Pinay sense

 

Wishful Thinking
 

The recently concluded presidential election in Cyprus has left me in much awe as it is indeed a commendable system having witnessed for the first time an honest, clean, peaceful  and truly democratic election process! Coming from a country where even in the smallest barangay, candidates must at least possess money, guns and goons! This is not to exaggerate but personally for many years I ceased to exercise my rights of suffrage because a clean, honest, peaceful and truly democratic election in the Philippines remained as a wishful thinking to me…such a pathetic reality!

With Mr. Dimitris Kristofias as the newly elected president of Cyprus, I hope that he will really work on what he had promised to do, and hope too that his winning  the presidential race signals a beneficial change to the long standing problems of  less privilege migrant workers and to come out a win-win solution to all the problems in this land. Amen.

 

Life is beautiful, what else have you done in yours?
 

Last month I wrote about eliminating excess pounds. Literally what I meant was getting rid of excess baggage in my life. Clearing up my thoughts of whatever  toxics created by negative vibrations from some unwanted forces of the universe and finally it suits me just fine having basically gotten away from it. I am different in a way my mind soars in intellectual silence though for quite number of times I have compromised what I call a decent intellectual capacity but I found out that I can not truly merges on that long with all those shallow keepers.  When my dear younger brother died August of last year, I knew in my heart that life indeed, is short. This is why I vowed to myself that I would not waste anymore energy on things which would only make my life shorter.  Life is beautiful and I am determined to enjoy every single moment of this life as it is everyone’s right to do so. One day while working on the net, the power suddenly went off and it made me panicked. After awhile it resumed so I went back to the computer only to be dismayed as all the system was corrupted by a virus! The project which I was working on was gone so are my other files. Thanks goodness they were all saved in the hard copy.

Through that experience I thought to myself, Oh, here I was, so well-programmed, organized, systematic. But suddenly there were these viruses which seemed to enjoy penetrating my personal humane program. Some are deadly dangerous, some are just playing around dancing with the music, but the fact remains that these still, are viruses, created to destroy every single human emotion by careless and insensitive actions around. I am not perfect in any way but if I want to hone myself into perfection I just want it accepted especially by people  whom I supposed are close to me. Otherwise, getting on is the best part, keeping my pace, loving a less-pressurized, stress-free environment.

I know I have been often misunderstood and called a snob because I am not someone who waves out at everyone in the street. Unless I really know one then expect me to call out and spare a couple of smiles. Other than that, I don’t feel obligated to explain to anyone if I am branded as snob “or hindi nangingilala.�  I am not a snob, but if one thinks so, then be it. Apparently, snob is far more better than being double-faced. We have the freedom to choose what to become of ourselves, and yes I prefer to be aloof, and that is perfectly fine conscience-wise. For small, petty matters one might not get my abrupt attention, yet remember this, I will be a hand or a shoulder in one’s deepest straw, and when worse comes to worst, monetary  stuff is never an issue. I will appreciate it and be there for people who criticize me not behind my back but right on my face.  As I love to correct negative attitudes right away when needed, I am also ready to be corrected and I would not mind it at all if it is said straight-forward to me rather than hearing my defects from other mouths. That is simply unforgivable because when I correct a mistake, it is done with loving concern, not with malicious intent to destroy a reputation. I am not cut for that at wala akong mapapala. Perhaps for some kaligayahan nila ang ipagsabi ang mga pagkukulang ng iba or minsan ipamalita pa na nakatulong sila. Pity on these blabbers because patuloy ang buhay and they will never realize na walang dumarating na pagpapala kahit ano pa ang gawin nilang pagsisikap sa buhay nila. Remembering a friend’s old motto: Hindi ang inilibing mo ang siya ring maglilibing sa iyo.� Kaya ingat po tayo sa paghingi ng tulong kasi kahit minsan  iyong iba mapagtanungan lang ng importanteng bagay para sa kanila utang na loob na iyon. I am thankful to those who have abided by me. Pagpalain ang mga mas marunong umunawa sa bawat sitwasyon

A friend wrote: “We all chase happiness, but the truth is, it is happiness which is chasing us. If it does not catch up, it is because there is something wrong in the way you conduct your life.� 

I am just proud to say that during childhood we were taught not to say curses towards other peopIe or be rude in any way, as it insults the “good manners and right conduct� which were instilled in our minds. It is just a taboo in our house. So giving credit to my parents I have avoided all through my days to say evil words though how angry I might be at someone or at something. No matter what the circumstances are,  I never will fail to show how well my up-bringings were, as it really reflects how pure the contents of my thoughts are. So being pure in thoughts is of course taking out the hell of a cobweb in my drawer. Enjoying life means avoiding to become a toxic or a virus myself,  then share with people who truly are worth enjoying with, like my ever precious family and non-judgmental friends who stand by me all this time.  Here is the tip:  Consider your life like a computer system, to stay away or get rid of virus. No matter what happens and wherever you maybe, keep the good moral values taught by your parents. That is what I meant hard copy of your important files. There, how nice to breathe fresh air!

By Cathrine Beatty

After nearly two-decades of no changes to the minimum salary for domestic helpers, the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cyprus has finally approved the increase for the minimum salary of all domestic helpers and carers on 24th October 2007. The new minimum salary for all domestic helpers/carers have been increased from CY£150.00 (€256.29) to CY£165.00 (€281.92) per calendar month, an increase of 10% with effect from November 2007. Speaking to Mrs. Athina Constantinou from the Department of Social Insurance, District Office in Nicosia, she confirmed that since the beginning of January 2008, employers have started paying € 66.83 (CY£39.11) per month for their employees’ Social Insurance contributions, an extra cost of €5.76 per month from the employers pocket. The gross salary applicable for the calculation of the new contribution is CY£240.00 (€410.00) per month. The increase will come as a relief to most domestic helpers as they also felt the increase in the cost of living since the adoption of the Euro currency in Cyprus. The majority of domestic helpers on the island are still receiving the minimum salary of CY£150.00 (€256.29) per month, even if they have been working for the same employer for several years. Some domestic helpers who are fortunate to have kind and generous employers have had their salary increased since the implementation of the new law. Separately, since March 2007, the Governing Board of the POEA, through a series of Resolutions issued in 2006, have effectively increased the entry-level minimum salary for overseas domestic helpers to $400 (Resolution No. 5, Series of 2006) per month. Most of the Filipino domestic helpers who came to Cyprus last year have benefited from this regulation as confirmed by a number of Filipinos who say they are receiving a monthly salary of CY£180.00 (€307.55), which is in today’s rate is just above USD 450.00. (Sa mga kababayan natin mga Filipino, kung halimbawa hindi sinusunod ng mga employer ninyo ang bagong patakaran na ito, puede kayong tumawag sa Department of Social Insurance, telephone no. 22-409730, para mapatunayan ninyo sa inyong mga employer na ito ay totoo.)