Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Stargate International Cargo Woes


We used to send regular balikbayan boxes thru Stargate Cargo in Sharjah since 5 or 6 years ago and never had any problem. Mostly used clothing of my babies and unnecessary things that occupies space in my flat. That was before me and my wife came to know that we can earn extra bucks by selling our "garbage" in Dubai Flea Market.  

Four or five months back, I sent Super Jumbo box with free bulilit box to my wife place in Batangas. Considering that Batangas is very much accessible to Manila, it took almost 3 months for my parents in law to receive the cargo. For Luzon, it should only take 45 days more or less. 

I was a bit impatient at that time. So I called the office here in Sharjah to ask about the status of my cargo. I was told by lady on the other the line, who seemed to be nice, that they had sent SMS to the clients that there will be a little delay because of some nonsense problem in Singapore.

This was seemed to be true. But I just ignored the reply since there was no food or groceries inside my boxes.

Last week I was surprised to find out the whole story behind the Stargate controversy while watching TV Patrol in TFC. In the report of Sol Aragones in BMPM (Boto Mo Patrol Mo) segment of TV Patrol, the
Stargate Internatonal Cargo folded since 2007 and all the clients were transferred to Stargate Express Logistics Incorporated. It was not clear though why the company change its name.

Stargate will loose business and besides Stargate is not the only player in the market. There is Makati Express, Roda Cargo and LBC cargo. These 3 company company will surely be the beneficiaries of the big pie of the market that Stargate lost.

A Facebook page or HATE page as you may call it was created to boycotting Stargate Cargo which has so far 550 members. Click here.

There you will find endless stories of Stargate's poor service. From boxes being opened, delayed, office phones not answered etc.

So next time kabayan, when you send your Balikbayan Boxes choose a reliable cargo company.


Saturday, January 8, 2011

Trentra I-Tres


Ang bilis ng panahon. Maliban sa katatapos lang ang 2010 at kapapasok lang ng 2011, nagdiwang din ako ng aking ika 33 na kaarawan noong December 29.

Parang hindi ko namamalayan unti unti na pala akong tumatanda at malapit ng lagnatin kung ibabase sa thermometer and edad ko. Kung paguusapan naman ang latest na statistika halos naabot ko na ang kalahati ng lifespan ko dito sa mundo. Ibig sabihin more or less may mga 35 years na lang ako tatagal dito sa Earth.

So far wala naman akong regrets. May mga pagkakataon na gumapang din ako sa kangkungan ga truck ang problema ko. Pero palagay ko naman normal lang ang mga problema. Dahil alam ko lalong titibay ang loob at pananalig ko sa Diyos pag may problema ako.

Ang asawa ko at dalawa kong anak ang nagbibigay sa akin ng lakas na kumita ng pera bilang OFW. Aanhin ko naman ang sweldo ko kung wala naman akong bubuhayin. Oo nga. Mayron din akong responsibilidad sa mga kamag anak kahit papano. Pero higit sa lahat ang pamilya ko ang mahalaga sa akin.

Mahirap mamuhay sa ibang bansa kasama ang pamilya. Sa kaso ko, halos sapat lang naman ang sweldo ko para matustusan ang BASIC NEEDS ng family ko. Pero mas mahirap na magkalayo. Marami dito sa UAE na nagkakasira ang pamilya dahil dyan.

Kung babalikan ko ang nakaraan, maaring isipin ko na sana iba ang naging desisyon ko sa mga mali ko sa buhay. Kung pwede sanang i reset para maging tuwid ang mali at punuan ang mga pagkukulang sa buhay. Pero hindi ganun eh. Puro forward. Walang backward. 

Anyway, kahit nga medyo late na itong tribute ko para sa sarili ko. (naks!) Masaya ako dahil kahit medyo recession pa rin ngayon sa UAE, kasama ko pa rin ang pamilya kong nag celebrate ng birthday ko.

Kumain kami sa Shabu-Shabu (sabi ng iba "sabu sabu" ewan ko kung ano ang tama) sa may Twin  Tower sa Deira. Ang saya, sa halagang 35 dirhams, halos panay ang dighay ko dahil sa dami ng vetsin na nilagay ko sa sabaw. It was fun! Para kaming mga bata na nag luto-lutuan! Saka solid naman ang open air view kasi sa may tapat ng Dubai creek.

Eto nga pala ang picture namin: 



Madami rin pala akong ka birthday. Sino ba ang kilala kay pareng Dyango Bustamante, si Charles Goodyear ang taong kadikit ng gulong ng sasakyan ang pangalan, si Jonathan Vincent Voight ang estranged father ni Angelina Jolie, at English actor na si Jude Law.

Yong iba hindi ko sinama dito kasi mga wala silang kwenta!


Thursday, January 6, 2011

Kambal Tuko ??



Cong. Ronald Singson and Jet Li


                       Name:             Ronald V. Singson                          Jet Li
                       Born:               Nov. 18, 1968                               April 26, 1963
                       Profession:      Congressman,                                Actor, Martial artist
                                                Concert producer                           Film producer