Conozco Pablo

Twelve months have passed. Now, we are about to celebrate the new year. Many of us are quite nostalgic of the 2016. There were certainly changes, challenges, surprises and beginnings. From these various experiences, we learn and hopefully become a better person thereafter. Personally, 2016 was unique year. Generally, it was better than the previous years. However, there were still events that shook me and gave me a sort of struggle. But as they say, that is how things are. This blogpost will somehow sum up the experiences that left most mark in the last year. Travel year So far, I have visited 13 countries and lived in 2 countries (Norway and the Philippines). I began the year with a trip to Stockholm, Sweden. After Easter, I went to Germany (Berlin and Dresden). After I went back to the Philippines, I had a short trip to South Korea. Moreover, I visited Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, Poland and Belgium the rest of the year. It was indeed a busy travel year. I traveled l...

Norway is one of the northernmost country in the world. Many can not even accurately pinpoint where it is located in the globe. I was like many, who knew little of this Scandinavian state. For now, it has been over three years since I took my chance in starting a new life here. In that period of time, nothing I can consider easy. It was full of challenges to be integrated in the relatively conservative Norwegian society. However, I see my experience not as a mere struggle, but as part of my continuing personal history worth remembering for. So now, I will be presenting the 23 common signs that one has lived in Norway long enough. 1. You love the sun . Even it is about 12 degrees Celsius but there is sun, you could see people in light clothing. With that, I mean really light. People sunbathe wherever and whenever there is a warm sun. This is quite surprising for me, given I originally come from a tropical country. 2. You appreciate snow . If you come from the Northern region or the mo...

When I was younger, the yuletide season has always made me feel excited and happy, regardless of how we celebrated it. There were difficult times for my family such that we could never afford to celebrate Christmas in the extravagant manner others could. It was simple but during those times, what matters most is the time I spend with my family. I think that is the essence of Christmas. However, this year something is different, my primary family is away in the Philippines. Although I had built a new network of individuals whom I consider part of my family in Norway, the fact that I am still long for Filipino Christmas. But to how my view on Christmas has changed this year is something interesting. From religious to being more reflective It is part of the Philippine tradition to attend religious activities during Christmas. These activities certainly provides more meaning to the Yuletide season. It is the time of sharing and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the saviour of mankin...

Res Ipsa Loquitur in Latin means the thing speaks for itself. This a legal doctrine that somehow gives the inference of negligence from the action itself which the doer has an exclusive control over it. The classic example is in malpractice cases where injury is obvious on the direct recipient of the action, especially related on health issues of forgotten surgical instruments inside body cavities after a surgical operation, or perhaps burns from unregulated heat application. These are few examples of the legal doctrine, but in this blogpost, I will not delve deeper on this. I will utilize the doctrine as a springboard to show how our beliefs, emotions and principles cloud our understanding and logic in our analysis of daily events. This is what I meant of a non-legal perspectives. Our previous experience hinder us from seeing the obvious. Humans are historical beings. We remember our experiences, create inferences and make decisions from our memories. We avoid a situation that will ...

One is certain in this world. We all know at one point in time, we will all die because we are mortals. However, this fact is sometimes avoided or denied as the focus is more given to life itself than the end of it. It is also an inconvenient topic to discuss about death. People are afraid and most often associated with the most painful life experiences one could ever had. Moreover, the way towards death is something left undiscussed, and much controversial is what happens after death. All these things and questions will be tackled on this blogpost. Is death a time to remember? What if one dies unnoticed? Does that dimish the essence and worth of dying? These are very complex questions. First, one has to deal of the need of the person to be acknowledged. This is a need for the living, but the problem exists on this need continues to be a need at the time of time, or even after it. Many cultures in the world commemorate dead loved ones by visiting their graves, praying or simply remem...

Patience is a virtue I learned most since I had decided to live in Norway. To wait is something I did not like before. Today, sometimes I see the advantage of waiting, deliberately delaying things or perhaps unintentionally making mistakes that results for processes to take time. This is a contrast to what I have experienced in the Philippines, my home country where life's tempo is way much faster than that of in this Scandinavian land. In this blogpost, I will attempt to shed light on five perspectives why everything takes time. To wait for something better to happen . There is always something better. If one does not work, there is always an opportunity to find something better. What maybe the best thing to do today, may not be the best approach for the same problem or situation. It is usual that delays occur. However, a person with grit personality learn to set the brakes on to see a better view of the things passing or events happening. To take time to avoid mistakes . A pe...

Traveling is quite different from one person to another. There are various reasons why a place is popular for tourism and the others are not. There is a necessity to analyze why people engage in traveling so these places could either maintain their competitiveness in tourism, or perhaps improve them by looking unto other aspects of the experience. It is relatively accepted that the more varied and unique experience a place can provide, the more tourists would eventually flock into the area. This is the focus of this blogpost to tackle on the so-called tourism barometer as a measure of a place's travel attractiveness. In relation to this, I will attempt to utilize the barometer to assess the Philippine's competitiveness. Every aspect, I will give either one whole point if it is indeed a strong advantage, half point if it is relative advantage, or a quarter of a point if is is weak point. Readers could agree with the points thereafter. Cuisine 0.25 point. The ...

