When the heart sings

CopyRighs belong to the YouTube Uploader YouTube link: The effect of Covid-19 to me

Halos mapugto ang paghinga,

isang buhay - bunga ng dalawang

pusong nagsanib at nagmahalan...

Nagmahalan mga pusong

iisa ang pintig, larawan ng matamis

at masayang ugnayan sa silong ng langit...

Langit ma'y naki-ayon sa nakita,

nagaalab na mga damdamin

at hindi mapigil na ligaya...

Ligaya sa bawa't ngiti sa t'wing

naglalapat kan'lang mga labi,

sinasambit ay pag-ibig...

Pag-ibig sa Dios at sa kapwa - utos

na dapat sundin ng tao, wag sumuko kay Covid19

virus lang siya, pagpinitik ng Dios, sya'y mawawala...

Mawawala kaman sa'king paningin, nguni't

mananatili ang alaala mo sa'king puso't isipan

habang ako'y nabubuhay...

Nabubuhay ako sa alaala ng kahapon

bakas ng pighati't pagdurusa, nguni't sa kan'la

ako'y humuhugot ng lakas para lumaban...

Lumaban ako para mabuhay, lumakad sa gitna

ng mga pagsubok, sandata ko'y lakas ng loob,

mga dasal at paniniwala na ako'y magtagumpay...

Magtagumpay ang siya kong ibig,

marating ang dulo ng tuktok, ang koronang

naghihintay doon ay masungkit...

Masungkit ang matagal ko nang minimithi:

sagana ng pagmamahal, pagsusunuran,

may takot sa Dios - isang masayang pamilya...

Pamilya pinaka-ugat ng isang komunidad, salat man

sa maraming bagay, nguni't ang bawa't miyembro'y

masigasig sa pagbuo ng masayang tahanan...

Tahanan kung saan kampante't komportable

ang bawa't isa - gawa man ito sa kawayan o semento,

buhay ang pagmamahalan ng bawa't miyembro...

Miyembro ka ng isang samaha't sa balikat mo'y

naka-atang ang tungkulin, kapag ika'y naging pabaya,

tawag sa iyo'y walang silbi't inutil kang tao...

Tao, masarap mabuhay, sa umaga langhap

ang halimuyak ng kabukiran, malayang

mamumuhay na masaya kahit salat sa pera...

Pera dahilan bakit nawasak ang sinapupunan

ni Inang-Kalikasan, tulad sa nangyayari ngayon

sa Homonhon Island, Guiuan dahil sa pagmimina...

Pagmimina uri ng pagkakakitaan, wawasakin bituka

ng Lupang kinagisnan at ganda nito ng mga taong

uhaw sa dugo nya at sa makukuhang kayamanan...

Kayamanan ang kanilang dino-dios, nguni't

sa oras na magpantay ang kan'lang mga paa,

iiwanan din naman sa lupang pinagmulan...

Pinagmulan ng tao'y mula sa alabok, hiningahan

ng Dakilang Dios para maging Kaluluwang-buhay,

nguni't paglipas ng panahon, ibang niluhura't sinamba...

Sinamba ang sariling talino't kakayahan,

nakalimutan nya yun ay bigay ng Maykapal

at kanyang ginamit sa kasamaan...

Kasamaan ng tao'y may dahilan: maaaring sya'y

ginipit, inabuso't inalipusta't pinahirapan,

ang poot at galit nya'y humantong sa paghihigante...

Paghihigante ang nasa isip at puso ng tao, namumuhay

ang espiritu ng dilim sa kanya, kahit nasa harap

ang liwanag, hindi makita ng galit-na-puso...

Galit-na-puso madaling madaya, malimit

napapaniwala ito sa kasinungalinga't nagiging sanhi

ng pagkabulag, ang mali sa kanya ay tama...

Tama kung gagawa ng mabuti, kung tapat sa sarili't

iiwasang magkamali - pero yun ba ay tiyak

na mabuti sa paningin ng Manlilikha?

