{Only in Pinas} When commuting gets tough

Here in Cebu, jeepney is commonly used public utility vehicle. It is cheaper than taxi. There are buses, but only used for long distance travel. Sadly, we don't have train. Habal2x (motorcycle for hire) is highly not recommended since Pinoy drivers are (not all but outnumbered by) reckless.

So for commuters like me, jeepney is okey for my 10km ride to the office.

Though its a cheap ride, I still expect to be comfy. To at least still feel sane as I arrived in the office. But seems like commuters here are treated inhumanely. I don't know with other routes but riding a Consolacion-route wide jeepneys is tough and upsetting. 

What's worse, seems like everyone accepts to be treated this way.

Look at this chair. 

Two people had to occupy on this and will pay the same fare as the one sitting on the bench.

See our knees too close to those sitting in the middle.

Sad! Only in the Philippines!!!

Wake up LTFRB-7!

Note: This is based on personal experience.

A visit at Woodford Reserve Distillery

Able to visit the company's main office, which is located at Lexington, Kentucky for a 3-week training. It was bad timing in terms of weather condition considering it was one of worst winter season of Lexington thus, I was not able to explore the city. Good thing though, the weather turns good on my third week that I was able to visit a bourbon distillery. Thanks to Josh!

We went to Woodford Reserve Distillery, one of the best bourbon in America, according to our tour guide. He said that for their bourbon to meet the desired taste and having used the correct ingredients as well as the right charred barrel, it has to be aged for 8 years.

The 1-hour tour cost 7US$. It started at the main hall where introductions are made. 

We went to the mash room / fermentation room. He explained that to have the best quality bourbon, the right ingredients should be available. Kentucky water fits right for bourbon due to being an iron-free filtered through limestones. Mixing of ingredients and adding yeast and how the ingredients transform to alcohol happens in this room.

Next, we went to the distillery room where they are using pot still, its a copper-colored kettle I may say. 

In the same room, filling of the barrels also happens when distilled alcohol reaches a certain alcohol proof. The tour says that barrel plays an important role in making bourbon since it stays in the barrel for 8 years thus it should be correctly charred. Then we went to the storage room where barrels are kept. Its like a waiting room and once it matures, the barrel goes to the bottling room where the bourbon is filtered, bottled, packed and ready for consumer's consumption. The white distilled alcohol turns brown after 8 years in the barrel, this is the evidence that the rbarrel does play an important role during storage.

We were brought back to the main hall where we were given chocolate bourbons and a shot of Woodford Reserve.

To drink the bourbon according to the guide is to smell it first, second is to take a sip and let it roll in your tongue and feel the sweetness and the burning sensation, third is to put some rock ice on it and wait for 10 seconds to take another sip. 

I'm not fond of bourbons, but the sweetness and the burning feeling once swallowed really feels good.

More about Woodford Reserve can be found here.

Obtaining a US Visa: My Story

   ​An opportunity to travel in Kentucky, USA for training (a company sponsored trip) has been offered for me and to be able to grab it, still need to apply for a US Visa.
This means going to Manila to personally apply at the US Embassy which is located along Roxas Boulevard.
 

   Application processing was easy for me since the company's HR team (assigned to travel-related matters) helped me with the application. That means, I only need to ensure that my passport is valid, have 2 pcs of US Visa photos, get Certificate of Employment from HR, and completely filled-up the DS-160 form (link here: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/). By the way, you need to have your photos taken first before you fill-up the DS-160 form. You need to attached the scanned photo in the form. Once done, I submitted my Appointment Confirmation to the HR, for them to make a visa application payment and set interview schedule.

   True enough, I was advised that my interview is set on a Tuesday and since I was based in Cebu, I have to be there the day before the appointment schedule. I was able to get a Monday morning flight, checked-in at noon (it is recommended to lodge in a hotel near the embassy to avoid hassles (still airfare and hotel expense are from the company). I enjoyed a great night over sumptuous dinner at The Aristocrat Restaurant with a wonderful friend Jimmy, who came all the way from Ortigas Center. Thanks for the company Jim though it was short but worthwhile :D.

