Immigration Wrap Up

Finally! Everything has been settled!

Let me start with Wednesday. I went to POEA at around 10 AM to check for the approval results of our petition. I proceeded to Tess's window. She told me to go to the fourth floor to check for Director's approval. When I got there, they informed me that the request has been forwarded to the deputy approval in the second floor, in room 201. I went there only to find out that it's the same room that I was before! When I got there, they said that the papers are now in the Admin department in third floor for evaluation. So I went up only to find out the the request is still pending! I asked for a phone number to contact for follow-up and they told me to call after lunch. I hung out at Galle for a while then met with Kido (the other Malaysia hopeful) for lunch. After that we went back to the third floor to check on the status. After around 30 minutes, a guy came out with our documents. After calling out our names, we immediately examined the papers for any sign of the result. Then there it was, a stamp of approval! Allelujah!!! We proceeded again to the second floor to continue with the rest of the processing. The guy passed our papers to window 4. After being called, we proceeded to window 10. Tess gave us the next steps:

a.) Scan the compliance letter, send to MY, have it signed, then send back to us via fax. Have 4 copies for myself and Kido.
b.) PDOS scheduling

We went home after having the PDOS scheduled.

That same day, I asked my Mom to claim my clearance from the Bureau of Immigration. She had a horrific encounter because of this. She had the ultimate Philippine government red tape experience, a treasure hunt for people who are supposedly taking care of DOST scholars' watch list. Looks like she had a very thorough tour of the entire four floors of the building. After arriving at the last pit stop, she battled the government personnel who should be processing my request for clearance. Apparently, after 1.5 weeks, they have now come to know that my request is "missing" and I should go back on Monday! Their excuse was that they were transferring and renovating the office thus the lack of organization. While our analysis was that they "lost" the request on purpose so that they could extort some money from us to speed up the processing. They wish! My mother went home really furious and stressed though. So I had no choice, I had to take care of this myself.

The next day I woke up early to go to BI, I even asked my brother to drive for me since I was so exhausted and he knew Manila streets better. I proceeded to the fourth floor, room 419 to ask for the status. They made me wait for an hour to just have them say to me "Mam, no action pa daw". Sorry, but patience is not my virtue. Fuming, I went to the window to demand for the proper person to talk to. At first, they were hesitant to help me. But, probably seeing that I was on the verge of an outburst, they looked for the lady who should be taking care of this. I think she was Nancy. She scanned their files for my document, then there it was all along! She asked me to pay for 500 at the first floor. I had to pay them that much just to clear my name from the watch list! What the hell, what was the payment for? For just deleting my name on the computer or for placing a phone call??? Philippine government offices are really so corrupt. After that, I gave the receipt to Nancy to get a clearance.

I went to POEA after, to have our Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS). Good thing the speaker was fast. We still had enough time to finish the rest of the processing. We gave our requirements to window 4. Again, we filled out another form aside from the countless ones we have already filled up previously. They made us wait for more than an hour, called our names, then asked us to proceed to Assessment. We were given a paper, then paid 6340 at the cashier at the FIFTH FLOOR, what's up with that, elevators aren't even working!!! We went back to 2nd floor, then got our e-receipts, our final ticket to being an OFW!!! Hurrah, we're set!!!

In conclusion, I have come to know that if you can afford it, DO NOT AVAIL DOST SCHOLARSHIP. I'm telling you, it's not worth it!!! But I hope all this hard work will pay off when I get to Malaysia.


*** My flight got delayed by another week because of the Immigration issues from DOST

Trusting the Sunscreen

So this is how it works, I'm starting to realize the trade off for the change that I've been wanting. Though I haven't left yet, I already miss everything in my life right now. My family, our house, my friends, my car, the convenience and familiarity of everything around me. I'm too attached I guess. I can feel my parents and brother missing me already. After seeing how our family was devastated by Alex's then Ate's departure, it sinks my heart to think that they'd have to go through that again. But everything has a price, I'm just hoping that everything's well worth it.

To turn my emotions around, I'm watching this video again:

Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)


The narrative always makes me look forward to the rest of my life with the proper perspective. At this point, it looks like I just need to trust the sunscreen. :)

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…I will dispense this advice now. Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you imagine. Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday. Do one thing everyday that scares you Sing Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours. Floss Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself. Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how. Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements. Stretch Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t. Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone. Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.. Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them. Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly. Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future. Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young. Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel. Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders. Respect your elders. Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out. Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85. Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth. But trust me on the sunscreen…

Amazing Race IMMIGRATION!