Manlilikha, taglay ang ekstrang pares ng tainga, anumang

himig ay maririnig, may ekstrang ilong na makakalanghap

ng ibang baho, bango't lansa ng buhay...

Buhay ng tao'y tulad ng dahong malago, sa sanga

ng punong-kahoy, kapag natuyo na - kusa itong

malalaglag at sa lupa'y mananahan...

Mananahan ka dapat sa iyong tahanan, huwag balewalain

ang pakiusap ng Pangulo - ang kalaban natin 'di nakikita,

masayang nananakit at pumapatay si Covid19...

Covid19, buong mundo nanginginig sa sobrang

takot sa iyo - marami nang naging abo, lumuha't

nabaon sa lupa, kailan ka matsutsugi't maglalaho?

Maglalaho ang lahat ng bagay sa panahong itinakda,

patunay na walang forever - may pipigil ba kung

babatiin ko in advance ang lahat ng #HappyBirthday?

Happy birthday sa lahat na nagdiriwang ng kan'lang

kaarawan sa araw na ito, pagpalain kayo ng Maylalang,

ngayon at sa susunod pang mga taon, love U...

===============

Salamat po sa Dios. Sa Dios po ang lahat ng Karangalan at Kapurihan Magpakailan-kailanman. (To be continued in part 19)

Also, read my other published articles

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Living with those unforgettable memories

My Way - Paul version

One of Paul's most memorable moments during his vacation last May 4 to June 16, 2010. Bonding with my family, friends, and relatives was his priority.

It is exactly equivalents to 28 years, seven months and fifteen days - his wife Imelda has enjoyed life with him and with their three lovely and loving children. For more than 28 years, they have enjoyed a married life full of beautiful dreams for the future ahead. They have never fought or have shouted at each other. But sad to say, Paul's wife has already gone on the 24th of July 2015.

Paul still remembers the happiness he felt when Imelda delivered their first baby angel which was a boy on October 16, 1987. They gave him the name Jeffrey. However, in his nine months on this planet, the boy died. And it took Paul and Imelda almost a year on mourning.

But the good news followed when in April 1989, Imelda conceived their second baby which was a girl and she delivered her on December 5, 1989. They gave her the name Fe. And in 1991, November 21, again the couple welcomed another baby girl, they gave her the name Khar and again they received another blessing from the Almighty, Imelda has again conceived another angel and has delivered her on December 30, 1992, and they gave her a name Joy. She was the last angel Imelda has conceived before she expelled her last breath on July 24, 2015.

Imelda left Paul behind and her three loving children with her love and those beautiful memories of hers and her bereaved family will always cherish them as time passes by. (To be continued in part 15).

Also, read my other published articles

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Nourah Alkhereiji of Arab Newspaper, the first person who encouraged Paul to write

Video credits belong to Luis Fonsi - Despacito ft. Daddy Yankee - from the Collection of songs of Nourah Alkhereiji YouTube Channel

It was Nourah of Arab Newspaper, the first person who encouraged Paul to blog. Also, it was her pushed him to pursue his plan to study Journalism and Short Story writing courses with the Writers Bureau in Manchester, London in 1999-2000 by mail and with the ICS - International Correspondence School in Pennsylvania, the USA in 2000-2001 also by mail - during those years, he was working with Kawasaki Helicopter (S.A.) Limited as an account analyst - owned by Sheik Abed-Leilah Kaki of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the period from March 23, 1994, to April 30, 2012.

On January 31, 1999, he wrote a letter and sent it off to the editor-in-chief of Arab Newspaper - Mr. Khaled A. Al-Maeena for Nourah Alkhereiji whom he mistakenly addressed as Big Mister.

His letter reads, "Hundreds of thousands of OFWs have loved, saluted and commended Nourah for his dedication to writing such exposes, to edify readers to know behind the perception, disregarding any race". It was approximately 22-year passed from the day Paul wrote the draft.

He thought Nourah was a guy. His daring exposes re "Mutawwas give self a new role" as they loved to impose the law - mandated in the prevention of vices and promoting virtues in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Arab Newspaper published the said article written by Nourah on January 30, 1999.

