ashamed to ask anything from the government or from anyone. They don't even respect their own surroundins, their own country, and above all, no respect for each and every one. No respect for themselves as well because they are the ones who dirtied themeselves. If this is the case that the Filipinos don't have respect for their own race and nation, who else can respect Filipinos? NO ONE!



Aside from the polluton and garbage problems that are very rampant in the country, Filipino men's piss is another big problem. If this habit persists, there will come a time that there is no single square meter in the Philippines that does not smell of piss... Yuckkk... a real yuckkkky! Even with this sole habit, I don't think the country deserves to be better! It's people don't even respect it by pissing like dogs! Maleducated! Ignorant and a dirty act done by so many Pinoys! Have a little SHAME on yourself, MAN!



If you want to see another pissful article, see "this. You will see that I got the photos' links " here.

I have read a lot of comments on the note of the deposed President Estrada that God is punishing the country. I have seen that many commented on this issue and others go to the extent of addressing him as a crazy man. I have read the full report on this issue why Erap has said so about the country when I was browsing at the "" Inquirer Online.



As I have read, and as I was still in the Philippines when this 2001 ousting for Erap happened, I have a view of what was going on in the country. It was my first year in college back then and I have seen how his cabinet members resigned one by one. And yes, I have seen how the Catholic church have participated. I cannot blame Erap for musing his bitterness for he has point. Actually, it is not only now that the country is being punished... it has been since a long time ago! Yes, way back from the time of Marcos and so on.

I was still an unplanned child during the time of Marcos and I have never felt what the opressed Filipinos have felt back then. But yes, it was a punishment to the people and I do not understand what they have done to have it. During the time of Corazon Aquino, I was still a child all but I do not remember anything in progress for the nation that happened during her time, only her refusal of setting the Philippine debt to zero. Seeing the interest rates and interest amount of the country's debt today, Filipinos would understand how they are punished.. when the large cut from the national budget only go to he payment of the country's debt. And during the time of Ramos, yes, you are right that I was still a child but that time the only thing I can remember is his unlimited state visits! It seems to me that he used his presidency as an all time vacation and a world tour!




And during the time of Erap? This time I have a little understanding but I saw how the masses appreciated him, and I have also learned that it is not very advisable to be too close to the poor for the business (and rich) group in the country do not like this! Also, it was a punishment to have a president full of advisors who later on turned out to be advising against his power! I felt so bad for Erap how dirtied his name was and how things went on during that time on the country... how both opposing sides took people to rally for a certain cause paying them money and just look how low life poor are treated.. and yes, it was for both sides, either against or pro Erap... I felt so bad for I have felt there was no on who was PRO Philippines

And during Arroyo's time (this runs up to now), I am not anymore a child. I see the same things again. People asking her to do this to do that because it was this group of people who put her on power, these groups have supported her, this group have helped oust Erap, etc. etc! There are just unlimited wants and requests from a lot of Filipinos. Again, protest rallies are everywhere! There is no ending of all clamours and discontentment. I am not defending Arroyo because I too have seen how many scandals are going around her family and administration and I have a share of discontentment. But to complain all the time on the street without giving any solution is not my style of making my life better.

Erap is right. God is punishing the country. Because it is the country's action that made it what is it now. If it is suffering, it is because the people are corruptible. And yes, there would be no corrupt officicals if no one allows to be corrupted. Just think about it!


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To be poor is not easy. This one heavy word is caused by a lot of reasons. Among others are fate, geographic location, culture, history, climate and people. With my twenty two years of stay in this country, I have learned a lot. I have also seen alot and experienced a lot. We take these few observations I have.

Geographic Location
With more than 7000 islands floating in the waters of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding seas of the country, it is very difficult to unite the inhabitants. There is a strong regionalism existing among various groups like Ilocanos, Batangenos, Bicolanos, Cebuanos, Ilonggos, among others. It is stronger for a person in Iloilo to consider himself/herself as an Ilonggo than to be considered a Filipino. Moreover, it is difficult to reach the other parts of the country with limited options. A trip from Luzon to Mindanao need either a plane or a ferry. Land travel is impossible.

The Catholic Teaching
Don't get me wrong for I have nothing against the church. In fact I salute the Roman Catholic for its power and continuous leadership. I used to attend Sunday masses when I was in Philippines. I also accompanied my granmother for novenas to various saints and for special occasions. To be honest, my grandmother also did a novena for my examination as a CPA and yes, I passed!

However, with my wide understanding and questioning nature, I have noticed that in all novena guides and preachings in the church's sermon that I have heard, it was all about being poor. "Poor will have easier way to heaven." "Blessed are the poor for they are...blah blah blha..." I don't really know why we have this kind of church teaching. Why? What is wrong with being rich? Is it wrong to have money and be not a liability to the society? Is it wrong not to beg? Is it wrong not to do pick pockets and robbery or to steal for one has enough money? I don't know what is with this poor thing when half the riches of the world are owned by the church!

To teach the majority of Filipinos this way, progress is a blurry image.

Colonial Mentality
Generally, Filipinos ( I am a Filipino) have strong inclination to foreign things. Products of America are highly regarded than Filipino products. Westerns/Caucasians are regarded as a better race. Women in the country are dying to have a fairer skin. People with long and pointed nose are proud and laughs at those with pugged ones. Imports are always better even in the Philippine basketball Association team! Oh my God! I do hate these beliefs and mentality. Women are dying to marry foreign nationals.... any would be all right except to a Filipino. Even he (the caucasian) is eighty years old! Whattalaugh! But this one defines practicality. At least this is a wise choice. But at the same time, there are a lot of lapses in it.

These traits are obviously caused by centuries of colonization in the country. But i don't think this is common attitude for other nations were also colonized and they don't have these traits. Malaysians are very proud to be of Malay race than to be Chinese. In Philippines, people wish they were Chinese!

Filipinos Are Too Wise to Be True!
Yes, there is no question with the mental capabilities of my fellow Filipinos. Bright, brilliant, genius, awesome, you name it, it is Pinoy if it is good! The truth is, there is a thin line between ingenuity and craziness. Have you heard about the recently concluded 2006 Nurse Board Exams? About the Mr. Garcia who was deported in the U.S for changing tags in a store item? I am sure these were all caused by too much knowledge. What do you think?

Local and national leaders are too intelligent. Yes, they can even keep on stealing public funds and get away with it. After all, they are Filipinos. Wise, sly...and what else?

Brain Drain
All the brilliant minds professionals and skilled workers) in the country go to search for a better world and surroundings. Most of all, for a better compensation package. It is very true that the cost of living in the Philippines is very low and is simply proportionate to the income earned by its inhabitants. But how about leisure and travel? Can anyone allow to be only within the country for all his/her life? To not observe the world around? To be contented with what the country offers? The peso needs to be competitive and the salaries of the Filipinos must be raised. At least, the majority can go abroad for travel and see the difference of their beloved Mother country compared to the neighboring Asian countries. In this manner, they would see how a real good life can be if there is discipline and unity. If there is no one throwing garbage in the rivers how beautiful and clean the waters can be... how floods could have been prevented. If the people of the country think of the future and progress.

Sigh.... I am sleepy. I do hope there is a better future for my country. I love Philippines!

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