Desert Life

Helping in One’s Own Way
Vicente Collado Jr.

October 25, 2009

Stories and images of the unprecedented misery and devastation caused by Ondoy left no one untouched. And, based on the equally unprecedented outpouring of generosity from Filipinos worldwide, it is... More

Art Capital of the World
Vicente Collado Jr.

September 25, 2009

I remember how frustrated I was four years ago surfing the net and even driving around in search of art supply stores. I finally gave up when it became crystal... More

Summer Entertainments
Vicente Collado Jr.

August 28, 2009

“We cancelled our summer holidays in Europe because of the swine flu,” a Qatari officemate of Carol recounted one day in the elevator.

“Now my biggest headache is how to come... More

Unity in Diversity
Vicente Collado Jr.

June 21, 2009

The 111th Independence Day Celebration in Doha wasn’t a one day affair nor a one group activity. Given the 190,000 Filipinos in Qatar and the hundreds of organizations... More

On Our Own Again, Naturally
Vicente Collado Jr.

May 21, 2009

For as long as we can remember, life has always moved on smoothly for us with no need of any external assistance. Household chores were never really a burden;... More

Semana Santa in Doha
Vicente Collado Jr.

April 16, 2009

It’s a good thing this went through, sir,” one of the Filipinos who delivered our freight from Holland three years ago remarked as he unpacked my nativity... More

Surviving Separation
Vicente Collado Jr.

March 18, 2009

For many Filipinos, working abroad is the only way to survive. But doing so often means leaving loved ones behind. And this physical separation in itself could be a rough... More

Family Day
Vicente Collado Jr.

February 18, 2009

“Kabayan, can we go with you inside?” two Filipino young men suddenly appeared from nowhere as Carol and I were strapping Sema to his stroller at the car park of... More

Year-End Crunch
Vicente Collado Jr.

January 23, 2009

Sema and I had already planned our fourth Christmas and New Year holiday in Doha. As expected, the schedule involved frequent visits to Toys R Us and to Circusland. As... More

Road Contradictions
Vicente Collado Jr.

December 17, 2008

The roads are much safer now. Before, fatal accidents were daily news and driving was like playing Russian roulette. The new traffic law that imposes stratospheric fines even on minor... More

Filipino Expatriates in Qatar
A home Away from Home
Vicente Collado Jr.

November 23, 2008

I remember distinctly that two years ago only three or four Filipinos were active at Qatar Living, an online forum in Doha. Now, the Filipinos form the largest group in... More

First Filipino Expo in Qatar
Vicente Collado Jr.

October 15, 2008

We normally would have dismissed it as one more event we had read about in the papers. But, the thought that maybe one of the 50 stalls selling native Filipino... More

Sema Goes to School
Or how to potty train your children and teach them English.
Vicente Collado Jr.

September 23, 2008

“Arrange these numbers in the right order,” the lady teacher conducting the entrance exam gave Sema five wooden blocks marked 1 to 5.

Sema did as instructed without any difficulty.... More

Visiting the Sick
Vicente Collado Jr.

August 23, 2008

Visiting the sick was never our idea of an enjoyable summer vacation. But, since the beneficiary of such corporal work of mercy was no less than Carol’s sister, Amy, who... More

Fiesta, Fiesta '08
110^th Philippine Independence Day Celebration in Doha
Vicente Collado Jr.

June 18, 2008

Last year at about this time, I was talking about the impossibility of holding a Philippine Independence Day picnic Haarlem-style in Doha. The obstacles posed by dust storms and searing... More

Making Sense of it All
Vicente Collado Jr.

May 31, 2008

Last Friday night, we were scheduled to go to the airport to pick up Carol’s parents and sister who were coming to Doha for a longer stay with their only... More

Sponsors, Slaves and Fishes
Vicente Collado Jr.

April 25, 2008

“Buti pa kayo, suma-sahod!” (You are lucky, you get your salaries!) I was taken aback when I overheard this from a kabayan while shopping at Carrefour one Friday afternoon. He... More

Inflation in Paradise
Vicente Collado Jr.

March 20, 2008

“You are so lucky. All earnings in Doha are savings. No taxes!” Tito Eddie commented two years ago when he heard our next assignment would be Qatar. Even the sales... More

Can I Clean My Car Now?
Vicente Collado Jr.

February 14, 2008

“Papa, your car is very dirty,” Sema commented a month ago after we came from our Saturday grocery. Days earlier, some light drizzles effectively made our car a magnet for... More

Saying Goodbye to 2007 and to Some Friends
Vicente Collado Jr.