Manunuod ako dapat ng sine ngayon e, ito pa naman ang pinakakabangan kong Till My Heartaches End day. But no, hindi ko kinaya. Drugs ako buong araw at pakiramdam ko pag nagmaneho pa ako, makakatulog lang ako sa daan.

Sobrang busy-busy-han kasi netong mga nakaraang linggo. Masyadong nakakapagod ang nasa labas palagi halos buong araw at nagpupunta sa opisina at sa iba't ibang ahensya ng gobyerno para mag-ayos ng mga rekutitos sa pag-alis upang mag-OFW.

Ang hirap kasi e, naging masalimuot ang sitwasyon ko. May mga dagdag na factors sa aking kalagayan. DOST scholar kasi ako e, at dahil dun, sa pagkuha pa lang ng passport nagsimula na ang paghihirap ko. May natira pa akong bond para sa kulang na isang taon na serbisyo sa Pilipinas. Nagfax, nagpabalik-balik sa Bicutan, binayaran ko pa ang natitira kong bond at kumuha ng NBI Clearance bago ako makakuha ng passport.

Pagkatapos nun, pinalad na nga akong makuha ang isang mahusay na trabaho sa Malaysia truly Asia. Masaya na sana eh, kaso may problema! Lagpas na kami sa maximum na 10 direct hires sa bawat kumpanya sa ibang bansa. Hay kay malas! Dahil dyan, pressured kami ng kasabayan ko. Na-delay nang husto ang pag-umpisa namin dun kasi sinusubukan pa ayusin ng amo namin ang sitwasyon. Ang dami nangungulit sa amin kaya lalong nakaka-stress! Dagdag pa dyan, may kelangan pa rin akong tapusin sa DOST. Sa pangalawang pagkakataon, nagfax, nagpabalik-balik sa Bicutan at gumawa ako ng request na nagsasabing hindi ko na mababawi ang binayad ko sa kanila kahit kelan!

Kelangan to para matanggal ang mga hold order ko bilang isang taong may hit sa NBI at Immigration. Ayun, pumunta ulit ako sa mga ahensyang ito para sa clearance. Nagbigay ng contact number ang Immigration para sa pag-follow up ng aking status, pero hindi naman matawagan. Labomen. Hanggang ngayon di ko pa rin alam kung cleared na ba ako.



May angking din akong kamalasan sa schedule. Lagi akong tinatamaan ng mga bagyo at holidays kaya nade-delay ang paglakad ko ng mga papeles. Pero sa wakas, nakakuha na rin ng working visa galing Malaysian Embassy! Pwede na kaming pumunta sa POEA at nang malaman na kung ano ang hatol, kung makakalusot ba kami as direct hire o kelangan na naming dumaan sa agency. Ayoko mag-agency, kasi kapag ganun ang nangyari, malaking bahagi ng sweldo namin ang mawawala tapos ang aming benefits ay bababa rin. At kaming dalawa lang nung kasabay ko ang natatanging agency-hired employees dun! Pag nagkataon, tuwing may company outing, iwan kami! Kawawang mga bata.


Dumating na nga ang pinakatatakutan naming araw ng pagpunta sa POEA. In fairness, kami ang nagbukas at nagsara ng name-hire department. At siya nga, tunay palang dapat kaming mabagabag. Pinasa namin ang aming requirements. Isang tingin lang nung babae sa pangalan ng kumpanya namin, alam na niya na yun yung pasaway na kumpanya na hindi sumusunod sa patakaran. Nagpaliwanag kami at kinuha naman niya ang papeles namin para ma-evaluate kunwari. Pinaghintay kami ng matagal. Tinawag ulit para lamang sabihin na maghihintay kami ng mas matagal pa kasi wala pa yung babae para dun sa "approval", approval nila mukha nila. Naghintay nga kami ng matagal. Pagtawag ng pangalan ko, may pinapirma sa amin. Dyusme, akala ko naman na-approve ang aming pakiusap. Pero hindi, ang inabot pala sa akin ay isang rejection letter! Wow nanghina ako, hindi namin alam kung saang kangkungan kami pupulutin non. Pumunta kami sa isang computer shop. Tinawagan namin ang kakilala namin sa kumpanya at kinontak din ang HR aka Roy nila para ipaalam ang kalunos-lunos na pangyayari.

