Archive for April, 2009

Milambo gamay

April 26th, 2009
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Naagni ako sa pagsulat niini tungod sa usa ka midauw dire sa Bisdak Babbles na si Lubi.  Nakamata ko sa iyang gihabilin na mensahe na abi daw niya na Bisaya ni nga blog kay ang titulo pagka-Bisdak man unta.  Bisan tuod ug nagkamamo, gipaninguha nako na mag Binisaya.

I got inspired by Lubi, one of the visitors of this blog.  In the message he/she left at the shout box, he thought that this blog is written in Bisaya, as expected of the title.  Even if this is very hard for me, I did my best to write this in Bisaya (and translate to English).

Milambo na gamay. Katong nahauli ko atong miaging bulan, naa na jud intawn koy nakita na kalamboan sa dakbayan sa Iligan.   Ang gihinamhinam namo na usa ka shopping mall, nahuman ug naablihan na jud.  Dili na intawn mi mag-antus sa kahuot sa daan na Gaisano.  Karon, tungod sa kahawan, pwede na makiglumbaanay ug push cart.  Bisan tuod ug dili kaayo nindot ang mga pilianan nga mga RTWs, naa man sab gagmayng mga tindahan na nindot ug pilianan. Aduna usab Marcela ug Watsons, na kaniadto, sa Cebu ug Manila ra nako mahikaplagan.  Pagkakaron, OK ra kaayo kung wala pa ka kadesisyon kung sa Chowking, McDonald’s o Jollibee ka mokaon. Kay sa bag-o na mall, kining tulo na sikat na fastfood restaurants, pipila lang ka lakang ang gilay-on.  Kaniadto, kinahanglan pa ka magsakay.

Small improvement.  When I went home to Iligan City last month, I witnessed some improvements.  We had been looking forward to the completion of the shopping mall and it has finally been opened! Now, we already have the option to not bear with the old Gaisano Store.  At the new Gaisano mall, it is so spacious that you could do a push cart race! The RTWs are not that good, but there are small boutiques that could make up for it.  Before, I could only find Marcela and Watsons in Cebu and Manila.  Now, Gaisano Mall also have them.  If you haven’t made up your mind yet whether to eat at Chowking, Jollibee, or McDonald’s, there’s no problem with that.  They’re only just a few steps away.

Nasayod ko na dugay pa usab kami makakita ug dakong kalamboan sa Iligan.  Kung maabot na nang panahona, hinaut pa unta padayon na magdagan dagan ang mga tartanilya.  Labaw sa tanan, hinaut unta na magmalinawon ang tibuok dakbayan sa Iligan, Lanao del Norte, ug ang tibuok Mindanao.

I know that it would take a while for new improvements to happen in Iligan.  When that time comes, I hope to still see the tartanilla (horse-drawn carriage) roaming around.  Above all, I hope that there would be peace in Iligan, Lanao del Norte, and Mindanao.

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Binisaya

D & D

April 25th, 2009
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I’m getting a little bored here, maybe because I can no longer surf the internet as much as I want to. But the company’s annual Dinner and Dance (D&D) is fast approaching. And I still have no idea what to wear! The theme would be “A Blast From The Past”, so I guess it will not be all about tuxedo and fancy evening gowns. We could wear anything from the 60′s to 90′s. I have already asked my mother whether she still has her bell bottoms, because there is no way I’m going to wear a dress to the party! If my mother can’t find her old pants, then maybe it is time for me to buy loads of hairspray and wear a big hairstyle.

Any suggestion?

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At work

I believe in visualization!

April 24th, 2009
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Probably I’ve read it in the book “The Secret” that constant visualization of a thing that you wish for could definitely attract positive vibes, thus, getting you closer to realizing that wish. This is why I often visit car sales and real-estate websites. For cars, I always visit Philippines Mitsubishi and Toyota websites. Looking at my dream cars definitely makes me feel so good. But after trying out the financial calculator, my positive feelings usually go down the drain. These websites are really informative and user-friendly, too. But, I don’t think they cater to even the most basic car insurance questions. I’ve been doing this car visualization thing for more than three years already but I haven’t raised even one percent of the minimum downpayment! Anyway, I will still keep on envisioning myself getting on one of my dream cars. I still strongly believe that better things will come. ;)

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Things I love

Love the new workplace

April 23rd, 2009
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In one of my previous posts, I mentioned about almost stress-free job. These past few days, I’ve been getting busier each day and I guess I have to take that statement back. But then, every work has its ups and downs. There are times when you spend the whole day looking at the clock while wishing for it to go faster. And there are times when you wish for it to move slower.

But compared to the jobs I had in Japan, I think I like the current one more. Is it because of the language? At least now, I don’t have to worry about whether I got the instructions correctly or not. All I have to worry is the technical side.

