Christmas in the Philippines 2013

Ive decided to collect Christmas images this year so i  have something to look back to next year. Specially if im abroad.

Shangrila EDSA (Rustans) - One of my most favorite Christmas Display . Classy, Chic and Expensive

Megamall Atrium - its a giant Christmas trees filled with mickey mouse and mini mouse dolls. Cant you see how many floors it stands?

Charlie Hunnam as Christian Grey, Dakota Johnson as Ana Steele

Finally, the cast of the Famous Fifty Shades of Gray is selected.

Fifty Shades of gray is the first book in the Best Seller Trilogy written by E.L. James.
Ive read all the three books in a few seating. Ive blogged my insights about it HERE.
Now that the movie is out,i don't know if i have to feel excited But i am curious so i may watch it more or less.

Charlie Hunnam as Christian Grey and Dakota Johnson as Ana Steele

Hunnam currently stars as Jackson "Jax" Teller in Sons of Anarchy, a show about a prominent motorcycle club in a small fictional California town. Hunnam also played the lead role in 'Pacific Rim' - action scifi film from the renowned director Guillermo del Toro.
Just recently Hunnam has landed one of the most talked-about roles in Hollywood because He'll play the major character Christian Grey. In the books, Christian Grey is a hot, dominant, sexy and tortured man. Thus his outlook in life is beyond normal so is his so called sexual life.

Hunnam in the hit movie Pacific Rim

Hunnam in the Series Sons of Anarchy

Dakota Mayi Johnson is an American fashion model and actress.She will play Anastasia Steele in this film adaptation. Dakota is the daughter of screen veterans Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. She's also the granddaughter of the iconic actress Tippi Hedren. In 1999, she made her film debut in Crazy in Alabama , where she and her half-sister, Stella Banderas, played the daughters to their real-life mother, Melanie Griffith.
The film was directed by her stepfather, Antonio Banderas. She's a main character in the Series Ben and Kate.

Dakota as Kate in Ben and Kate

 I have nothing against Dakota, but i share the sentiments of most that she don't fit the character of Anastasia Steele in the books.
Ana is tiny and delicate with pretty features, assets, and big eyes. Dakota is the opposite. I don't know how make up or prosthetic or cinematic work so she could add up to the to the true character in the books physically.
But who knows? digital graphics can do so much nowadays. As per Hunnam as Christian Grey, i think hes OK, certainly not at the top of my list, but not a bad choice either.

 

Oh IAN!

I hope they make the movie as sexy and steaming as the books. (like the photo above, Ian my top choice for Christian Grey) I don't know how they're going to play the exchange of emails between Ana and Christian (that's my favorite part) but i hope they come up closer to how romantic those parts are.

See you in theaters on August 2014!
Until Then just like the photo below (credit to the owner)
Keep Calm and Love Mr Grey. xoxo

Absent Before Holiday But Paid (Philippine Labor)

Those who read my previous post would know that me and my family has just survived a flood on the third week of August. If you haven't read it, please click HERE.
That being said, i missed work on August 19th and August 20th, i would have missed August21st too however that day was particularly declared by the Philippine President as Special Non Working Holiday. See declaration HERE.
According to the Policies that I'm aware of, I am not supposed to be paid on August 21st, that is because I was absent on the 20th. But I still checked with the experts just to be sure.

Do you know the Philippines Labor Code on absence before the Holidays?  I thought i do, but in my quest for a more definite information i went to DOLE's website and submitted a legal query.

Here's My Inquiry

Good Morning.
I would like to inquire about the Holiday Pay on August 21 (Special Holiday)
I heard that its written in the labor code(or law) that Holiday would
be considered unpaid if you miss work the working day prior to the
holiday. Does this apply to Aug 21? being that only a special holiday
not a regular Holiday?

