russspotting

In the midst of a global recession, the current real estate turmoil and wall street breakdown in the US, we recently came face to face with a very, very tough decision.

To build, or not to build - our first home, now, at the time of crisis - that is the question.

Perhaps it will be safer to wait. We have only been here in Australia for 10 months, after all. Perhaps we're rushing things. We could stay renting for 1 or 2 more years, like most migrants who were here before us did, before we even think about buying our first home.

Perhaps.

I could end the story right here, and leave you all hanging with the same question that bugged us for days. Do we, or do we not proceed? Those of you who have known me for years probably know the answer already.

Yes we did. And though I have established a reputation among family members and friends as a risk-taker, this, as the way things are currently turning out to be, is a risk I'll probably look back a couple of years from now and say, "Boy, am I glad I took it". I'll tell you why later.



So, on a lovely spring day some 3 weeks ago, I went to see my agent and we pushed pen on paper. It didn't made as much as an effect until 30 minutes after, when he shook my hand and said "Congratulations". That's when it hit me. Damn. I just signed the contract of sale of my very first land.


                                                                            Creek at Ridgewater Village
                                                                                       

The land we bought is 448 square metres (not bad for a first home), and is located in Ridgewater, a new village inside the same suburb we are currently in, at Caroline Springs. It sits on top of a rolling hill overlooking plush greenery and a nearby creek (years of writing ads for real estate companies sure came in handy). It's the most picturesque place in the estate (as the brochure says) and is also walking distance to the town centre, 3 schools, 2 inddor pools, 4 tennis courts, 10 basketball courts, 2 football fields, 5 cafes (including gloria jean's), a skate park, a barbecue park, a huge gym, the medical clinic, the police HQ, a massive lake, and yes, the state-of-the-art library.

The house we've chosen to build is composed of 3 bedrooms,
2 bathrooms and an ensuite, a study, double garage, and an outdoor living area or alfresco. Again, not bad for a first home. Building won't start until March of next year though, since the land won't be ready until then.

But then again, you might still ask, why? Why would I look back, a couple of years from now,
and be grateful that I took that risk? Why is it a good time to build now, considering the world's economy is falling apart?

My wife was asking me the same question. And all I can tell her was wait. Now being a banker has some advantages, and one of these is being able to read financial trends way ahead of others. True enough, a couple of weeks after we signed the contract, home loan interest rates in Australia plunged  for the first time in 3 years. Economists predict rates will hit an all-time low by the first quarter of next year (same time we're already building). Not only that, the federal government has also increased the First Homeowner's Grant (money given by the government for, well, first-time home buyers) from $14,000 to $26,000! Which is enough to offset the 7% deposit we're paying for the house and land!

Here are some photos I took of the display home. The house we're about to build will look exactly the same, except for the furniture (of course), and the oven since I've upgraded into a larger, freestanding one and a canopy range hood. The facade will also be different since we're putting some bricks on it. Pardon the excitement. But if you're 32 year old and married with kids, and spent the last 31 years of your life living with your parents or by their means, you'll know exactly why I am so thrilled.

One of the perks of living in Caroline Springs is the fact that everything you need is just a hop, skip, and well, if you're into it, jog away. Spend a few minutes outdoors and you can see people walking their dogs to the lake. Joggers jog on the way to the gym to warm up, and kids skateboard their way to play a round of basketball, tennis, football, soccer, or god forbid, cricket. Take our house, for instance. You can practically throw a tennis ball from the window and have it land at the school's football yard. A 5-minute mountain bike ride will take you to the nearest shopping centre which houses a huge supermarket, a medical centre, a pharmacy, Gloria Jeans, Blockbuster, a laundromat, the post office, a couple of salons and a number of cafes and restaurants like Subway and your friendly neighborhood pizza, deli and fish and chips store.

But perhaps the biggest thing that ever happened to Caroline Springs was the construction of the new library. Now before you think working in finance and crunching those numbers has already made a nerd out of me, I'm telling you now, this is no ordinary library.