   Back at the hotel, I reviewed again my documents and ready for bed by 10:30PM. Woke-up at 3:30AM, I can't sleep I miss my kids who co-sleep with me and my hubby. I am so worried that I might be sleepy and give unsatisfactory answers during the interview. Freshened up at 7AM, had my breakfast 30 minutes after. I had to drink coffee to keep me awake and praying so hard that I will not faint (I only have 5 hrs sleep plus I really am nervous).

STEP 1: APPOINTMENT VERIFICATION

   By 8AM, I started my walk towards the embassy through the pedestrian overpass. As I reached the other side of the street, I see many people staying outside the embassy for reasons I do not know. I went straight to the guard informing him that I have an appointment and asking him what to do. He led me to the line where the staff advised us to prepare our passport and the DS-160 Confirmation page. When it was my turn, I handed out to her. She checks something and pull out a sticker and placed it on the back of my passport. She advised me to get inside and get a queue number.

STEP 2: GETTING A QUEUE NUMBER
   As I was about to get inside, the guard informed that water bottles are prohibited inside thus advised me to throw it. However, I did not see any garbage container, thus he advised me to throw the contents and just get a refill inside the building. After the security check, I went straight to the lined windows for the queue number. My number is 2280 and currently called is 2232! Not to worry as there are chairs in the waiting area.

STEP 3: PRE-SCREENING
   When the officials called numbers 2276 to 2285, I got up and join the line and inside the building was another security check. Security checking is much faster if applicants don't bring bags. I was asked to line in front of the assigned window. When it was my turn, the staff asked for my complete name and middle name when I'm still single. She asked if the first letter of my middle name is H. I mistakenly thought she asked for my age.
STAFF: H?

I answered and give her my age

STAFF: H po?

I again answered with my age information

STAFF: What is the first letter of your middle name?
ME: Its J

STAFF: Z or S?
ME: Its S. S-O-N

Boooo...effect of no sleep! :-(

She then asks for the guarantee letter from my company and attached to my DS-160 Confirmation page. (Guarantee letters contains assurance that I shall come back to my country after my training period). Once done, she advised me to wait for my number for the next step.

STEP 4: FINGER SCANNING
   As I wait for my number to be flashed in the LED board screen, I can hear the interview questions from the other windows thus makes me so nervous. As number flashed in the LED board, I make my way to the indicated window, the official (this time its a Westerner). She seems nice and asked my full name and my birth date. Again I make a mistake, instead of July 6, I said July 7... 

Waaahhh!! another no-sleep effect! :-(

Anyways, I corrected myself and apologize. She smile and comments that sometimes being jittery happens. I just smiled back with confidence level down to zero.

STEP 5: CONSUL INTERVIEW
   Come to the most challenging part of the application. I was assigned to the young Westerner Consul. He's also nice (I think! :D)

CONSUL: Good Morning! Sorry to keep you waiting.
ME: Good Morning. (I smiled and then handed out the documents I have with me: passport, DS-160 Confirmation page, guarantee letter, certificate of employment, training invitation letter, training outline, PIP letter, flight itinerary)

CONSUL: (Checks the papers then ask) So which part of Kentucky are you going?
I answered.

CONSUL: What do know about of Kentucky?
ME: Hhmmnn. Lots of horses? (I answered with a laugh)

CONSUL: Yeah, yeah horses!.. And whiskeys too!
ME: I smiled

CONSUL: Kentucky is a nice place. You'll gonna love it.
ME: Yeah. But I think its kinda cold there nowadays.

CONSUL: Nah! I think not really. How long have you been working in your company?
ME: Almost 5 years, in fact I'll turn 5 this coming May.

CONSUL: How much is your current salary
I answered

CONSUL: Congratulations. Your application has been approved!
ME: Thank you! (With a big smile)
CONSUL: Your welcome!

Yeah! I'm done. Not bad at all but I tell you I was scared out there.
Take a flight home in the afternoon :D

This is me after the interview (already with big smiles)!