Im working in Pasig and is living in Laguna, my house is flooded on
Aug 19th, therefore i was absent from work on Aug 19th and 20th. Our
town was badly hit by storm and monsoon rains and the whole province
of Laguna is placed under state of calamity.

I would like to know. Will i not get paid for Aug21?
By the way, i am monthly based employee, not daily basis(no work no pay staff)

Please advice.Please reply soon...
Much tomy delight, after 4 hours i got a reply from DOLE, it was sent to the email address that i provided in the inquiry page.
This is their reply:

First, we must make this clear that August 21-Ninoy Aquino Day is a SPECIAL NON-WORKING HOLIDAY (Arts. 91-93 of the Labor Code) and NOT a REGULAR HOLIDAY (Art. 94 of the Labor Code).

Being a special non-working holiday, the rule in Article 94 regarding attendance on the day immediately preceding the regular holiday is NOT applicable.

SPECIAL NON-WORKING HOLIDAYS are covered by the rules found in Article 91-93 (PREMIUM PAY) of the Labor Code.

Premium pay refers to the additional compensation for work performed within eight (music) hours on nonwork days, such as rest days and special days.

Unless otherwise modified by law, order, or proclamation, the following are the three (3) special days in a year under Executive Order No. 292, as amended by Republic Act 9849 that shall be observed
in the Philippines:

1.) Ninoy Aquino Day Monday nearest August 21
2.) All Saints Day November 1
3.) Last Day of the Year December 31

A.DAILY PAID WORKERS (no work no pay salary basis)

The “no work, no pay” principle applies during special days and on such other special days as may be proclaimed by the President or by Congress.

Workers who are not required or permitted to work on special days are not entitled to any compensation. This, however, is without prejudice to any voluntary practice or provision in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) providing for payment of wages and other benefits for
days declared as special days even if unworked.

On the other hand, work performed on special days merits additional compensation of at least thirty percent (30%) of the basic pay or a total of one hundred thirty percent (130%). Where the employee works on a special day falling on his rest day, he/she shall be entitled to an additional compensation of at least fifty percent (50%) of his/her basic wage or a total of one hundred fifty percent(150%).

Since you did not work on August 21, Ninoy Aquino Day, you are not entitled to Premium Pay under Article 91-93 of the Labor Code.


B.MONTHLY PAID EMPLOYEE refers to one who is paid his wage or salary for every day of the month, including rest days, Sundays, regular or special days, although he does not regularly work on these days.

If you fall in the above category, your special day pays are already factored in your monthly pays because you are paid on every day of the month although you do not regularly work on those days. So it does not matter if you were absent on the day of the special non-working holiday because you are still
paid your daily pay regardless.

It will be different in case of Regular Holiday Pay (Art. 94). Even if you are monthly paid, 1.) if you are present or is on approved leave with pay on the day immediately preceding the regular holiday and 2.) on the day of the regular holiday you reported for work, satisfying these 2 conditions will
entitle you to double pay (daily pay + holiday pay or 200% of your daily rate).

For more information, kindly inquire with the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) at this number 527-3000 locals 301 or 302 (Wages and Hour Standards), 303 or 407 (Occ. Health and Safety), 304 or 307 (Labor Standards), 309 or 308 (Inspection Standards).

We hope this answers your query. Thank you for writing.

So for those who are wondering, Yes i will be paid holiday pay. It is also confirmed by the HR that we will follow whats in the Labor Code. By the way 2013 has a bunch of Special Holidays (i just notice now), when typically it is just 3, but this year the special holidays are as follows:

B. Special (Non-Working) Days
Black Saturday         Ninoy Aquino Day         All Saints Day         Additional special (non-working) days         Day before Christmas         Last Day of the Year	March 30 August 21 (Wednesday) November 1 (Friday) November 2 (Saturday) December 24 (Tuesday) December 31 (Tuesday)

 Happy Payday Everyone!

Hurray!

