Life on the Spot! Life and Leisure in Doha, Qatar

After 4 weeks of extended vacation in the Philippines, Mavis and Xiane are finally arriving tonight...

...and I've got a gift for Mavis which I think she'll like.

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Yeah. I'm sure you're thinking winning millions in cash. I was hoping that too. Still winning unexpectedly in Bank of the Philippines'(BPI) monthly draw for "Be the next Millionaire... with BPInoy's P2 Million Thanks to You Promo Part 2" is still great. Mavis was entered automatically through her remittance transaction with BPI for my mom on May 5,2008 (our wedding anniv and my dad's birthday). Interestingly enough, it was the first day that transactions were entered in the draw and it was the first monthly draw for the promo.

So what has she won? The monthly draw gives you a Travel Award Certificate from the country where you sent the money from to the Philippines and back. I was hoping that it was for two but was only for the winning name. Still, the value of the ticket would roughly be Php44,000. However, the prize is not convertible to cash. Also, the flight should be booked 60 days from claiming the ticket and date of travel should not exceed one year from draw date. That poses a big problem. Since the draw date was on June 18, it means that the flight should be taken before that date. Our vacation is limited to end of June as Xiane's school year ends at that time (June 25). I'm hoping that once Mavis talks to Fiesta Tours, they be more linient with the rules and allow her to book after June 18, 2009. By the way, the receiver of the money (my mom) also gets a new Nokia phone. It's not the top end model as I think it just the basic one. It's supposed to be a Nokia 2600. At least it's better than my trusty Nokia 1100i.

The Grand Draw on the 28th of February 2009, there would be a winner of P2 Million pesos!

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The first-ever Filipino expo in Qatar, scheduled to be held in October, will provide a platform for companies to tap the growing Filipino market and bring together Filipinos in Qatar.

The '1st Filexpo Qatar '08' is being brought to the country by ABS-CBN Middle East's TFC World Tours.

The expo, to be held from October 9 to 11, is aimed at helping Philippine and Qatar-based companies utilise opportunities in the Filipino market and offering Overseas Filipino Workers products, services and opportunities in the Philippines and the Gulf.

The event will consist of a two-day exposition at the Qatar International Exhibition Center. The finest Filipino delicacies, handicrafts from the Philippines, fashionable apparel and high-tech gadgets are only some of the items that will be on offer during the affair, which is expected to attract more than 50 exhibitors from the Philippines and the Gulf and thousands of visitors.

At the expo, real estate companies will also set up stalls for Filipinos wanting to acquire their dream home in the most relaxed environment ideal for a vacation in the home country. Popular singers will also be flown in from the Philippines to entertain visitors to the expo.

The third day of the event will feature popular bands in the '2nd Rakrakan Reload Qatar' at the Qatar Sports Club.

The upcoming expo follows the success of the 1st Filipino Exposition in Dubai: Tiangge, Bazaar, Atbp held in June at Dubai's World Trade Center.

from: The Peninsula

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Fasting is meant to teach the person patience and humility.

Fasting (SAWM - arabic) - Muslims would wake up for the pre-dawn meal (SUHOOR) and abstain from drinking or eating anything till after their sunset prayer (Maghrib).

Fasting includes abstaining from sex as it is to cleanse your body and mind and to take you away from worldly activities. Do take note though that just like food, it is only prohibited during the fasting hours.


Those who are exempted from fasting includes pregnant women, the elderly, the ill and children less than 12 years of age.

The meal after Maghrib is called Iftar.

Fasting should also include ignorant and indecent speech, arguing and fighting, lustful thoughts and even smoking.

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It's just days away before Ramadan starts. It is said to start on September 1.

For non-Muslim expats, it means shorter working hours, no tea/coffee/water and food in the office, late afternoon opening of shops/grocery and the expectation of a long holiday after Ramadan. It also means traffic snarls as everybody in Doha usually leave work around the same time (12:30-1:30). You may also see a longer queue in grocery stores as Muslims usually prepare a big dinner (Iftar) after their sunset prayer (Maghrib) so they buy more stuff than normal. Then, again, shops open only after 4p.m. So instead of giving the others opportunity to do their groceries in the morning, everybody has to wait till after 4. The shops close at midnight or past midnight but who wants to stay out that late to do your grocery?

It may be best to also adhere to 2 important things to at least show respect to our Muslim brothers during Ramadan especially when you're in Qatar.

1.) Do not drink or eat anything in public till after their late afternoon prayers. This is important as being seen eating/drinking would be like tempting them to do the same. Children below 12 may eat publicly but still would be best if this is done in a more private environment. Most restaurants/shops are closed throughout the morning till late afternoon anyway.

2.) For ladies, if you're the showy type, dress more conservatively.

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