Aside from the language, There are lots of things that I like about the current company:

  1. it has many pantries so if I get tired staring at the monitor, I could just get up and “hide” for a few minutes there
  2. taking a break and being away from my desk is normal. I no longer feel as guilty as I was when taking breaks in Japan.
  3. free brewed coffee, instant coffee, black tea, green tea, and biscuits
  4. very cheap (20 cents) canned drinks from the vending machine
  5. there’s a ping pong table at the employees’ lounge
  6. there’s a TV at the lounge. You could turn it on anytime you want.  Of course, you have to try to get to the remote first.
  7. the company shuttle leaves at 6PM, so most people leave the office before that.  Leaving on time or a few minutes earlier won’t make you look bad.
  8. Friendly officemates

I’ve been working an extra hour each day for three days already. But I am doing it to make up for the undertime I had last week.

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At work

Reviews and Cellphones

April 23rd, 2009
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Lately, it became my habit of checking online reviews before planning to buy anything. Before, I would never even bother to read the specifications. I have no plans of buying any diet pill, but I sometimes read nuphedra reviews! Anyway, these past few days, I’ve been reading lots of cellphone reviews. I am currently using a prepaid mobile sim pack, but I was told that it would expire in 6 months. Or did the lady mean the prepaid load? But I’m really bent on shifting to a post-paid mobile plan. I don’t want to pay for every call that I receive!

So, how do I shortlist a mobile phone? The mobile phone should be S$0 or close to S$0. Then, it should be have at least 5.0 megapixels camera.

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Things I love

Go There

April 22nd, 2009
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Getting around Singapore is easier than in Japan. The language is one. But gothere.sg has been my guide since day one. All you have to do is to input the “From” and “To” addresses. Then gothere presents you with options on how to get there. Here’s a sample search result:


Pretty helpful, isn’t it? Of course, gothere.sg is far from being 100% accurate. Sometimes, it gives you the wrong bus stop. But at least the place you’re looking for is located within 100-meter radius.
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Singapore

New neighborhood

April 21st, 2009
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My new job is at a company close to the Changi Airport. When I found a room for rent that is very close to my new work place, I reserved it and moved in as soon as I arrived in Singapore. There’s nothing special about the new neighborhood because it seems that all buildings are identical.  So far, almost every corner gives me the feeling that I’m just in Makati City in the Philippines. Unlike in Japan, the small parks here are filled with children and adults hanging around, which is a good thing.


I like my new home because it is so spacious, and so is my new bedroom. But I do miss my tatami room in Japan. I live close to a small grocery store, but it would have been great if there are vending machines and convenient stores nearby.  Anyway, Singapore is different than Japan.  I love Japan and I’m beginning to love Singapore.  My adventure here is just starting and I know it will gonna get better…
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Singapore

Becoming “normal”

April 20th, 2009
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My friends have been telling me a hundred of times that I need to switch into a healthier lifestyle, and they’re right. When I was still in Japan, I usually go to sleep past 2AM. The usual reason: internet and anime. In a way, my weekend English lessons contributed to this. I was busier on weekends that I made it a point to watch animes and movies on weekdays. Because I got used to sleeping late, my body clock got messed up. I could not sleep earlier than 1AM no matter how much I wanted to.

Moving to Singapore somewhat made me “normal”. I now often go to sleep earlier than 11PM. No offense, but the internet connection here is a lot slower than in Japan, so watching anime online is becoming less of an option. I admit, I find the slow internet connection annoying at times. On the other hand, I am grateful. I have been somewhat subjected to an effective acne treatment and prevention programme: sleeping earlier and almost stress-free work environment.

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Lifestyle

Never again!

April 17th, 2009
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I was the only passenger left waiting for my baggage, so I decided to approach the Lost and Found section. But the guy behind the counter told me that they only entertain Tiger Airways passengers and that I have to go to the departure hall fast, before the plane I boarded on goes back to Manila! When I arrived at the departure hall, not a soul was behind the Cebu Pacific counter. I lingered for a few minutes, then went back to the arrival hall, hoping to see my shiny, red luggage. There was nothing. I headed back to the departure hall and was glad to find somebody at the counter. I was told to file a report and that it would take two days for them to recover it!  That freaked me out because all of my clothes and some important documents (college diploma, birth certificate, etc.) were there! I admit, I felt so stupid for putting those documents in my check-in luggage.

After filling up the form, I stayed in the Budget Terminal for a few hours, hoping to get updates.  I approached the guy again and I was told (rather rudely) that I was not supposed to ask for updates in the counter! How the heck should I know? I got so used to the very polite business establishment staffs in Japan that the service counter people here sounded rude to me.  Maybe because of the accent?

