Sunday, 31 December 2017
Wednesday, 31 December 2014
Wednesday, 24 December 2014
Maligayang Pasko
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| Santa Claus |
Amidst the partying, sumptuous food and gift-giving, please don't forget the real reason for the season---the birth of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! He is the best gift we'll ever get, the most precious possession we'll ever have, and an everlasting truth that will be with us all the days of our lives.
Maligayang Pasko (Tagalog) ... Merry Christmas (English)
Meri Kirihimete ki a koe me te whanau (Maori) ... Felis Pasgua (Guam)
Happy Christmas (New Zealand) ... Maayad na Pasko (Binukid, Bukidnon)
Mapia a Paskua (Cagayan) ... Filis Pasgua (Northern Mariana Islands)
Selamat Hari (Cocos Islands) ... Maayong Paskua (Bisaya)
Maupay nga Pasko (Waray-Waray) ... Happy Christmas (Australia)
Feliz Navidad (Zamboanga) ... Felices Pascua (Chavacano)
Malipayong Pasko (Cebuano) ... Maayo ug bulahan nga Pasko (Cebuano)
Maugmang Kapaskuhan (Bicol) ... Maugmang Pasko sa Indo Gabos (Bicol)
Marayaw na Pasko (Dibabawon) ... Malipayon nga Paskwa (Inakeanon)
Malipayon nga Pascua (Hiligaynon) ... Buenas Pascua (Ilonggo)
Naimbag a Paskuayo (Ilocano) ... Joyeux Noel (New Caledonia)
Naimbag a Pascua (Ilocano) ... Monono ilo raaneoan Neji (Marshall Islands)
Mepiya Pagasaulog (Manobo) ... La ora i te Noera (French Polynesia)
Malipayon nga Paskwa (Inonhan) ... Kilisimasi Fiefia (Tonga)
Madayaw na Pasko (Mansaka) ... Maabig ya Pasko (Pangasinan)
Maligayang Pasko (Sambal) ... Piak Pasko (Subanen)
Malugud Pascu (Kapampangan) ... Ia Manuia Le Kilisimasi (Samoa)
Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas (Papua New Guinea)
Kia orana e kia manuia rava i teia Kiritime (Cook Islands)
Saturday, 16 August 2014
To Jab or Not to Jab
In the beginning, I had a Filipina friend who was our GP. We had no problems with her services even when we were paying $42 as adults and lesser for our children. We even got discounts and freebies from her. It was all smooth sailing, until she decided to move to Australia nearly three years ago. I looked around for her replacement and after much recommendation from our Ka-barangays, I decided to transfer to a much cheaper clinic (more than 50% less than the previous one)!
If you're the head of the family, you'll always try to look for something that will not eat up your budget but still give you quality. It was then that I found out why this clinic was cheaper:
1. most of the time they didn't accept any appointments but just walk-ins and so you couldn't choose the doctor you want to look after you;
2. 80% of the time I visited this clinic, I was made to wait for more than an hour, with a maximum of over three hours one time;
3. 90% of the time I visited this clinic the walk-in list was already full (and it was only 10am) meaning I had to come back in the afternoon, good if I can make an appointment for that afternoon, but hell no, I have to come back and line-up again;
4. 80% of the time I visited this clinic, there was always a scarcity of doctors, and staff was not really that friendly;
5. this clinic advertised they were open even during Saturdays and Sundays, and late at night at that; however, the fee was higher after 5 or 6pm.
In fairness, the doctors in this clinic are quite competent and friendly, with an occasional racist that I've met, not outwardly, but I could feel it, and so was just raring to get out of his consultation room. Will, I recommend this clinic as what my Ka-barangays have done for me? I don't think so, it may be cheaper than the others but at the end of the day, health is wealth, and time is gold!
I'm just hoping that a competitor will come along and wake them up, for sure, I don't like monopolies. It's always nice to have competition because it will always be the customer/client who will benefit from the competition. And yes, you guess it right the clinic is Radius.
Probably next winter, my family will submit ourselves to the jab. But it remains to be seen because there are heaps of pros and cons about this.
Thursday, 31 July 2014
Several Things in Common
I attended a birthday party last night, the son of my wife's workmate. He just turned 17 and so he had his own group of teenager friends who were present. The sumptuous food was made up of dishes from all regions of the Philippines showing the diversity of culture in the dining table. Aside from us Filipinos, also present were Kiwi and Maori workmates, with the latter really appreciative of the culinary taste of the Filipinos. It also helped that they've been exposed to the kinds of food we have whenever my wife and her Filipino workmates would bring home food to work for their lunch. We seem to have a lot in common with the Maoris in terms of family relationships, food, customs and traditions, and many others.
Thursday, 24 July 2014
Q&A - Maricel Weischede
Maricel Weischede is the Founder and Managing Director of the NZ Immigration Help Service Limited (NZIHS), a professional immigration consultancy company, with its head office in Auckland and branches in key cities in the Philippines. Immigration consultants/agents have to be licensed in order for them to practise. This guarantees that potential migrants will not be duped. Maricel is in the unique position of adding and contributing to the country's economy by facilitating the entry of skilled migrants and international students.
Q: What's the inspiration behind your business?
A: When I started NZIHS, there was no business intent but rather the noble desire to help. I found myself helping a few people with their queries, doubts and uncertainty in 2004, which morphed into being a full time desire to make significance in other people's lives. I am inspired to do good and make a difference in other people's lives. When I see people succeed, I am triumphant.
