My Cellphone Touch

Just as I am about to call my wife, I glanced my cellphone in my desk and wander how precious this piece of equipment that made a huge contribution to my working overseas.

My Cellphone Nokia 1100

I cannot imagine myself without my cellphone.  It served my communication needs for more than 5 years now as evident by the almost vanishing alphanumeric tag in the keypads.  My wife bought this to me some time last 2005 to replace my worn out Nokia 5110…  Did you smirk?  Come on, you read it right.  So happen, I do not have the photo of that mobile phone anymore.  But hey, my old mobile now as shown is a Nokia 1110 series which is still in good operating condition amid fading colors.   My problem now is that I cannot anymore find here the exact casing cover replacement for this model.

Is it time for me to switch to a new Cellphone with so much fancy features, WIFI enable, loaded with many application and touch screen sensation operability?

 I paused for a moment and contemplate on the  many great features and benefits brought by my old cellphone for these years.   Here it is:

Useful Features

• Yellow screen resolution, 1 inch x  1 inch Digital Monitor
• User friendly scrolling menu with Contact manager, Call Register, Clock Reminder, Games, Calculator, Stop Watch, Currency Converter and Alarm Clock.
• Rugged look, Hard Casing with Soft Keypads.
• Classic Ring tone with my favorite Cackle.
• SMS,  Call forwarding, Speakerphone,

Priceless Benefits

- When I checked my phone registers, I was surprised to check those information logged in my cellphone for the past 5 years. 

• my total sent messages is   2765
• my total received messages is  3299
• my total duration of received calls is 38 hours, 58 mins, 28 secs
• my total duration of dialled calls is 35 hours 29, mins, 37 secs
• my total duration of all calls is 74 hours, 28mins, 55 secs

 -  Survived being inside the washing machine for  5 mins when I forgot to remove from my pants. Superb Cellphone clean up!

 -  Fell off from my pocket to the stairs straight to the catch basin of sand and cement mixture. Wheew!  Suffered minor scratches only from the upper surface.

-   Lost and found in a restaurant on the same day.  So lucky, So sweet...Nobody's interested?

-   Favorite alternative use by my colleagues' with fancy mobile because the load is always available.  What the f#@$%k is their phone for???

- I also cannot discount the many emotional touch my cellphone whisper to my ear drum.

 

Voices like...

" Dadi Love Youuuu"

"Uwi ka na ba... "

" Happy Birthday Lakay "

" Happy Anniversay Dad "

" Miss U na "

" Nagpadala ka na ba? "

" Oo,  bakit wala pa "

" Kain ka na ba " 

" Online na ako "

Somehow,  I knew it will just be a matter of time if my beloved cellphone will soon be replaced.  But it will not be because there is a new and sophisticated model out there.  Rather, when I pressed the button and I  will not anymore see those lovely text in the screen, and no more voice call.

Surely,  I may soon forgot the cellphone model I usually used.  But I will not forget the feeling that this cellphone created in my Life as an OFW Engineer.  It is indeed a splendid TOUCH!...

Till my Next Post.

Seize the Day,

Allan Laranang

Why become OFW?

WHY?

There are a lot of reasons why you become OFW.   Many of which are due to the color of money.  Alright, aside from that, what exactly the triggering point that all of a sudden you grab your suit case and fly to your country of destination.   In my experience dealing with my colleagues and friends abroad,  women OFW tends to have different reasons than men.   Oftentimes, because of  men themselves!

Why women become OFW?  Take note that not all applied to Women OFW, but majority it is.

• their husbands are maltreating them or suffered from physical and mental abuse.
• husbands are irresponsible, drunkard, addict, gambler and womanizer.
• husbands have no plans, no dreams, no ambitions....nothing as in like a dry hard twig!
• husband is a Mama's boy.  If he got problems, go to Mama. He is sick, go to Mama.
• husband is also working abroad and likes to join him there. or from other country.
• support their daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, cousins and other relatives to study in college.
• huge loans, credits, or their house is near foreclosure by the bank.
• seek foreigner husband,  popular from the single and  complicated married as well.
• stepping point to migrate permanently to countries like US,  CAN, AU, NZ.
• just simply want to join their friends abroad and do the same bonding they used to do at home.
•  Amazed of many pictures of his friends abroad in the facebook that she want to experience that too...
• Invited by colleague and friends abroad because of high paying job.
• Broken hearted,  boyfriend married his ex girlfriend.
• Like to study foreign languages and cuisine.
• .....the list can be so on and so forth as you also join the ofw bandwagon.

