Retire Rich

Na miss mo ba ang mainit na pandesal sa kape tuwing agahan?

Well, for me not anymore! Because I discovered "Nature's Taste" bakery.

If pancake is the typical breakfast for most Americans. For Pinoys, of course, it's "pandesal". So you should know where's the hottest pandesal in Kuwait to complete your breakfast.

Nature's Taste located at Old Souk Salmiya, just behind McDonalds, next to Tiya Marias.

A friend told me about Nature's Taste bakery. So, the following day, I went to the location to find out the bakery.

The friendly staff at Nature's Taste bakery

Nature's Taste product lines on the display shelves

Nature's Taste from outside

One of the uncomfortable feelings, I felt being an employee, is when I resign from my first job in Kuwait. When I resign from that job, wherein I worked for 3 years -- the longest I've ever work in my entire working career -- there were doubts stopping me from resigning.

Well, my number one doubt during the time I resigned, was how to tell my boss. I felt nervous to tell him that I'm resigning. Fortunately, when I worked in HR, I learned that there should be nothing to worry about. Actually, there's a basic formula, how to resign your job in a good way and gracefully. I would like to share this to you.

• Make sure that resigning is really the right decision. Don't resign if, you just want to get an increment, or you just want to let your boss feel and realize how important you are. This will tarnish your reputation.

• Make sure that the company you are transferring to, can wait for three months. If you are resigning because you found another job, you should ask your new employer if they are willing to wait for three months, because this is the required notice period as per the Kuwait Labor Law.

• Tell your boss in person. Especially if you are close to your boss, shooting an email to his inbox is not a good idea. Request for a meeting and tell him face-to-face.

• Have your answer ready when your boss asks why. It is always good to tell the honest answer whatever the main reason there is why you're resigning. But it will depend on your boss management style. If your boss accepts criticism you can tell him if your reason, for example you resign because you are feed up of the working very long hours, which is the company's culture. But if your boss doesn't like to hear that kind of reason, it will be good to tell him about "better opportunity" or the new job is "near to your place" is acceptable.

• Cooperate and offer for a smooth transition. Train and provide assistance to your replacement. Provide password to your computer, keys to you drawer, and handover pending work. Try to leave a contact number before you leave, this will generate goodwill.

I found a good news! While skimming the Department of Labor and Employment or DOLE website, I found job fairs that may help a lot to those returning OFWs -- affected by the ongoing problems in Libya. Despite the lack of opportunity for a job in our country, the government at least find a way to produce jobs.

DOLE announced yesterday, 11 August 2014, the job fair schedule for the month of August and September 2014. The job fair will be held in various venues within 16 Regions of the Philippines.

One of my fear, if for some reasons, I need to go back to our country -- is to find a job. We all know how difficult to look for a job in the Philippines. Employers prefer to hire applicants aged 18-24 years old.

I'm at the age wherein, I'm too young to retire but too old to apply. So, it's tough. That is why we can't blame those Kabayan's who hang on, with their jobs even if they are working in countries that face security crisis. Sabi nga nila "mas mabuti pa raw mamatay sa abroad kaysa mamatay na dilat ang mata sa Pinas" Well it's true. But I think, it would be better if I die, wherein my love ones can still see my dead body.

Anyway, here are the schedule of job fairs as per the DOLE website.

August 1--Butuan City Job Fair, Butuan City Hall Lobby, Caraga Region; August 3--KCC Mall Job Fair, Zamboanga City, Region 9; August 4--Taal Job Fair, Escuela Pia, Taal, Batangas, Region 4-A; and Palo Jobs Fair, Palo, Leyte, Region 8; August 5--La Union Job Fair, Saint Louis College Gym, San Fernando City, La Union, Region 1.

August 6--Mini Job Fair-DMDP, Cebu City, Region 7; August 7--Jobs Fair, Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte, Region 5; August 8--Municipality of Orion, Pag-Asa Wawa Covered Court, near TESDA Bldg. Orion, Bataan, Region 3; August 11-- San Jose City Job Fair, Municipal Gym, San Jose City, Region 3; August 11 to 12--Tuguegarao City Job Fair, Lobby of Tuguegarao City Hall, Enrile Blvd., Carig, Tuguegarao City, Region 2.

