Conozco Pablo

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...

The ultimate question in this world is whether to prioritize oneself over others. Naturally, human beings ofcourse are designed to be selfish. One has to nurture oneself, and by nature it is a rule that there is an unending list of what man needs and wants. However, no man is an island. We need each other. One has to support each other to gain the needed strength and learning from others to be better in one's personal dealings. This is the reason why we humans need to give back to others, and assume a social responsibility for others. We do not want others to be oppressed by others, and we want others not to feel alone in times of crisis. This description is easier written than experienced in reality. There so much factors affecting oneself and others before one could say that by moral obligation, one has to contribute for the goodness of others. There are questions that remains unanswered in the quest of finding answers. It keeps us thinking more on what really our purpose in thi...