tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88635146280828478062024-03-05T19:56:23.925+08:00USMLE: My Ticket Out of the Philippines(Notes From an Angry Filipino Doctor)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863514628082847806.post-5449915953288366162007-06-04T19:03:00.000+08:002007-06-04T19:56:16.418+08:00USMLE STEP 2CK SCORE: 254/99It's been a long wait but it's definitely worth every minute. My score for USMLE Step 2 CK finally arrived a few days back. As promised, I'd be sharing with you the things i did to get this score. Again, there would be no specifics regarding the exam. Hope this helps though.<br /><br />I had a total of around two and a half months, full-time preparation for this exam.<br /><br />RESOURCES I USED:<br />Kaplan Reviewers<br />Kaplan Videos<br />Crush Step 2<br />First Aid<br />QUESTION BANK: USMLEworld (I did not use the Qbook of Kaplan)<br /><br />First 2 weeks:<br />Did first read of Kaplan books<br /><br />Next 2 weeks:<br />Did the Videos while taking down notes on the books<br /><br />Next 2 weeks:<br />USMLEworld - did three 46-item exams every morning for 2 weeks (alternating timed and untimed mode)<br />Read First Aid in the afternoon<br /><br />Last 2 weeks:<br />Read Kaplan books while taking down random notes of things that I might forget<br /><br />3 days before the Exam:<br />Read Crush Step 2<br /><br />Day before the exam:<br />Read the random notes I made for each subject<br /><br />THOUGHTS ABOUT THE EXAM:<br />As in one of my previous posts, if there’s a single word that would accurately describe the exam, it’s got to be “VAGUE.” Not all questions, but most, would definitely keep you hanging.<br /><br />For the majority of the questions, what I told myself is, “given this case, based on my readings and my past experiences, this is what I would do.” The thing is, there is no guarantee that what I might think as the right option would coincide with the question maker’s answer.<br /><br />All in all, this is really quite different compared with Step 1. In step 1, it’s either you know the correct answer or you don’t. It’s that simple. In this exam, you’ll be hoping that your answer matches what the question maker had in mind.<br /><br />The best tip I could give you guys is to use USMLEworld. USMLEworld is definitely a must for this exam. Don't do it only to assess what you know though. Take the time to read the explanations and check out why they answered the questions the way they did. Understand their "line of thinking." This would be a very big help for the very vague questions I was ranting about.<br /><br />Well that's it, I guess. Goodluck guys!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863514628082847806.post-10744526963556001772007-05-23T10:35:00.000+08:002007-05-23T10:51:47.204+08:00USMLE: STEP2CS CALENDARAs of writing, the following are the EARLIEST available dates on which you can schedule USMLE Step 2CS for the following areas:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrM75pvJCfGfEYdme3O0FPuT8iRWhYZKOPphcL4r4ASU6lsihI6bO-ccm0n110IhozEqP0-YPdCgo7myTZpJC6R62kRdK8c7lI4_tLkK8sFAXVd_7QHGUsu3J6NsvzMfY22i8ttvsrczMF/s1600-h/Philadelphia.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067579931663410450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrM75pvJCfGfEYdme3O0FPuT8iRWhYZKOPphcL4r4ASU6lsihI6bO-ccm0n110IhozEqP0-YPdCgo7myTZpJC6R62kRdK8c7lI4_tLkK8sFAXVd_7QHGUsu3J6NsvzMfY22i8ttvsrczMF/s320/Philadelphia.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />PHILADELPHIA: November 27, 2007<br />ATLANTA: November 4, 2007<br />LOS ANGELES: October 15,2007<br />CHICAGO: November 13,2007<br />HOUSTON: October 23, 2007<br /><br />The number of dates available becomes less and less as each day goes by. Remember that inability to take Step 2CS by December 31, 2007 disqualifies you from joining the 2008 match.<br /><br />Goodluck guys!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863514628082847806.post-64321882325216105032007-05-22T11:51:00.000+08:002007-05-22T14:06:29.326+08:00MAKING MONEY WITH GOOGLE ADSENSEFor the past days, I have been attempting to monetize this site. Google adsense seemed to be a logical choice.