The Makiav3llian Enchantment…

In my efforts to help out people trying to escape the Philippines and head off to the UAE, I offer my services of promoting airline tickets coming to Dubai. So here is what I have to offer:

1. Dummy Return - flight containing a return flight, approximately 2 months from date of arrival, return flight is unusable. This is used for immigration purposes.
2. Flight is a direct flight (Manila - Dubai), no airport waiting time. Best flight for first timers.
3. Economy flight booked on Q-class. Economy L-class is the cheapest but is seldom available. These are the two classes available for return flights with visit visas.
4. E-Ticket which does not require passenger to visit Emirates office. The PTA number can be sent to the passenger and can be claimed in the airport (booking can also be checked in the Emirates website). The only fee to be paid is the Travel Tax and Terminal Fee.
5. 20Kg baggage allowance allocated only.
6. Flight schedules:

• Mo We Fr Sa - EK 333 - Dep. 1845 (MNL Time) Arr. 2330 (DXB Time)
• Tu We Th Fr Sa Su - EK 335 - Dep. 2355 (MNL Time) Arr. 0415 (DXB Time Nxt Day)

This whole package comes comes at a very affordable rate of 1570Dhs or 22879.6562 inclusive of Emirates taxes.  Philippine Terminal Fee and Travel Taxes are NOT included.

What are the terms and conditions of this deal:

1. The price can only be booked in Q-class, price can be subject to change due to availability and taxes.
2. Upon arrival, the e-ticket (jacket and printout) must be submitted to me. Yes, we manually refund the ticket, we pay the entire flight in full so we need to get the return flight amount back.
3. Payments must be made in full.
4. I can provide e-tickets for order coming from the Philippines, however, the money must be delivered in full through Western Union. If you have a relative here who can transact with me directly, the better.
5. You may choose to cancel your flight and rebook for another date. This may cost you an additional amount, please consult me should you change your mind when the e-ticket has been issued.
6. It is not my responsibility if you get stopped in the airport by immigration officers. A ticket doesn’t guarantee that you will pass through immigration easily. Please consult my blog and anyone experienced to pass through "tricky" situations.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at

One way or the other it actually has to end like this, with the law being promoted to get LokaLs in the picture, things don’t look so bright in terms of secretarial and Human Resources right now. As the pessimistic self that I am, I just want to put my say in the entire situation. Risky it may be having my blog "blocked" but the purpose of my blog is to in pass the information to our would-be applicants. Anyways, i just want to put things into perspective, you don’t have to agree with what I have to say but it would be good to know what you will be dealing with here in Dubai for the next 18 months.

1. Companies now are forced to cease new employment visas with secretary or HR manager in them.  Women who have their visa sponsored by their husbands will not be affected but naturally, they will lose their secretarial position. According to the information presented, it is mandatory that these positions will be filled up by LokaLs. The scope of exceptions are unknown as of right now.
2. This move is actually very bad for expats (non LokaLs) secretaries as they will be forced to either take in another position or their tenure with the company, terminated. This bodes well for LocaLs as they have the opportunity to enter private companies. Regardless if you are Filipino, Australian, Indian or whatever, your positions will be affected.
3. Unfortunately, jobs are being spoon-fed to the lokals instead of having them earn it. Which will never remove the moniker "tamad" as seen by other nationalities.
4. I doubt that any boss will be able to work with them comfortably, with the way the Asian secretaries work beyond the call of duty (making coffee, staying for overtime, filing and typing, being part time messenger and clearing up major issues while the boss is out), it remains to be seen if they will be able to stoop so low to work for the company.
5. Fixed salaries of 5000Dhs, 4000Dhs and 3000Dhs, is debatable. The lowest salaries of secretary will range from 2500Dhs and 1500Dhs, a company ends up losing more than gaining because they have to meet the salary for a LokaL. Your slary should be based on the skill and experience, it is an insult to have the government set the guidelines for LokaLs. Look out in the street, its another Indian guy falling due to heat exhaustion. Oh look another receptionists get smacked by the boss because of one mistake, how about taking care of expats as well?
   