For starters, it's massive. It's the size of a shopping centre and is built using state of the art architecture. Its facade resembles a giant beehive (for whatever reasons I am not yet sure of), where holograms of various photos of the library's facility are being projected into at night. Outside the building, a giant inverted house-like sculpture made of steel is embedded on the ground as an artistic statement, words engraved on its columns. Now it might have won an architectural design award, but what I loved most about this new library of ours is what's inside it. Where most library houses books of all kinds, this library offers more by allowing members to borrow not just books, but DVDs, CDs, magazines, and yes, even play Playstation 3 for free!


Once a member, you'll be given a plastic card like an ATM which you will use everytime you borrow or return an item. You simply scan that card and it will show all information on your account on the computer, like the number of books you have on loan, your past dues, or the items you want to reserve or extend.

Scan the books you're borrowing and it will automatically be stored on your account. Looking for a book or DVD is easy, as you no longer have to get cross-eyed trying to find which aisle is which title located. A simple browse on one of the library's computers will show you where each title can be found specifically and if its available. And it's not hard to access the database as well as the library has plenty of computers with hi-speed internet.

To date, I have already borrowed and finished reading a good number of classic novels including Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger, 1984 by George Orwell and The Castle by Franz Kafka. I've also borrowed books I just pick up when I'm going to the loo like 1001 books (and movies) you must read/see before you die, graphic novels such as Frank Miller's 300, and other books I wouldn't be able to read otherwise for being either too expensive or hard to find. I've also borrowed the complete series of HBO's Carnivale on DVD, Curb your Enthusiasm, and is still contemplating when I can have time to watch the first season of The Sopranos that i recently borrowed (I know, I haven't seen even a single episode yet). The kids are having a blast borrowing almost all the chapters of Read your own adventure books and Harry potter series and playing  PS3 while we're browsing for titles, while the missus is content with her weekly supply of Hollywood gossip reading OK and Variety. Aside from all these, the library is also a venue for weekly attractions for adults and kids like puppet shows, story-telling, book club meetings and free seminars on cooking, carpentry or gardening every weekends.

So pardon me if this post sounded like its written by a real estate agent trying to sell the latest Australian land development. I am just overwhelmed by this new addition to our suburban neighborhood, the Caroline Springs Library.

What do you get when a huge bus driven by an equally humongous bus driver miscalculately overtakes a sedan driven by a right-hand-drive-challenged lady driver?

This:


Bad trip, di ba?

A few weeks ago, the missus was driving on her way to work when she suddenly got hit by a commuter bus from the rear bumper, the heavy weight of the vehicle dragging the car like a can of Ligo. The result? Our first ever vehicular accident in Australia. And hopefully the last!

Now it's a good thing we are insured, for when we got a quote of how much repair would cost, our jaws dropped when we learned that it's more than half of the price of the vehicle. Kaya mayayaman ang mga mekaniko dito eh...

But bad trip quickly became good trip, as, when I called our insurance provider on the same day of the accident, and, after much harassing to the driver in question, I was told that I can get a car hire, covered by my policy. Which means I can hire a car to use while my car is being fixed, for free.

Eto ang resulta, care of Thrifty Car Rentals:

We got to drive home an almost new Mitsubishi 380, a real beauty of a luxury vehicle, and use it at no charge, for two weeks!

Syempre kelangan may photo-op!

It was also a blessing in disguise (how often can you say that in an accident?) that it happened a week before my sister arrived here in Melbourne for a one month vacation. Sulit na sulit ang 1 week sa umaatikabong road trips (Photos to follow).

Eventually, and much to our disappointment, we had to return the 380. We'll surely miss driving 120 in the freeway on cruise control, the smooth turns of the roundabout made even smoother with EBD, the glances were getting everytime where driving, the GPS, and accelerating from 0 to 80 in just 2 seconds!

As for our Magna? We got back after 2 weeks, as promised. Fully restored in his old glory...




Parang walang nangyari ano? Tsk-tsk...

I've traded my right brain for my left. You might think it's preposterous, unthinkable, unforgivable, even, but in an effort to adapt, survive, and settle in quickly, I've decided to utilize logic in lieu of creativity.