Aug 19th Flood in Binan Laguna

It took me more than 1 week to contemplate whether or not i should journal the flooding event from Aug 19th and i realized, i would and want to, this should remind me all the time that the place where i live has become flood prone throughout the years.

It must be the global warming thing or whatever.

The night prior, I was pretty restless on my sleep knowing how long and heavy the rainfall was. I kinda felt somethings coming.. At 3am i went up to check if the dogs are doing fine.
Ive also decided to check the river so i walked till im outside the subdivision and the river is visible.And it was not flooded yet. So i went home and as usual grabbed my IPAD to check Facebook, drop my boyfriend a Wechat message and check my vends in TWOM (The World of Magic). As I was about to go back to sleep around 4am my mother who is presently at the back of the house stated yelling. Water!! Water!! 

And realization hit me. Flood..is coming.

As fast as i can, i grabbed everything that's lying on the floor, my shoes, my bags, my gadgets, the clothes in the lower area of the rack, the foam in my bed, electrical cables,rugs. I was able to salvage most. However i spent too much time taking care of the things in my room and so was not able to help my parents in the other part of the house.Before i even realize it, the house is already flooded up to the knee and is still rising. I cant keep up with the pace to putting things higher. 

This is perhaps the highest flood that I've experienced in Laguna.

This is the inside of my room, the water is already above the first deck of my bed.

Water!! Dont go up anymore or my TV is dead!

 

In the late morning, the sky is still as gloomy as ever. The King Sun in all his glory is still at hiding. I am drenched in flood water waist down, neck to head i am also wet due to the rain and drizzle. I swear i would chill if i stop moving. But i am just too hyper and worried to even care.

I wanted to save so many things and yet i cant. There's only me and my father and he's ailing some serious backache. He's too tired and frail. Hes given up other things too impossible to elevate. Like the fridge, the tv, the couch, the dining..
Its pains me to see things drown, furnishes and appliances broken, possessions with great sentimental values in keeping, fade as they lost color or rust or just simply wear off due to being drenched. Those things other people say money can buy, money can replace,yes i agree. But you cant get money all so easily right? In my case, i have to work for it. Real hard.

When the flood hit chest high, we've decided to send my Mom out. Some neighbors have 2nd floors.
We need her to go there because if the water goes any higher shell be in trouble being someone who cant swim at all.
It felt weird as i watch my mom crawl her way out of the house carrying on her head the bag with one set of clean clothes for changing.
Its like a snapshots of breaking news, flash floods, catastrophes and evacuation you see on TV.. The barking of the dogs snap me back to Reality. The table holding the dogs are falling apart. the flood is too high already.
Then My father and i decided to put the dogs on the roof, as we prepare to evacuate ourselves.Later on i see myself packing, one set of clean clothes for changing. the phone and passport that i safely kept in a zip lock bag,I wore my company ID on and inside my blouse (i did that so in case the flood washes me away they would recognize my remains hehe morbid right?), as i prepare myself to leave the house.

Walking in flood neck high while trying to keep myself balance and keep the bag on my head dry is not as hard if you go with the flow.
And since the water is going crazy fast, i was able to to go where i wanted to in such a little time. Although the risk to getting injured is given in a flood as high as that.
due to broken bottles,tree branches and even big logs that rush with the water.I still took my chances.
I was still in one piece as i enter our neighbor's house. Although i got bruised by accidentally bumping in some sofa under the the water, I'm still good.

While in my neighbors second floor, Ive went online on Skype to drop a short message to my boss that I'm absent for the day.And briefly i told about the catastrophic day I am having.

In an hour or so, the flood cease and as soon as the street flood is waist high I've decided to go back home.It was a struggle, being the current opposite to my direction. Thank God, the flood continuously went down. By 6pm the remnants of the flood left a devastating site everywhere.
The streets are filled with thick mud and muck.Garbage and dead animals are everywhere. The dreadful part is yet to come, the cleaning, getting things together and moving on.One bad part is that Laguna Water Service is out. (Honestly they are not dependable) So we were not able to clean anything.