August 13--Camalaniugan Patronal Fiesta Job Fair, Camalaniugan Municipal Hall, Camalaniugan, Cagayan, Region 2; August 14--Mega Job Fair, Caloocan South (Main) City Hall, NCR; August 14 to 15--Camalaniugan Patronal Fiesta Job Fair, Camalaniugan Municipal Hall, Camalaniugan, Cagayan, Region 2; August 15--CFCST Job Fair, Arakan, Cotabato, Region 12; and PESO Binangonan Mega Job Fair, Ynares Plaza, Libis, Binangonan, Rizal, Region 4-A; August 16--Nograles Mini-Job Fair, Ma-a Elementary School Covered Court, Ma-a, Davao City, Region 11; Brgy. Lahug, Cebu City, Region 7; and Local and Overseas Job Fair, Mandaue City, Cebu, Region 7.

August 20-- Jobs Fair, Sta. Elena, Camirines Norte, Region 5; and Brgy. Poblacion, Pardo, Cebu City, Region 7; August 20 to 21--Handog Kaarawan Trabaho para sa Mamayan, Datu Lipis Makapandong Youth Employment & Migrant Center, Patin-ay, Caraga Region; August 21--Mini-Job Fair, Amphitheater, Malabon City Hall, NCR.

August 22--Malabon City Mini Job Fair, Malabon City Hall Amphitheater, NCR; and PESO Tanay Job Fair, 3rd Floor Activity Are, Tanay Municipal Hall, Tanay, Rizal, Region 4-A; August 22 to 23--Hinatuan Job Fair, Hinatuan Municipal Hall, Caraga Region.

August 23--PESO-Iloilo City Job Fair, Robinson's Place Iloilo, Iloilo City, Region 6; August 24--Tandag City Job Fair, Tandag City Gym, Caraga Region; Local Job Fair, Capitol Grounds, Region 7; August 24 to 25-- Cabanatuan City Mini Job Fair, Cabanatuan City, Region 3.

August 26 to 27-- Daet Jobs Fair, Daet Heritage Center, Daet, Camarines Norte, Region 5; August 28--PESO-Dumangas, Iloilo Job Fair, Dumangas Gym, Dumangas, Iloilo, Region 6; and August 29--Hapsay Job Fair, City Tourism Hall, Cagayan De Oro City, Region 10.

For September, the scheduled job fairs are as follows:

September 2--San Leonardo Job Fair, San Leonardo Gymnasium, San Bartolome, San Leonardo Nueva Ecija, Region 3; September 5--61st Foundation Anniversary and 5th Agten Tufi Festival Job Fair, Tupi, South Cotabato, Region 12; and Tandag City Job Fair, Tandag City Gym, Caraga Region; September 6--57th Foundation and 11th F'lomlok Festival Job Fair, Polomolok, South Cotabato, Region 12.
September 10-- Caloocan City Hall South, NCR; September 11--Baguio Day Job Fair, Baguio Convention Center, Baguio City, CAR; September 13--Nograles Mini Job Fair, Sta. Ana National High School Covered Court, D. Suazo St., Davao City, Region 11; and Brgy. Talamban, Cebu City, Region 7; September 15-- Mountain Province Job Fair, Bontoc Municipal Plaza, Bontoc, Mt. Province, CAR.

September 17-- PESO-Iloilo City Job Fair, Robinson's Place Iloilo, Iloilo City, Region 6; and Jobs Bridging-DMDP, Cebu City, Region 7; September 18-- Malabon City Mega Job Fair, Malabon City Hall Amphitheater, NCR; and Mega Job Fair, Caloocan North City Hall, NCR; September 20-- Mega Jobs Fair, SM Tunasan, NCR.

September 23-- Job Fair, Municipal Gym, Glan Sarangani Province, Region 12; September 25-- Nasipit Job Fair, Nasipit Municipal Hall, Caraga Region; and San Miguel Job Fair, San Miguel Municipal Hall, Caraga Region.

September 26-- Hapsay Job Fair, City Tourism Hall, Region 10; September 27--68th Mega Jobfair, Cebu City, Region 7; September 28-- PESO-San Miguel, Iloilo Job Fair, San Miguel Gym, San Miguel, Iloilo, Region 6.

I have been working in Human Resources field for the past four years in Kuwait. I'm employed to one of the leading Oil and Gas Construction Companies in Kuwait. This company has more than 10,000 employees.

Basically, my job is more on the end process of hiring (joiners) and processing the required documents for leavers -- resigned, terminated and dismissed employees.

In the process of doing my job, I met a lot of questions more from the leavers than the joiners (applicants).
The most frequently asked questions were about "notice period" and "end of service benefits" (EOS). Belew are some of the questions:

1. How many months (notice period) required to work, after submitting resignation?
2. Do I need to finish the required three-month notice period?
3. If I will not work for the required notice period, is there a penalty?
4. How much pay I will get if I worked for three years? Five years? Or more than 10 years?