Arab Newspaper - an English language newspaper in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

After a week, gaiety filled Paul's heart - he received a letter from Mr. Tarik Alkhereiji - the brother of Nourah telling him that Mr. Al-Maeena, the editor-in-chief of Arab Newspaper forwarded the letter to Nourah. He said his sister wanted to thank him for his encouraging letter and she wanted to point out too - that mistake Paul had in referring to his sister Nourah as big Mister.

Immediately, Paul replied to his letter. He explained to him what caused his mistake. A few days later, Paul received again another letter from Mr. Tarik telling him that his sister has understood it, the reason why Paul made that mistake.

That mistake Paul made addressing Nourah as a big Mister has pushed him to write more and more.

With the help of the Internet, Paul started to look for an online group where he could exchange ideas with all the members of the group. In 2000, he started to create his personal blog at Blogger.com.

Of course, love is his other reason why he would write. Like Nourah Alkhereiji - who loves to write about anything that interests her even the English language is not her language according to his brother Tarik - most of her news articles were written in her Arabic language. Nourah is a daring and competent writer that the Arab Newspaper must be proud of. Wish she can read this piece - Paul's simple way to say "Thank You".

Like Nourah, Paul could write too because he has love in his heart. He has the desire to become a writer too, someday. Because of love, his interest to write about anything and everything that he mostly liked and loved is growing every day. (To be continued in part 14)

Also, read my other published articles

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Why Filipinos are preferred workers? The plight of overseas Filipino workers on foreign lands

Video credits belong to Cirrus Global: Why Filipinos are preferred workers

While working, Paul also has devoted his time to writing poems, essays, articles, and stories of different subjects and themes. Paul found them interesting hobbies, especially during his spare time. Also, he found them as the best medicines and effective ways to fight homesickness. Most of his poems "mga Tula" were written in the Pilipino language.

Below are sample of Paul's poem collections with subjects and themes are about life and some political issues happening on his country, namely:

Hiyaw Ni Juan Dela Cruz

Panaghoy ni Inang-Bayan

Isang Mundo Nilikha Ng Tao

Gusto Mo Ng Masayang Buhay

Balimbing Ko'y Hitik Na Ng Bunga

Mas Mahal Pa Sa Diyamante’t Ginto

Ngiti at Kaway sa Darating na Halalan

Mga Anak-Pawis Ay Simbolo Ng Lakas at Katapatan

Dapat Bang Maglimos O Hindi Sa Pulubing Kaawaawa

Sa alaala ng dating Dean Felicitas Balino, Leyte Colleges, Tacloban

Manunulat ng tula nais palaganapin ang Wkang Pambansa - featured on Pinoy Xtra

On January 4, 2009, the Editor of Pinoy Xtra, Arab News Mr. Rodolfo C, Estimo Jr. has featured Paul in their newspapers. Pinoy Xtra is 8 pages - its contents are written in the Pilipino language about life, adventures, and other things important to the Filipinos in the Middle East and around the globe. Pinoy Xtra is printed every Sunday with the English Arab Newspapers in the Kingdom.

This is a free eight pages provided by Arab Newspapers to its Filipino readers. These Tagalog newspapers are accepting contributions like poems, personal stories, news stories, business stories from Filipino writers and OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) from around the world.

Paul said that Arab Newspapers - the number one English Newspapers in the Kingdom was the first to publish some of his letters to the Editor that started in 1994. And he has become one of the contributors of Pinoy Xtra since its inception in 2004. And he has already published several poems or mga Tula, letters to Editor, and other Editorial pieces under the names Paul Pruel and Paulino O. Pruel. He said that both Arab Newspapers and Pinoy Xtra have inspired him to continue his writing hobby not only in print but also in online writing.

Pinoy Xtra is a free eight pages provided by Arab Newspapers to its Filipino readers

Aside from Pinoy Xtra and Arab Newspapers, the Editor of an online website the OFWGuide.com has also featured Paul as Bayani Rin Ako! Featured OFW entitled: Things Get Better and Better. It was featured on May 20, 2009. The story was about Paul's first 15 years in the desert. If interested to read the above story - you may visit the site and look for "Things Get Better and Better". It is still available on their website.

