Christmas at Manila Ocean Park

And IT gave me the WORST Christmas experience - EVER!

And.. All i want is to give my daughter and niece to a very nice Christmas treat. It turned out that their so-called "World Class" is a fiasco after all.

Why? Here is what has happened...

1st Offence: We arrived at 4:45 PM, the line to the ticket booth is so long, the end of it was at the middle of the shed prior to the stairs. When we're near the ticket booth, a staff came to us and the conversation are as follows:

Staff: Saan kayo?
Me: Sa ticket booth
Staff: doon sa baba ang pila
Me: Doon kami galing, bakit may iba pa bang pila?
Staff: (biglang alis nang walang pasabi)

2nd offence (at the ticket booth), and because mahaba ang pila, we were able to buy the ticket at 6:00 PM. Originally we wanted to go to the oceanarium and to the penguin exhibit after. but the woman on the ticket booth told us na mahaba din ang pila doon and offered the Fountain show instead. So I said yes. then she immediately wrote the time "7:00 PM" on our ticket. This means that we only got 1 hour inside the oceanarium. (And we don't know yet that there's also a 9PM fountain show at that time - hindi man lang nag-advise si ate para sana may option kami to go to the later show).

So heto na, we went, and we went in a hurry para maabutan ang allegedly world class na fountain show at at par sa fountain show ng sentosa. We had one interesting incident inside upon which, my neice dropped AJ's bag on the crocodile pen. Si crocodile, perhaps thinking that it was food, kinagat yung bag ni AJ at dinala sa tubig. It was nakakahiya at nakakatawa at the same time. but inabot pa din kami ng siyam-siyam doon kasi medyo natagalan pa before we were given assistance to retrieve AJ's bag.

So heto na, we finished our viewing and we hurriedly went to the fountain show, ayoko ma-late kasi if it is really sentosa-like, the magic will be lost for AJ and Eunice. So it's imperative to experience it from the beginning. So, after the exit, we went up the stairs, we passed by the Penguin exhibit na maiksi naman pala ang pila. And look for the exit, kasi ang sabi nila, the show is located at the front of the ticket booth. Then we saw an exit sign, we checked it out only to find out the entrance yun ng hotel H2O. Balik kami, nadaanan namin ang bar at ang souvenir store, baba kami ng escalator, and followed another exit sign w/c bought us paikot ng tiangge na ibinalik kami sa escalator na binabaan namin. Before we stumbled upon the atrium na pinanggalingan namin sa may entrance ng oceanarium. Siyempre nag-rereklamo na ko by that time. Ang LAYO na ng naikot namin! Wala man lang short cut eh nag-package pa sila ng ganon. Tapos nalaman namin na may 9PM show naman pala. E di sana di kami nagmadali di ba?

And here comes the 3rd offence
So mega reklamo ako sa staff dun, na binastos lang kami. My niece handed her ticket to the staff, aba, bara barang ibinalik yung stub sa amin at yung iba e nalaglag na sa sahig, sabi nya "o heto na" then he took the ticket and thrown the remaing stub on my niece's stomach, I gave my ticket, then he did it again saying "heto pa". di ba, sobrang nag-init na ang ulo ko at dinuro duro ko na siya sabaya sabing "UMAYOS KA!" at sabay walk out. Kainis, I did not pay 500 pesos (x 9 Kami) para lang mabastos!

At heto pa! I was expecting a "WORLD CLASS" show. Yung at par sa Sentosa Singapore. But I for somebody who've been there, I might have been expecting too much. Konti lang yung actual cartoon na makikita mo sa fountain. Puro nagsasayaw na mascot ng starfish at naghahabulang mascot ng chef at lobster. Walang story. walang kwenta. na-bwisit lang ako lalo. Kainis

Who would blame me if sirang sira ang christmas ko because of Manila Ocean Park?

AJ's 4th Birthday

Last Sunday, we have celebrated Aj's 4th Birthday. How time really flies. Thank God I've learned to live by the moment, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to cherish every little second that I'm with her. Being a working mom makes me feel guilty everyday when I have to leave her and go to work. But somehow, It makes it all worth the effort whenever I see how independent she is. And she's becoming more and more mature (for her age) as days pass by. She even understood why were not going to have a swimming party on her birthday! Sabi ko, hindi kami pwedeng mag-swimming because it's umuulan and she's inuubo. Sabi nya, "Okay Mama, basta may balloons and Spaghetti", and She said it in a way na parang 7 years old na siya.

Haaist! She's really one of a kind. GOD is really really wonderful. I am thanking him everyday for giving me my little Baby Bear. She's the most wonderful anniversary (she was born on our 2nd anniversary) and most amazing Christmas gift EVER!

GOD IS REALLY GOOD!

AJ's playcare sessions at Little Archers Learning Center

I did not enroll AJ this school year but It doesn't mean that she does not have a chance to have some learning experiences along the the way. And Little Archers Learning Center has been very helpful. They have this Playcare sessions (for 3 hours per session) wherein the kids will be able to play and learn at the same time. 1 hour is devoted to playing and mingling w/ the other kids, so they can to hone their social skills and meet new friends, 2 hours were then devoted to singing and dancing, reading, then writing the Alphabet and also Arts! It makes learning enjoyable for AJ so she's able to easily absorb all she has learned. The teachers are ever so patient with the kids, they smile a lot w/c actually instills a good teacher-student rapport w/ the children. And to top it all, I can see Aj's improvement! She sings all the songs she learns there, she remembers the books they've read, she even knows how to use the watercolors properly (dati she would put too much water, then would brush the paper too much - ayun, butas yung papel), she also understands and speaks a bit english (LALC's medium of instruction is english vs. all-out tagalog at home).

And it's only 4 sessions a month. Unti-unti she learns while she thinks they're only playing. She even lets me leave her there so I can do some shopping/grocery. See, she has also learned some independece with that one. Hence, when I enrolled her to pre-school next year, She'll be well equipped na.

Thanks to Little Archers Learning Center!

