J. Julius

Last week I was flying back to USA t, and the lounge in the airport at Manila, Philippines was packed with many travelers. There was a throng of relatives and friends who said farewells to their departing loved ones. There was a group of other voyagers anxious to get to their destined locations; a few were traveling to USA, other people to the Middle East and further more to Europe. My family was among them. I was also waiting for this day to come, It was very sad day for me. I going to miss everyone in my family, I will miss my wife (Asawa) so much. it going to be very hard being apart for so long.

In the Philippines at least 2,500 citizens leave each day to earn their living in foreign lands. Many times you will see a couple of persons in a family usually working and residing abroad like myself. The same is a fact with other regions in Asia and other poorer places in the world. What are the factors influencing this exodus of citizens from one region to the other? The first factor is for financial reasons. People want to obtain a better life. Alluring openings like high paying jobs, better working situations and finer standards of living. All of these tempt many people to go abroad.
When leaving to a more economically developed country, a worker usually enjoys a large financial disparity as contrasted with what is generally made from their country of origin. For example, a Filipino nurse, commonly makes about 6000 pesos monthly, approximately US$150 when engaged in the Philippines as compared to making $6000 in a month while working in the USA. The greater salary does not just do god to the immigrated worker but including the family, the immigrant leaves behind.

The third cause is interracial marriage. This will be my wife (asawa). Soon I will make applications so that she will be able stay with me in her new adopted home of USA. But it all take time along time.





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Tomorrow, I fly home to United States of America. I can’t believe my time here in Philippines has come to an end. It has flown by, but we have had the most awesome time with each other. Every time I see my asawa (wife), it makes me a little more sad that she can't come with me - or vice versa or I can't stay here with her. I hope another year does not have to pass until my next visit home to see my family.

Today I cried a silent tear! My asawa (wife) is most special and wonderful woman on Earth too me! I don't want to be apart from her! Mamahalin ko siya magpakailanman. (I will always love her.)

My wife is the best wife ever! Not so long ago, I said to my wife, you should be blogging. "Honey, you feel good to knowing that people want to hear what you have to say. So start blogging and find your voice...." Well now she has started to write her own Blog. It will be great because she has a lot experienc in her field and another can benefit from it. She will love getting emails thanking her for a particular post, especially when someone tells her how she has helped them. This is going to be an amazing feeling for her I'm sure.

So please read my wife’s blog:
Philippines Travel and Life style


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What is twitter you ask? Twitter has become extremely popular all across the Web, with more blogs, and now companies using it to communicate with their audiences and customers. Even I started Twittering a couple of months ago. http://twitter.com/kkodak

But this is just the best, Twitter / BarackObama! Yes new President is on Twitter with brief reports from the president-elect on what he's doing and thinking.




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Desktop Nexus: Wallpapers > Boat Wallpapers > Human Powered Wallpaper


This was taken near my house in the Philippines in the area of Bataan. It is used here at the top of my blog everyday. Now a lot of you have ask me to post it as wallpaper... So here it is!!! Enjoy.


Direct URL: [URL=http://boats.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/33436/][IMG]http://static.desktopnexus.com/wallpapers/33436-bigthumbnail.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Forum Code:[URL=http://boats.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/33436/][IMG]http://static.desktopnexus.com/wallpapers/33436-bigthumbnail.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

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It's time to put, the negative things from 2008 behind us and look forward to the hope and change that 2009 will bring! I am very excited by 2009, as I have a lot of plans for this year. Brings with it a sense of renewal.....

Here’s wishing you a grand and glorious 2009, Peace, Health, Money and Success,

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Happy New Year!" That greeting will be said and heard for at least the first couple of weeks as a new year gets under way.

Traditionally, it was thought that one could affect the luck they would have throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day of the year. For that reason, it has become common for folks to celebrate the first few minutes of a brand new year in the company of family and friends. Parties often last into the middle of the night after the ringing in of a new year. It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year's Day would bring either good luck or bad luck the rest of the year. It was particularly lucky if that visitor happened to be a tall dark-haired man.

Traditional New Year foods are also thought to bring luck. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes "coming full circle," completing a year's cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune.

Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the new year by consuming black-eyed peas. These legumes are typically accompanied by either hog jowls or ham. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures. The hog, and thus its meat, is considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity. Cabbage is another "good luck" vegetable that is consumed on New Year's Day by many. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some regions, rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year's Day.

Well to all, Manigong bagong taon ( Happy New Year )!!! from Philippines.

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Dear Readers, Friends and MY Family

My grateful hearts and warm appreciation for the time we share,and the progress we make possible over this year.Have a Blessed Christmas to you & your family.

More to come in 2009!!!

New Year's Eve is another one of thous big event. Filipino families believe in welcoming the New Year by preparing a sumptuous feast. They believe that a big feast will bring good luck and prosperity to the family. This gathering is called Medya Noche, where families share the feast on midnight after hearing mass. At midnight, there is a lavish display of fireworks. Firecrackers are believed to help remove badluck and evil spirits.

This custom of making noise and merrymaking is not only meant to have all the fun on New Year but also to drive away evil spirits. The people in Philippines believe banging on pots and pans and blowing on car horns to be the safer methods of merrymaking on New Year.

Another custom is opening the doors during the first day of the New Year is a custom that is followed to bring good luck for the New Year.


Maligayang Pasko or (Merry Christmas) and Have a Happy New Year!

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Philippines has earned the distinction of celebrating the world's longest Christmas season. Christmas celebrations start on the month of Septmeber. Parols or Christmas Stars are everywhere. Caroling would also be heard during the Christmas season in the Philippines. You'll get to see a gang of little kids walking from house to house singing the old time favorite Filipino Christmas carols. Even the older generation may go about caroling as well. Simbang Gabi or Missa de Gallo a nine-day dawn masses that start on December 16 is a novena Masses that is very important part of Filipino Christmas tradition.
Christmas Eve is often celebrated by families at home enjoying a Christmas dinner at midnight. This tradition is called Noche Buena. It is a time for thanksgiving and a time for families and friendsto be together. For Filipinos, Christmas Eve ("Bisperas ng Pasko") on December 24th has the much-anticipated Noche Buena - the traditional Christmas Eve feast after the midnight mass. Family members dine together around 12 midnight on traditional Noche Buena fare, which includes: queso de bola (Spanish: "ball of cheese"; this is actually edam cheese), "Tsokolate" (a hot chocolate drink) and jamon (Christmas ham), and some would open presents at this time.

Maligayang Pasko or (Merry Christmas)
God Bless you and your family.


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