WAIT!!  What about those OFW men out there?   They do have some similarities but mostly different in perspectives.

• Reached the boiling point working in local that his career is  going no where and not anymore financially rewarding.
• Sons and Daughters already grown up and due to study college.
• Wife is also working abroad.
• Wife transferred to neighbor's house.  Oucch!  Napakasakit Kuya Eddie...
• Answered Job invitation abroad and cannot anymore resist that tempting offer.
• Enthusiasm to learn something new in his own occupation and discipline.
• Opportunity to work with different nationality and cultures.
• Likes to travel abroad and explore where others have not been there and done before.
• Loves  foreign women, hot blonde, russian, black, hispanic, chinese etc. Wheww!
• No jobs available at home because overqualified or not qualified.
• Visited other country once, love the place and decided instantly  to work there.
• and so on and so forth... 

DISCLAIMER DAW:  The points mention above are just some of my friends and colleagues experiences while working abroad and my erratic mind while writing this blog. Any similarity to actual  person living things or non living things,  toothless or thoughtful,  shaggy hair or mr clean, mariah clara or madonna,  brod  pitt or  brad pit,  with 6 pack abs or watermelon abs, single or complicated are purely coincidence and is not punishable under the court of  Democratic Republic of Internet.   You may or may not submit your temporary restraining order to nullify the validity of this blog. :-)

Alright, for me the deepest reason why I accepted being part of the OFW phenomenon is because of my FAMILY...  It is because of them that I endure the homesickness, sorrow and pains of being far away in order to give them a good life.

My wife Lea and Daughter Ela

Ogie, Ela, Me and Fifo

 I am always looking forward to another vacation to be with my Family... Malayo pa ang Umaga pero asahan mo babalik ka rin.


Till my next post,

Seize the Day

Allan Laranang

Big

Salamalaykom Sadik!

Many associated OFW Engineers to a word " Big.."  such as big money, big time, big house, big bag, big wallet, big balikbayan box, big car  and so on and so forth.   Nevertheless,  it is true that when you work abroad you will be exposed to a lot of  big ideas, responsibilities, places, things and .....especially people.   

Photo from Left: Allan Laranang and Mazen Fara

Meet my buddy and colleague Mazen, also an Engineer.  He is truly a Big Man with a Big heart. He enjoys working with pinoy engineers.   With that size,  he can be a candidate to break the weighing scale.....I mean, the guinness book of world record for the heaviest engineer in the world!  You bet,  even the Zumo wrestlers of Japan will not dare to challenge him for a match.  He can easily move them out of the line without even lifting a finger. Lol!...just the stomach :-)

Phote from Left:  Allan Laranang and  Mazen Fara

At the soft side,  he is an AutoCad  3D Expert and an Electrical designer with a customized keyboard and a mouse usually replace every three months because of wear and tear.. LOL!.   Like pinoy, he is a hardworking  family man.   Working with him has no dull moments and "mafi muskila" as  they say in arabic.

Hence,  every pinoy engineer has big dreams in life.   Whatever that is, I knew that you've got to be always prepared for any big opportunities that may come in your path.  

Till my Next Post.

Seize the Day,

Allan Laranang

First Time in Riyadh

Salamalaykom Sadik,

This is my first time in Riyadh,  although I used to work before in Jubail and Alkhobar.  Likewise, every time I travel for the first time in a place I am not yet familiar with,  I still experience this knee knacking feeling.  It's just like, it makes me shiver to the bones. .:-) I never cry!.  Worse, if you are travelling alone and have no idea yet who will pick you up in the airport, or what if no one pick you up in the airport?. No idea where to go... And so on and so forth.  Cut the crap!

Congratulations!!...You have just experienced most PinoyOFW Engineer feel in their first trip abroad. So what do you expect and what to do when you just arrived in the arrival area of the airport after successfully going through the suspicious eye of the Saudi Immigration Officer.

