Beat the Heat

Great (and Cheap) Way to Beat the Heat  this Summer

Summer Break is Almost Over

I admit that I have not been consistent in my postings in the last two months or so. The thing is, I have no maids and I basically  have to do everything around the house. With a very active toddler in the house, it is a feat that I can still manage to clean, cook, do work (writing and some detailed drawings) on the side. After lunch, I am basically "drained". I just don't have the energy to sit and do my "real" work! Summer break is almost over and I didn't even get to the beach save for that short trip in Real, Quezon. Anyway, here's hoping and praying that by next week, I'll be blessed with househelpers. School time is just around the corner and it will be back to the usual  grind for Ethan and I.

2013 Philippine General Elections

The recent Philippine general elections have been canvassed. The quick canvassing of votes was brought about by computerized voting and tallying. There were "horror" stories regarding incidents pertaining to the PCOS (Precinct Count Optical Scanner) machine but nothing came out of those reports.

The election was for 12 senators (national level) and for governor, vice-gov.,  congressman, board member, mayor, vice-mayor and 6 councilors (local level). I voted for 5 senators, and only one got in. How sad that two or three of those in the magic 12 are not qualified to handle their new job. How sad that the fate of the nation are decided upon by those who do not know hoot about the present state of the nation. How sad that a arge majority of these voters were either swayed by the candidate's charisma or moolah.

It seems that, one should be an "artista" first before running for an office. It seems that one should be a son, a daughter, a nephew, a niece, a wife or a husband of a past official to ensure his/her winning his/her candidacy.

Myriam Santiago is right. The qualifications for candidates and voters should be changed! In the Philippines, a law enforcer is mandated to be a college graduate. In the Philippines,a candidate is only required to be able to read, write and a  resident of the locality he is representing for a year . In the Philippines, even the illiterate can vote. In the Philippines, it is normal to buy votes. In the Philippines, idiot voters beget idiot officials.

Oh my Philippines... when will you learn?

Construction Musings

So my client decided to proceed with the construction of his house. To save on money, he decided to hire laborers instead of sourcing for a contractor. Oh yes, he would save some money but there's no one to guarantee failed work and then there's the fact that he has to be at the construction site everyday.

He has been buying equipment for the construction. I told him to buy wood router since he decided to ask one of the carpenters to make the door jambs. He might as well buy different sized  clamping levers for easy tightening of whatever tools and equipments that are used in the construction.

No Maids!

I've been out of commission,  (in my blogging) because I don't have maids! In the Philippines, it is a common occurrence for almost all households to have at least a maid to help about the house so the homeowner could go to work and earn a living (to pay for the maid). It is actually a vicious cycle  - we work so we can earn to pay for the maid. The fact that is making it doubly hard for me to cope is that there's barely 2-year old Tabby to contend with. This girl is like a whirlwind! She is every where! She is nothing like her older brother who was so behaved as a toddler. Anyway... here's hoping I'd be able to find household helpers before school starts in June.