PS: Little Archer is located at Multinational Paranaque & SM Mall of Asia (Near Nido Science Discovery Center)

Summerpointe Residences update for the nth time

It's been proven and tested. Prosperity Builders Resources Inc's Customer Service really sucks! All they really want is to get money from their buyers - the rest! Bahala si buyer magtawag at maghintay sa kawalan. I was the one who has to call them from time to time so I can get updated with the construction of my house. Nobody from their side bothered to call me up to tell me if I need to submit any updated documents or whatsoever they need from me. Pag tumawag ako, dun ko lang nalalaman na may kailangan akong i-submit sa kanila. Galing no?

And again, I called them up two weeks ago (i called and looked for Elsie but she passed me to Merlyn). This girl told me that, yun nga, I need to submit an updated copy of my payslip and my proof of billing since they will need to apply na for pag-ibig loan. I passed it last friday (I have to be absent from work but Merlyn is not in the office so I wasn't able to talk to her in person). This morning, I called up Prosperity Builders again but Merlyn is absent, so I was able to talk to someone (I forgot his name) and he told me that my house is only 85% complete. So it can only be applied to Pag-ibig in January. O di ba? I don't know who's telling the truth. Proven and tested - Sinungaling ang Prosperity Builders! I really do hope that I can have the power to reach out to their would-be buyers na wag tangkilikin and Prosperity Builders Resources Inc.

I have been dreaming to have my own house, I have been hoping that I can move in before AJ can go to school so hindi sabay sabay ang gastos. But my dreams and hopes has been trampled upon by Prosperity Builders Resources Inc. I am no longer excited. And since they are so mabagal. I don't think I can move in by next year (prior to AJ's school year) w/ all the repairs, extensions and everything. I will be enrolling AJ here in baclaran next year, so it means I need to finish the whole school year before we can move in Cavite para hindi ma-praning yung anak ko sa adjustments. Hay naku, the best thing that Prosperity Builders Resources Inc can do is ruin my life's dream.

I am not a satisfied buyer, soli nila yung 9 months worth ng MA ko! At ako na ang bahalang mag-bayad sa Pag-ibig fund.
(wishful thinking - since hindi mangyayari yung kasi mukha silang pera)

Mission Accomplished...

We have just finished our presentation for our 2012 Business Plan. And It turned out alright. Although I must admit, I quite forgot one line on my spiel but according to my team mates, it's not halata. It was so unnerving, so surreal. To think that I was there, in front of our big BIG Bosses and presentig about out plans and strategies for next year - oh my! I'm still shivering. But it went so well that our next year's budget has been approved. I'm so happy that I've pulled it through. Thanks to GOD talaga!

Now my next assignment is my preparation for AJ's 4th birthday. I actually intended to celebrate it simply. Like Spaghetti and Cake lang with the whole family. But my little girl is requesting to have a swimming party just like what we did on her Ate Eunice's birthday last July. Imagine that! She is so demanding for a 4-year old! So my husband and I decided that it would be a swimming party on her birthday. Ha-ha! Spoiled little brat ain't she?

a career milestone...

Next monday will be our Company's 2012 Business Plan presentation. I was once of unfortunately fortunate one's to present this year's BP. This will be presented to our Company's President, Chairman and stakeholders (including investors and partners from South Asia). Being away from school for almost a decade made my memorization a little too rusty but I think I can fix that. My real problem is my NERVES! As in! I do have problems w/ speaking in front of a lot of people, i buckle and stutter a lot. Not only that, but something in me makes me lock all my systems and make me shutdown. And the more everybody lauds me and says "kaya mo 'yan", the more I would want to curl up and hide.

Now I have to work this all out Big Time! With only less than a week before the actual presentation, I have to steady my frying nerves, I have to memorize and correctly pronunciate my high fallutin' spiels, and to top it all I have to remember to SMILE. Which makes it all the more difficult. Because, Okay, I have already memorized my spiels, but i buckle, when i do not buckle, I have to remember to smile, and when I did start to smile, I forget my lines. Haaist! Who says life is not difficult?

So I need to learn how to put this act up together. This is a big opportunity for me to show them what I got (If i really got "IT"). I am praying to God to help me soothe my nerves, to help me remember all my lines and make me look confident in front of my bosses.

I hope that I can do this...

To God be the Glory.

on bus terminals in malibay

Last all soul's day, my mother went to her province in Roxas city for a vacation, she stayed there for a week (I'm so inggit!). Then she went back via Ro-ro and arrived at 3AM in Manila. She was supervising over my 2 cousins who were hauling sacks of rice off the bus when somebody snatched her bag. My cousins attempted to run after the snatcher but my mother held them back, too afraid na baka saksakin sila ng snatcher. She then sat down on the sack of rice too trembling to move. After a while, the dispatcher from the bus company (I won't say the name - basta it's somewhere in Malibay, Pasay), went over and ask my mother if she wants her bag back. My mother said yes and told the dispatcher na di baleng walang pera basta yung mga Id's and documents nya mai-save. The dispatcher told them to wait. After 30 mins or so, the bag returned (even the wallet I gave to her) but her celphone and all ther money were gone (good thing she only has less than 500 in her wallet - bad thing is - my check - worth 3K -payable to cash - cross checked - was also gone). Nakakaloka, we all think that the bus' dispatcher knows the snatcher or he might also be kasabwat. We don't actually know if we should be thankful for the "good-natured" dispatcher since if it weren't for him, my mother's bag won't be returned. But...there's still a big BUT there...

This should be an eye opener to all bus companies out there...
I don't know if there's anything left to hope for but still..

I hope that they CAN be able to implement stricter and tighter security measures (CAN being the operative word) to ensure their passengers' well being.
I hope they CAN also oversee the welfare of their own people (again, CAN being the operative word) so to ensure that their employees will be able to refrain from being to friendly with scalawags and savage humans (or from being scalawags themselves).

As for my mom... well she learned her lesson...(i hope), she'll not be taking Ro-ro anytime again soon)

On Metrodeal and Canyon Cove

My tita texted me yesterday about a promo on Metrodeal with regards to an overnight stay at Canyon Cove. It's a great opportunity for us since we have long been discussing of spending the christmas season out of town. So we availed. and we availed it cheap. At 2,999 we get to stay overnight at their superior room plus free breakfast. And there's a lot of activities we can do there such as: Water sports - like kayak, snorkeling, pedal boat, skim board, jet ski, banana boat, scuba diving with lessons. They also have swimming pools and children's playground. I am so sure that AJ and Eunice will gonna love it there!