6. Can you have them work very tedious hours? Can they work from 8AM to 6PM? With the government having work at 7AM to 2PM and salaries that would dwarf a manager’s salary, you have to wonder if they prefer the government sector over the private ones.
7. This will usher in a new generation of receptionists to counter secretarial job loses. I believe there will be more receptionists acting as secretaries to by pass this law.

Like it or not, this will be the governing rule in Dubai, I have no idea how this will impact work here for us but basically, this law does not choose anybody. My call is simple, if you want a job, earn it. Work for it! As for the Filipinos coming over here, I would suggest that you put your diploma into good use. I’ve seen too many people with degrees in Engineering throw it away to become secretaries. I still applaud you because you have beaten the odds but with this rule into effect, our backs are behind the wall again. You may need to find an alternative.

**Ang LokaL na tinutukoy ko ay ay mga arabong lokal sa bansang tinitirhan ko ngayon**

Another blow to would be applicants coming to Dubai, unfortunately, this was imposed by the UAE governement and not the Philippines. This may have a long term effect on our Pinays coming over. Here is the article from Gulf News. If you ain’t an Emirati, better consider getting another job.

If there was one Italian I wish to be my friend, it would be Benny Benassi. Though I’m kinda stereotyped about Italians as pompous and arrogant because of what is portrayed in films, football and mafia, I believe the Italian community is cool because of their "family first" attitude which coincidentally is also portrayed in mafia films.
Anyways, to cut the story short, Benny is Italian and is a pretty awesome  DJ. I haven’t heard all of his mixes but you gotta love his addictively delicious "Satisfaction" and I have been trippin’ with his highly intoxicating, industrial sounding and mind imploding "Who’s Your Daddy?" O’course the videos that combo his beats only come in mature versions of touchy, almost porn-like tributes but just because the videos contain lip smacking, head-turning models, aside from the very suggestive poses, you kinda consider this work as art. It is so much sexier when women have their clothes on. Anyways, you be the judge, all I can say is that this guy gets your blood running with infectious beats, bass and a spunky rebellious attitude to top it all off.
I don’t really know but when you are having a bad day just plug in Benny, combo-ed with Felix the House Cat, Midnight Club beats and Fat Jon (Samurai Champloo Music), you feel the rhythmic beats heal you.

I never had a chance to actually celebrate my daughter’s birthday. When she celebrated her first birthday, I was in Dubai. Her 2nd birthday was here but very sublime, just a treat out with the Chinese shabu-shabu cook out. This year, my wife laid out the plans and I requested what type of food to be served. I always keep thinking about the cost and maybe I should start changing my attitude because the event itself was a success, the house was pretty much loaded and Isa got some interesting gifts, including a bike. My sincerest thanks to all who came, and on behalf of my wife and I, it means so much that you all came along. To all Isa’s god-parents, uncles, aunties and other relatives, we all wish you were here. To my wife, thanks again for being there for our daughter.

Exclusive party pics can be found here…

It really is beginning to frustrate me that everything in my surroundings is shaken to its very foundation to put up architecture. From the two new buildings behind our flat to the Dubai Metro Project, the situation in Deira Central is a industrial show of engineering marvel, men at work, slow moving congestions and the very late response of future proofing.
Personally, this should have been predicted 5 years ago,  implementation even sooner. Dubai is a vibrant metropolis and slowly everything is moving out of Deira but the vibrancy that made it legendary is fading with buildings coming up and then coming down, dozers and cranes horsepower-ing around, I begin to wonder when building would stop. All I see are men at work in temperature and conditions worse than working inside a mine. Roads dug up and golden sand piled into conical mounds. Getting around here is not only a pain but also an eyesore. I guess the New York of the Middle East won’t sleep and lay its laurels after all is built and done. The Dubai Metro Project having their sites all built simultaneously all over Dubai is a classic example of trying to have Rome built in day…

Today, Saizer a.k.a. Eric made the ultimate sacrifice for MANkind. He married the love of his life Ms. Hanilen. Similar to Joseph and myself, we sacrificed ourselves to our wives so that they may not break the hearts of other guys. These women are out of control and they outnumber us men. To Eric, it will be a long hard battle ahead of you and that all MANkind salute you for your selfless sacrifice.

=)

To Eric and Hanilen, may your marriage be blessed with love and trust, not mention kids too. Welcome to the married world. Congratulations!!!

