To my blogmates, please update my link from your blogsites to point to http://bluerendition.com/blog/ instead of http://jun.i.ph. Thanks!

The remittances of these Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have also made the Philippine Peso the best-performing currency in Asia. From last year's 56 pesos, a dollar now buys less than 42 pesos. It is expected that the Philippines Peso will reach the 38-level by 2008. This prediction was actually made by no less than the chief investment officer of the company I work for.

The above figures may seem very positive but if we'll look at it closely we will realize that the very people who have made these good things possible are at the losing end. Consider a domestic helper who earns US$450 monthly. Assuming she remits 80% of her total monthly income, that would give her family in the Philippines around Php20,000 at last year's rate. Using the current exchange rate, it would only give them roughly Php15,000. I just can't imagine the effect of the appreciation of the peso to these disadvantaged people when it hits the 38-level next year.

If this trend will continue in the coming years, I believe the number of Filipinos leaving the country will start to decrease. I don't know when but it will surely come. I just hope that when that time comes, the Philippine government is ready and equipped to create new jobs for our Kababayans.

The brighter side. I have just received my grade for the elective course I took last semester. I got no less than a perfect grade. UNO! Hehe. Actually, this was the third time I enrolled for this subject. But I didn't fail any of them. The first time was a year ago. I cancelled it before the start of the semester because I was not comfortable getting more than full load. The second time was just six months ago when I was really not in the mood of doing anything at all. Though my professor told me that I'm doing good and actually had a good standing, I opted to drop the course because I didn't feel like finishing the remaining requirements. The good thing is that I have finally completed this course.

Another good thing. I now enjoy shopping (and window-shopping too). Yesterday, I bought 3 dry-fit nike shirts that I will be using whenever I go to the gym. I also bought a new maroon longsleeves. Two days ago, I bought a spare Nokia phone. By the way, I'm now maintaining two mobile numbers. One from each leading network carriers, Smart and Globe.

Currently, I'm thinking of availing of the Smart's new product "Just Plug-it." It is a USB device that will allow you to have a broadband internet connection for as long as you're within Smart network coverage. I will probably wait for a few months before deciding since there are so many negative reviews about it. Another thing is that I've read from some tech blogs that Sun Cellular might release a similar product. I will check out what the other company has to offer.

This post is quite lengthy already. Will save the other items for the next post.

:)