<br /><br />It’s a simple but, by no means, an easy way to earn money from the net. It is simple in the sense that all you have to do is register and you’re good to go. This is especially true if you are using Blogger where you just add the ads using widgets. <br /><br />You can choose from Adsense for CONTENT, for SEARCH, and for REFERRAL or you may put all of them on your blog within the limits, of course, of the terms and conditions of Google. So, before anything else, better make sure that you read those conditions carefully to avoid being permanently banned from obtaining its services. <br /><br />The very big problem is <strong>how the heck would you "convince" your readers to click on the ads without asking them to. </strong> Ah! Now, that’s the dilemma. Unfortunately, there’s no clear cut answer to this.<br /><br />There are some steps to make your ads a little more reader friendly, however. Then, it’s up to your readers. All you can do is cross your fingers and hope for the best.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863514628082847806.post-49508803678361411432007-05-22T11:40:00.000+08:002007-05-22T11:41:06.867+08:00BLOG REALIZATIONSIt’s been quite a bit since I first entered the blogosphere. I can still remember my first steps into it. Most of them fell on pot holes, however. <br /> I spent some time to think about where I went wrong. I thought about things I should have and should not have done and so here I am with a few of my realizations: <br /><br />a) Nobody really wants to read about sob stories <br /> There I was pouring my heart out about how crazy politics is, how I missed my cat and how I hated vegetables but no one seemed to care. After some thought, I realized I couldn’t blame them. After all, we each have our own problems and listening to someone rant about how pathetic his existence is would most definitely not be a good way to spend time when you could have been learning how to get a better job or even how to improve your blog. <br /> Instead, work on how to make your blog more enjoyable. This is probably the reason why I, as well as a lot of readers, keep on returning to Kumiko’s page (See Link).<br /> <br />b) Blogging is a lot of hard work<br /> Sure, you just fill a blank screen with your ideas and then it’s done. It’s that simple, huh? Then what? Of course you would want others to read about your stuff. How to this is the hard part. Traffic is a key element to sustain a blog. Without it, most blogs just wither and die. <br /> <br />c) A lot of luck is involved<br /> Out of the many blogs out there, nobody can really tell which ones would be successful. For instance, a lot a blogs may cover a particular area but by some weird chance, it’s your blog that John Chow saw first, liked and eventually linked. Lucky you! A lot of luck is definitely involved. Any blogger who would say otherwise would most probably be lying. <br /><br />d) Most importantly, if money is your primary objective, blogging becomes so darn difficult<br /> This is probably the biggest mistake I made. I was blogging for the sole purpose of making money. I can still remember how it would hurt to have written so hard and at the end of the day discover that you’ve earned a total of $0.00. Ouch! Remember, though, that if you write right, money will come.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863514628082847806.post-15436547066625482152007-05-22T11:15:00.000+08:002007-05-22T11:20:12.988+08:00MONEY MAKING QUEST WITH KUMIKO<a href="http://www.cashquests.com"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qJhWGlzJ6ZLcS1nfPU5olxpTcxZnz5REyc5bvAPwPJ3nTQw31_N_UhKOcAoLEOcQLd_deuFQRNApxmXzuXXuXldVin613jwunp-cGJ9KBcViEGQ7hMl8mrXnwFRsD-tHdi18rkwaK0xa/s320/kumikoscashquest.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067219025561527554" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.cashquests.com">KUMIKO’S CASH QUEST</a> is one of the very first sites I stumbled upon while searching for money on the net. And I am very fortunate, indeed, to have done so. <br /><br />She makes blogging and money making a lot more fun with her unconventional thinking. You will definitely learn a lot from this site. This is especially true if you’re looking for alternatives to earning with Google Adsense. The site is a bit too pink for me though; but it will grow on you. <br /><br />All in all, it’s definitely one site that I would recommend to every one determined to find money on the Internet.