Thanks to Metrodeal!

House Update: Summer Pointe Residences

I haven't been calling Prosperity Builders lately. Somehow, I lost all the excitement of having my own house anymore. Thanks to them. Superb really. I have already stopped paying them MA's so I guess I have no other choice but to wait. They told me last September that my house was already undergoing construction. They also told me that their target date to finish construction would be November 20. Okay fine. Good for them, but that doesn't mean i believe them. They've been so paasa since 2009 pa. I have no reason to believe or trust them. Good luck if kaya nilang pangatawanan ang Nov 20.

Anyway, my uncle (who was also my broker) visited the site the other day. He told me na bubuhusan pa lang ng cement yung foundation ng house. But my would-be neighbor's houses on my left and right side were already 80% finished. Imagine that. I have paid my reservations to Prosperity Builders last March 2009. So mas nauna sila malamang. Kailan kaya nag-bayad ng reservations yung mga yun? 2008? 2007? Who knows?

We'll just wait and see what will happen next....

my 31st birthday

I celebrated my 31st birthdat last friday w/o much of a fuss. My family and I ate lunch at Max's then went phone hunting. I so wanted to have a new phone and i kept on searching the net for one that's suitable for me. Actually I am already eyeing for Samsung Galaxy series - the android ones since there's a lot of free application that I can download from the internet. So we went from one store to another until we ended up at power telecoms. All the new Samsung Galaxy arrivals are displayed there hence we are able to touch, scrutinize and compare each Galaxy to the next. Finally I settled for Samsung Galaxy fit.

The specs are higher than Galaxy Mini, more sleeker (for me) plus it is ANDROID! So I bought it and I am loving it now! AJ is also enjoying all the games that I have downloaded (there are actually educational games that can be downloaded). What made it so special is that I bought it for myself. After all the hard day's work...I am capable to give myself a little reward...

Kaya LORD! sobrang Thank you!

Thank you for the past 3 decades of the learning experiences that you've planned for me.

Thank you for my family - a real rock hard support group that was always there from my first step up to what I have became now

Thank you for sending me a lot friends that I can cherish for the rest of the decades to come.

Thank you for ALIYAH, my loving, sweet, adorable baby bear. I can never express how much thankful I am for giving me this miracle. And thank you for her father too.

Thank you thank you thank you!

May you still bless me so that i can become a blessing to others!

Summerpointe Residences update

I called them up this morning and inquired about the status of my house. They told me that the Notice to Proceed has already been approved and has been forwarded to their contractor. Meaning, they will start to construct the house anytime next week. Ok. I've thought they will not approve my NTP because i have informed them that I am no longer paying them an advance MA. I have also pulled out my last check w/c will be due on Sept 23. Well, it's good thing that can already start to construct but I'm no longer holding my breath. Sinira na nila ang excitement ko over my dream house. I'll just wait and see if they can really do it in 2 months as per press release nila.

I guess my whole Prosperity Builders Resources Inc nightmare will be over when they have finished their project and have the house turned over to me. They've been the worst bunch of "supposed to be" educated people I have ever dealt with.

Letter for Stop Payment

I have written a letter to Prosperity Builders Resources Inc, citing my intention to stop further payments of my Monthly Amortization. I have asked my uncle/broker to personally submit it to them. I have already paid them 9 months worth of MA (even w/o any land developments and house construction yet). Here's the content of the letter:

************************************************
September 13, 2011

Prosperity Builders Resources Inc
Diplomat Bldg, Cor Roxas Blvd
Baclaran, Pasay City

Dear Ms. Elsie Penafiel

This is to inform you of my intention to stop further payments of my Monthly Amortization for the House and Lot that I have agreed to purchase at Block 12 lot 9 Summer Pointe Residences until such time that the development of the subdivision project has been completed and turned over to me by the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-ibig Fund).

This letter is effective immediately hence I will be pulling out my last check (Check # 0026351) issued last May 3, 2011 and due on September 23, 2011 amounting to Five Thousand Five Hundred Ten Pesos & 68/100 only (PHP 5,510.68).
Thank you for your consideration

Sincerely,

Jeanette M. Cabrera
Buyer, Block 12 lot 9,
Summer Pointe Residences
***************************************************

I was actually worried that they will not accept this letter pero sobrang kapal naman ng balat nila if they will not accept. Sobrang delayed sila - sobrang advance ng payments ko! They no longer have the right to decline. Sobra na silang nakaka-stress!

Prosperity Builders Resources Inc.

I was at their office last saturday to pass my payslip (again). Prior to going there, I called and inquired about the status of my house construction. A certain Elsie Penafiel told me that they have just recived the NTP (notice to proceed) last Sept 5, w/c means that the budget for the house construction has been approved. She requested for another set of my payslip since this document is easy to expire. 'Ere i went there last Saturday. However, the person I was able to talk with (I wasn't able to get his name), told me that they have forwarded my documents to another department for another approval. And that it would take 2-3 weeks before it can be passed to the contractor for conforme and start the construction. After that, 2-3 months more before they can finish the house and another 1-2 months for Pag-ibig application and approval. Kainis! I really lost it there, sobrang nag-reklamo na ako, they don't allow buyers to delay their MA payments and yet they are the ones who are really really delayed! It should have been okay for me to pay MA's but what they are doing is too much. They are already keeping the interest of my MA's and yet I don't see any improvements. They are so unreasonable. If I applied for a loan from a banking institution, the interest will commence after I have been approved of the loan and the money is already on my hands. With PBRI, they are already taking up the interest even before the house or the subdivision has been developed. It's so unfair! Ni pader ng bahay hindi ko pa nasasandalan! And still I am paying them, and to date I have already paid them a total of P49,596.12 worth of MA w/c they will not be paying fully to Pag-ibig. They really are greedy. So, why did I pay them? Because I thought during that time that they are really proceeding to develop and construct. How would I to know that it will take them 10 months? Last October 2010 they told me that land development will be on January 2011, January came and no land development yet, and they told me that land development will start in March and that my house will be constructed by July 2011. Today is September 12, 2011 and still no house has been constructed. And they have told me that by October 1st week they can begin the construction. See? Paasa sila masyado! I hope these people rot in hell. Bahala na si Lord sa kanila. All I want to do now is to send them a letter for Stop Payment, Pull out my last remaining check w/ them (due on Sept 23) and get on with my life. Isaksak nila sa baga nila yung 9 months worth kong MA! I was having high hopes that I can move in by January 2012 (with all the improvements in place), but I don't think it will push through. I guess I will be needing to changed my plans and put everything into the Lord's hands. It's hard to accept the fact that PROSPERITY BUILDERS RESOURCES INC has turned my dream to have my own house into a nightmare (but hey! It's what they do best!)