Q: What has been a challenge while building your business and how did you manage it?
A: I started 10 years ago, it is the same period when I was building my young family so the challenges are trying to manage the demands of family life with domestic concerns, with building the business and career. I managed it with having a good support system, like my parents and siblings who allowed to travel overseas, spend significant time working and assurance that they're behind me; My husband who have given me the space to study further qualifications in immigration, law and the like, and supported me directly by joining me after a few years. He has provided the business the solid operations and organisational support and more importantly, by being blessed with people. My NZIHS team who have helped me through achieve what I have built through the years.
Q: Name three people, dead or alive, you'll like to have dinner with, and why?
A: I want to have dinner with Bo Sanchez and just spend significant time listening and praying with me. I listen to him almost every night and it would be an honour to have an exclusive dinner with him. I also want to have dinner with my Grandma, who passed away when I was 9 years old. I feel the urge to have an adult conversation with her and tell her how in my young age (before she died), she influenced me to do exceptionally good in whatever I desire. Lastly and more importantly, I want to have the opportunity to have a meal with God casually and thank him for all that He has given me. I want to be able to embrace Him afterwards and tell Him how grateful I am for everything.
Q: Are you a cat or dog person, and why?
A: I love cats but not as a pet. Thus, I confine my fancy to Hello Kitty. I have three dogs: one choco-brown Labrador named Daisy and two Chihuahua's named Jack 'n Jill. In the Philippines, I have an askal called Muning. I love dogs because I love loyalty, I love stability and they are like families.
Q: Where in NZ is the place you can call as your sanctuary, and why?
A: I go to Bombay Convent to have a silent retreat for a day or two. I do this every year, twice if I needed to. This makes me sane. The opportunity of being away from the buzz gives me time to step back, look things from afar, reflect, pray and just sit still and let inspiration and plans flow.
Q: Something not many people know about you?
A: I am shy. I love seeing other people succeed. I rejoice with happy endings. I am a cry baby.
Q: If you could travel back in time, where and when would it be, and why?
A: I love the medieval time. I love to be able to walk through that era. I want to see how it was before and make a significant contribution that people (now) would look back now.
Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: Finish my law degree. Do corporate/commercial/family law. Train future immigration advisers who would like to help genuinely.
The contact details of NZ Immigration Help Service Ltd. are:
20 Highfields Terrace, Henderson Heights, Auckland, NZ 0612
Phone: +64 9 8364935 and +64 9 8364940
Fax: +64 9 8364932
Toll Free within NZ: 0800 NZ1 HELP
Email: newzealand@nzimmigrationhelpservice.com
Tuesday, 22 July 2014
Q&A - Cez Tan, Island Joe's Hawaiian BBQ
Cez Tan is the owner of Island Joe's a special restaurant in Onehunga, Auckland. She kindly accepted my Q&A. This is another instance of a migrant getting into business and adding diversity to the Kiwi palate. I've never been to Island Joe's but the people who've been there have glowing praises and recommendations. You'll notice that barbeque is spelt with a "q" just like how it's written in the American language. Whether it's a c or q it is still a tasty meal. I'll definitely make this a must-stop next time I'm in Auckland.
Q: What's the inspiration behind your business?
A: My favourite hobby is cooking and I've always wanted to try my hand at setting up a restaurant. When the opportunity rose, I had to grab it. Filipino food has always been the underdog in the international food scene when compared to Chinese, Thai, Japanese and other Asian cuisines but I know that our barbeque is far superior if only people can taste it. The popularity of Hawaiian Barbeque in America gave me the idea to set-up a similar concept given that the original Hawaiian BBQ chain was co-founded by a Filipino thereby accounting for the Filipino influence. Hawaiian cuisine is a mix of Asian, Polynesian and American food and our menu reflects this.
Q: What has been a challenge while building your business and how did you manage it?
A: The challenge has been to introduce our food, which is quite new to the Kiwi palate, to the general populace and not only to Filipinos. We are slowly building up our non-Filipino customer base by word-of-mouth and participating in events like Pasifika. Unfortunately, we don't have the resources to do a marketing blitz. So we rely largely on people trying our food and loving it and inviting others to try.
Q: Name three people, dead or alive, you'll like to have dinner with, and why?
A: Simon Gault - I'd like to get his input as to how to get people to try our food. Kim Dotcom - he would be an interesting person to talk to and also I might be able to convince him to invest in the restaurant business, ha ha ha. Richie McCaw - I would love for him to try our food and endorse it.
Q: Are you a cat or dog person, and why?
A: Probably a cat, I'm not as sociable as a dog. Although I like meeting people, I prefer one-on-one interactions rather than crowds.
Q: Where in NZ is the place you can call as your sanctuary, and why?
A: My house, where else would you feel relaxed and free? When you get home from work, you can just sit in your deck and listen to bird songs.
Q: Something not many people know about you?
A: I'm very loyal to true friends.
Q: If you could travel back in time, where and when would it be, and why?
A: Nowhere. If I change a thing in the past, I might not end up in NZ, and I don't want to be anywhere else at this point in time.
Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: Have a chain of Island Joe's here and abroad.
There you have it ladies and gentlemen. It's definitely a place to check out in Onehunga, Auckland. With technology, the present world is now smaller, with almost all parts discovered. It's time to explore and discover the next world, Food From Many Nations.
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