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863514628082847806.post-46463207111266312442007-05-14T10:12:00.000+08:002007-05-14T10:13:43.243+08:00USMLE: THOUGHTS AFTER STEP 2CKI took Step 2 CK a few days back; and if there’s a single word that would accurately describe the exam, it’s got to be “VAGUE.” Not all questions, but most, would definitely keep you hanging.<br /><br />For the majority of the questions, what I told myself is, “given this case, based on my readings and my past experiences, this is what I would do.” The thing is, there is no guarantee that what I might think as the right option would coincide with the question maker’s answer.<br /><br />All in all, this is really quite different compared with Step 1. In step 1, it’s either you know the correct answer or you don’t. It’s that simple. In this exam, you’ll be hoping that your answer matches what the question maker had in mind. <br /><br />Oh well, I know I prepared hard, aimed for the sky, and studied right for this exam so let’s just hope for the best!<br /><br />I will be posting my score and how I prepared for Step 2 CK. That is, if it’s worth posting. Hehehe.<br /><br />Goodluck to us!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863514628082847806.post-70164863493075539712007-05-11T21:15:00.000+08:002007-05-12T07:38:57.471+08:00USMLE: IMGs Participating in 2008 Match Should Register for Step 2 CS NowInternational medical students/ graduates, including participants/ graduates of Fifth Pathway programs, who need to pass Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) to participate in the 2008 Match (in March 2008) are strongly encouraged to register now for Step 2 CS. At the time of this writing, the earliest available test date at any test center was in August 2007. If you do not take Step 2 CS by December 31, 2007, your result will not be available in time to participate in the 2008 Match.<br /><br />- ECFMG (As of April 30, 2007)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863514628082847806.post-63046355449555627702007-05-11T20:43:00.001+08:002007-05-11T21:00:21.946+08:00TATSULOK by Bamboo<table align="center"><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/m6FR3RcW9bg"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/m6FR3RcW9bg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="370" height="370"></embed></object></table>“Habang may tatsulok at sila ang nasa tuktok, hindi matatapos itong gulo!” Indeed, very appropriate for the election season.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863514628082847806.post-82902865884742551912007-05-08T10:21:00.000+08:002007-05-08T19:00:07.969+08:00USMLE: STEPS I DID FOR STEP 11) Got to know USMLE<br />In every battle such as this exam, it is very important to get to know what you are up against. After all, knowing what you are to face decreases the anxiety and increases the likelihood of success. So that’s exactly what I did. I read about it on the internet. I went to the official site as well as various forums. And, there are indeed, a lot of forums out there so better choose wisely (I listed some of them under USMLE LINKS). I also asked friends who already took the exam regarding materials to read and how much study time it would take. The bottom line is you should get to know USMLE. <br /><br />2) Set my goal<br />“If you aim for the sky, should you fall, you’ll fall on the roof; but if you aim just for the roof, when you fall, you’ll fall on the ground.” This had been my motto ever since I heard this line some years back and it has definitely worked for me. Thus, I’m sharing it again. Needless to say, I aimed for a 99 <br /><br />3) Checked out what other people did to get a 99<br />I visited the different forums on the net, browsed through different topics and filtered out everything that does not say 99 on it. Then I checked out what they did. If they got a 99, I can do it too. It’s just a matter of adequate preparation using the right materials. <br /><br />4) Made Step 1 my priority for a little less than 3 months<br /><br />5) Became familiar with the type of questions that may be encountered in the exam <br />Sometimes, it’s not about just knowing what to answer. It definitely helps if you understand how the questions are constructed and what it is exactly that they are asking. I used the Qbook from Kaplan but their questions were nowhere near the type of questions on the actual exam. The test-taking guide chapter was quite helpful though. USMLEworld questions seemed to work for some.