A Summer Pointe Residences Update...

I called them up again. And finally! after months of waiting, they have advised me that Prosperity Builders Resources Inc's head office has approved of the construction budget for Block 12 lot 9. They told me, that I need to wait for 2 weeks more before the they start the actual construction. Haiist! I am still not satisfied. I no longer believe (or hope) that they can finish in 2 months. They are a bunch of incompetent and money-loving, super-greedy losers for crying out loud! What else can we expect? They could have squandered my 10 months worth of MA since they are already pocketing the interest of my paid MA for a loan w/c has not pushed through yet. Si Lord na bahala sa kanila. Perhaps they need the money because they are suffering from Cancer and that they needed all the money they can get for medication or something. Maybe those people are already dying of something that's why they need advance abuloy from people who are gullible (like me).

Kanila na yung 50++K ko, saksak nila sa lalamunan nila. I-construct lang nila ng maayos yung bahay ko. It should have been a dream come true for me, but by the way they have mistreated me, I no longer feel excited....

SALAMAT PROSPERITY BUILDERS RESOURCES INC, SA LAHAT NG SAMA NG LOOB! MABUHAY SANA KAYO NG MATAGAL PARA PAGDUSAHIN NG LANGIT!

Disney Classics Marathon with my Baby Bear

Just back from a long Holiday courtesy of Proclamations No. 84 & 234. I enjoyed my long weekend so much as it entails a long bonding time with AJ. We went to MOA for a little shoe shopping, we also visited my BIL's in-laws in Las Pinas, and we also spent a lot of time in our room to watch Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Cinderella and Dumbo (when we're finished with the last one, AJ would request to repeat all four movies again & again until she falls asleep only to watch the same movies again as soon as she awakes).

But I enjoyed watching those movies a lot. They are really that TIMELESS. I grew up watching Disney Classics especially the Princesses (& Tinkerbell!). Now I am seeing my little girl enjoying the same movies I enjoyed as a child.

I really love Disney Movies! And I am glad that AJ is loving them too. Now I am sure that there is actually another something that we both have in common!

On Dengue and Myocarditis

I hope I got the spelling right.

Aj has been sick since friday. She's been having an on/off fever that usually runs during night time. Initially, we thought that she has a "pilay", and based on popular belief (w/c I don't know if factual or an urban legend thingy), pag sa gabi lang yung lagnat, malamang may pilay. So we employed the services of a manghihilot. But the fever went on and it went bad - big time! (I've been up the whole night to regularly check her temp w/c had ranged from 38.6 to 39.1) Good thing is, she's not the convulsive type, I've been up checking for signs if we will be needing to take her to the ER. But she's been tough so we endured the night.

And of course, the next day warranted th trip to her pedia. She still have sinat and i am really really losing my nerve already. Her doctor requested for a chest X-ray and an ECG (to check why her heartbeat is so fast - 130 beats/min - not normal for a 3-year old) - so she thinks it might be Myocarditis (translation according to Wikipedia: Myocarditis is inflammation of heart muscle) - but she needs to check everything out first, She also performed a path test (PPV - I think this is for Asthma / Pneumonia or something that can be related to primary complex), w/c needs to be read on Thursday or friday so AJ needs to go back by then. The Doctor also requested for a CBC to rule out dengue since according to her, dengue has no routine yet, fever can strike any time of day, can be daytime or night time, she said we need to be sure so that she will know what medicine to give.

So heto na nga, we have completed all the tests and went to ER OPD and requested them to relay the results to Dra. Sanga (as per her instruction), I was told that there is a possibility that AJ needs to be admitted and confined if the finding is really Myocarditis. Nakakaloka! It's really scary! Imagine my child having an inflammed heart muscle! Di ko yata kaya yun! After a while the ER resident doctor called us and told us that it is okay for us to go home but AJ will still be needing to have her follow up check up tomorrow. Haaist! Okay, it seems that it's not that all bad after all. I overacted there a bit, but who wouldn't?

Tonight, as I am writing this blog, AJ is sleeping tight (she should be considering all the tests that she needs to get through - not mentioning the needles! and how she cried while the nurses draw her blood samples - It has been a quite tiring day for her). Good thing is, she's doing fine now, no fever!

Still hoping here! Sana tomorrow's follow up check up will turn out fine.

House Update: The Perils of Summerpointe Residences & It's developer, Prosperity Builders and Resources Inc

I called the up yesterday, their engineering department actually. And inquired about the status of my house construction. They told me that all my documents has been passed last August 9 to their head office for budget approval. (whaaat! Just last August 9?!, they are so slow!). Based on their explanation, there's a lot of things that they need to check first before they passed an application for budget approval, updated payment is one (heck, I've been paying them for 16 months already! 8 months for DP + 8 months for MA & not to mention another 2 months worth of PDC until September, w/ no payment lapses), then they are checking if the documents are complete (FYI, my documents are complete - they are just slow that's why they need to ask for updated copies kasi when they re-start their processing again, my documents are already expired - so they say!). I really don't know what's taking them so long. Are they "that" incompetent as not to be able to "analyze" what needs to be "analyzed quickly" - I mean, are my documents or payments or whatsover "that" cryptic enough to be needing analyzation before they process or pass to wherever higher echelon for approval? So pathetic.

