RajahJun

Getting a driver's license in Doha, Qatar is quite easy if you're allowed to take the test immediately.  It's a different story when you have to go through driving school.  I needed the driver's license because my job as a sales executive requires me to go around Doha everyday. In securing a driving license, first you have to go to the Ministry of Transportation and file an application for driver's license.  Afterwards, the applicant will be required to undergo physical examination.  Then  a police officer will review your application and do a customary interview.  If you have a driver's license from your country, you need to present it along with your application.  If the police officer feels that you are already an experienced driver, he will recommend the applicant to take the practical driving exam. Unfortunately, when I presented my driver's license from the Philippines, it was a bit worn-out and the police officer thought that it was fake, s...

The pork barrel corruption in the Philippines continues to occupy media space this September 2013.  The news broke out last month saying that billions of pesos from pork barrel funds of lawmakers were diverted to fictitious foundations and were siphoned off to who knows where and that we do not know.  It will be revealed eventually. Whistle blowers opened the can of worms for the public, media and government to become aware of the billion pesos corruption. Pork barrel corruption by lawmakers have been a nagging problem even during the 60's and 70's.  Since I was a kid, I always see a caricature depiction of the pork barrel corruption in the editorial page of the leading dailies during those days.  It had always been debated in the halls of senate and congress in the past and up to now.  Why doesn't it end.?  Probably, selfish political interest prevents abolition of the pork barrel. But this recent corruption is already over the top.  Millions of...

Mel Fonollera, blogger Revised August 12, 2017 Bohol island is different from the other islands in the Philippines.  It remains verdant and in pristine condition, as if untouched by human hands.  Lush forest still covers the mountains; and along the shoreline thick mangroves abound as well. The green hues of vegetation on land and surrounding blue waters of the sea offers a feast to the eyes with enthralling contrast. How is this wonder of nature's art even possible?  With people living below, consuming natural resources to the brink of exhaustion.  Nature as a resource, as always, is at the beck and call of man to be extracted as he pleases. That is not the case for Bohol. Imagine man and environment existing harmoniously side by side. That's only the view from the air, wait till you see what's in store when you travel inside Bohol.  I only got to see two spots but it was worth seeing. I dozed off when the plane left Manila. Then what seemed like an ho...

Accounting is the systematic recording of an enterprise’s economic transactions and activities.  It is also the language of business.  Accounting for a small social enterprise is equally as important for large enterprises.  Reliability and relevance of accounting records is important to effectively manage a small social enterprise.  It helps guide the  entrepreneurs  of  small enterprises  to dispense decisions for the improvement of the enterprise. An unreliable accounting record is detrimental to the  health and well being of the social enterprise. As an analogy, it is difficult for a driver to know where he or she is going if the windshield is dirty.  An accident is bound to happen.  This can be compared to an entrepreneur naively relying on an unreliable accounting record.  Decisions  premised on unreliable accounting records would definitely result in unfavorable consequences.  Accounting  is the langua...

Enterprises, as their beacon to the future, need to craft their visions for the next five years. Unfortunately, change is happening at a blistering pace such as shifts in economy; shifts in local and global market; emerging technologies; climate change; economic upheavals from developed countries affecting developing countries. Furthermore, the internet revolution spawning new business models and replacing obsolete models. These are rather to heady for those who are running social enterprises. Large enterprises, on the other hand can afford to have a team of highly paid and highly educated strategic planners armed with MBAs and PhDs, and probably working with think-tank partner organizations to jointly craft a large enterprise's strategic direction blueprint. Social enterprises, on the other hand, may also be crafting their own strategic direction, but most probably, without the help of highly paid and highly educated specialists on strategic planning.  Social enterprises, more...

I will be turning 50 before the  end of this year, and what better way to usher in my golden boy status is becoming a bonafide grandfather.  I now have a grandson, his name is Samien. He was born on April 25, 2012. His parents say that the name means "to be heard".  I guess their choice was right because when Samien cries, he is really heard by everybody. I noticed remarkable things in Samien.  While just a new born, he showed to us that he has strong legs and arms.  He can push himself upwards in the crib and was tireless in raising his small arms every  now and then.  Also, he is not the quiet type because he always cries and laughs unlike other babies inside the nursery who are peacefully asleep.  At three months old, he speaks amusing although unintelligible syllables.  Also, at three months, he is rather long for babies his age and quite heavy for a three month old baby.  He weighed in at 5 kilogram during his visit to his pedia...

The year was 1975 where boys' pants were all bell-bottom and girls' skirts were a bit shorter.  It was my elementary years and I was in the sixth grade at St. Martin Technical Institute. St. Martin Technical Institute was located along Meralco Avenue and at the back of the Rizal Provincial Capital.  The school grounds was actually perched on top of hill overlooking the valley below know as Barrio Ugong.  The school was quite expansive during those days.  There were separate buildings for grade school and high school.  The grade school building is 5-storey high with two wings on the side but hardly occupied .   Inside the elementary building was a big open space that was used for field demonstrations, school dances and other school related activities. After classes in the afternoon,  the open-ground was used by elementary students to play "sipa".  A bit away from the building were lines of sweet berry trees where we used to climb up and picked ...

Managing an enterprise life cycle especially the downturn is a difficult journey.  The difficulty level depends on the severity of problems plaguing the enterprise.  If the entrepreneur fails to successfully manage this particular life cycle phase, the enterprise will die a natural death and the only recourse is to file for bankruptcy to secure a reprieve from creditors and suppliers. The entrepreneur has to decide and act on two nagging questions as it goes through the downturn. First, should the entrepreneur increase business volume? Second, should the entrepreneur reduce business volume and costs?  Decision making is like a fork in the road with the entrepreneur deciding on which road to take in the fork.  Decision making also involves instinct. Humans and animals alike react in two ways when faced with danger - fight or flight. But before taking a particular road the entrepreneur should consider many things.  Regarding fight or flight, it will depend entire...

Mel Fonollera, Blog Writer It was 5:30 am, July 20, 2008 at the Ninoy Aquino International airport departure area and the queue was long.  I stood and waited in line.  At the end of the line was an airport personnel checking travelling papers of people going to Doha, Qatar.  I felt excited as well as anxious.  There were a lot of questions racing through my mind, which I really don’t have answers as of the moment.  Those questions concerned my future in Doha, Qatar.   I decided to try my fortune and look for work in the Doha, Qatar.  My business didn't pan out and I had to close it.  Based on the peso to rial exchange rate, I thought it was worthwhile because of the thirteen pesos difference. I decided to give it a try.  I was fortunate enough, that my brother helped me secure a visit visa to  Qatar.  He works for a construction firm in Doha and knows how I can get there fast.  His assistance would be a big factor i...