Breather at Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort and Spa

Joy and family will be migrating to NZ soon. Jimmy is now based at Manila. Me? still stuck in Cebu. Vench is also based in Cebu but we seldom see each other. Even being busy with our respective life, we still do have something in common --- treasured friendship and longing to bond with each other as well looking for ways to celebrate such precious friendship. Last December we had a chance to get together with family here at Cebu.

And since this celebration will likely to happen again in 3 to 4 years from now, it should be worth the shot -- like an overnight stay in Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort and Spa :D

I can't believe it! My family was able to get inside to one of the pricey resorts in Mactan, Cebu...Thanks to Joy and Jimmy and to the resort's holiday promos. 
We chose a Deluxe Room Garden View, which has 2 single beds, a living room, a cute kitchen bar and a terrace supposedly overlooking a garden (the front side of the hotel has renovations so we see on-going constructions). Though the room is for 2 adults and 2 kids, we were still able to avail it considering the room is still big enough to accommodate 4 adults and 3 kids. Staying at the room is already a gratification. 

The kids love the waterpark. 

Jiggy likes the beach-like pool since its only 3 ft deep. He also loves the kiddie pool with ships and slides though he doesn't like the big bucket that dumps waters every after certain interval. 

Hannah tried the open body slide which is around 120 meters long. Such an adventurous kid huh!. 

Unfortunately Zen was not able to try it due to slide's height limitation nevertheless, she still have fun.

Jimmy, the kid at heart, tried all the slides. 

We went to the beach area but nothing special in there thus we spent most of our time in the resort's main pool, with a minimum of 4ft deep. We ended up talking and talking in the pool until sundown. I still think we are not yet done talking. Are we? Joy? Jim? How much more if Vench was able to join us.

One thing noticeable in the resort is that almost 90% of the population are Koreans.

Buffet breakfast was yummy to the tummy's content with Filipino,Western and Asian dishes on it. We spent an hour and half in the restaurant just to savour the dishes. I so love buffet set-up.

Over-all experience was a bliss having to spend it with great friends in a great place.

These kids still can't get over with their holiday spree.

Looking forward to our next get together!

Photo Credits: Jimmy L.

Weekend at Hale Manna Beach Resort and Coastal Garden

One of the privilege when you're living in a tropical country is having the sun's smile on you all year long (just don't count the typhoon visits :D). And when you're in an island surrounded by beautiful beaches, what more could you ask for?
As for me, I need finances to indulge in this privilege...hehehe

Last month, we had a chance to spend weekend with friends at Hale Manna Beach Resort and Coastal Garden, Moalboal, Cebu. Located at the southwest part of Cebu, Moalboal is also known for white beaches, coral reef and fish sanctuaries. 
If you want to relax and listen the whispers of the leaves as they dance with the sea breeze or if you just want to escape the noise and pollution of the city, then, Hale Manna is for you. From the place (rooms are spacious and clean), the staffs (everyone is so accommodating and friendly) and even the food (yummy is the best word to describe it), it surely is a haven. I tell you 2 days and 1 night is not enough. Even my daughter wished she could stay for a year to enjoy the place. 

Here are our pictures. 
Photo Credits: Nat A. and Jimmy L.

Honey loves to swing in the hammock.

Jiggy loves the spacious garden for playing.

We tried kayaking.

Honey tried snorkeling.

Snorkeling with friends.

This team surely had so much fun.

Thank you Jim for flying all the way from Manila just to spend the weekend with us here in Cebu. Hope we can do this more often.

Thank you Paeng for recommending Hale Manna.

From city proper, you can either ride on a bus (from South Bus Terminal) or a van for hire (from CitiLink Terminal). The ride takes approximately 2.5 hours. From the Moalboal market, you need to have one more ride thru tricycle to reach the resort. We were not able to take on both options as Paeng and his family offered a ride :D.

Tips:
If you are saving, travel in the morning and bring with you your lunch. 
Travel by groups, the more the merrier.