Face and Fingerprint Scan for Foreigners

Fingerprints and facial recognition will now be required for all inbound foreign visitors to Korea starting January 2012. This process was first required in July for longer-term visitors.

Except for people exempt from mandatory submission of such information by law (e.g. foreign government officials, international organization representatives, etc.), any foreign visitor aged 17 or older will be obligated to go through a fingerprint and facial recognition registration process at immigration at all ports and airports across Korea.

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If only we could have something like this in the Philippines, not only for foreigners but more so for the citizens. Thing is, the public trust in the government is not far from rock-bottom and a national/foreign ID can easily be misconstrued as a political weapon against an opposition, individual or group. I'm thinking, however, if the process of safeguarding and recalling private information being assigned to a public-private entity would make any significant difference in terms of delimiting information access only on the basis of highly defined criteria and substantiated security concern.

Full-time Nanny

Happy new year everyone!
I'm posting this entry for anyone who is interested in nannying a one-year old baby boy in Bucheon City, South Korea (5-minute walk from Yeokgok Station). The baby's mom is a full-time professor and is in need of a stay-in nanny from 8am to 7pm. The mom was my professor and friend. She can speak excellent English and is a very generous and God-fearing woman. I expect no less from the nanny. She specifically wants a Filipino nanny as she trusts the nature and conscience of Filipinos.

If you are interested, or if you know anyone who might be willing to work in Bucheon, please contact me at (0 1 0 555 8 13 eighty six).

Too Many to Mention

"Another star with Pinoy roots joins Glee cast." I really think that we should stop basking in the reflected glory of Filipino artists making waves abroad. We've already proven that Fil artists can, and in too many an instance, in fact. We need to revel in something more than this, something that can translate mere "national pride" to more significant movements and change.

Another singing with a drop of Filipino blood in X-Factor, yeah. Just another brick in the wall for me.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/entertainment/10/06/11/another-star-pinoy-roots-joins-glee-cast

Visa Requirements for Studying in Korea

This is a scan of the latest requirements printed on DFA's pamphlet.

Tara at manguna! ^^

Naisip ko lang habang nagbabrowse ng photo album sa FB ng Korean and Japanese friends ko...hindi lang sila simpleng litrato ng isang grupo ng mga international students, nakita ko ang isang karera ng henerasyon.

Hindi ko naman gaanong nararamdaman na mahuhuli ang henerasyon natin kapag nagtagpo tayo at sila sa edad ng karaniwang pamumuno. Marami naman satin ang nasa ibang bansa rin (at kahit ang mga nananatili sa Pilipinas) para magaral, at hindi madalang ang mga nakakakuha ng parangal at nagtatagumpay sa mumunti nilang pamamaraan.

Inaalala ko lang, at alam kong hindi lingid sa atin, na may kiling ang iba sa atin sa metalidad ng pagiging pangkaraniwan, basta mairaos lang, o kung hindi man, eh simpleng katamaran.

Scholarship in Korea, Gyeongju University

Gyeongju University International School (GUIS) is now accepting students who are interested to take a Diploma Course or a Second Degree. Full scholarships offered to alumni of sister universities and half scholarships to ALL foreign nationals. Programs offered: Culinary Arts and Science, International Tourism English, Business Management, Hotel Management, Tourism Management, Taekwondo, Cinema and Photography, Electricity, Energy and Electronic Engineering, Korean Language and Culture classes.

Building 63 in Seoul

You would not have missed the tall, golden, glimmering building if you're riding the train from Incheon to Seoul. What you are seeing is called Building 63 for an obvious reason. Below is a scanned brochure containing the things that you can find in the building. Things are a bit pricey in there but the sights and activities are worth the bucks.