<br /><br /><br />You too can get a 99!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863514628082847806.post-64435231834298497512007-05-03T16:39:00.000+08:002007-05-22T11:40:26.483+08:00USMLE: MY TICKET OUT OF THE PHILIPPINESBefore entering med school, quite a number of people had nothing but discouraging words. “You’ll go through a lot of hard times,” they say, before I reach success should I pursue a career in medicine. I still got in… idealistic fool. <br /><br />I never really thought of using my medical career to profit anyway. I never really thought of getting rich by being a doctor. I wanted to make this my vocation and not merely a profession. But this is just ridiculous. <br /><br />It’s only now that I get what they were trying to say. <br /><br />I spent 4 years in premed and then another 5 years for medicine proper, graduated with honors plus some more academic accolades. All those years of hardwork, sweat, tears and yes, even blood…<br /><br />A medical resident is currently paid somewhere between P8,000-P15,000 (about $160-$300) per month here in the Philippines. <br /><br />Wish I had gone into Information Technology or some other computer course where my brains could have produced more tangible results, at least monetarywise. But I became a doctor. <br /><br />I never thought that I would regret being a physician. <br /><br />It’s worthwhile and even emotionally rewarding to help relieve someone’s aches or get rid of one’s disease but at the end of the day, who’s there to take care of doctors. What about my own aches? <br /><br />And so, the decision has been made. I have to get out of the Philippines and bring my medicine elsewhere - where it may be better appreciated. I have to go out before my regret becomes complete.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863514628082847806.post-56078399354747645492007-05-01T10:16:00.000+08:002007-05-01T23:48:31.127+08:00USMLE: IMPORTANT DATES GIVEN BY ECFMG/ ERAS FOR THE PREVIOUS RESIDENCY MATCH<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41dgp7frWk2y5sekoqmjLlAgblZyX8YuYAmOCHTzPplsIWOwEJu805jXS7IVMpHdHaRehtkF9cms1SCTgmQ2nWW8Bpa83tm5kwOOVBbrH-Nbf2_HyyHt_wB-8lEwlhJtkmgENa5fMa6u9/s1600-h/calendar.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059413038196965250" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41dgp7frWk2y5sekoqmjLlAgblZyX8YuYAmOCHTzPplsIWOwEJu805jXS7IVMpHdHaRehtkF9cms1SCTgmQ2nWW8Bpa83tm5kwOOVBbrH-Nbf2_HyyHt_wB-8lEwlhJtkmgENa5fMa6u9/s200/calendar.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>These are some important dates given for the PREVIOUS (2007) residency match by ECFMG/ ERAS. I assuming that, more or less, the dates would be the same for the 2008 match. So, might as well get your pens writing and have your LORs, personal statements, MSPEs/ Dean’s Letter, CVs ready by now.<br /><br />JUN 29, 2006<br />Applicants will be able to update their e-mail and mailing addresses, request Tokens, and pay for Tokens on-line using OASIS.<br /><br />JUN 30, 2006<br />ECFMG will begin to generate Tokens for all applicants who have made the $75 payment.<br /><br />JUL 1, 2006<br />MyERAS opens. Once you have registered, you can start sending your supporting documents to ECFMG.<br /><br />JUL 6, 2006<br />ECFMG will continue to process Token requests every business day to fulfill requests entered and paid for during the previous business day.<br /><br />AUG 15, 2006<br />Registration for the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), or "the Match", opens on the NRMP website<br /><br />SEP 1, 2006<br />The ERAS PostOffice opens. You can start transmitting your Common Application Form (CAF), Profile, and Personal Statement(s) to the ERAS PostOffice.<br /><br /><br />Goodluck guys!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863514628082847806.post-62911569442047146662007-04-29T09:30:00.000+08:002007-05-01T10:28:36.711+08:00USMLE STEP 1 SCORE: 248/99. YOU CAN DO IT TOO!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNASujsm49bL21bo6d7DfdwqMeNHz_XPLZjEmoM_pBxn36HIFxJQwz2gl1MswdLO9t7Svyk7Rek-MuTsQXpWjH57RGQvEviJ2QZuIBbymX0ftmAyR6Efj_jsH2Fs39rgwXaPbvY640-AJ/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058657115362934642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNASujsm49bL21bo6d7DfdwqMeNHz_XPLZjEmoM_pBxn36HIFxJQwz2gl1MswdLO9t7Svyk7Rek-MuTsQXpWjH57RGQvEviJ2QZuIBbymX0ftmAyR6Efj_jsH2Fs39rgwXaPbvY640-AJ/s200/images.