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My First Upwork Job - I'm Officially a Freelancer

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After weeks of applying to different job postings and taking exams with prospective employers, I finally got my first job in Upwork. The pay is higher than what I expected it to be since I've dropped my rates just to land something. I almost have totally gave up. I thought that getting a job in Upwork will be easy but it is no different on getting a job in the real world. You have to be persistent and you have to be mentally tough and most of all you have to believe in yourself. You will be declined a lot of times even though you think you are more qualified than anyone else for the job. This is where your confidence will take a hit and this is where a lot of people give up. I almost did but now here I am with my first Upwork employer. So what is next? I'm trying to make out of the opportunity that I got. I'm lucky that my client is patient enough to teach me and correct my mistakes. The work is good enough that I hope that it will turn to a long term busin
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THE PLAN: MY POST OFW LIFE

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I'm getting ready for a lot of things this year. Moving back to the Philippines, renovating our house, planning for a new business and welcoming a new member in the family! I guess this will be one of the busiest year ever in my life. It's amazing that it will coincide with a blessing of a new baby who probably will be born on my birthday! So being that nobody reads this blog anyway, I will share what I plan to do once I leave the comfort (or the lack of due to salary delays) of being an employee. The internet has changed the way business is done around the world. Not only the internet but the tools that are available now which makes business operations and transactions easier than ever. So my plan is *drumroll* become a freelancer. Yes. I'm technically still be working as a staff but in the comfort of my own home and in my own hours and being with the family 365 days in a year.  It's difficult to leave a job that pays in 6 digit figures but I neede
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My Seat Assignment at Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER

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It's my favorite time of the year again! Going home and spending the holiday season with the family. This time around, I will be flying through Qatar Airways which is a first! I've always traveled either through Emirates or Etihad. But since I booked my flight late, the cheapest option is with Qatar Airways. I'm quite excited to see Hamad International Airport also and I have plenty of time to go around with my 6 hours and 35 minutes layover (the longest layover I will experience). So here is where I'm going to sit: As you see, the seating layout is 3-4-3 but instead of having 2-4-2 on the tail end of the plane, it will be 3-3-3. To minimize being disturbed by my seatmate whenever he/she needs to pee, I chose to sit on the 3 seater row. In that way, he/she have the option to go on the other side when I'm sleeping (cross-fingers).
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Existential thoughts on my Birthday

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I know there will come a time my child (hopefully, children) will read this blog and have an insight to how their father thinks. I have spent my birthday on the "far away place" which comes with being an expat worker for the past 6 years. There 's no perfect time to think about existential thoughts but on birthdays. I still have my best days ahead of me even though I'm closer to 40 than 30. Yet, I'm still not sure what to do with my life other than spend it with the ones I love. My daughter is still young and I would need to work until such time she is finish with school and we have enough to build a small business and passive income. I'm nearing a turning point, I promised my daughter I will no longer work in this far away place and I will come home for good. That's 3 months from now. But what should I do next? I've come to a conclusion that I hate my job or maybe just the events as of late that makes me hate it even more. But my best cha
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My Dream Family Car

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After working abroad for more than 5 years now, I believe i have saved enough to be able to secure my child's (hopefully children's) future. Since I'm still in my prime, getting a work will not be a problem when I come home. Sure, the money will not be the same but it will be enough to raise a family. First on my list to buy is a family car.I was thinking of buying a brand new car but my budget can only afford a small sedan/hatchback which doesn't suit my intended purpose. So i decided to buy a 2nd hand car base on the following criteria: 1) It should be a 7-seater. I'm planning to do a lot of roadtrips with the family and relatives so to bring them along will require a big vehicle. 2) Safety. An SUV will sure to be safer to drive due to it's size and safety provisions. 3) It should have an engine to be able to negotiate the steep inclines in Baguio. My dream is to drive my own car to the summer capital. 4) It should be AT transmission. I don't w
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Duterte's Impact on the Philippines

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I consider myself not pro or anti Duterte but more pro-Philippines. I support whatever is the best for our country. I didn't vote for Duterte for the simple reason that I didn't vote at all. But if I did, I would have voted for him because he is what our country needs -- a disturbance. He disturbs the norms long accepted by the Filipinos -- e.g. Americans are our friends, we should worship them and we cannot survive without them and China and Russia are the enemies. We have hailed the Aquinos as the saviors of our country. For a long time, they have used Martial Law and Marcos' atrocities so that they can hold power in the government. While most of the Filipinos still remain poor albeit free from the oppressive martial law, we are still chained to poverty and corruption. photo credit:GMA Network We see drugs proliferating yet, like horses with blinkers, our eyes have been kept from looking anywhere else but only what is in front of us. We stay blind on how much dam
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Buku Buku Cafe is Love

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One of the new craze in the south is Buku Buku cafe located in SM Southmall. Their interiors is a head turner and will surely catch your attention. But not let the flashy yet industrial looking interiors fool you... the food there is amazing! Industrial Interiors The interiors are very artistic. Lots of artwork and custom fittings that you will never find in any furniture shops. They have a book corner where you can find books to read for you and your kids. Bagnet and Chicharon Bulaklak The rice that goes with our Bagnet order Coffee with Mascuvado Sugar is heaven sent My Rating Food - 9 / 10 (good serving size, breakfast all day) Ambiance - 10 / 10 (instagrammable) Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/BukuBukucafe
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