January 22, 2008

The end of year is all about saying goodbye to the old and saying hello to the new.

On New Year's Eve, we said goodbye to 2007. No doubt, last year... More

Christmas in the Desert
Vicente Collado Jr.

December 18, 2007

"I had work during my first Christmas day abroad. It was somewhat sad especially when I called to greet my family in the Philippines. They were enjoying Noche Buena while... More

A Whole New and Improved World
Vicente Collado Jr.

November 19, 2007

The second half of our holiday was nothing but exciting and our return to Doha was even more, albeit for reasons arguably hard to guess.

The excitement from our vacation was... More

Coming into Our Own
Vicente Collado Jr.

October 21, 2007

Carol desperately needed this vacation. A month ago, I had to bring her to Doha Clinic because of a persistent headache. The doctor diagnosed eyestrain as the cause and recommended... More

Sema's Friends
Vicente Collado Jr.

September 20, 2007

"You must have a high-paying job here, Sir," a Filipina attendant at a snack parlor remarked as she served us our ice-cream. We just arrived in Doha then and frankly,... More

History of a Filipino Website in the Netherlands
Website Mania
Vicente Collado Jr.

August 17, 2007

Our yearly visit to the Philippines scheduled last July had to be postponed because Carol needed to undergo an intensive familiarization program with a new position given to her at... More

Surviving Independence Day
Vicente Collado Jr.

June 18, 2007

Attending the Philippine Independence Day picnic at Haarlem had always been an exciting proposition for us. Pictures of happy fathers pulling at each other in a tug-of-war after obviously downing... More

New Villa
Vicente Collado Jr.

May 16, 2007

Relocating to a new house has never been an enjoyable task. It involves so much energy, headache and time that it is an ordeal we would rather avoid especially in... More

Sweet Escape
Vicente Collado Jr.

April 20, 2007

"Pack your bags. We are going out this weekend!" Carol said.

"Ritz Carlton again?" I could barely hide my reluctance. I'd rather spend the weekend sleeping until late morning than go... More

Inferior Species
Vicente Collado Jr.

March 25, 2007

"Donna just sent a text. She already boarded the plane!" This must have been the most pleasant news we have ever received since our arrival in Doha. For a couple... More

Life Begins
Vicente Collado Jr.

February 14, 2007

New year, new beginning! For once, this saying made sense. Last January marked the beginning of a new life for each one of us, three. For Carol, it's reaching the... More

Waiting for Snow
Vicente Collado Jr.

January 19, 2007

A scientific theory claims that every so many thousand years the earth undergoes a magnetic field reversal resulting in the North Pole becoming the South and vice versa. All through... More

Tale of Two Horses
Vicente Collado Jr.

December 19, 2006

With the opening ceremonies alone the 15th Asian Games in Doha had unquestionably earned the right to be called the most technologically advanced Games ever. Even spectators who waited for... More

Mad Sprint to the Finish
Vicente Collado Jr.

November 28, 2006

Josemarie and I were enjoying ourselves at the Executive Lounge of Ritz-Carlton hotel where Carol was attending a three-day training course when Tito Eddie's usual monthly reminder of deadlines came.... More

Ramadan Kareem
Vicente Collado Jr.

October 18, 2006

"You cannot even swallow your saliva," Michelle, a Filipina Muslim friend of ours, describes the kind of fasting she has been doing these days. Of course, she must be exaggerating... More

Rediscovering the Green and the Outside
Vicente Collado Jr.

September 11, 2006

We didn't catch any typhoon. It seemed the Philippines had already reached its quota for 2006; all the rest were redirected to China or Japan, courtesy of global warming. A... More

Incinerating Summer
Vicente Collado Jr.

August 23, 2006

"Your T-bone steaks are ready. A bit well-done, I think," Carol said.

"But I want mine medium rare," I replied.

"Sorry, you should have parked the car closer."

This conversation... More

Driving Adventures in Doha
Vicente Collado Jr.

June 26, 2006

"I don't think I can drive here," an officemate of Carol on a work visit from London remarked while observing traffic from the backseat of a service limousine. Another, a... More

Raising Camels in the Desert
Vicente Collado Jr.

May 18, 2006

"What are you going to do in the desert? Raise camels?" A friend in Manila exclaimed in disbelief upon learning of our impending relocation to Qatar from The Netherlands. I... More

Coming Home to Doha
Vicente Collado Jr.