I quote what Paul's message for the million OFWs in the world said,

"Alam natin kung bakit tayo ay nangibang bansa - iyon ay di lamang para sa ating mga sarili kungdi para sa ating mga minamahal na naiwan sa Pinas, ang mabigyan sila ng magandang buhay at kinabukasan. Huwag hayaan na madaig tayo ng homesickness at panghinaan ng loob. Maraming tukso sa ating paligid, pero labanan natin sila. Laging magdasal. Higit sa lahat mahalin natin kung anuman ang trabaho ang mayroon tayo ngayon." (To be continued in part 13)

Also, read my other published articles

Blog articles published for the month of November 2021

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I am not American: Language variations make people different

CopyRights of the video clip belong to UNTV News & Rescue: Language vs Dialect: Language variations make people different and can cause headaches too.

As recorded in Paul's journal, he said that it is vitally important too to learn the language of the host country - this is needed especially for immigrant workers when talking to people of that country who cannot speak the English language.

It was around 10 AM on June 11, 2011, when one of Baladiyah personnel (a Saudi national) arrived at Paul's place – a showroom of home decors and other home accessories where he was working with. Paul was managing this showroom for a couple of years since it started on March 23, 2008.

The building where Paul was occupying was divided into two showrooms - separated by some concrete and gypsum board walls. Each showroom was selling different stuff. The showroom where Paul was working was for antique decors and other home accessories. The other showroom was for building instruments and other measuring tools.

The owners of these showrooms were Saudi nationals - they were brother and sister. The licenses for these showrooms were conjoined into one document with each specification approved by Baladiyah Department. This department was responsible for the issuance of licenses like business licenses, building construction licenses, and other licenses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

When the Baladiyah guy asked Paul about the license of the showroom where he was working, he had nothing to show off to him instead, Paul had explained that the person who was keeping it was on the other side - so the Baladiyah representative asked Paul to call the person. And Paul asked the other salesman from the other showroom to speak to the Baladiyah guy in Arabic. Following Paul's request, his friend started the conversation with the Baladiyah representative.

After a while, Paul's friend explained to him what the Baladiyah guy wanted and said, “The showroom where Paul is working should have its own license because this is a different showroom. Otherwise, this will be closed.” In addition to it, the Balladiah guy started writing a document in Arabic language using their Baladiyah letterhead. Thereafter, he requested Paul to affix his signature on the document.

Arabic-Baladiyah Letterhead

Of course, Paul has no intention to object to what the guy wanted him to do. Although when Paul asked him to translate it first to him in the English language what he has written on the document, the guy quickly replied in his Arabic language and was translated to English by Paul's friend said, "You’re not American to request such English translations for this Writings!”

​That very moment, Paul has raised his voice as his reaction without thinking that he was talking to a person who does not speak English. Paul said, “My friend, why I should have to affix my signature in the document when I could not understand what was written there. I asked you to explain to me but you can’t. I don’t affix my signature to any document if the language used is not clear to me.”

Read also the below-published articles

Also, read my other published articles

Blog articles published for the month of November 2021

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Paul further said, “It's better to refer you to our office here in Riyadh or leave the document to me and I would send it off immediately to my boss for his decision and action.” That followed the Baladiyah guy had decided to leave the place and their conversation ended up but leaving the document to Paul without Paul's signature.

After that incident, Paul immediately photographed the document and sent it off to his boss who at that time was in Jeddah by attaching it with the email he wrote with some explanations about what the Baladiyah guy has suggested.

When Paul got home that night, what the guy said was popping up into his head the whole night and Paul realized that language variations make people different and can cause headaches too. But the real problem Paul has encountered on that day - he was not American! (To be continued in part 12)

In 2022 elections, the Philippines should elect a president to continue the legacy of President Duterte

Video credits to UNTV News & Rescue: ANG PAMANA: Build, Build, Build Infrastructure Program ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte

I hope in the 2022 Philippines elections, the Filipino voters should elect candidates for president, vice-president, senators, congressmen and other party list groups who are not corrupt and have the balls to continue what President Duterte has started and help one another to lead the country to a better Philippines.