When I looked at the form, the number of the Lost & Found section of the whole Changi Airport was written there.  That guy could have just told me to call the number!  Anyway, I called the number and alas! The lady on the other side of the line recognized my name.  Obviously, my bag was already registered as unclaimed! I was so glad I put a name tag on it.  I assumed that the Cebu Pacific Airline took my luggage one flight ahead of me.

The Lost & Found section is located in Terminal 1, so I had to take the bus to Terminal 2, then the sky train to Terminal 1.  I had to undergo a lot of checks before I got my bag:  police clearance, airport clearance, etc.  Anyway, I was so glad to be reunited with my luggage 6 hours after my arrival in Singapore.

I am not checking in my luggage for connecting flight ever again, and I am not gonna place anything irreplaceable in my check-in luggage.

On the day I arrived here, I missed Japan already…

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Singapore, Travels

Not so smooth trip to Singapore

April 16th, 2009
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Being one of the Overseas Filipino Workers, I dropped by the POEA office but I was told that they were yet to review the employment contract.  It was OK for me but the process could take days and I was leaving in three days.  Contrary to what I heard from the Pre-departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) two years ago, I was also told to join PDOS again.  That was OK for me, too. But in Cagayan de Oro, they only have it every Tuesday.   Because of all these, I decided to buy a return ticket and exit Philippines as a tourist.  I have heard of stories about some people being stopped from leaving the country because they didn’t go to the POEA.

Thanks to Cebu Pacific, my plane ticket from Cagayan de Oro to Singapore cost less than 6,500 Pesos.  I didn’t have enough  finances to buy a return ticket, so I just put my faith in God that my trip would be smooth.  I don’t have to elaborate on the pain that I’ve felt leaving Shaynna again.  But she did ask me to stay one day more, which was impossible.

An airline staff in Cagayan de Oro told me that I could check-in my baggage for connecting flight and I took advantage of it.  No excess baggage this time.  I got 5 kgs of prepaid baggage allowance, so that gave me 20kgs.  But my baggage was only 18.5kgs!

I didn’t have the e-receipt from POEA, so I had to pay about 1,600 pesos for travel tax.  Past 7PM  on March 29, I was already in NAIA Terminal 3 waiting for my flight to Singapore on March 30th.  To kill time, I met up with my brother and some friends at the airport.

To cut the story short, check-in time came.  I filled up the form for the immigration and put in “Work” as the purpose of my travel.  I handed just my passport and the immigration form to the immigration officer.  I really consider it as a miracle when she did not even bother to ask a single question.  She just looked at my passport and let me through!   The flight to Singapore was smooth and I was a little bit surprised that we were to land at the Budget Terminal, which I wasn’t aware of.  My first impressions with the Changi Airport were really high so I was a bit disappointed.  I went through the immigration check all right, then waited for my baggage to come out.  Almost an hour passed.  Many people have already gone out but my baggage was still not in sight!

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Travels

Pabaon

April 11th, 2009
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pabaon
English Definition: (noun) (rw. BAON) provision (of money, food or supplies) allowed or given to someone making a trip


You might be puzzled why I am posting a photo of Chippy and a toothbrush. This is not just an ordinary bag of chips nor an ordinary toothbrush. My little angel Shaynna, gave these to me.Before coming to Singapore, I was able to spend four days with my family in the Philippines. I’ve already informed Shaynna that I won’t be staying long and that I had to leave soon to work. She accepted it with an understanding like that of an adult. The night before I left, I was busy preparing some stuff while assuming that Shaynna was busy playing. My mother runs a small store and sometimes, Shaynna goes there to disarrange and rearrange things. Then she suddenly approached me and handed me a white plastic bag. At first I thought she just wanted me to put some things into it. After opening it, I saw the chippy and the toothbrush. I asked her if she wanted to have those. But she said those were for me! I was deeply moved and struggled greatly to hold back my tears.  I then hugged her and said thank you.Later on, I asked my mother if she knew about it. But she didn’t. She noticed though, that Shaynna was busy with something. Shaynna even asked my mother what’s the red bag (Chippy). She often sees my mother packing some bags of chippy to send to me to Japan.

Minutes before I left, Shaynna reminded me to eat the Chippy and to use the toothbrush.  Of course, I didn’t do that.  I want to keep these things with me until she grows up.  But for the Chippy, that would be impossible.  So I’ll keep just the toothbrush. :)

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Shaynna

The Reason

April 10th, 2009
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So why have I decided to take a detour before coming to Singapore? The reason is as obvious as ever. It’s because of my little Shaynna, of course. I was really glad my manager granted my wish to go home before March 28, one of Shaynna’s big days. She has finally completed pre-school and they had a short closing programme. All of them had the chance to recite a few lines and do a dance number. Attending that event made me experience once again how it is to be a proud mommy…

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Shaynna
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