Star ng Pasko in Myanmar

Did I come like a thunderbolt to a few Filipinos who knew me in Myanmar during the Star ng Pasko Christmas party held at the Parkroyal Hotel on December 6, 2015? Well, that should have not been a surprise at all. Myanmar is home because of all Kababayan who love to lend a helping hand to build solidarity and raise the banderole of Filipino identity.

I don't need to be settled in Myanmar to be a part of the community. In my heart, I had been and will always be a part of our rapidly growing population in this wonderful country. Besides, Bangkok is more or less than an hour flight away. To see the community and celebrate with them during major events is a joy beyond compare.

I was overwhelmed by the crowd who turned up last night. There used to be less than 500 pinoys in Myanmar documented as registered Filipinos in the embassy. According to his excellency, Ambassador Alex Chua, there's more than a thousand pinoys in Myanmar registered nowadays. That's double (or triple) the population after two (or three) years that I was away. That means, yesterday's crowd (around 400 plus) was phenomenal!

There are many things I am thankful for during my visit. A few of them are the following:

- the PILIPINAS.MM officers of 2015 for making me busy with the audio-visuals. There were many technical challenges including incompatibility of my Mac with the hotel's projector, converting all slideshows to videos that can be played in Windows, to name a few. But they looked after me and provided all the help they can give to do my task in spite of them being occupied with their respective tasks. Thank you and kudos for a job well done!

- old friends' faces for understanding that I didn't have enough time to socialise. Even for a short period of time, I was able to take a glance at your beautiful and dazzling faces. It meant a lot to me to be greeted and welcomed into our community. As I said, you are the reason why I keep coming back here. My commitment to you as the admin of the Myanmar Pinoy Connect FB group is as faithful as my excitement to be here in Myanmar with you. Again, I don't need to be here to support and lend a helping hand. Thank you.

- new faces in the community. They are the new coals that keep the fire burning - the reason why the officers have been working hard and working late to come up with an event as grandiose as last night was. Did you know that the president's apartment became a warehouse of gifts from the sponsors? Did you know that they wake up early and sleep late to pull the Xmas party off together? Sometimes they even forget to take their lunch because they were so busy. I can't imagine the stress and the pressure. The community apparently was their inspiration.  

On another note, Christmas and New Year is the time of the year when we reflect on how our lives have been for the past years. It's the season to forgive and be forgiven. We don't need to be so spiritual to understand this. I was hurt. We get hurt. I hurt others. We hurt others. I was wronged. We were wronged. I wronged others. We wronged others. That's how life plays. I have been through ups and downs. I'm sure everyone does. Everything that happened has happened to teach us. The only question is: did we learn from them? I, for certain, have learned. It's been a long time. I had buried those rubbish six feet on the ground already. Where I am right now is where I chose to be and I blame no one for that. The most important thing - we all have been moving on with our lives with peace of mind.

What does one want to see in 2016 for the community in Myanmar? More kababayan coming in from the Philippines and more to lend a helping hand to build PILIPINAS.MM, the Filipino Community in Myanmar. Our FB group, the Myanmar Pinoy Connect, is one with you as the FB group's role is to connect Filipinos all over the country. Of course, my hands are long enough I could reach you all from Bangkok!

Thank you po sa lahat ng kababayan sa Myanmar! Merry Christmas po and have a prosperous new year! Kyisu tin bar de, sawasdeekrup and mabuhay!

Capoeira in Myanmar

Capoeira has become one of the main reasons why I travel. It is one of the activities I enjoy the most - the kind of martial arts I am willing to spend for. From the music that's authentically Brazil/Angola to the roda (the circle where Capoeirista's show off their martial arts skills that results to a dance and/or a game), everything about Capoeira is an experience everyone should have a try.

My trip to Yangon, Myanmar this month (October) was apparently about Capoeira. Although I didn't stay long enough to do the workshop with Mestre Pintor from Bantus Capoeira Singapore, I was more than happy to be part of the welcome roda at the Embaixada do Basil em Yangon (Embassy of Brazil in Yangon) on October 18, 2015.

Here's the video i made for Capoeira Group Yangon. I hope you like it...

The Capoeira Group Yangon's Facebook group is https://www.facebook.com/groups/264435187034679/. They usually have classes every Tuesday 6:30 - 8:00 PM and Saturday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM (please correct me if I'm wrong CapoGroupYangon friends) at the French Institute on Pyay Road (near Myaynigone). The classes are for free (this one I am not sure). Please check 'em out sometime - they are the friendliest people in town and the local Capoeiristas are amazingly hospitable.

Condormitel Business by Major Homes

YES I am that crazy to get 3 units of Camella houses in Cagayan de Oro!!! And believe me, I scratch my head many times because these houses don’t produce income. Instead, I just close my eyes whenever I pay my mortgage. I am only comforted by the thought that I have a house to retire to when I am old enough and not able to work anymore. So, how about a property that will give you income in a practical way? Properties that will not cause head scratching anymore because you know you are investing into something without risk at all?

Introducing… 

ConDormiTel = Condominium + Dormitory + Hotel. 

Whoa!!! What is that??? Like coffee+creamer+sugar = CofCreameGar? "Noice!"

MAJOR is a premiere property developer with extensive construction experience that spans over 30 years. MAJOR has been involved in the development of iconic landmarks such as: Tagaytay Highlands, Sta. Elena Golf & Country Club, Mountain Ridge Tagaytay, Tagaytay South Ridge Estates, Caylabne Bay, Carmelray, & La finca. MAJOR is dedicated to providing its clients with affordable, world class, investment grade housing options.