First, relax,  keep calm and pretend like you are an old timer expat who come and go in this place.  It helps if you know a little arabic, but not necessary.   You can just speak plain english in filipino accent.

Second,  load a big amount to your roaming mobile phone to enable you to call your contact person that you just arrived and your current location.  Do not entertain bearded strangers or taxi drivers to bring you to your destination.  Also do not give him your passport!  Tell them you are an Engineer. Most likely, they will walk away.   You will hear them saying.." aywa,   you muder!   Just stay in your waiting area where you see lots of placards with names in it.   Most likely, you will see your name in print with welcome message.   Greet him, say " salamalaykom ", introduce yourself.   He will now bring you to your temporary hotel accommodation where you will stay there for days or weeks depends on your work assignments or contract.  Relax, have a cold drinks, call your wife that you already arrive safe and sound, and you need a good sleep.   Welcome in Riyadh!

 Photo from Left:  Allan Laranang,    Froilan Celestino

My good friend and townmate from Bagabag,  Engr. Froilan Celestino just recently arrived in Riyadh  also for the first time to work in a consulting company for various infrastucture projects in the Kingdom.   I visited him in his hotel as shown in this photo.  We talked about everything to expect in the work place, do's and dont's in the city,  pinoy destinations and among others. 

Photo from Left:  Froilan Celestino,  Allan Laranang


I treated him to my favorite mongolian pancit in a popular pinoy marketplace in Batha.   I think he like the taste of the fresh from the pan pancit with the big serving.  That for sure is enough for dinner. 

Engr.  Froilan Celestino

You can suggest to the pinoy cook your choice of cooking i.e spicy, sweet, regular or sweet and spicy.

Engr. Allan Laranang

First time in Riyadh  for a Pinoy OFW Engineer should be smooth, sweet and spicy like my hot mongolian pancit.   Definitely,  this is just the beginning of the soon to be many challenges and exciting event of being Pinoy OFW Engineer.



Till my next post.

Seize the Day,

Allan Laranang

How to Combat Homesickness abroad

Salamalaykom Sadik!

Working abroad as an OFW Engineer is not that easy especially for newbies.   Even for those already a veteran who has been in and out of the country still experience those homesick feeling.  Yeah, I know you are not alone.   What actually triggers this homesickness?

• You are alone in your room, staring your family picture.  Urgh... Oh man!
• You watch Maalaala mo Kaya in TFC and the story somewhat resemble your life story.  Come on!
• You listen to Christmas Song..... " I'll be Home for Christmassssssss".... Unbelievable!
• Your son or daughter called you in your mobile in their tiny voices.   Tears on your Mobile...
• And many more.........you can imagine, even so while doing your Work!

 So,  how do you prevent this to lead you to anxiety or stress?

Simple, engage yourself to your favorite hobby, sports or , you can be just simply reading a good book in your spare time.  In my case,  I still manage to play my favorite billiard game in one of the mall here in Riyadh together with my colleague Omeck.  The place is relaxing and safe.
 
Feel free to check my video below.

Till my next post.

Seize the Day,


Allan Laranang

A Day in the Life of an OFW Engineer

Salamalaykom Sadik!

After the never ending urgent deadlines of shop drawings, take off's and material submittals,  it is always a pleasure for us here in Riyadh to unwind, get together, eat pizza and just talk about anything except WORK.   Oftentimes the policy is, if you introduce topics about Work,  you will be paying the bill!    It just so happen that this time it is my birthday.  So, no choice  dude for me.

 Photo from Left Henry Gacia, Sherwin Sundia, Allan Laranang, Robert Caguisano and Arniel Adlawan

Photo from left,  Omeck Bocaya,  Henry Garcia, Allan Laranang, Robert Caguisano and Arniel Adlawan

My colleagues as shown above managed to get some fun here amidst the many restrictions we all know.  It is just like you were in Cubao taking pizza and cold drinks after encashing your paycheck. The only difference here is, you still have money left in your pocket.  :-)

After dinner, we grabbed the chance to go to this popular remittance center here to send money back home.  Lucky you babe!   I believe that is the most important role of an OFW Engineer.  Not convince? Ask the Bank!

Video clip of this day is shown below.   Feel free to check out.

Till next post.

Seize the Day,


Allan Laranang