Apart from the above questions, a lot were also being asked, wherein answers were covered under the Kuwait Labor Law of the Private Sector No. 6 of 2010. I assumed that few might not able to read the Kuwait Labor Law that is why these common questions were asked.

Instead of giving answers to those frequently asked questions, I provided a link to the existing Kuwait Labor Law. Please click the link, and it will lead you to the document: http://www.arabtimesonline.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=dv%2FnyhXr3Kk%3D&tabid=57. This is a downloadable format wherein you can save on your computer. You may need legal advice in interpreting the law. But in general, the answers to those questions above where clearly stated.

(Recommended further reading: In order to clearly understand the Kuwait Labor Law in the private sector, I recommend to all the readers of this post, to visit the article of Fajer Ahmed posted on 248am.com. The article has an easy-to-understand table that outline the most important and frequently ask articles in the Kuwait Labor Law.)

In a post dated July 30, 2014 on Official Gazette, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said that the Service and Recruitment contracts for Public Recruitment and Placement Agencies (PRPA) under the Kasambahay Law (Republic Act. No. 10361) has been translated and available into 12 local languages.

In the past few days, I've been receiving a lot of emails asking questions; if article 20 visas of domestic workers can transfer to work permit in the private sector. I received an email from one of our Kabayan, who is a nurse in the Philippines but was hired under article visa 20. She's technically considered as a domestic helper -- not a nurse.

"Filipinos based in Malaysia are urged to complete their immigration documentation and always carry proper identification, such as passports, following the Malaysia government's announcement of a crackdown on undocumented foreign nationals beginning January 21."

Photo via Official Gazette

Philippine Green (Machine Readable-Ready) and Maroon (Machine Ready) Passport are no longer be allowed to apply for validity extension after October 31, 2014, according to a post published in the Official Gazette -- the official journal of the Philippine Government as per the regulations of DFA.

"Per the regulations of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), all non-machine readable passports may no longer be extended beyond October 31, 2015 and must be completely phased out by November 24, 2015."

"All Filipino nationals holding machine readable-ready passports (MRRP; green passports) and machine readable passports (MRP; maroon passports) will no longer be allowed to apply for an extension of the validity of these passports after October 31, 2014."

"They must instead apply for a new e-Passport as soon as possible before the expiry of their current MRRP (green) or MRP (maroon) passports. Those who fail to do so will likely encounter difficulty at immigration checks when traveling through ports of entry around the world after October 2015. Passport holders are also reminded that there are strict rules for applying for an extension of the validity of expiring or expired passports.

• A death in the family requiring the OFW and members of his/her dependent family to urgently travel to the Philippines;
• Medical emergencies requiring the OFW and members of his/her dependent family to urgently travel to the Philippines or another country for medical treatment;
• OFWs returning to their employers abroad with valid employment contracts processed by the POEA; and
• Those going home on final exit visas (for Filipinos in the Middle East).

"In these instances, proof of urgency, such as a copy of the death certificate, medical certificate, valid employment contracts processed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) or any of the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO), along with plane tickets with confirmed flight details should be presented, "DFA said.

No extension for green, maroon passports after October 2014

MANILA – Many Filipinos are still confused about the Department of Foreign Affairs' (DFA) recent announcement on passport renewal as the Philippines complies with the standards set by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

For sure, green (machine-readable-ready only) and maroon (machine-ready only) passports holders will no longer be allowed to apply for extension beyond October 31, 2014.

"Ang hindi na po tatanggapin ng International Civil Aviation Organization ay itong green passport or machine readable-ready passport. Ang minimum standard po ay yung machine-readable, yung maroon," said Assistant Secretary Wilfredo Santos of the DFA's Consular Affairs.

He said there are only a few green passports still being used.

Santos clarified that maroon (MRP) passports, which the DFA began issuing in 2007, are still valid until the end of its validity period.

"We stopped producing them in 2010 when we implemented the e-passport. But there are still Filipinos who have this passport. Kung hanggang kalian po matapos yan, valid pa po yun," he said.

He, however, advised those whose passports are about to expire in 6 months to apply for an e-passport. This will prevent them from encountering difficulty at immigration checks when traveling through any ports of entry around the world after October 2014.