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>On a much much lighter note, I finally got my USMLE Step 1 result a few weeks back. Got 248/99! Woohoo! Needless to say, all my hard work indeed had paid off. I got a lot of help, though, both direct and indirect.<br /><br />Visiting different forums about USMLE on the net opened my mind to a lot of things. At first, I completely had no idea what the test was about, where to start, what materials to get and how to go about in doing my review. The different USMLE forums had such much needed information. After all, knowing what you are up against decreases the anxiety and increases the likelihood of success.<br /><br />The most important information for me, however, was that “getting a 99 is very much doable,” a feat which at first I thought was remotely possible. Quite a number of people are actually getting this score. This means that as long as you prepare right, especially if you’ve got the right attitude, you’ll get the right score. After all, isn’t it that “if you aim for the sky, should you fall, you’ll fall on the roof but if you aim just for the roof, when you fall, you’ll fall on the ground.”<br /><br />And so I’m posting this note to inspire those about to take the same exam, to relieve some anxiety and most of all, to tell you guys that you can get a 99 on Step 1 if you really wanted to.<br /><br /><br />PREPARATION FOR THE EXAM<br /><br />I’m bound by rules not to divulge the specifics of the exam so I’ll just tell you how I prepared for it. I had a total of around 3 months worth of preparation for this exam. I studied full time usually 8 hours per day and used the following materials:<br /><br />BOOKS:<br />Kaplan Review Books (Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology and Immunology, Behavioral Science)<br />Kaplan Videos<br />First Aid 2006<br /><br />QBANK:<br />I just used Qbook<br /><br />MY SCHEDULE:<br /><br />First 28 days<br />Read Kaplan Review Books<br />Allotted around 4 days per subject<br /><br />Next 22 days<br />Did Kaplan videos while taking down notes on the Review Books<br />Allotted 3-4 days per subject<br /><br />Next 3 days<br />Read First Aid<br /><br />Next 5 days<br />Did Qbook<br /><br />Next 21-28 days<br />Did my third read of Kaplan textbooks (3-4 days per subject) while putting random notes on paper per subject. I took special attention to things I might forget.<br /><br />Next 2 days<br />Did second read of First Aid<br /><br />2 days before the exam<br />Did FRED sample exams<br /><br />The day before the exam:<br />Reviewed the random notes I made for each subject<br />Reviewed 1st 50 pages of Qbook (Test-taking Guide Chapter)<br /><br /><br />THOUGHTS AFTER TAKING THE EXAM:<br /><br />Step 1 was a fair exam - fair but nonetheless quite a tough exam. It was actually a lot harder than I anticipated it to be. The Philippine Physician Licensure Exam is nothing compared to it in terms of level of difficulty. And waiting for the result wasn’t a bit easy either. I didn’t imagine a mere six weeks of waiting could feel that long. In fact, the anxiety got to me to the point that doing the “Oasis Trick” seemed to be a reasonable thing to do just to know if I passed. I guess feeling low after the exam is but normal. It helps to think, however, that you did all that you can and you’ll reap what you deserve.<br /><br />Looking back, the exam was, indeed hard but doable as long as you make preparing for it your number one priority at least for three months. The exam had a bit of everything and the questions required in-depth understanding of basic science principles. Kaplan Review Books plus the videos were enough. It’s actually more than enough, to cover all bases so to speak. UNDERSTANDING and REPETITION are essential. First Aid was very helpful as a sort of consolidation of all the information you acquired during the past weeks of study especially during the few days prior to the exam. </div><div><br />Well that’s it, I guess. I’m off to prepare for my next step… </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863514628082847806.post-46988587470421097412007-04-28T16:50:00.000+08:002007-04-28T16:59:54.523+08:00MY PIED PIPER (by swirl_MD)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07hGw1P2xzIOmjEA3zGqjr80JhyphenhyphenP5xDpaSfgoIRVhxo_MUaBPSMauIXCcXmdtAfP8CRYRELau7mAylLfQ9ZdCLEMJIJmXNYqvgFeL9zS7C4W8HaU_2l6LbAnjmgYcOavYyi2pyRhf9sW1/s1600-h/pied.