The Philippines is not poor. The country is rich in natural resources. We are poor because we lack the correct attitude. I hope that in the 2022 elections, the Philippines should elect a president - who has the balls to continue the Legacy of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and to lead the country to a better Philippines.

Executives from rich countries who communicate with their counterparts in poor countries show that there is no significant intellectual difference. Race or skin colors are also not important: immigrants labeled lazy in their countries of origin are the productive power in rich European, Western, and other Asian countries.

​The difference is the attitude of the people, framed along the years by the education and the culture and flawed tradition. The behaviors of the people in rich and developed countries are greatly followed the following principles on their lives, namely: Ethics, as a basic principle, Integrity, Responsibility, Respect for the laws & rules, Respect for the rights of other citizens, Work loving, Strive for savings & investment, Will of super action, Punctuality and of course...Discipline.

The Philippines is not poor because we lack natural resources or because nature was cruel to us. In fact, we are supposedly rich in natural resources. We are poor because we lack the correct attitude. We lack the will to comply with and teach these functional principles of rich and developed societies.

We are the most abusive to the environment: Illegal Logging, dynamite and cyanide fishing, hunting, and poaching of birds and wildlife and we throw garbage everywhere.

Now, for the third question that Paul's daughter asked him for help re "Love from a thousand miles away" for her project in school: How would you balance the federal foundation for transportation and road construction?

Paul did not give up answering the question. He consulted from many reading materials: books, newspapers and other print media, encyclopedias, online articles, and other visible sources for ideas for his daughter's assignment.

Below is the complete write-up.

"I believed that building roads in rural areas promotes development through improved access to markets; health and educational facilities; the generation of alternative income sources; and better information flows.

"My assumption is that the supply of transport services, such as freight and passenger movement, would naturally follow new road construction.

"In the Philippines with a tradition of building roads with Portland cement concrete, here is now a considerable network of aging roads needing rehabilitation. The traditional method of treating these roads is to neglect them until the ride becomes severely impaired and then to break out the old concrete and replace them with new ones.

"I would request the Philippine Department of Highways to improve this situation by addressing the problem of concrete quality, using indigenous materials, and investigating alternative methods of rehabilitation.

"But what is of more vitally important – I would coordinate directly to the national budget commission and request them to see to it that before releasing the funds for this project, there should be complete planning and specifications of materials and all the supposedly incurred expenses should have a corresponding transparency of expenses records available for the public."

​Paul's hard work and efforts were compensated. It took him three days to finish the project for his daughter. After he did it, immediately he sent it off to his daughter. And in two days, Paul received her reply said, "I love you, papa. It was approved. Now I will graduate. Thank you so much. Muaaaaaaaa...!" (To be continued in part 10)

Also, read my other published articles

Blog articles published for the month of November 2021

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Love from a thousand miles away

Paul's love for his children has no boundaries

Paul was a thousand miles away from his children. It was really hard for him to make available for his kids according to what John Gottman says, "Men must allow themselves to be aware of their feelings so they can empathize with their children. Then they must take whatever steps necessary to make themselves available to their kids."

35 years ago, Paul got married and was blessed with three lovely children. Now they are young ladies. His eldest is 31-year old. His second daughter is 29-year old and his youngest will be 28-year old this coming December 30, 2021, and has graduated from her accountancy course in 2013. Paul supports his children has no boundaries. While he was away, if his children need Paul's help for their school assignments and projects - he was always available through the Internet and mobile phones - one of the reasons why Paul has created his online blog site.

In 2010, as recorded in Paul's journal - his second daughter has graduated from Computer Science Course. Three months before her graduation, her English teacher gave her the assignment to write a short speech for the Vice President candidate plus another two questions that a Vice President candidate should answer if his countrymen would ask him during his speech. That would be her project and if she failed to submit she could not graduate according to her teacher.