To those who have been asking me lately, my answer is simple. Yes and No. Yes, I already have a job. And no, I'm no longer working in advertising. This copywriter is now a banker. You read that right. A banker. More specifically, a Financial Advisor. After 7 years of writing taglines, jingles, and TV commercials, I am now calling people up and giving them sound financial advice about their personal loans, credit cards, home loans, bonds, stocks, and other investments. Words such as taglines, jingles, and brainstorms, are now replaced by assets, liabilities and equity.

I know. What the f#@*?

I am currently employed at The Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the largest financial institution in the land down under. And before you start thinking that I sold my soul to the devil, I just want you to know that it wasn't what I really planned for. You see, finding a job here in Australia is like finding the perfect pair of shoes on Ebay. There's heaps of choices available on the internet but somehow, you can't find the one that you really, really want. Oftentimes, you'll find the style you like, but it doesn't fit. Or it may fit you, but it's not really what you're looking for. In the end, you bite your lips and say, "I'll just have to settle with this." Like I said, there's thousands and thousands of choices. Visit www.seek.com.au and see for yourself. In fact, Melbourne was voted as the 2nd country with the most online job-hunters in the world (I forgot who's first). You can spend the whole week just sending out resumes to companies and expect at least half of them to reply and set you up for an interview. As long as you're not picky, you'll get a job in no time at all.

The first time I logged on, I typed the keywords "advertising", "copywriter", and "creative" on the search button. To my surprise, I found out that there weren't as many available as I thought there would be. To top it all, most advertising jobs are either for Art Directors or Account Executives. And almost 80% of the jobs available are located in Sydney. There were a handful copywriter positions, but most of them are for advertorials, merchandising and events-focused. I sent my resume anyway.

Long story short, my applications came back unsuccessful. At this point, I have already submitted my portfolio along with my letter of endorsement to McCann Melbourne, and, just to make sure, to Clemenger BBDO, Leo Burnett, Grey, and J. Walter Thompson. I was told that none of them have an opening. I had spent time going back and forth to McCann the most (I am a former McCannite anyway), in all fairness, they were also the one who accommodated me the most. The first time I went there they were moving office, so I had to callback a month after. The next time i called, the creative director (they have no ECDs) was on a holiday. The third (and last time), I met his secretary, who told me they just recently hired a copywriter and that the CD would like to keep my folio for future opportunities. I thanked her and left. I was heartbroken. I couldn't believe that all 7 years that I have spent, all the skills I have developed and talent I have unearthed will all go to waste. I knew getting into advertising was hard, (it is, even in the Philippines), but I never imagined it would be this hard especially since I already have experience.

I was shattered.

Then, a relative told me about a friend who also used to work as a copywriter back in the Philippines. He told me that when he first came here, he did the same things, sending resumes to all the top agencies, then to lesser-known ones, until he finally landed a job --- as a graphic artist. He told me that one of the advertising agencies he applied for actually told him, that one reason why newly-arrived migrants like us have a hard time applying for copywriting jobs is because we don't have a clear grasp of Australian culture yet. We don't know what makes them laugh, frightened, sad, in love, and, most important of all, what makes them buy... yet.

Long story short, I am now a financial planner. Don't get me wrong, I like what I'm doing. I may not love it the way I adore writing copy and conceptualizing, but I like it for 3 reasons. Security, Time, and Privileges. Security knowing that I'm a permanent, full-time employee of one of the largest and richest corporations in Australia. Time because unlike in advertising,
we don't... no... never, ever, do overtime. In fact, the moment it hits 5:30, people leave the building as if it was burning. Moreover, as soon as I get home, I'm no longer thinking about work. How often can you say that in advertising? Finally, the privileges. I get to enjoy perks such as no fees and discounts on my credit card (I only get charged half the interest), and bank accounts. Substantial discounts and instant approvals on personal loans and home loans, golf club and spa memberships, bonuses, and travel opportunities. And the pay? It ain't that bad. All I can say is I now earn 4 times than what I used to earn in Manila. And I have only started.

Do I miss advertising? Of course. Will I still pursue copywriting? Maybe. I don't know. Neil French has been a copywriter, an account executive, a rent collector, a waiter, a singer, a debt collector, and many other things until he finally came back to advertising and became an Ad God, so, who knows? I myself, dreams of one day becoming a chef, a film director or a novelist, so, like I said, who knows? As I told you before, you can get anything you want in Melbourne. As long as you're not picky.