Bumalik kami sa POEA para magmakaawang muli. Kesyo resigned na kami, at kung hindi nila kami payagan mawawalan talaga kami ng trabaho. Mga ganung drama. Musical score on: "Bagong bayani, na ang sandata ay luha...Bigyan naman ninyo kami kahit na konting awa-a-a-a-a-a-a-ah". Kaso nasa Pilipinas pa pala kami noh, hindi pa applicable ang kanta. Tinanong namin kung pwede pa ba kami mag-appeal. Sabi niya, hindi daw kami yung dapat na mag-appeal, dapat yung employer yung mag-appeal para sa amin. Sinabi naman namin yun kay Roy. Gumawa siya ng appeal letter na ipapabigay sa amin sa POEA. Sa kamalas-malasan naman ay wala yung pipirma at kelangan pa namin maghintay ng matagal. At totoo ngang matagal! Nakapanuod na kami ng sine, wala pa din! Hanggang 4 pm lang yung opisina, at halos sakto 4 pm dumating yung fax ng sulat! Nakakapraning. Binigay namin dun sa babae sa Window 10 na itago natin sa pangalang Tess. Pinapunta niya kami sa isang nakatataas sa loob ng opisina para magmakaawa ulit. Itago naman natin siya sa pangalang Minnie. Hay, talaga naman. Pinakita namin yung sulat at nakiusap ulit. Buti good mood si lola at pinayagan na i-endorse ni Tess yung mga papeles namin. Pinalabas ulit kami at hiningi yung papeles namin, pinagawan kami ng petition letter at inayos niya yung mga papeles. Tawag daw kami ulit sa Martes para malaman ang resulta ng aming approval request.

Hay grabe, hindi na ito kinakaya ng powers ko. Sana talaga maayos na at hindi ko na kaya ang isa pang round ng ganito.

Panginoon, tulungan niyo po kami.

Letting go...

Thank you. Seriously, thank you for everything. I just knew you by name before, but now I've come to know that you're a very good person. I haven't known any other guy who is as decent as you. You have a solid faith in God, you give everything to your family, you try to think the best of everyone else to the point of justifying their wrong doings. I feel very blessed for getting to know you at a deep level as this. But now I see what your priorities are. It's been too long, and we're too far apart, and I'm starting to accept that we can't go anywhere beyond a very good friendship.

But I also can't pretend anymore that I only see you as a friend. I could have given you more than what you think I can, if only you gave me the chance. It's just too bad that you're too dense to understand all the passes that I've given you.

At this point I think I have to let go. I need something real and tangible. I want someone who will take care of me, hold my hand when it trembles, embrace me when I shiver, touch me when I'm lonely. I no longer see that happening with you. When things get too far yet nowhere with someone, I always ask myself, will I be happy with this person eventually? Looks like you failed this test. So now I'll try my best to move on and find real love and happiness...with someone else.

Lord help me.

Work Permit!!!

My work permit is on its way!!! My goodness, this is it! So looks like my departure for next weekend will push through after all. I'm really really overwhelmed and nervous! @_@

I was actually expecting that I would get a bit delayed because of the glitch in the processing. But I need to rewire my brain and start moving again!

Wahhh I'm panicking!!! What to do, what to do...

- Get clearance from office
- Get clearance from Bureau of Immigration
- Book flight once I get my work permit
- Go to Malaysian Embassy
- Go to POEA
- Look for apartment
- Arrange despedida for my family

Less than 2 weeks to go!!! I'm feeling homesick already just thinking about it. Lord help me, there's still so much to iron out...

So...

I just received the email from my soon-to-be employer that they have couriered my Employment Letter. I am to fill this up and send back to them with my signature. Whew, this means my work abroad will push through after all. This is it!

It's not sinking in yet as of the moment, but I'm sure that as my departure draws nearer the effects of this change will grow more apparent until it totally washes me over.

I promised myself that when I go there, I'll strip myself more of my inhibitions. This transition has been a true wake up call for my emotions, views, and beliefs in life. I want to venture out into the world with a more open heart and mind. And by going there, I hope that I'll be able to see a side of life that I haven't seen before. :)

UP Food Trip!!!

Dahil lumipat na kami sa UP Ayala Technohub site, kelangan mag-food trip sa Alma Mater namin ni Jason at Pao. At siya na nga! Bilang puro mga barako ang kasama, at pagbukas ng elevator sa ground floor ay saktong kakadating lang ni Jaime, si Vaj ni Pao ang aming school bus dahil dun lang kami magkakasya. :D

Ayun, sinubukan namin sa dalawang isawan sa UP kaso parehong kakabukas lang kaya lumipat kami sa Faculty Center. Marami namang nakain ang mga tao, fishball+hotdog+kwek kwek+cheese sticks. Si Noel at Jay hindi mapakali, parang nasa buffet lang. Pagkatapos kumain, jabar na ang mga tao, lalo na ang dalawang ito! Hahaha.