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058400796009676642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07hGw1P2xzIOmjEA3zGqjr80JhyphenhyphenP5xDpaSfgoIRVhxo_MUaBPSMauIXCcXmdtAfP8CRYRELau7mAylLfQ9ZdCLEMJIJmXNYqvgFeL9zS7C4W8HaU_2l6LbAnjmgYcOavYyi2pyRhf9sW1/s200/pied.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>it started with an instinct<br />like placing a foot in front of the other<br />little steps which bore a thousand miles<br />and I awoke not knowing where I am<br />utterly lost in the familiarity of hospital beds<br />and needing<br />following a nameless tune that prods me<br />to heed a call I cannot deny<br />the music plays on and I stumble<br />fall behind<br />trying to glimpse a pied piper<br />who leads me<br />to drown</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863514628082847806.post-36301982063682347072007-04-28T07:27:00.000+08:002007-04-28T10:04:37.409+08:00STRONGER PESO… WHAT DOES IT MEAN?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlxO-PvTSdG5fXhaK-ZifqFxAnWlTM6D9ivgYyG2YC_j_Exz8jceHgCiyXuInsRiRZsohlrUJ63Vv88vEfSNYo5F5lPP6muX5meFAbaYunrZcIEnPuDrYECItvZMUiI0Vhu-7hxIOEJWr/s1600-h/PESO.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058256102856441666" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlxO-PvTSdG5fXhaK-ZifqFxAnWlTM6D9ivgYyG2YC_j_Exz8jceHgCiyXuInsRiRZsohlrUJ63Vv88vEfSNYo5F5lPP6muX5meFAbaYunrZcIEnPuDrYECItvZMUiI0Vhu-7hxIOEJWr/s200/PESO.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The Philippine peso had definitely become a lot stronger during the past months. From a record high of P56-57 to a dollar a number of months back, it has currently remained between P48-49 per dollar. This is definitely a great improvement. Seems like very good news, huh?! But to me it’s not (as expected).<br /><br />Does this really mean that our country’s economy is improving? If so, why can’t I see any tangible proof of this so-called improvement? Why is it that wherever you might look, you’ll still see poverty?<br /><br />Have we really done it or have we just convinced some foreign investors that we Filipinos work for a cost far less than the average laborer and as such, they would get a lot more bang for every buck they’d invest should they decide to bring their business to our land?<br /><br />On the other hand, could this be just a sign that more and more Filipinos have made the right choice and have gotten out of here?<br /><br />This for me is the more likely scenario. More and more overseas Filipino workers are working their butts off abroad to ensure a better future for their families back home. And by doing so, also indirectly help increase the dollar reserves of the country thereby producing a stronger peso.<br /><br />What do these OFWs get in return for sending home their hard-earned dollars, however? The answer is, less value for every dollar they worked for. It’s not enough to be called “bagong bayani,” you know. They too have mouths to feed. And less money means less everything for their next of kin.<br /><br />Indeed, there is a direct correlation between the number of Filipinos abroad and the value of the Philippine peso. For whatever reason, though, a stronger peso does not necessarily equate with an improved economy. All we’ve got is a stronger peso.<br /><br />So what does a stronger Philippine peso mean to me?<br />1) We have again, for the nth time, undervalued the skills of our Filipino workers in exchange for foreign investment<br />2) More and more Filipinos have decided to look abroad for a future they could not find here.<br />3) Less value for every dollar hard earned by our OFWs aka “bagong bayani”</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863514628082847806.post-90796821047705786882007-04-26T12:52:00.000+08:002007-05-08T18:48:24.887+08:00POLITICS, POLITICS AND MORE POLITICS<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuz3s1QOjO8GcHfr_AlTcjWlAZp-xBsKcxSjI1SKYVgRCXwBETk1BhqGS_NdzpL-1QC3TbD_W7seXUODRXPWw0Zsmzu3p-yc-NQAd5CgzQUA7yTdW4E9wm4wCFI-ulRqkLNNYhg_m224P/s1600-h/eleksiyon2007.