And so, I will be needing to wait 1 month more before those idiots from their so called head office approve for the house construction budget. If it would really take 1 month.... and after that... geeez, I actually don't know when they will exactly begin.

They are really frustrating. I don't think I deserve to be treated like this. I've been paying them my hard earned money (8 months of MA and still counting w/c they won't be paying fully to Pag-ibig - they are already taking the interest w/c is technically not rightfully theirs) and what do I get? Big time frustration! They cannot even commit their timeline for the actual construction! Grrr!

It should have been okay for me to wait if I am not paying them more than the agreed DP.

They are so demoralizing! And so UNPROFESSIONAL!

Legitimation by Subsequent Marriage

I was at Pasay City Hall last Friday, checking out the process on how to legitimize the birth of my daughter. Since AJ was born prior to our marriage, my husband had filed an affidavit so that she can use Cabrera as her surname. 2 year and 2 months after she was born, My husband and I finally decided to get married. But our marriage does not automatically makes our daughter legitimate, we still have to go through the process of legitimation. The city registrar asked for the following:

1) CENOMAR (w/c i don't have at that time because i have no idea that they will be asking this. I thought that the NSO copy of our Marriage Contract is enough)
2) Marriage Contract
3) AJ's birth certificate
4) Valid ID's

I wasn't actually ready at that time, not knowing the requirements of legitimation. So now, I armed my self w/ what i have searched from the net and found some helpful tips.

I copied this from https://michecesa.wordpress.com/tag/nso-birth-certificate-2/, w/c says:

A legitimated child is a child conceived and born outside of wedlock of parents who, at the time of the conception of the former, were not disqualified by any impediment to marry each other. (Art. 177, FCP)

Nature of Legitimation:

1. Legitimation shall take place by the subsequent marriage of the parents.

2. The effects of legitimation shall retroact to the date of birth.

3. Legitimation takes place by operation of law.

4. Legitimation takes place only if the parents were not under any legal impediment to marry each other at the time the child was conceived.

While legitimation takes place by operation of law, the subsequent marriage of the parents does not automatically convert a child’s status from illegitimate to legitimated.

No court order is required for the change in status, but the birth record of the child must be changed accordingly through the Local Civil Registrar’s Office (LCRO).

Read the procedure below:
1. Both parents must execute an Affidavit of Legitimation containing the following facts (www.census.gov.ph):
1.1 the names of the parents;

1.2 that at the time when child was conceived, parents could have contracted marriage, and that they subsequently contracted marriage;

1.3 the date and place when such marriage was solemnized;

1.4 the name of the officer who officiated the marriage;

1.5 the city or municipality where such marriage was recorded;

1.6 the name of the child to be legitimated, and the other facts of birth;

1.7 the date and place where the birth of the child was registered ; and

1.8 the manner by which the child was acknowledged by the parents which may be in the child’s record of birth, in a will, a statement before a court of record, or in any authentic writing (not required for illegitimate children born on or after 3 August 1988—the effectivity of the Family Code)

2. The above affidavit must be registered in the local civil registry office of the place where the birth was recorded.

Upon registration of the affidavit of legitimation, this has the following effects:

The original family name of the child as appearing in Registrar of Births shall not be erased or deleted, but in the remarks space shall be written “Legitimated by Subsequent Marriage” indicating the family name which the child shall bear by virtue of the legitimation also giving reference to the entry number in the Registrar of Legal Instruments.
When the interested party requests a copy of the birth certificate of a legitimated child a certified copy of the certificate of Live Birth bearing the annotation “Legitimated by Subsequent Marriage on ________ (date of marriage) at __________ (place of marriage)” or a certified transcription using standard form from the Register of Births bearing the effects of legitimation and the same annotation indicated in the certified true copy shall be issued. (Rule 66, A.O. No. 1 S. 1993).
Sources: http://www.manila-legal.com/surname-of-a-legitimated-child/
http://www.census.gov.ph/data/civilreg/civapfaq.html#legitimation
Note: By virtue of Republic Act No. 9855, enacted in 2009, the definition of legitimated children was expanded to include those conceived and born outside of wedlock of parents who were disqualified only because either or both of them were below eighteen (18) years old when the child was conceived

AJ learns to write her name

I am so excited about this, really. After weeks and weeks of teaching her one letter at a time, she was finally able to write her name. At first i was guiding her hand in writing her whole name (surname included), then she goes on to write on her own. Isn't she clever for a 3-year old? I was actually asking her to write everything including my maiden surname but she kepts on complaining that it's too long. "Aliyah Janelle Macugay Cabrera" is not long, there are a lot of children out there who has longer name than hers. But naah! I'm not complaining though, she would eventually learn. We'll gonna go through it one at a time.

Right now, I am also teaching her how to read, she already knows all the letters of the english alphabet so now we are starting to learn Filipino Alphabet (w/c of course is almost the same except for the pronunciation).

But I will not be pushing her through that a lot - seriously. I believe timing is everything, of course, she will not be able to learn everything if she's not ready. It's more on injecting a little more of the learning part while playing (or at least when she thinks we're playing). That way, retention is higher.

And she's like a sponge! She kepts on absorbing all what I teach her.

I am so proud of her!

Eunice & AJ

It's been two months already since Eunice came into our house. Prior to her arrival, I've been preparing AJ, briefing her that the newcomer is her cousin and a new playmate. I have to prepare her emotionally and mentally because ever since she was born, she's been the only baby in the house and all the love and attention were focused on her. And having a another child at home is so new to her, she'll no longer be the only baby, she'll have someone to share everything with. Which, I believe, is a good thing since she'll be able to learn that she's not the only baby in the world. She'll be able to learn how to share. The first few weeks of adjustment has been difficult for us. AJ's almost always on her tantrum mode, while Eunice would bite or punch AJ when she's becoming too makulit - it was her way of saying stop to AJ's kalikutan since she was unable to express what she wants to say in tagalog since her major dialect at that time is Ilonggo.

Haist, Anyway, We've been experiencing a lot of changes recently. Both of them has learned how to cope with each other. Although AJ is still throwing little tantrums every now & then, she has learn to accept the presence of her ate Eunice. While Eunice, on the other hand, has learned to be patient with AJ. She already know that hurting her ading wont do a lot of good.