So I'm parking my writer's hat in the closet for now, and putting on my crisp plaid suit. There's a lot of things I can do to keep my creativity intact anyway. Like writing this blog, for instance. For now, I'm trading creativity for logic.

Right, meet Left. He'll do most of the thinking. For now.

It's only been 5 months since we left the Philippines and I still can't believe how far we've gone. In only a quarter of a year, we've managed to land stable jobs (the 2nd one for me), the kids are calling their friends "mates", and, in true Aussie fashion, we find ourselves watching "footy" on late night "telly" (that's Australian Football on TV).

But one of the most significant milestones we have reached so far happened a month ago. For on April 5, 2008, 4 months after we landed on Aboriginal soil, we mustered all our courage, dollar and cent, braved our way and made a big move, literaly, as we moved into our own home. No, we haven't bought a house yet. We're renting an apartment. But since this is the first time we're living on our own, away from our relatives' loving & accommodating arms, it is, for now, our humble abode.

It wasn't that easy, of course. We started from scratch like a newly-wed couple. We have nothing in our possession, not even a tiny old teaspoon. So weeks of bargain hunting ensued. Countless garage sales were explored, no deposit, no-interest purchases were exploited, in order for us to set up a liveable shelter. It's a good thing Melburnians are notorious garage-sellers. One look at the weekly paper and you'll see a long list of moving houses selling everything from a chair to a chainsaw. And they're great bargains too. Proof was a steam iron I purchased for 2 dollars in good working condition. A Fisher & Paykel digital washing machine I got for a hundred (they still sell the same model in the mall for $750), good quality jackets, shoes, and bags from 50 cents to a dollar. In less than a month, we were able to fit a van with only our garage sale purchases. The rest of the furnitures will have to be delivered.

Looking for a place wasn't that easy as well. Searching for a house was a breeze, as you can find heaps on the internet. It's getting it that's difficult. Unlike in Manila, you have to apply for a house that you want to rent, and most of the time, you'll find yourself competing with at least 10 other families who are vying for the same place. Luckily, out of 5 houses we have applied for, we got approval for 2, so we still had the privilege to choose.

The house we got is located in Caroline Springs, a multi-awarded community that has been touted as "The best address in the west" here in Melbourne. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 toilets and baths, 1 ensuite, central airconditioning & heating, 2 car garage, and a modern kitchen. It's walking distance from malls, parks, lakes, clinics, cafes, the public library, bus stops and the kids' school. We fell in love with it the moment we saw it and crossed our fingers. Thank God we got it.

And so with much pride, joy, and anticipation, I share to you, our latest achievement. Considering we've only been here for 4 months, it ain't bad at all.

(Click on the photos to enlarge)


                                              Living room na wala pang laman





Master's bedroom with walk in robe & ensuite












Dining room adjacent to the garden
















Kitchen












              






                            Bathroom

                            42 inch Plasma and PS3 care of 22 months interest-free

I miss my maid.

No, I am not an atsay-killer. What I actually wanted to say is that I miss having a maid.

This concern actually didn't popped into my head until recently. After all, I just finished doing the laundry this morning, ironed my clothes for a job interview tomorrow, washed the dishes, fed the dog, put out the recycle bin, and, oh yeah, vacuumed the carpet. Things I don't, under normal circumstances, do when we still have our trusty ol' helper back in the Philippines.

But this is Oz. And yes, life here, albeit a lot livable, is harder for primadonnas and spoiled brats. Not that I'm saying I am either.

Don't get me wrong, it ain't that hard. You have a dishwasher anyway. Just put all the dirty plates in, put some soap, and turn on the spinner. But since Melbourne is experiencing heavy drought this summer season, use of dishwashers are being discouraged, as well as watering the plants or cleaning your car. Still, most of the chores are easy to do. I rarely iron my clothes, for instance (except for long sleeved polos and slacks) because the washing machine/dryer does a good job of keeping the clothes almost wrinkle free. plus, you don't sweat too often here even if it's a smoldering 43 degrees outside 'coz of the cold wind, so you don't have to change that often. unless of course, if you have incurable body odour.