After she received her assignments, she sent them off to Paul through email said, "Papa I need your help. Please write a short speech for the vice-presidential candidate. Also include these two questions: What kind of advocacy do you want to proclaim to prevent poverty in this country? And how would you balance the federal foundation for transportation and road construction?"

For Paul reading those questions was really a headache since he was not the one to graduate...but Paul cannot say no to his daughter. And he has no choice but to comply with his daughter's request. So, Paul started surfing the Internet, encyclopedias, and other reading materials for information about the topics.

Below is a short speech of a vice-presidential candidate that Paul has written for his daughter:

"Thank you so much for the trust that you have trusted to me. Thank you for this opportunity to work with you as we raise the truthful reform. Thank you for the privilege that you have entrusted me of joining in the fight for cleanness, honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness in public service, and for a government that puts first the people’s interest.

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"From the bottom of my heart, I accepted the challenge to achieve the true reform of good governance of this country. But this fight is not just about me. It is about our collective thirst and hungry for change.

"My friends, this is going to be a tough battle. My opponents will use all forces in order to win. They have been there for so long and continue robbing us. Now with your help, we should stop them. Let's stay hand in hand in this field of battle."

For the second question: What kind of advocacy do you want to proclaim to prevent poverty in this country? Paul has found an interesting short topic but with substance and he thought that this was good for advocating purposes which can be read in (part 9)

Greener pastures for OFWs

Paul with peers enjoying the weekend - Riyadh

In 1994, Paul again had dreamed to go abroad. He was lucky though because he did not experience much difficulty in acquiring an overseas job. His uncle-in-law who at that time was the chief accountant of the company Kawasaki Helicopter Saudi Arabia – Finance Department helped him get his current job by recommending him to the administrator of the company.

A Philippine-based recruitment agency, FB Allan processed his papers and he was able to go out of the country as a documented OFW. When Paul arrived in his current location (Riyadh) on March 23, 1994, he was first employed as a janitor/laborer. That will be his work position for two years and nine months. The management must have noticed his hard work because he was promoted to be a Facility Records Clerk.

Paul's job as a facility records clerk was typing of internal correspondences, memorandum, monthly reports on facility housing maintenance inspections, and cleaning operations. Paul also prepared the daily timesheets, purchase sheets, weekly expenses reports for all cleaning materials purchased for the week.

He was also responsible for the receipts, issuance inventories, and maintenance of supplies/stocks of all cleaning materials. He also checked the technicians' daily accomplishments reports, receives job order requests from their clients, and distributed the same to the appropriate technicians. He sorted out and maintains a good filing system and performs tasks assigned to him.

After some time he was again promoted to be an Analyst/Bookkeeper at the Company's Finance Department and this would be his job for nine years and three months. Paul maintained the weekly and monthly analysis of imprest funds also known as petty cash. He prepared check vouchers, employee’s timesheets, and monthly payroll. He computed the employees' vacations and final settlements. He maintained detailed records of the company’s transactions especially its purchases and other operating expenditures and performed jobs that required his services.

The promotion did not stop there. On May 8, 2006, he was assigned as assistant Secretary to the Vice President of the company. Paul supported the Vice President in the connection process: Handles monthly progress report, weekly person-hours report, staff timesheets for payroll, handles the collection follow-up of the accounts receivables.

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Paul's other responsibilities include administrative and clerical duties such as filing, typing correspondences, answering phone calls, receiving documents from project sites (such as petty cash requests, vacation requests), and transmitting the same to the respective branch of operations. He prepared monthly technical minutes; organized and maintained files and performed other duties that required his services.

Paul with co-workers in a bountiful lunch date - Riyadh

On March 23, 2008, the company he was working for assigned him to manage a new showroom that sells antiques and other home accessories. From being a mere janitor, Paul had gone a long way and one can say that things just get better and better for him.

​Aside from working, Paul also devotes some time to his other interests. While employed, he took up a creative writing course by mail with the Writer’s Bureau in Manchester London during the years 1998-1999. In 2000-2001, Paul took up Journalism and short story writing course with the ICS, PA, the USA by mail. (To be continued in part 7)