In this year alone, I have visited shortly quite a number of countries (Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria and South Korea), excluding Norway and the Philippines. It gave me the needed experience on how to travel in a budget, learn new things and enjoy at the same time. However, I was actually thinking if I have been using my money well, or it was just more of a waste of money. Actually, I went a little bit over, but I could say I was still responsible financially, such that I can still pay my bills and the same time save for future expenses for myself, my family and my career. However, there are great factors why travel is possible for me; and without it, I would be traveling less or not perhaps. This is focus of this blogpost. Nature of Employment For the first two years of stay in Norway, I only traveled to the Philippines and Thailand for a short vacation, and to Sweden and Denmark. This year, I could say I used more than four weeks just in...

There are few people in this world, who are considered lucky or has the advantage over others, such whatever they do and endeavour they take they have the great chance of succeeding. Moreover, if they would fail, it would be less difficult still for them to stand up and move on towards their intended goals. Those are people, who has the advantage. The various kinds of advantage will be enumerated and discussed in this blogpost. Innate advantage This refers to knowledge, skills and attitude that are given at birth, or through the early years of one's life. There was no effort or intention of acquiring them. These advantages just developed without any significant intervention. Intelligence could be great advantage, unless not further enhanced. Being born from a wealthy family could be an innate advantage, such that one's surname gives itself pride, power and authority over others. Acquired advantage There is a thin line between innate and acquired. Intelligence could actually...

Teamwork is something I first learned when I was a toddler. I was encouraged by my teacher then to work with other children to attain a simple goal. In the succeeding years, my mentors were giving tasks that require me to work on groups. That time I realized that I do not need just to adjust with the varying personalities in the group, exhibit leadership skills but I also need to accept the fact that I can not control the whole group as I wanted it to be. In my early years, my first disappointments involved working with others, rather than being alone. So I got the impression that I am best alone, as long as I persevere to achieve a goal, no matter what it takes, even assuming the responsibility of the supposed tasks of others. In the process, I became very effective in my way, while others were happy reaping the benefit of the whole team. I did not care of others are passive, what I am after was the ultimate result. There I succeeded. However, everything changed when I lived in Norway...

Today, we are celebrating the eleventh birthday of my niece. Time flies so much. It seemed that it was just recently that I got to know that my sister, her mom got pregnant. I was worried by then, but I was excited how my niece became a tough and quite learned individual. I had a hard time describing my niece, so I thought of using the different colors to sum up every learning we got from my niece, our advices to her as she approaches her teen years, and everything that concerns her and makes her busy. BLUE I am guessing this is her favorite color, because she is fond of selecting or preferring objects of this color. Although my sister want red or pink for my niece, I agree personally that blue is indeed a good color. It symbolizes peace and tranquility. In connection to this, I hope my niece will eventually understand in depth and its real breadth the things within the family that for certain bothers her. It will take time for her comprehens why things are such, and why what she wan...

Everyone on this world aspires to achieve quality of life, a socio-political goal every nation attempts to achieve for its citizens. The concept is used usually to describe happiness, on which the so-called indicators or components of quality of life are utilized to measure happiness and even success. However, in this blogpost these two concepts will be differentiated as it seeks to enumerate the descriptions of quality of life and how it varies from happiness. Living longer and maintaining good health The physical well-being is perhaps one of the most influential aspect of the life of an individual. Suffering from ailments hinders one to achieve one's potential to do what he or she likes or needs. However, studies would indicate that being healthy does not guarantee one to be happy, as happiness is affected by different factors. Moreover, there exists sick people, who tends to claim that they are happy and contented inspite of their disabilities. Self-sufficiency and financial ...

The last three autumn seasons were not as it is this year. I do not know but I guess things have changed. I honestly do not know if it is for the better or for the worse. I came to Norway also during autumn season and since then I associate this season with beginnings and risks. There are still uncertainties, but this year is quite different. This will be the focus of this personal blogpost. It is not about me anymore . Long before when October comes, I always think about myself. In the first place, it is the time just after birthday. I wanted to start anew and become better. I look forward to how I would want to feel better during the Christmas season, especially in the Philippines. However, now things may have changed. I can say I am contented with what I have, but I aspire greater from what I am having right now. However, that seems not the focus of my attention. It is rather on others. I am more worried about others. I know I can do what I need to do. I am determined and tough, b...

Being born Filipino after the peaceful revolution in the Philippines that ousted Philippine president Marcos, I learned that America is a democratic ally of the peace-loving nations. Every country that opposes America is considered a foe and at least an enemy of the world peace and democracy. However, as I asked myself why the same country supported the exile of the ousted president, and the same time supported the succeeding president. I just accepted before that the United States of America is just acting a supportive brother of a sibling nation who is in distress. Then, I learned about the Middle East, Russia, oil and China, everything changed the way I looked USA. Ofcourse, I recognize the valuable contribution of USA to the Philippines. It had supported the Philippines economically through financial grants and aids that promote the welfare of Filipinos. It allowed three million Filipinos to acquire citizenship in the country. That itself is enough to convince a Filipino to stop t...

I could say that my Filipino background has a big impact on the decisions I make everyday. However, in the last few months, I gradually embrace the notion of taking more responsibility of myself, as well as choosing options that would more likely be beneficial to myself than others. This I have learned primarily from observing and through my experience in Norway, the country were I live. The contrast between the family-oriented conservative Filipino perspective and independence-directed philosophy lies on the background of this change. However, what seems to have caused this shift in mindset? Is there really a change in the first place? And would this mean I am becoming modern, as part of a more modern society? These are the questions I will attempt to answer in this article. The shift reflects a change of the environment. All of us is part of a greater whole. The environment we belong is an influence to the values we believe in. What we see and hear, as well all the things we experi...