Conozco Pablo

My 2015 story began with uncertanties, confusion and humility in acceptance. During the span of twelve months, I experienced a roller coaster of challenges, new experiences that led me to appreciate what I have and everything the surrounds me. I began starting to learn more about the Norwegian society, which I was very hesitant to do in January. Furthermore, 2015 will be ending with me a thankful heart for Norway and its generosity. I lost my job but I found a new one. For the first time, I was standing in a seesaw of uncertainty after losing my full-time job. I started working part-time in several nursing homes and decided to try my luck on one nursing home, which could possibly give me a guaranteed work contract. I did not stop searching for work although many times, I got discouraged after receiving dozens of rejections in job applications. Luckily, just five weeks before I am supposed to leave Norway, I got two job interviews. It came unexpectedly. I was not the best job applican...

Many have told me that the greatest asset for Filipinos is their families. It is their source of strength, guidance and affection. Perhaps, I could agree with this to some extent, but not all Filipino families are alike. In addition, not all non-Filipino families are unadmirable as well. All families are unique but they share certain characteristics. This is the focus on this blogpost to differentiate the three types of families based on observable common qualities. The family who wants to know you are doing well. Simply, it is on the mind. They are more concerned of every individual's freedom and personal space, rather than collective family experience. Members would ask you if you are okay, but they will seldom give advice on how you would feel better, given they would give more emphasis on your own right to decide and to take responsibility. After knowing one is fine, the other family members no longer exert effort to dig deeper, getting only the superficial layer of situation...

Few years ago, I have noticed a sort of pattern on how every year begins and ends. Everytime I think over the pattern, I hesitate to acknowledge that certain pattern do exist, but there is. I would not want to find meaning on the series of events, but the mere coincidence seems to be improbable to happen and unimaginable to find logic using cause and effect those happened in the exact order and intensity. This blogpost will attempt to shed light on the concept of synchronicity or acausal coincidence of events. One week before Christmas 2011, a great storm hit the Southern Philippines, killing hundreds before daybreak. I was working as an nursing instructor then and more than 100 students almost drown in the flashflood that came with the storm. The event permanently changed my career path, beliefs and working relationships with known institutions. The same period in 2013, I was already in Norway, earning nothing and having no concrete work offer then. That was the first time since I fi...

It has been about more than a year I have started working in the nursing home. My experience was quite varied given I got the opportunity to work in several facilities during than short period of time. However, I can not deny the fact that I was not able to grasp the necessity of nursing homes in the light of my Filipino culture. This has somehow affected how I perform my duties in the nursing home as my work goes against my cultural norms and beliefs. Although through time especially in the last few days, I gained significant realizations about it regarding the ethical considerations of the concept of nursing home. This will be the focus of my blogpost. Hospice versus Rehabilitation Hospice care compose of actions directed to patients who are in the terminal phase of their lives, while rehabilitation refers to measures focused on an individual's optimum level of functioning. It is therefore appropriate to say that nursing homes is part of rehabilitating a patient, a concept unco...

Here is the video of my short trip in Gothenburg, Sweden. For more blogposts on Gothenburg, click the links below. Gothenburg Part 1 Gothenburg Part 2

Many people, who are not living in Scandinavian countries probably have not been to Gothenburg, or even heard of the city. However, the city has a rich heritage dating back the Viking age to the present times. Gothenburg has evolved itself from fortified city to an industrial area and tourist destination as it is today. One of the landmarks of Gothenburg is The Lipstick, a building near the port has been one of my last stop in my two-day short stay in the historic city. The Lipstick or Skanskaskrapan located near the Gothenburg Central Station is a symbol of the city's progress. In this blogpost, I will run through the twelve sites I have visited on the second day of my visit and explain their respective historic contribution in Nordic tradition and perhaps world history. Click here for the first day. 1.     Domkyrkan Göteborg Considered as an oasis in the middle of a commercial district, the Gothenburg Cathedral is one of the oldest buildings in the cit...

Situated in the largest port of the Scandinavian peninsula lies the second largest Swedish city of Gothenburg. This city has deepen my understanding on the Nordic history, culture and tradition through a short vacation. Given that Gothenburg is maritime-oriented  fortress city along the Gothia river, many ancient empires had interest on strategically-located area, as well as group of people aiming to reap benefits after gaining authority in the city. In fact, Gothenburg was heavily influenced by the Dutch, Germans and the Scots, who were tasked to develop the city given the swampy terrain of the area. Moreover, Gothenburg, located along the western Swedish coast, so in history has been a harbour for trade and emigration for Swedes bound for United States. All of these have made me interested on this city, so in this blogpost, I will enumerate and describe the various places I have seen within my two-day visit on the Swedish urban center. Click here for the second day. ...

Since 2009, I started worked in different companies and for various middle-level managers. I consider every manager as unique one, for I myself also had the opportunity to become one. My experience was not easy, but I got to learn a lot from my observations. This has led me to enumerate in this blogpost the five essential things a middle-level manager should have. 1. Competence Competence in the job is most basic requirement such that a middle managers know what and how to do things from the simple to the complicated tasks. This expects that a manager has worked from the lower levels first before assuming the position. Experience helps, but not necessarily dependent on age or length of service, but on the quality of experience one has. The dilemma however exists when the direct subordinates questions the capacity of the middle-level manager both in quality and the amount of tasks accomplished. Most of my direct heads are efficient enough in their work and this has resulted me to resp...