Good Luck, Cousin!

I just found out that my cousin is leaving this July to work abroad. Since long time already, he's been telling us that he is interested in working abroad. He was never satisfied with his salary from his previous job here in Tacloban. Just last year he decided to move to Manila with his older sister. He tried different jobs there, but again his salary was always too little. So, he started applying for jobs abroad. First he applied for work in Korea. He even went to school so that he could learn the Korean language. But he didn't get the job, and he and his sister only wasted money on that language course. Next, he applied for a job in the Middle East, but that salary was also very litte. Finally, his last try was Taiwan, and he got accepted to work there. It's been months sinces he started processing all the papers needed. After all his efforts, he is finally leaving soon.

He called last night just to inform me about the good news. I am happy for my cousin, because he is like a big brother to me. I know him and all his sisters well, because I have been living with them for a long time now. My cousin said that soon, my auntie will stop her job. That's one of the reason why he wanted to work abroad, to provide the needs of his family. He asked whether I have a luggage bag since he needs to pack a bag for the travel. Of course I gave him mine, since I won't need it for a while. I hope his dream will come true. He will stay abroad on a 3 years contract, so it will be a long time until we see him again. Good luck, cousin!

Happy Fiesta, Tacloban

It's a super busy day for everyone that lives here in Tacloban, because today is Fiesta, a very special occasion for all Tacloban people. Everyone is having fun, watching shows, live bands, and riding different rides. many people go to RTR, the place with live bands. You can't easily get in, due to tight security. Although you don't need to pay for the entrance. The security will just check your luggage, and there are many signs with instructions what is inside allowed and not.

Authorities have tighten their security for the sake of everyone. Nowadays it's too dangerous going to crowded places, because that's mostly where terrorist go to install bomb. Like what happened in Davao, and to some other places too. Last night I was out with my friends, and we were stopped by police and were asked random questions. Policemen were everywhere last night. I think they did a great job for securing everyone. Anyway, Happy Fiesta, Tacloban!

Last night

Coming home drunk is not ladylike. It can even be dangerous to commute drunken alone at night. But I've done it last night. I didn't  plan to drink alcohol and to get wasted. When I left my boarding house, I only wanted to eat. No idea about drinking yet! So I met up with my friends and we went to 'Albertos' which is a cheap restaurant for students. They serve pizza as well.

So we had our dinner at Albertos. We chitchat, until someone in the group came up with the idea that we should drink to celebrate the night being together. Who am I to disagree? LOL. I was thirsty! Everyone agreed, so we went to RTR and MAGS. While we were drinking I couldn't help, but burst out laughing at the gay guys at the stage saying hilarious jokes to entertain the crowd. They did it well, and we were all laughing until they were done telling jokes. I wasn't really paying attention to the time, until I realized I need to go home because it was very late.

That's how I got drunk. But the good thing is that it helps me sleep quickly. Good night!

Parade of Lights (or what I didn't see)

When you are short it's really hard to see what tall people can see. I came out last night to watch the Parade of Lights. The highway was closed, jeepneys could not go further. They stopped somewhere far from where the parade will be held. I had to walked until I could reach the place, because I really wanted to watch the Parade of Lights. It's going to be my first time to see something like that. When I was near, I realized how crowded the roads were side by side. Gosh! I couldn't even see the middle of the highway where the parade must go through. Even though it hadn't started yet, people were already everywhere that time.

Since I failed to be in the front row where I'm able to see the show, I went inside the McDonald's and ate dinnee. I had burger and fries. After that, I went outside, and I heard that the parade had started. My plan was to take photos of everything, but I couldn't. It was even difficult to move around. After a while of staying disappointed, I decided to just go home instead of standing there like a loser. Then I walked back where the jeepneys were. It took me a long time to get in, all jeepneys were occupied already. I had to wait for like half an hour, until I found one with less passengers.

My cousin's school report

My cousin also goes to school, just like me. She thinks I am the smarter one of us, even though I don't feel that is true. Still she asked for my help about their report about prostitution. This is a difficult subject, and I guess everybody has a different opinion on that. Here is what I told to my cousin:

Women who choose to work as a prostitute or in a eros club often have the feeling that they have no choice. They are coming from a poor family, often from chaotic situations, and they are unable to study or to find any other job, because their parents don't have enough money to send them to school. Often, they have not even finished high school. To work as a prostitute is the easiest way for them to make money. Jobs are rare for the uneducated, and salaries are low in the regular jobs, if they can get one at all. Some women also work as a prostitute because they have kids and need to earn the money to send them to school. They sacrify themselves so that their kids will have a better life. Some also do this work hoping to find someone who would help them to build a new life. I don't judge anyone that has that kind of job. They only do it to provide for their family. And it is a hard life!

Congratulations tou our Asia's Next Top Model

Congratulations, Maureen! You deserve it! You joined the show with the least experience. You've proven yourself that you are not just a pretty face but that you can rock any kind of photoshoot. You are the candidate who has won the most best photo (3 times). You are a product of Asia's Next Top Model because they trained you so hard and you have shown enormous growth week by week in just a short amount of time.

I am pretty sure that the runner ups, Shikin and Tu, will also have a good career because they both have modelling experience and are great models.

Congratulations to Asia's Next Top Model Cycle 5 Winner, Maureen Wroblewitz from the Philippines! The judges made their decision. Let us all be happy!

We must be nice even if others are not.

Learn to help without expecting anything in return! A good heart is outstanding, even if others cannot see it from outside. Keep your good heart for yourself! Don't let everyone know you're a kindhearted person by showing how you help a person! God knows how good you are. Whatever you do good, others won't matter. You don't need to prove them that you are a good person.

As long as you are true to yourself, and you don't pretend to be someone else, you are an amazing person. I think being who we are is way better than trying to be someone we are not. Wherever we go, we should always show the real us. It's really is hard to pretend to be someone else. At first it's cool, but when you get to hangout with the same people very often, they will find out anyway whether you are real or fake. If you are fake, they will stay away from you, and that's sad for you.