Ate Anna Liza and Ate Brenda from Major Homes visit Yangon
to promote the ONLY ConDormiTel product existing from the Philippines
in the whole world. 

I was intrigued when I first hear about this through kuya Alex. It’s a real estate investment similar to Camella Homes or any other real estate in the Philippines. However, there’s a humongous difference. Unlike Camella Homes and others which are traditional type of “dead investment” (as they say), Major Homes is selling condos which will be rented out to students operated as a dormitory as they are strategically located close to many universities in Manila. The condo/dorm comes fully furnished when it’s ready to be turned over to the owner. The facilities and services included are like of the hotels such as swimming pool, study area, fitness gym, and others. Location wise, the occupancy rate is 100%.

This is what the Tshirt is all about!
MAJOR MAJOR in Myanmar in front of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's house. 

What is it to me and to other OFWs like me? Well, the president of Major Homes gives priority for OFWs to own condormitel units. Most of OFWs income goes to family expenditures. More often than not, we forget to save for ourselves’s future. And so, this type of investment is perfect! Basically, you just have to pay the reservation about 25,000 Php and a monthly payment of about 16,000 Php. When you’re done paying for the equity and done getting a bank to finance your unit or PAG-IBIG, you will have your fully furnished condormitel ready for student occupancy (in other words, "habambuhay na hanap-buhay" - business forever!). Major Homes will handle the business for you - hassle-free! All you need to do is to own a unit (or units), sleep while your condo will pay for itself and after the length of years your condormitel need to get fully paid (5 years or 10 years), you will get the students’ rent as your extra income if you still want to continue renting it out to them. Well, when will we have a scarcity of students in the Philippines anyway? Think about it.

For more information, please visit the website: http://www.majorhomes.com.ph. 

The contact person in Bangkok is ME @ +66950178795. The contact person in Myanmar is Kuya Alex @ +959420123199. Invest now!!! What are you waiting for??? 

Yangon... Again

My first quarter at work in Bangkok ended up with an excited hop on a plane to Yangon, Myanmar on Friday night of October 16, 2015. I had a promo ticket from NOK Air which only cost me about 50 bucks with 30 kg of check in baggage. What are the forces that pushed me to go back to this awesome place again? It’s simple… Yangon to me is a home. But to be more specific, what motivated me to fly back here is the community of nagkakaisang Pilipino (united Filipinos).

 Overwhelmed… it’s like a dream come true!!! 

I remember about four years ago, I had to defend myself in front of the ambassador and the vice consul for the actions I did in an attempt to help Filipinos with money remittance problem which until now exists as one of the primary problems because there hasn’t been a law about money sending in the country yet. Western Union exists only to receive money. Some expat Filipinos are clever enough to find themselves alternatives like banks (which I think are still costly). I remember that I had to cry because some people who knew about that secret confrontation with the former ambassador and vice consul reported “misleading rumours” to my employer which almost cost me my job. I remember being comforted by the same employer saying “we hired you because we believe in you and not because of anyone - be it the Filipino community here in Myanmar”. I also remember that I wrote many letters of complaints to the DFA, the senate, human rights, civil service, vice president, and even the office of the president to report harassment done to me by a diplomat during an Independence Day celebration in 2012 at a public discotheque bar in Sedona Hotel. What I am saying is that those days are over. I’m saying that I have come back to witness a miracle in the community - and the embassy. It is not my intention to say something negative about the previous office but that was my experience, what can I do?

I am now a believer of “sa tamang panahon” (in due time). Sa tamang panahon, things that you are hoping to come true will really come true - just don’t lose hope. If it’s not you, there are other people out there who have the same visions as you do who will step forward to build what you have been dreaming of. 

Si Tatay Ruben magaling palang magluto!!!

In 2013, I ran as a president of the PILIPINAS.MM, the Filipino Community in Myanmar. All I was thinking was “there need to be changed”. It was an honourable defeat. The community wasn’t ready to change back then (and I probably wasn’t ready to lead as well because I was still very young). I didn’t know that sa tamang panahon, the community will ripen and be ready for this change. 

Sina Nanay Wilma at Ate Landa, mga magagandang
nakapag-asawa ng local dito sa Yangon.

I am really so happy to witness the event on Sunday, October 18, 2015 where Filipinos gather for a big event organised by the current set of active officers. The embassy was flooding with sponsors. It was terrific to see the “bayanihan” spirit among the community. It was lovely to see old faces who have been my friends since I arrived in Yangon 5 years ago. It was also lovely to see new faces - about 95% of them too. 

Dala kong mga paninda

I came prepared for the event that day. I brought some Filipino products I bought from “The Sari Sari” located in Thaniya Plaza, Sala Daeng (SIlom) to be sold. I used the 30 kg check in baggage I have from NOK Air to bring those products in. I had Sky Flakes, Ding Dong, Boy Bawang, Lucky Me Pancit Canton, Argentina and CDO Carne Norte Corned Beef, Eden Cheese, Nestle Cream, Knorr Sinigang Mix, Mama Sita’s Adobo and Caldereta Mix, and Magic Sarap. SOLD OUT! There seems to be a need to have a sari-sari store in Myanmar eh?

I am a Yangon boy. What does it mean? Yangon is a home. I have a community here - a fabulous community that includes (and never excludes) everyone. This is not the same “de-vy-sive” community I used to have where I feel so excluded or excommunicated because I wasn’t the guy they want me to be - a loud critic. The Filipino Community is lucky to have the new set of awesome officers spearheaded by Ms Olivia! They’re the crew Myanmar Pinoys have been waiting for…