I do hope it will continue. They are still little children and both of them needs a lot of love, attention and discipline whenever necessary.

Coming Soon....Palawan Adventure Part II > CORON

Just got my reservation confirmation from Air Phil. It's cheaper to book early like we did now, We availed of the P1 fare promo of Airphil and set our flight for Feb next year. It's matagal, yes, but I will still be needing to save money for my baon and for the package tours. We've been surfing the net to check for some package tours in Coron and perhaps we will be using e-philippines again to prepare our itineraries again. We've used e-philippines in our Puerto Princessa adventure last February and boy, we are so satisfied with thier service. Russel, the Tour Specialist is very accomodating and have made our trip as flexible as possible. The result? We have used of 4-day stay in the maximum level w/o anything to worry at all except the pasalubong. We've found their website through internet but they have proven themselves trustworthy.

Anyways, I'm not gonna worry about it anytime soon. Next year pa naman yung flight.

But even though, Just thinking about going back to Palawan makes me want to chill. I am so excited! Wohooo!

E-books for the bookworm

Woohoo! http://www.manybooks.net is a manna for the bookworm's hungry soul. I really love reading books! Not only do I learn a lot, I also feel that I get the chance to be transported to another world. Generally, I read any type of Genre but I am more partial to books written by my favorite authors like Sydney Sheldon, Agatha Christie, Paolo Coehllo, Frances Hogson Burnett (author of a little princess and Little lord fauntleroy), and LM Montgomery (creator of my favorite character Anne Shirley). I also love reading Francine Pascal's Stories such as Fearless and Sweet Valley Twins series. I also grew up reading Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. And I also have a complete set of Harry Potter books. But lately, I've been falling behind my hoard of books, 1st I don't have time to visit NBS & Powerbooks(my favorite tambayan) and lastly, buying books is no longer part of mu budget.

Luckily, i found this website. It really made my day! I get to download books for free! Yehey! I no longer need to make ipon just to buy a new book. Not only that, i also get to download a lot of classics such as Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Antartic Mystery by Jules Verne, Sherlock Holmes, the count of Monte Cristo, Les Miserables and Arabian Nights.

So babush for now! It's time for me to READ now!!!

Goin' Gaga over P1 fare

Me & my officemates were just plain CRAZY over Cebu Pac or Air Phil's promo fares. Problem is....those fares are easily sold. Malingat ka lang sandali & you'll never get the Piso fare for that particular day you were rooting at. Mahuli ka lang ng tingin & sold out na agad.

Today, there's a promo fare at airphil. Lahat kami naloka! After our Palawan adventure last Feb, me & my Palawan Buddies made a pact to go back to Palawan and visit Coron this time. (face it now...we've been inflicted with Palawan's "kambak-kambak syndrome"

Not only that, 2 more of our officemates wants to come with us, Hahaha! thing is...payagan kaya kaming mawala sa office ng sabay sabay?

Let's wait & see?

On Sincerity and Honesty

They say that people you love the most are the most capable of hurting you. This is really true for me, it has happened and is happening to me now. "She" has been my girl ever since. Being the eldest and the only girl in our family has me wanting to have a baby sister to share all the girly staff with. She's the cousin who doesn't have any sibling - the real unica hija, the spoiled little princess who doesn't have anybody to play with. I have always been summoned to their house for weekend sleepovers so she'll have someone for company. I, of course, willingly obliged. I so loved the idea of spending some quality time with my cousins. (My other cousins were our neighbors so I get to play with them everyday - while she, on the other hand, lives on a different part of town with only a yaya to take care of her). And spending weekends at their house has plenty of benefits, someone to play with is one, then there's the free use of their Nintendo all day long, boardg ames, food and also playing with our distant cousin Ryan Neil Malto (w/c we have to climb over the bakod (to the other side of the village) so that we can play with him and/or ransack the fruits of their kamias tree.

It was safe to say that we have a very close relationship. There are times when I wasn't able to visit her, we would write each other letters (Those were the times that cellphones are not uso yet and PLDT have not reached Sitio Maligaya)

I don’t know how it happened, but as we grow older, we have slowly drifted apart. To be fair to her, she’s doing all her best to keep in touch – she being the more thoughtful one. She would make kulit so that I would meet her somewhere in Glorietta.

But now, things have really changed. It has started with her text, apologizing for making me envious when we were young. Because she felt that she has a more “fantabulous” childhood than mine. Perhaps she’s right, she has everything that she wants – materially. Her parent’s has given her all that she asks and all that she needs. I wouldn’t blame her for that for she’s an only child. For I believe that all those things given to her make up for all those times that her parents are not at home with her. Maybe that’s how she gauges happiness. While I, on the other hand, has long learned that materials things – alone - can never make you happy. I may not have that “fantabulous” childhood as she puts it, but I do have a FRUITFULL one. A childhood that I have been able to share with my mom, dad and baby brothers, a childhood that made me able to play with a lot of friends of my age, a childhood that has brought me closer to my tito’s and tita’s and my cousins, and most of all, a childhood full of memories and fun and laughter. And to me, at the end of the day, those things have made my childhood a lot more fantastic and fabulous to any degree.

But, It doesn’t really matter which childhood is fantabulous or fruitful. What hurt me the most is the knowledge that she has not been fully honest with me. All the while, I have been thinking and believing that she’s asking for me to stay with her because she truly, really and beyond doubt loves to be with me – the favorite cousin. Looking back now, it means that she has not been sharing all her toys because she just wants someone to play with but because she was just showing the off to me?

Ganon pala kababa ang tingin nya sa akin... And, I really believed that she’s sincere. How stupid of me....

Prosperity Builders Resources Inc (house update again)

I have called Prosperity Builders again for 2 reasons, the status of my loan application to pag-ibig (if they have already passed and processed my application) and the actual house construction. The problem with them is that they have too much document turn over and staff resignation. I don't know whom to actually talk to when i follow up w/ them. The first person I was able to talk to when I paid my reservation fee is Monique, then there was Janet (the one who interviewed me for credit investigation, the one whom I paid my PDC's for the downpayment and another 6 month's PDC for MA), When she resigned, my account was transferred to Glenna (whom I was only able to talk with thrice from December to April), after Glenna resigned (again, w/c I just happen to know only last week), And now the PIC for my account is someone named Avon, who doesn't even know how to answer all my questions regarding the status of my house. Nakakainis lang!