My mom and i decided to go to my sis house while my sis husband accompany my father in our house. We need a bed to sleep on at night and we badly need to clean ourselves. I for once needs changing and was feverish already.

As i laid my back to rest i thought, how i was enjoying the warmth of my own bed a few nights ago, how i love the feel of my newly ironed linens. The flood came and is now gone but gone also are those lives lost, those broken things, those livelihoods washed in just a short time.What an irreversible horrible fucking thing.
The only consolation that keeps me appease is the fact that we're all safe and sound and together.

News aired about how our province had been badly stricken by the floods and that two more tropical depressions are in sight possibly to enter the Philippine area of responsibility in a weeks time or so, not to mention news on ill gotten wealth corruption and how some legislators stole people's money. How government projects were overpriced and how big the funds are that should have changed the way things were had they been served to good use. I can just stare. Humor Me.

I have thought how much i wanted to have a second floor, or a house in the hills, or a flood free country.. I slept in worry that the flood will come back before the night is even through. But Im too plasted and wasted and gone are the days i thought there's hope for this nation.

So God Bless Us. God Bless the Philippines.

Here are the pics after the flood. :)

Some random things piled above the double deck, this is because there are rumors that the tropical depression made a Uturn. Dang.

No more water, but life isnt back to normal .Yet

Organizing my clutter

Cleaning the valuables with the little water that we can get.

Those Blue Folders are My sister and my own diplomas from elementery and highschool grduation. They were soaked in flood after decades of safekeeping.

Cabinets, Linoleum, and all else that will soon be garbaged.

My parents room suffered the most casualties, from the clothes in the cabinets to this (not so cheap) mattress.

In my trauma for the next possible flood, i bought a handful of these storage boxes on sale at the Pavillion Mall.

August 9 2013 is a Holiday in the Philippines

Just yesterday, The palace declared August 9,2013 a Regular Holiday.

To those who wonder why, The said date denotes the end of the Holy Month of Ramadhan for our Muslim brothers.

Eid’l Fitr is celebrated by the Muslim World for three days after the end of the month of fasting.

Click the Link for proclamation posted on the Republic's Official Gazette


August 9, being a Friday, means its a long weekend for everyone. Yay!

Jessica's Prayer : True Blood 6

True Blood for straight 4 days. I'm in love more than ever.
As you know i am Team Eric all the way. Until Warlow came flesh and blood and he's tooo handsome to hate. Really.

So on the 4th episode, while Jessica was hysterical on Bill that is not so himself, she uttered a prayer that made me really cry. ( I guess I am beginning to like the baby vamp ). I realized how nice Jessica's character is that despite her confusion, she's obviously a loving person.

You said you could feel the pain of all vampires? I was wondering if you could feel mine? Because I’m scared. Feels like the world is spinning out of control and I have this terrible feeling that out there it’s just chaos and in here..

I raised on the human Bible and then you gave me the vampyr Bible. I don’t know if I believe any of it, but.. Are you Lilith? Are you God?

Heavenly Father, I don’t know the last time I prayed to you. I have been greedy and lustful and wrathful. I’ve killed people. I’ve lied. I’ve taken your name in vain. I beg you for your forgiveness.

Please watch over my friends? Because that’s what they are.

Please bless Jason. He’s such a good man and he’s hurting so bad.

Please bless Sookie. I know she tried to kill you, but she’s been good to me and she loves you. I know she does.

And bless Eric. Even in his anger and wrongheadedness.

Bless Pam. Give her the courage to let happiness in.

And bless Tara. She may find whatever it is she’s looking for.

And bless Sam, Lafayette and Arlene. All the good people of Bon Temps, for they know not what they do.

And bless Hoyt, whereever he is. Watch out for him, for me.

And bless Bill. If you are him or he is you, bless him. Please bring him back to me. I need him. We all need him.