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057595674325270322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuz3s1QOjO8GcHfr_AlTcjWlAZp-xBsKcxSjI1SKYVgRCXwBETk1BhqGS_NdzpL-1QC3TbD_W7seXUODRXPWw0Zsmzu3p-yc-NQAd5CgzQUA7yTdW4E9wm4wCFI-ulRqkLNNYhg_m224P/s200/eleksiyon2007.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Politics in the Philippines has always been dirty, corrupt, fraudulent, evil, immoral, etc. Whatever terrible word you can conceive, indeed, that defines politics in this country. And there is no reason not to believe that this coming election would not bring about any positive change compared to the previous ones. It’s been the same every three or six years that you can actually make accurate predictions regarding its outcome.<br /><br />Here are a few of mine:<br />1) Traditional politicians will once again lay claim to some, if not all of the available seats of power. Your great great grandfathers would have been very proud of how well you handle the country’s economy… Oh wait, I meant to say the country’s money. By the way, that’s really a nice car you’re driving. Don’t forget though that my hard-earned money paid for one of your wheels.<br />2) There’s a great chance that we’ll be seeing some new faces in the government line up - new faces, yet old and not unfamiliar to the limelight. Let’s see how well they can act out intelligence.<br />3) Opposition will become pro-administration and pro-administration people will become opposition a few seconds after the election. Whose side are you really on anyway? Of course, the side that is winning... at the moment.<br />4) Some foolish candidate will cry “I’ve been cheated.” Or is it “I’ve been out-cheated” if there’s such word. Better luck cheating next time. You’ve got another three years to practice.<br /><br />I used to think that the voter’s intelligence had something to do with the poor outcome of our elections and that setting the limit of those who can vote to people with IQ’s above 100 would make a significant difference. This seemed to be a very bright idea at first. But now, I think otherwise.<br /><br />Yes, we’ve got to vote wisely but the fact is, it’s really up to the dude we elect whether he’s going to fulfill or not his promise. For instance, I voted for this candidate only to realize that he would live up to his name - a joke. Needless to say I won’t be voting for him again. He has done exactly nothing from my point of view. Someone please tell him “Bad Ka” at politics. All I see is a lizard and not the dragon that he claims to be. And he is but one of the very numerous examples of seemingly good choices who eventually end up as disappointments.<br /><br />Is there hope yet for our country’s politicians? I don’t think so. “Habang may tatsulok at sila ang nasa tuktok, hindi matatapos itong gulo!” <br /><br />…Yet another reason to love the Philippines so much… (The word of the day is sarcasm.) </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863514628082847806.post-89690313882440897322007-04-25T16:37:00.000+08:002007-05-08T18:47:21.393+08:00REPRIMAND ALL TAXI DRIVERS… AND BUS DRIVERS… AND JEEPNEY DRIVERS TOO… AND DID I MENTION TAXI DRIVERS?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNAVJycUcuI1LWcXCTB2UFyfnRYAQZ9IOake8xSLjOG1LF5Vqk5e68H0l2otWeoQqwUtSRrOF4CM7Z0GdUF8mf_FpA54SrRGfT9Zyzxefuw43U_8oddVnOhjSHg253kLNQ8BboFIuEQql/s1600-h/manila_traffic_jam.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057515659084545810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNAVJycUcuI1LWcXCTB2UFyfnRYAQZ9IOake8xSLjOG1LF5Vqk5e68H0l2otWeoQqwUtSRrOF4CM7Z0GdUF8mf_FpA54SrRGfT9Zyzxefuw43U_8oddVnOhjSHg253kLNQ8BboFIuEQql/s200/manila_traffic_jam.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>What is it with drivers of public transportation in the Philippines nowadays? Those alleged “kings of the roads” who tyrannically act as if they really do own every bit of street their tires touch. <br /><br />If you drive almost every day of your life, you’d probably understand what the hell I’m talking about and you might even agree.<br /><br />Pedestrians as well could attest to these experiences.<br /><br />Have you ever been cut off by a speeding cab? Have you ever had the experience of almost being sideswiped by a jeepney? Have you ever been involved in an accident with these lower life forms? Hopefully not, but chances are your answer will be yes to all of these questions. Why do we tolerate this?