This post is long over due. I was organizing my hard disk when I saw the pictures and realized that I haven't posted an entry about my Wild Wadi adventure in Jumeirah Dubai which happened almost two months ago. It was really a refreshing, breath-taking and fun-filled day with Roy and some new found friends in the best water park in the region! Here are some of the photos:
Poor me, I did not see the fight. But based on this, Manny Pacquiao has once again proved that he is a major force to be reckoned inside the boxing ring! Truly Manny, you are a modern boxing legend! Maraming salamat Pac-Man for the pride and honor.Huwag na magpagamit sa mga pulitiko, utang na loob.
I've been planning to write about this two months ago. But I know how extremely delicate this topic is. Kanina lang, when I arrived at St. Joseph Cathedral in Abu Dhabi to attend the Sunday obligation, hindi na ako nakapagpigil. The time is right and I have to speak up.
It was sometime in August 2007 when I first landed my feet on a Catholic territory in the gulf region. Since I was so naive back then, I did not know the schedule of the mass. I ended up sitting somewhere inside the church while the priest said the mass in Arabic. Good thing there was this Salmo thing with the Sunday's readings in English. Para akong tanga kase English ang bawat response ko. Hehehe. I checked the schedules and from then on, I became a frequent Sunday guest in the area.
I started to ask myself and my friend why is the Filipino mass being held in a multi-purpose hall every Sunday. My friend told me, that's the way it is. And then, I tried to understand. I really did but one April Sunday, I was late for the mass. I entered a jam-packed venue. Nag-uumapaw talaga! It was so hot I thought air-conditioned units were not yet invented. Wala talagang ka hangin hangin! But I decided to stay and concentrate. Ilang mga linggo na ang lumipas, ganun pa din. Sobrang siksikan, sobrang init at hindi mo na marinig ang salita ng Diyos. What you can hear are snide remarks from Kabayans and some footsteps towards the exit. There was a time when my buddy Gio, left me inside the multi-purpose hall and headed to the Church where the Arabic mass was being held. Minsan pa nga may isang kabayan na nahilo sa sobrang init kase nga summer officially started two months ago. Kaya nga I told myself, it's about time.
Kanina lang, hindi na ako nakapigil! Padating ko, naguumapaw ang mga Pinoy sa multi-purpose hall. Sobarang inti at hindi ka na makapasok sa loob. What made things worst was that you cannot hear a single Word of God. I went to the parish office and talked to the guy named Ryan. He is the parish secretary, I assumed. I looked for the parish priest but he was on vacation and will be coming back on the 25th of this month. I politely told him my grievances and concerns. Ryan suggested for me to come earlier and I said, " the issue here is not just about myself. I know that these Filipinos are also complaining but for some reasons they do not speak up. We are all children of God, so I think it is just right for us to use the church and ask the attendees of the Arabic mass to use the multi-purpose hall because when we based the number of attendees, the Filipino mass has more attendees than the Arabic's." And Ryan politely said that I should talk to Father Felipe. And that's what I did. After the English mass, I went to Father's office.
Father Felipe was accommodating naman. At nagsimula na akong maglitanya. Father told me that it is impossible that these Catholic Arabs (most are Lebanese) will agree to use the muti-purpose hall. Kesyo Arabic daw sila at sila ang mga nauna sa schedule na yun. Sabi ko naman, Father, anak din tayo ng Diyos. Nararapat lamang na magamit din natin ang simbahan tutal mas marami naman ang uma-attend ng Filipino mass. Sadyang nakalulungkot na pati sa loob ng simbahan nagkakaroon ng pulitika. Impossible daw talaga pero babanggitin "daw" niya sa meeting ng parish. Iba daw kasi ang mga mga Arabo. Sabi ko naman, sa aking palagay, kahit ano pa lahi mo, kung isang kang tunay na Kristiyano, alam mo kung ano ang tama, kuna ano ang justice, equality and fairness kase yang ang itinuturo ng Diyos sa atin. Humingi din siya ng ilang suhestiyon sa problem ng venue. Nagbigay ako ng ilan. Susubukan daw nilang magawan ng paraan. Ayon pa kay Father, inaayos na din naman daw yung bagong katedral kaya sa hinaharap pede na magamit yun. Sana nga pero I doubt. Siguro pede nga magamit yun ng mga Arabs na katoliko pero ang mga pinoy sa lumang simbahan pa rin. Religion + Politics= SAKIT NG ULO! Tsk tsk tsk.