Now PIC's for the "documentary requirements" is another story. There's a certain Lorna, then Elsie, Liza, Meng, Alex and lastly Marian. Now, Marian told me that my documents have been forwarded to the loans department and that I should follow up with Anne from now on.

At meron pa, during the course of my seemingly endless follow up, I was also diverted to the engineering department where I was also able to talk to Chris, Eder and Ana.

I've already been talking to a lot of people from their company and still no progress yet as to the actual construction of the house. And now, I don't know whom to talk to and whom to follow up with. Ganito ba talaga yung process nila? Are they doing this to all of their buyers? If they do, they are not living up to their name. They are not building prosperity but frustration and moral damages to people who wants to own their dream houses.

And I, frustrated as I am, is still paying for the advanced Monthly amortization to them! I have already paid them in PDC's until September 23, 2011 even without their assurance that they can construct and turnover prior or even a month after that date.

Reminder: Mahalagang alalahanin na ang aba ninyong lingkod ay nagbabayad ng MA sa Prosperity Builders, at hindi sa Pag-ibig kahit na ang computation para sa Monthly Amortization ay based sa pag-ibig. At ayon pa sa pag-ibig ang MONTHLY AMORTIZATION ay sisimulang bayaran pagkatapos ma-loan take out. At dahil wala pang bahay na naitatayo, wala pang loan take out na nagaganap ngunit dahil namemera ang kumpanya, sila na ang naniningil ng MA sa mga buyers nang walang kasiguraduhan kung kailan maitatayo ang bahay. Yun lang - gets nyo moral ng story?

AJ Update

My decision not to send AJ to school this year is already final. I might be having some second thoughts now but I am sticking to what I have already decided. Here's why:

1. She's just 3 years old. Pwede na sana for Nursery but she's still 3 years old. I believe it's bit early pa rin. Baka maaaga siyang magsawa.

2. We might be moving to our new house at the end of the year (hopefully),

3. I will find it hard to budget her tuition fees, baon with all the "incidental charges" to pay plus the renovations to be made prior to "moving-in" to our new house.

4. Most importantly, If i insist on enrolling her this year, she will be on adjustment period again next year when it's time to enroll her to another school in cavite. It may or may not be traumatic for her but I'm not going to take the risk.

All these reasons tells me na both AJ and I are not ready yet. She can still learn the basics pa rin naman, and besides, I can always find time to teach her in the evenings or during our quiet times together.

House Update uli

I'm really disappointed with the Prosperity Builders. I have done my best to comply with all their documentary requirements, I have already finished paying the Dp eons ago and now i am currently paying for the MA (not to pag-ibig mind you, but to Prosperity Builders), MA as in computed na with the "supposed" interest for 30 years na payable na dapat sa pag-ibig, but because they are so keen on putting up a big "GREEDY" sign on their foreheads - the MA has to be payable to them. I have paid them in PDC's until Sept 23 (I have already given them 10 checks). And now they are calling me because they have just found out that my husband's ID is no longer valid and the other valid ID (passport) has no signature. As in! How incompetent could they get? They should have been the first people to KNOW their requirements and I believe it should have been checked the very moment that the requirements are passed into their hands. It's been two weeks already since I have passed my MSVS to them (2nd MSVS actually since i underwent pag-ibig orientation AGAIN kasi medyo matagal na raw yung first orientation ko w/c happened april 2010). Di ba? sana thoroughly checked na nila yun! Grrr! They say they are Prosperity Builders, but the way they are treating their buyers isn't really "prosperous" at all.

Apache Wedding Prayer

Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness,
For each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies,
But there is one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.


I used this Indian Wedding Blessing on the invitation I made on our wedding day. It is so simple and yet it spoke for our relationship as husband and wife. Now, I searched this via wikipedia and found out that it was actually written in the 1950 Western novel Blood Brother (novel) by Elliott Arnold. So it's not actually a Native American tradition (sigh! i really hoped it did), but it's kind of romantic don't you think?

hohummm...

I haven't been able to blog for a while. Actually, I haven't been to cyberspace for a whole lot of "while", I haven't EVEN been able to visit my fb or my e-mail account. Bahay-Office...dun umikot ang mundo ko. But no complaints here. It's more on deciding which of these matters most. Like deciding that playing with my daughter Aliyah is more fun than bothering to post any status in my fb account or spending time trying to think what to blog. Time flies fast and we have to keep up with it. My daughter grows up (a little) each day and I don't want to miss any moment of it. And she will never be 3 years old again. And perhaps, if God permits, she'll be an Ate. Hindi na siya mag-iisa. And she won't be able to enjoy being the only child again. So, i am making it a point that we enjoy each others company as often as possible. Kasi, We'll never know....

Pre-schooler AJ

I want pre-school hunting yesterday.

AJ is only 3 years old, 3 1/2 by June. My husband and I thinks that she can already go to toddler school since most of the schools now accepts children that will be turning 4 years old by December. Although excited as I am about the thought of AJ going to school, I do have a few misgivings about this. First, is AJ ready to go to school? As in "ready" in a sense na will she be able to cope up with the environment? Will she be able to keep up? Maybe she can - she's a little too mature for her age but she's a little girl nonetheless. She already knows her ABC's, colors (although may sablay paminsan-minsan), she can count 1 to 10 - both english and tagalog version. She even bosses her playmates around (and amazingly her playmates whould let her boss them - I don't actually understand why)

But on the other hand - she's still a baby. And just like any other kid, she really finds it hard to stay in one place and behave properly. She keeps on exploring and she is inquisitive yet she can so easily be distracted and shift her attention to other things that would catch her interest.

Luckily, I found this school in Baclaran. Where the kids are required to have an entrance examination - more on an assessment for the child (like hand-eye coordination etc), the teachers will assess if the child is ready for school first before they accept them as students.