I wouldn't mind doing all that, actually. It's just that, I miss the days when after eating, I would just hit the sofa and watch TV, leaving my plate on the table for our dear ol' maid to clean after. Or getting my clothes out from the closet properly tucked, ironed and folded. Most of the time, when we're just too lazy to fold newly-washed clothes, we just leave it on the hamper.

Then again, this is life in the great Australian suburbs. I imagined it to be the same, anywhere else in the world except some countries like ours. Ironic, isn't it? How a third world country can afford to hire a household help and how Uncle Sam and the rest of the first world citizens struggle with their household chores?

And so I say, treasure your helpers. Cherish them, pamper them, and enjoy their company while you can. Who knows, you might one day wake up in suburbia down under and be greeted by a pile of dirty dishes.

Which reminds me, have I already done ours?

Bugger.

And you thought it'll be super.

Not having to go to work. Waking up every morning (or afternoon) without worrying about running late for today's internals. No deadlines. No overtimes. No taglines to think about nor storylines to write.

At the back of your mind, you begin to chant Elmer Fudd's infamous lines... "no more classes, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks..." you may not be in school anymore but the thought of quitting your job begins to feel like a long, overdue vacation.

You're free at last. You have unchained yourself from the bondage of your cubicle. Or, as they call it in advertising, workstation. For the first time in years, you wander through Ayala Ave. without having to walk like a madman in order to beat the rush hour. You go to malls during office hours and park your car wherever you want.

You are, after all, unemployed. A freewheler. Answerable only to yourself and accountable to noone. You are an official bum.

You are having the grandest time of your life, until one day, you get sick. You succumb to an illness, one that raises your body temperature to 40 degrees celcius, day in and day out. Your fever never ceases. Your body starts to weaken and and you can't eat anything because they all taste like shit.

On the 3rd day, you ask to be rushed to the hospital. Fearing dengue but clueless nonetheless. The doctors run some tests. Then on the 4th day, concluded that you have Typhoid Fever. The nurses, upon admitting you at the hospital, ask you one simple question. One question that made you wish you weren't jobless.

"Do you have a health card?"

You bite your lips. Then you realize. You're unemployed. A freewheler. Answerable only to yourself and accountable to noone. You are, an official bum.

You rush yourself to recovery, knowing that each day you spend in the hospital is another dime taken off from the last of your savings. You have never worried about hospital bills all your life, except now.

You begin to understand that you are no longer privileged. You are no longer enjoying health benefits from your employer. You don't have one, remember?

It sucks. One day you're tip-toeing, enjoying the privileges of being free from the bondage of employment and the next day you're wishing that you don't have to worry about paying your hospital bills.

Finally, you accept the fact. It sucks to live without benefits. It sucks to be plain old, Citizen Russ.

Saw this posted at Krispy Kreme Grrenhills last weekend. At bago mag-react ang mga Atenista, hindi po ako Lasallista.

At least dito, lamang kayo.

Congrats!

I have managed to keep this to myself, my family and some very close friends for a long time and now I can finally let it out. I didn’t want to jinx it by telling everyone about it. Nor do I want to deal with the embarrassment just in case “it” didn’t push thru.

But “it” did.

And so it can be told.

My family (wife and kids) and I are moving to Australia. Finally. After almost 2 years of praying persistently, savings drained, and waiting in agony.

Yes, we waited. Almost impatiently and nearly losing hope. We waited as an acquaintance, who applied for immigration just a few months ahead of us was granted a Visa a full year ago. We waited as requests for documents and other requirements pile up one after the other. We waited for the medical results. We waited as our patience and resources slowly dwindled. We waited and wondered why our application was taking so long to get approved. And yet, when we received our visa grants two weeks ago, all we can say is “this soon?”

And so it can be told.

The Australian Immigration has given us a deadline. We have to be in Australia by end of November. Yes, this November. It took us a while to process the thought: we’re celebrating Christmas and New Year away from our parents, siblings, relatives and friends. We’re celebrating the holidays, for the first time, down under. “Be careful what you wish for”, so they say. “It might just come sooner than expected” must follow next. Now I wish it could've come later.