Sabi nga ng kaibigan ko, ganun daw talaga kasi daw sa bansang ito, hindi lahat ng gusto ko makukuha ko. Ang issue naman dun e hindi kung ano ang gusto ko. My point is what is right and just. It's about time to stand up for what I think is right. Masyado na naaabuso ang mga Pinoy. Kung sa kanila, okay lang yun; sa akin hindi. Naniniwala ako sa abilidad at galing ng mga Pinoy, sa worth natin bilang tao. Naniniwala din ako that we deserve better than the way we are treated now. Sabi ko nga, kasalanan din naman natin kung bakit hindi tayo iginagalang ng mga ibang lahi. Sana maisip na nating mga Pilipino kung ano ang worth natin bilang tao. Simulan natin sa mga simpleng bagay, sa ating mga trabaho. Magaling naman talaga kasi ang mga Pinoy. Magtulungan sana tayo na ibangon ang ating dakilang lahi. Paunti-unti, alam ko, darating din tayo dun. Let's start knowing our worth and asking for it!
Hanggang dito ba naman, pang-aabuso at pulitika pa rin? Tama na. Sobra na.
---- Click here to view more images of St. Joseph Cathedral and the Multi-Purpose Hall
I fairly know how to wait patiently for some good things to happen in my life.
I visited the office several times this last week and this week to make the follow-up regarding my resignation. The HR head, who started to show a little bit of compassion and concern when I submitted my resignation, told me that he forwarded the letter to the Food and Beverage Coordinator of the team. I wondered why did he forward the letter to the coordinator. The HR told me that its just part of the process. And I said, Huh?
I have this weird feeling that they are not taking my resignation seriously and properly. They did not take good care of me ever since naman so what more can I expect. I am a nobody here, no matter what I do and no matter how hard I try to prove myself as a professional and as part of the team. I hate them for that. I really do.
The last time I called the F & B coordinator, he told me that he will directly tell it to my employer. Fine. I am grateful for that. I asked the HR during my last visit if it is possible that I'm gonna be home by the 30th of this month. HR head answered tactfully, it's not. I and said, sh*t!
I am sick of it. I had too much of discrimination, deceit, politics, cruelty, hypocrisy at marami pang iba! I cannot take it anymore. But I have no other choice, I have to wait until they told me when to go for I am nothing here. I fairly know na naman how to wait patiently. I am getting tired of course. But what else can I do? Good things happen naman talaga for those who patiently wait.
I am crossing my fingers (plus my toes) that I won't have to wait like forever and my homecoming will be sooner. I am really excited about it! Can't wait to start a new life all over again.
I am not holier than any of you. I am not perfect by any means. I commit mistakes, I stumble and fall. But I learn and I recover. There are events and things in my life that you will learn from. I also know the fact that I will learn from yours. Let's share ideas and stories, let's share peace and love. Let us live life, love one another and learn from each other. Let the dream shall never die!
Image from here.
Wild Wadi Entrance
Roy - College Buddy
Cartoonize!
Rose, Javier, Roy, Me
Javier, Rico, Grace and the Life Guard
Javier won't let it down!
Jumeriah Beach Hotel
Friends from the Studio!
Beach Boy
Hot. Hot. Hot.
Burj Al Arab
Jumeriah Beach Hotel
Splashhh!!!
Wild Wadi!
Wild Wadi!
Wild Wadi!
Peeking...
Sun
Jumeirah Beach
Burj Al Arab
Signs
Surf's Up
Surf Upside!
Next time ulit!