The long wait was finally over. After nearly 3 days in transition from New York to Dubai, my mems were delivered on Tuesday, almost didn’t make it as the delivery guy asked for it to be given the next day. Good thing my dad straightened him out.
I paid a total shipping cost of 50Dhs which was a great treat since I was expecting to pay an additional 5% of 261USD as per Aramex’s condition, fortunately, the package itself weighed less than 1/2 kilo and I was given a freebie.
I could hardly hide my grin, yes it was particularly evil as I have finally exacted my vengeance. It was swift and merciless, the buyer getting back at his reseller.
So after all is said and done, I get a pretty neat package with 2GB OCZ (800Mhz) quality RAM modules for a total of 990Dhs, a sweet deal against 900Dhs for Kingmax (2GB on 533Mhz) and an even sweeter deal against 1670Dhs for Kingston HyperX (2GB on 800Mhz).

Best of all, my boy Kaka scored the winning goal against Croatia.

The greatest show on Earth has started and I just can’t help but catch the fever. Last night, I just watched Argentina play the Ivory Coast and though it was a late match, from 11PM to 1AM Dubai time, I enjoyed it. I was looking for that World Cup environment where people had face paint, there would be shouting and singing, unfortunately, the atmosphere I found in one of the small shopping malls here was quite mellow. Yes, the mall guards were there to maintain the order which basically held back all the fun but regardless, I’ve felt the feeling that I could have only felt when I watched my first World Cup which was 1994. Being around the people regardless of race and enjoying football was the great, there was no divide and we were rooting for neither team but supported them on goals. It was great seeing Crespo and Javier Saviola score and left for home on the 80th minute missing Didier Drogba’s goal, anyways that’s life, too bad I didn’t see Lionel Messi and Tevez play either. Anyways, I’ll be watching more of it and I will supporting Iran and Saudi for the games to come. I feel the World Cup Spirit already…

I can keep ranting all I can how this freaking Tech Industry is driving me nuts. Conroe, X2, 975X, 965P with no Crossfire support, DX10, 7950 GX2… It’s crazy and the more you hold off, the less likely you will be buying what you want and and you end up frustrated. Yes, this is my main concern right now and I the time table of all the manufacturers are frustrating me. Nvidia will be releasing the 7950 GX2, I did hear that it was officially launched today. The 975X Conroe capable mobos have not yet been given a release date, the 965 chipset is already available but no Crossfire support and a whole lot of things that you can find in the 975X and some which you can’t. Finally DX10 is looming around the corner and a all video cards are DX9 compliant only. Yes, I’ve become a bit choosy with everything. With 3 major components left, I still haven’t purchased a hard disk, it gets more and more difficult to choose.
Anyways, I am on the way on making my next acquisition. DR2 RAM! I’ve already gone shopping for RAM and it is a pain to see that I am being taken advantage of with regards to the costs being given to me. I have shopped around and I am being given outrageous prices for DR2 800 MHz memory, I’ve shopped for Kingston Hypes which costs 865Dhs per 1GB module and for an even lesser known 850Dhs-870Dhs for Transcend brands. I say WT mate! This is crazy and I cannot imagine paying more than 1600Dhs for 2GB. I am not releasing that kind of money on RAM, my approximate target was around 900Dhs to 1000DHs. DR2 667 MHz is around 430Dhs to 450Dhs per 1 GB module so I wasn’t expecting very high prices but these modules are what you would really call premium and it just pisses me off. Anyways, I have now called on the big boys and I am hoping that things will go my way. I have enlisted the service of Aramex to provide me with a US based address for 130Dhs (through Shop and Ship). I am also ending up to pay 30Dhs for the 1st half kilo and 20Dhs per half kilo after. I am going to be buying items on line as I have already set my purchase on a OCZ DC Platinum EL XTC mems, and you would not believe how much they cost. Roughly 1000Dhs, shipping costs me 100Dhs. I mean what can you say about that. I just saved 500Dhs for other facilities. I feel like I am going to save lots of this, compare that 1650Dhs against 1230Dhs, I get a lifetime mailbox and an additional component for my dream rig. I definitely feel like a winner, let me just hope Amazon.com delivers the goods.