And so it can be told.

I can still remember when my Aunt (who sponsored us to Australia) went home to Manila for the first time after 12 years of residing in Melbourne. It was 8 years ago. I was already 2 years married then, and a father of a bouncing baby boy. Back then, my Aunt was already trying to convince me to apply for immigration. She said she’ll sponsor us and even though I didn’t graduate from college, we can still make it because of my wife’s professional skills as a banker. I politely declined her offer. My reason was simple. I would only go to foreign countries for vacation. And would only entertain the thought of leaving my family for work in, say, the US, if I can go back home to them every now and then. I heart NY after all and I have always dreamed of making it big in the big apple or to visit other foreign destinations like Rio, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Greece, or the United Kingdom. But to live in a foreign country and raise my children there? Thanks but no thanks. That was always been my position.

So what happened? People change. That’s what happened. We change as our beliefs and motivations change. We change as we grow old and realize that the tooth fairy doesn’t exist. We change as we expand our horizons or gain new experiences. We change for various reasons. For me though, the change wasn’t sudden. In fact it took me years to realize that it’s getting harder and harder to provide a good life for your family (especially for your children) in this country. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Philippines and I will always do but let’s face the facts. We are a third world country (we have always been and if things don’t turn around soon, we will always be). Our population is more than 90 million (it matters when you’re just a tiny speck on the world map). Our government officials are among the most corrupt in the world. We are a country known worldwide for red tape, graft and corruption, mail-order brides, poverty, impeachment trials, political scams, terrible traffic, grave pollution, and electing doofuses into public office. I have lived in this country for 31 years and for 31 years I have endured. But the time has come to think hard, really hard and consider plans for my children’s future. The fact that I live in Malabon, a place below sea level where it floods every time it rains hard (rising up to more than 6 feet! But that’s for another post), the fact that I travel almost 2 hours on the way to work and on the way home every single day due to traffic and pothole-ridden roads, and that poverty increases continually year after year, makes the change of heart even easier. After all, my wife and I are not getting any younger. Our kids are getting bigger and bigger and our place is sinking deeper and deeper.

It’s time. The prospect of migrating to a country offering bigger and better opportunities was more than just promising. The decision was a no-brainer. I’m not doing it for myself anymore. I’m doing it for my kids. We’re moving to Oz.

And so it can be told.

The Philippines. My residence for 31 years. My country. My home. I am still proud to be a Filipino. For despite all the cons I have listed above, there are still many pros. In fact too many to mention. We are still a beautiful country. For despite the massive pollution and maddening traffic in metropolitan areas, we are still home to the world’s most beautiful beaches, the most exotic animals and the most exhilarating tourist attractions. Despite crooked government officials, red tape and graft and corruption, in general, we are still good-natured people, full of good values, honest, and with good moral character. We are, after all, Asia’s bastion of Christianity, housing the most number of Catholics than any other country aside from Rome. Despite the prevalence of poverty and the decline of the quality of education, we are still the most hardworking and talented. We are the most fluent in English (the universal language) in Asia, proven by the current boom of the call center industry. You may not know it but chances are, when you’re calling the toll free number to report a lost credit card or request service for your gadget in the US, you are talking to a Filipino operator. Despite all the negatives, we still have Olympians, legendary athletes, talented artists and other prominent figures making waves around the world.

The Philippines. I may be leaving but my heart stays with you. I may soon be hopping with kangaroos and playing with koalas but I still think the Philippine eagle, our national animal rules. I am still proud to be a Filipino. I was then and I will always be.

And so it can be told.

In a few days from now, I will be landing in the land they call down under. I will be walking with the bushwalkers, bringing out the barbie for a Sunday grill or calling my friends “mates”. I will be migrating to Australia with my family in search for a new and brighter future. I will be starting life all over again. Writing new goals and wiping the slate clean. And with a heavy heart, I will be leaving you all, my friends, my family, my country.

My home.

And so it can be told.

I still have almost 2 months left, I know. But right now, allow me to tell you that I will miss you all.