A Short Never-ending Love Story

It will take me forever to write down every piece of information and beautiful memories from my brain so I'll make it short and concise, I promise.

Vlad and I recently got married in Hong Kong. When I say recent, it's like just almost three weeks ago, that's the 25th of March 2016. T'was an exclusive family-only ceremony and celebration. Both of us have a very private persona and we dreamt our wedding to be this way. It was simple. It was intimate. It was perfect!

Our love story is quite boring. We are from totally different worlds -- he's a Ukranian (but a real Russian by heart) and I'm a Filipino. I'm not sure though if Philippines exists in his world before he actually met me, probably, probably not. We met in the beautiful Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE, he's a professor and I'm an admin staff in a university. I remember the first time I saw him, he seems to be a serious, deep, snobbish-type. Well actually, he is and these are just some of his qualities that I like.

It all started at work. What else could be boring than a love affair at work? Well, bear with me please. I slid a paperwork for him to be done under his office door and after a couple of days, he returned it with his calling card underlining his personal mobile phone. Hmmm... such confidence, eh?! Haha... I can't recall if I called him or not but that definitely opened a new door for both of us. A door full of wonderful things. And oh, I still keep that piece of calling card till now :)

Our first date is a disaster. He ended up walking out because of my kinda strong personality. I'm like f*ck it, who needs a relationship these days anyway? Been there, done that. But for sure it didn't just end there. Details on that day were kinda blurry but as time goes by, we learned that we are a team, perfect for each other. Opposites attract as they say though we have the same goals and dreams and hopes in life.

We've been together for over 5 years before he popped the $1 million question. I undoubtedly said YES! He is the man of my dreams and now, here we are - happily married and madly in love.

xo, P

Acts of Evil

Don't be a hypocrite! Am sure all of us have done some evilness once in our lives. Big or small, it's the same. It shows that none of us is perfect.

As promised, I'll tell everything about what happened on my roller coaster journey here at sandpit. So here goes.

The moment I came back to the Philippines was like a hell. Don't get me wrong. The word hell here is only in relation to my documents. I never thought that I'll be able to enter UAE again and have this job, but I'm a lady with full of hopes in life. Money matters, that I won't lie. Sad to say but it's true that money is power. Anyway, I endure more than a month, as a jobless ass in Manila. There was a point that I am giving up and planning to be in my home country for good. You see, all my papers were authentic and okay though my contract lacks attestation from our own labor office in Abu Dhabi. I've elaborated everything about this in Episode 6.

Good news is, there's someone in Abu Dhabi University (ADU) who knows someone in the Philippines who can help me. I call this person, the mogul. My colleague told me to contact this mogul as soon as I arrive Manila and tell everything about my case. He sounds like a very powerful man, I thought. So, I contacted this mogul and discuss things. Things that you can only see in movies. Anyway, the main point is me leaving the Philippines with fake and original docs. Fake ones for the PHI Immigration and originals for AUH Immigration. So, how much? I have to say, a lot of cash. If you insist, throw me a mail and I'll elaborate further.

My first meeting with mogul was quite scary and full of skepticism. I just thought this is the only way and I really need to gamble. I never got the mogul's full name, where he lives, what 's his job and so on. I went home with nothing but trust in my pocket.

One day before my departure is our second meeting. This is the schedule he gave me for my PDOS. He gave me my referral form, there I saw that I've got an agency in Manila and my employer in Abu Dhabi is different. I tried searching for it in Google and found out it doesn't really exist. So I attended the half day boring seminar just to have my certificate.

On the departure day itself, I arrived NAIA earlier than expected, as I've said. This is my third and last meeting with the mogul. We had some short briefing then he gave me my papers. I was never surprised on how good Filipinos in forgery. What sickened me is the idea of passing through the whole airport process. But of course, twas a success. Unbelievably no sweat! It's why I'm here sharing you this story. One thing I remember the mogul used to tell me: All persons working at NAIA airport have their own tag price in their heads. TRUE, with my own experience.

Moral lesson? I couldn't think of any good so far but this I tell you, never ever exit in the Philippines if you're planning to work abroad. Our government sucks from head to toe and for that, I am not a proud Filipino.

Episode 6

I received my employment visa yesterday and there are only two words that burst out of my mouth. YES and FUCK.

YES, as I am seeing things more clearer now. I finally have a job.. a real one after like forever. This visa thing is one of the important things in my life lately. I can say that this is the step 2 of my overall venture.

Now FUCK, because it's been only less than 3 weeks. I could've exited in some near country and prolly be back to sandpit undisturbed in no time! Geez!

Anyway, this episode starts right here...

Since I already got my visa, I pantingly went to POEA this morning.. early morning... very early morning. I'm quite positive that I can finish everything up in a day but luck wasn't with me at all. Imagine: I woke up by 4am, skipped bfast, took a very cold shower.. at first, it's nothing because when I got to the POEA office I am 5th in the line but in the end, I went home with nothing. How cruel is that?

POEA is and should be opened by 8 in the morning but what else to expect? This is a government sector... in short, when I was there, twas quarter to 9 when they started opening their windows. In fairness to them, all the docs that you'll be needing to submit is posted in every walls. So I advice you to use your eyes instead of your mouth. But I need to press on one important matter. Yeah, you posted the requirements that every applicants should submit but please BE PRECISE. I haven't found in any of your postings at your office and even in your website that you guys require a POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Office) verified contract. I mean come on! You're exactly aware that not all applicants came from an agency or some sort. It's as if this verification could be done in just a snap.