The DFA, however, can give extend expiring or expired passports under the following instances:

• death in the family requiring the OFW and members of his/her dependent family to urgently travel to the Philippines;

• medical emergencies requiring the OFW and members of his/her dependent family to urgently travel to the Philippines or another country for medical treatment;

• OFWs returning to their employers abroad with valid employment contracts processed by the POEA; and

• those going home on final exit visas (for Filipinos in the Middle East).

"In case of emergency travel, pwede namang i-extend yan at pumunta sa Consular Affairs. Kung urgent travel, we will make the necessary action to renew the passport and allow the traveler to continue with his flight," Santos said.

If your passport was issued starting 2010, it is most likely an e-passport as the DFA began issuing it that year. To distinguish the security enhanced e-passports from other DFA issued travel documents, the former has a square logo of ICAO on the front cover. It is also color maroon but in darker shade than the MRP.

"May chip yan sa likod ng cover ng e-passport na yan na nagko-contain ng biometric," said Santos.

Other than the DFA office in ASEANA Business Park in Paranaque City, the public may now avail passport services in Metro Manila through its satellite offices in Megamall, Robinsons Galleria, SM Manila and at the Alabang Towncenter.

"Ang plano pa po namin ay magbukas sa Cubao sa Ali Mall and hopefully, within the year, sa Novaliches. Ang programa po namin dito ay para mapalapit serbisyo sa mamayan," he said.

Related articles

• About Philippine e-Passport (combinebasic.blogspot.com)
• Holders of handwritten passports asked to apply for machine readable ones (dnaindia.com)
• Electronic passports to be issued for Iraqis in 2015 (iraqinews.com)
• Machine Readable Passport (MRP) - Mandatory (consumerresources.in)
• How to Plan for Travel: Prepping Your Travel Documents (livingordersa.com)

Devina DeDiva and screenshots from her FB racist comments: Scoopboy

We are now living in a world of equal opportunities. It is up to you, how you will make it happen to your life. Slavery, discrimination and racism has long been forgotten since the downfall of Roman Empire down to the last black slave. A racist, discriminating comment is considered idiotic. Only uneducated person can dare crack a racist comment to anyone.

This is the case of Devina Sharma or Devina DeDiva. Sharma posts racist and derogatory comment on her Facebook directed to Megan Young, a Filipino who recently won the "Miss World" title, saying that:

“Miss Philippines is Miss World? What a joke! I did not know those maids have anything else in them Ha Ha Ha.”

What the fuck? What joke is she talking about?

Every woman has equal opportunity to get the title.  Whether she is a Filipino, American, Singaporean or Indian, that is why the pageant is called "Miss World".

As long as you live in this world, even you--"Devina Sharma"-- you can participate. But in my opinion, based on your arrogant comment, you don't belong to this world. You are an alien, therefore, you can not participate.

Sorry for that statement.

Well, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. And I believed Ms. Sharma is invoking her right to freedom of speech. Sharma answered to her Facebook friends that did not agree to her comments by saying,

Those of you who wrote negatively to my comment, I got one question — who are you to stop my words when the world is democratic in freedom of speech?

Ms. Sharma, let me remind you that every freedom you enjoy is affiliated with responsibility. Freedom should not be abused.

This is the time for Megan Young (who happens to be a Filipino) to shine. Let her shine. And before you throw those racist comments, you should have studied yourself. I think you forget who you are. Well, let me remind you.

Ms. Sharma, you are an Indian by blood and was lucky enough to be born in Singapore to become a Singaporean citizen. Filipino and Indian maids work hand-in-hand in cleaning toilets to a Kuwaiti employer here in Kuwait.

Read your own comment here:

They r poor, smelly from cleaning toilets & uneducated... They r less priveleged everywhere! M surprised one can win. What a joke those people cleaning toilets won miss world

Shame on you Ms. Sharma. You are not just bringing shame to your Indian roots but also to your host country Singapore.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Devina DeDiva identity was identified and screenshots from her actual Facebook posts can be viewed here.

(Full disclosure: Retech Son is a Filipino writer and an OFW who used to clean toilets too.)

Related articles

• Beauty, Race, and Politics on the Pageant Circuit (thediplomat.com)


• The 1st Filipina crown as Miss World 2013 (cuterizjoy.wordpress.com)


• DEVINA DEVIVA,PUBLIC APOLOGY? - Miss World 2013 Racis (mariarevilla.wordpress.com)


• Oh the irony; Social Media could get you fired from your job. (ourmediacizedworld.wordpress.com)


• Two Miss Worlds in Hong Kong (normannorman.com)