I could do with that, This is what I need the most - a professional institution that will help me discern whether my child is ready for school or not.

My Palawan Adenture

I really had a wonderful time in Palawan. Sobra! I really had a blast there, the people are nice, the sights are wonderful and indeed, it was very de-stressing.

DAY 1 (Feb 12, 2011): HONDA BAY TOUR

We arrived at Palawan around 9AM, We didn't ave a hard time finding our guide since De Loro Inn's information is located exactly in the baggage claim area. So from there we went directly to the Inn, had a welcome drink while waiting for the 2nd batch to arrive (Our batch took Airphil while Jen and Rean took Cebu Pacific w/c will arrive around 10AM).

Here's a photo of us in De Loro Inn, w/c is actually nice,

They have this, semi-open air dining area w/c makes it presko and cozy. Our accomodations were 2 twin sharings and 2 triple sharing rooms. I am actually thrilled that they have updgraded our triple sharing room into an executive room (w/c is, i think, good for 5 people).











When Jen and Rean arrived, we were off to our first tour - HONDA BAY!!!

The wharf is around 30-min drive from our Inn, From there we transfered into a ferry bound to the 1st island on our itinerary, Snake Island. It was a long stretch of white beach. We stayed there for about 2 hours then we went to Pandan Island where we ate Halo-halo

Pandan Island...

And then, we went to Pambato reef. It was sort of scary docking there since you have to go through interconnected rafts before you can get to the diving area. We snorkled there for a while and get to see a lot of corals although I wasn't that impressed that much, the corals are not as colorful as I expected. Anyways, the waves are becoming a little to rough at that time, It was really scary so I wasn't able to actually enjoy my time there.

DAY 2 (Feb 13, 2011) - Underground River tour, Mangrove Paddling Tour, Ugong Cave Spelunking and Ziplining.

Whew! A lot of adventure in one whole day. That's a lot of fun!

It was actually a 2-hour ride from Puerto Princessa city to the site of the Undergound river. But we saw a lot of interesting sights along the way.

The half way rest area where we have waited for our tour guide to transfer to our van.

Another stop over at Buenavista View deck...

Then here's the sight of Leonardo di'Caprio's "The Beach"

Then finally, we arrived at the wharf where we will be taking a ferry to the Site of the underground river.

I was really amazed at what I saw inside the cave, to think that those are natural stone formations that mother nature took hundreds of years to create.

After this, we went Mangrove Paddling at Sabang River, The Mangroves here are about 200 years old, natural growth (untouched by human hands)

This is Mang Untoy, our Guide at the Mangrove Swamp














After Mangrove Paddling, we went caving at Ugong Rock. The people there named it "Ugong" because when you tap the limestones, it gives out a bell-like sound that seemed to vibrate throughout the entire cave.

When we reached the viewdeck of Ugong rock, we went down via Zipline. It was so awesome!

DAY 3 (Feb 14, 2011) - DOS PALMAS

We spent valentines day in Dos Palmas. I really love it there! It was so peaceful and so much relaxing. They offer a lot of activities to thier guests and you can use their facilities for free plus buffet lunch as part of thier day tour package (except diving and spa).

Here's some of our pictures at dos palmas:

DAY 4 (Feb 15, 2011) PUERTO PRINCESSA CITY TOUR

Below are our pics during our Puerto Princessa City Tour. We didn't linger uch on each sites because we need to catch our 1:55PM flight back to Manila.

CROCODILE FARM

Nice, I was able to have a photo op with a huge croc skeleton and with the future Louis Vuitton.

MITRA'S RANCH

BAKER'S HILL

PLAZA CUARTEL

The history of this place is quite interesting. During the world war II, American POW were held here in this place. The Japanese soldiers put them in the tunnel and burned them to death, and while they were burning, they were being fired at. Gruesome...but 11 of the survived. There is a statue there that depics the way they were brutally tortured...sad...
You can see the statue in the picture below:

IMMACULATE CONCEPCION CATHEDRAL

Tapos, It's going home time!!!

I'm so glad that I was able to visit Palawan. I learned a lot during this trip. I have learned to love my country more, I've never been any more proud of my heritage. Someday, when AJ grows up, I will be bringing her to this place.

To God be the Glory!!!

My Palawan Adenture (Teaser)

My palawan adventure trip is the best!
I would love to tell you what happened but...well,, I'm collating all our pics as of the moment. I want to post the pictures of each of my adventures so that I can completely share it w/ everyone.

So far, this is what I got...Taken at Dos Palmas

4 Days/3 Nights Puerto Princessa Exploration

...in less than 24 hours to go... Yahoo!

I've been dreaming to go to Palawan for so many years now. Actually, I was supposed to go last 2007 pa but I got pregnant. Imagine my frustration then, with all the tickets and tours already at hand na months prior to my supposedly actual departure. But now! I am actually going! It would be 4 days and 3 nights full of adventure. ADVENTURE! just what I've been dreaming (and praying for). Here is the list of our itinerary for this adventure trip.

Day 1 - Honday bay Island Hopping
Day 2 - Underground River Tour
Day 3 - Dos Palmas Tour
Day 4 - Hald Day City Tour

I'm totally lovin' it! I'll be properly packing my bags tonight. I have already prepared a lot for this trip (well, except slimming down - w/c is actually at the bottom of my set priorities). I already have bought new clothes, new bagpack - and a lot of things that i will be needing during my trip there.

I'm really really excited. Yes, I'll be missing my kid and hubby so much but I know it will be all worth it. And when I come home - I'll be hugging them BIG TIME!

Henny Chicken loves AJ

hey, take a look at AJ and Henny Chicken!
Aren't they cute?

House update

i called Prosperity Builders last Friday. They told me that they have already started their land development for Summer Pointe Residences. So most probably daw by April tapos na yung land development saka pa lang daw sila mag-eendorse ng house construction, endorsement would take about 2 months then they would need another two months for the actual construction of the house. Perhaps by August matatapos na lahat. Sana naman it's for real na. I have already finished paying for my DP and I have already issued them 6 checks for the MA. I hope that everything will go well.