Back to the episode...

When it's my turn to submit my documents, this asshole checked on my papers and then returned it to me. Having a contract with no verification, he just told me "Have your contract verified and when it's done, go back here." As easy as that. This moron never realized if I came from Timbuktu or what. Compare our small talk in less than 5 minutes to the hours I spent waiting outside. And what's worst, the verification thing should be done in POLO of the country to where you're hired to work. I ain't finish yet. In order to have your contract verified, there are loads of requirements that you need to your employer needs to submit as well.. including your original visa. So to make the story short again, I have to mail my original visa back to my employer so they can start on processing this fucking verification of my contract. Kill me now will you please?

The imbecile in the counter didn't hear anything from me as I turned my back on him though I want to break every inch of his bones or maybe start an amok. Instead, I started smoking and walking non-stop in the heat of the sun. I stopped when I saw I was in Shangrila Edsa already. So there, I just went home totally bruised inside. Now, I am starting to think that I hate being a Filipino.

Hayyyyy.. life sucks awesomely!

DXB

Never thought of stepping my feet on UAE soil but now here I am, trying to enjoy every second of it. It's hard to leave families and friends but that's the way life is. It's hard to explain but I'm pretty sure you know what I'm saying.

Anyway, I was all prepared -- financially and emotionally. I've got high hopes being here but most importantly, I have a plan. But before that drama I want to throw out everything that happened to me before arriving Dubai.

It seemed pretty easy on me but that wasn't always the case, okay. I'm doing this for the sake of those people who wants to go here so they'll at least have an idea. As what would everyone say, I decided to go here for better opportunities. So I fixed all my documents and within a month, I got all the results. I have a friend working in Dubai who helped with my visa and ticket processing. The only thing that I'll be thinking about is on how to pass through those immigration officers in Manila. Immigration officers in the UAE are more lenient (as long as you have all legit documents of course) so I don't need to be worried about that.

April 28, my departure date. I arrived in NAIA three hours before my flight schedule. First thing you need to do is to have your visa scanned for authenticity then off you go to check in your baggage. I couldn't stress more on the fact that checking in online a day before your flight is pretty helpful. You will benefit by not queuing from those long lines at the airport as there are specific counters for online/web check-in. Oh before I forgot, pay the freaking terminal fees first before checking in your baggage. You need that receipt enable for you to check in your baggage. So after checking in your baggage, you will be given your boarding pass (don't forget to ask for a departure card, you'll need that at the Immigration counter), then you can now go straight to the Immigration. This is the last step before you board a plane. Some say go to a line which you think will let you pass easily but who can tell, right? Anyway, I picked on the most snob-looking immigration officer and when it was my turn, she asked for my passport, boarding pass, and departure card. She looked at me then to my papers and asked, "Why are you going to Dubai? What's your purpose?" I calmly said, "Just visiting a friend." Then she asked for my visa and return ticket. She then asked, "Who is Elaine Cruz?" I told her she was a friend and that's it. She stamped my passport and gave it back to me. I exhaled deeply. I thought that wasn't hard and I'm lucky. There are some people who have been going back and forth in different lanes yet they've always been denied. I overheard one of the immigration officer telling the other officer, "Pabayaan mo silang magpabalik balik diyan. Maghahanap lang ng trabaho yang mga yan sa ibang bansa." In English, "Let them go back and forth. They're just going to find a job outside Philippines." Honestly, I felt angry. I understand that it was part of their so called "job" to make sure every Filipino citizen will always be on safety but can't you just let them pass? I mean, most of them are in the right age and it's up to that person whatever he/she will do to whatever country he'll/she'll be in. They have visa, they have passport, what else do you fucking want? Gah! Anyway...

So, I waited for boarding for almost two hours. My flight was delayed, what's new? Eventually, I boarded a Boeing 777 Emirates Airlines' plane and it was freaking huge. The whole trip was about nine hours straight. When we reached Dubai, we did not land that instant. The pilot said that they're experiencing traffic. I was like, "Traffic on air? WTF?" We've been circling around for like 30 minutes and then we landed.. safely.

I was so stoked upon entering the Dubai airport. T'was huge and clean and seem to be very organised -- well, compared to NAIA for sure! Oh, here's another tip, don't ever wear heels! I was wearing my new stilettos and never thought that I would be having a verrrrrry long walk inside Dubai airport. Anyhow, before the immigration officer, you will do the eye scan. I dunno what the purpose is but it's their protocol here. After that, go straight to the immigration officer. When it was my turn, the Arab officer greeted me "Kamusta?" which is basically "Hi" in my own language. So I told him, "Mabuti." which is "Fine." He asked for my passport and visa, typed something on his computer then stamped my passport. And that was it. No questions asked. This is when I realized Filipinos are more strict when it comes to the immigration thingy and I wonder why. When I passed through the immigration, I immediately saw and got my baggage. Then I got out of the airport and my friend was already there waiting for me. =)

It's 2AM when I arrived and I can feel the heat from this place. I really am in Dubai now.

x