<br /><br />What are these unruly, undisciplined, reckless, (bleep! bleep!) drivers doing on our streets. Why are they allowed to do such despicable acts of rudeness and total disrespect for other drivers, not to mention pedestrians? It may have been ok if one or two do such. After all, there’s always one or even a couple of bad apples in a group. But the fact of the matter is, all of them are this way. I guarantee that there are no exceptions to this allegation.<br /><br />I used to say “squatter kasi, kaya squatter din ang ugali.” It’s a bit judgmental but it’s the truth. I just don’t get how these drivers could do such things and then after a few seconds act as if nothing had happened and worse, get away with it.<br /><br />It’s in their blood I guess. These people were probably born lacking a gene that codes for respect for other people including pedestrians and other drivers alike. On the other hand, hours, days, months or more likely years of driving may have shaken up their brain cells too much making them totally incapable of realizing that they could hurt people with their reckless driving; and most of the time, they actually do. Or maybe they’ve got mush for brains in the first place.<br /><br />However unfortunate their situation may be, these idiots should not be allowed to roam our streets.<br /><br />Why are the police and traffic enforcers not doing anything about this? They are probably asleep in some shaded area or simply keeping their eyes on some private vehicle and waiting for him to commit a traffic violation. And traffic violations mean extra money in the pockets of these jerks. Or they may tell you, no harm was done anyway. It was a near miss after all. Stupid people! Well that’s another story.<br /><br />What does it take to get a driver’s license nowadays anyway? Don’t they get to be tested if they are psychologically sound or sane enough to drive? Well in my opinion, they should. You might as well throw in a crash course on road courtesy while you’re at it.<br /><br />…Another reason to be proud of the Philippines huh!? (with sarcasm on top)<br />…Another reason why I can’t wait to get out of the Philippines…</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863514628082847806.post-9494494580780183002007-04-25T09:53:00.000+08:002007-05-22T11:39:59.915+08:00CAN’T WAIT TO FINALLY GET OUT OF THE PHILIPPINES<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JMMpFJs-Tljv_xtL6g88Ot__bAAR0tDeR8hR07ZvEkGVBaDvqO7gTuayG5kOcHyuB5RQp58UgItpBCWy8ilAiXYg5v8cvw12avVeNl-XA7DftjSY46-e_7zXdzlAmwRjuu5qODSR3nLs/s1600-h/flag2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057518236064923426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JMMpFJs-Tljv_xtL6g88Ot__bAAR0tDeR8hR07ZvEkGVBaDvqO7gTuayG5kOcHyuB5RQp58UgItpBCWy8ilAiXYg5v8cvw12avVeNl-XA7DftjSY46-e_7zXdzlAmwRjuu5qODSR3nLs/s200/flag2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>This will be a series of not so good experiences in my life living in the Philippines.<br /><br />Come to think of it, besides Manny Pacquiao and Boracay, there is nothing that we could really be proud of as Filipinos. I think a lot will agree with me on this. Don’t you? Come on, don’t kid yourself. I am 100% sure that at least once you have thought that life would have been much much better if you were born not as a Filipino or at least if you were in some rich foreign land and earning maybe ten or twenty times as much as you are earning here.<br /><br />With all that brains and talent, would you really settle for the Philippines - a country asking so much and yet not at all willing to give what’s due you? Don’t get me wrong though, some people get paid well here. That is, if you are an actor or a politician or an actor-politician.<br /><br />No wonder so many Filipinos are abroad, where their work is appreciated and their worth recognized.<br /><br />Given the chance, I too would definitely board the first plane outta here and choose a better life outside.<br /><br />Can we ever stop Filipinos from seeking better fortune abroad? I don’t think so, not unless we all become actors or politicians or actor-politicians.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0