Sa aming bagong opisina naman, kung kakalimutan ang katotohanang mas malayo siya kaysa Eastwood, maaliwalas naman kung tutuusin. Maliwanag, maluwag at mas may privacy ang work stations namin sa office, saka green siya, my favorite color! Napipilitan din kaming mag-exercise dahil lahat mas malayo namely CR, kainan, at hi-way. :P

At malaki ang pantry!!!! Pag may dumating na bagong grupo ng kakain, hindi kami required tumayo at lumayas para lang may malibreng upuan. Kasi maraming iba pang pwedeng pwestuhan, parang canteen lang! Maganda rin naman ang view sa mga bintana. Sa bandang likod forest kung saan matatagpuan ang Microstop. Sa may harap park-park-an na may mga bibe, bulate at hyper na mga sprinklers. Pag umuulan, pwedeng pwedeng mag-emote, wagi.

Afu, malamang ay iiling-iling ka pag nabasa mo to, pero wag ka kasi mag East Avenue, mag Q. Ave ka!!! Ang mga tao pumupunta lang dun pag kukuha sila ng birth certificate! :P

Spreading the word

The more people I tell, the harder it gets. Angel was right, it will get worse before it gets better. But I've prayed too long and too hard for this, I've no plans of backing down anytime soon. God is too good and I'm extremely grateful for this immense blessing.

This is it, I'm so excited! As my friend said, go fight and win! :D

Define grief and depression

n. Realizing that you've made a horribly bad decision by buying a non-waterproof mascara.

How I get through the past weeks

I've been really bummed out these past two weeks. All the waiting is driving me crazy!!! Fortunately I found my saving grace :D

This insanely hilarious sitcom keeps me sane!!! Hehehe. I can't even choose a single favorite character, they're all really funny! Ok, back to watching the freshly downloaded episodes... :D

Waiting...

...for the next big thing. Lord, please grant me this one...

Smile :)

Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

Preparing for preparations

I'm here at Mocha Blends, middle-of-nowhere branch. I was planning to do some brushing up on my technical know-hows. Unfortunately, my brain is simply not working. Maybe I'm tired and I don't realize it. This green notebook of IT gibberish has been in front of me for almost an hour and I haven't absorbed a single concept. I'm reviewing for a very important interview on Monday. One of those things that I want so much that I haven't even told my closest friends about it, to avoid jinxing. I'm just trying to adhere by the rule that if you want to achieve a goal, don't be a blabbermouth about it. Tell only the ones who are directly involved in your plans. So the only persons who know it are M******s(she was the one who first told me about the job opening),R****l(he passed my resume to the HR) and C**y (a fellow applicant). I want this so so bad!!! I'll do my best to push this through, swear.

But since my brain is in a halt, I'm here blogging. Probably some online window shopping might help then some episodes of Fringe when I get home. Hopefully tomorrow, my head will be in a much better condition for some serious studying.

Lord, please help me.

Thinking Positively

I refuse! I refuse to let this consume me! Law of Averages, back me up here!!!

Tribute to Travel Adik Tropa

Lately I've been feeling quite grounded. I worry less, I feel lighter and happier, and I treat the people around me better. I've gained a renewed appreciation for life. I have my new friends to thank for this. They are the ones that I've been traveling with recently. Like me, they have a severe infection of the travel and shutter bug. Being with them made me see beauty in even the smallest and simplest things, and this translates to the photos we take. That's why we can't put down our cameras every time we set foot anywhere. There's just so much wonder that can be captured. :)

Apo Reef Retreat

Travel and travel photography. These are two of my favorite things. Two passions that keep me sane. For my last trip someone even bothered to buy the photos that I took, how cool is that? Unfortunately, I was crappy to talk to and didn't have a paypal account so it didn't push through. But the thought of my shots getting a value other than for personal enjoyment, it really lifted my heart. :D




Next year I plan to go on out of the country adventures, something that I've been dreaming of my entire life. Right now, I'm gathering all my energy to free myself from DOST. These are my prospects, two destinations in a year would probably do:

1.) IndoChina - check!
2.) Japan
3.) US
4.) New Zealand
5.) Australia
6.) Europe - Putting this at the last spot since this will definitely take some great powers to achieve. And also, I'm hoping that by the time I'm able to do this, there will already be a special someone I can share it with. :)

In Betweens

For me, in-betweens are the hardest periods in life. In between jobs, in between singlehood and a true relationship, sadness and happiness. It's during these times that I get most confused. Suddenly I have options but don't know which to choose or whether it's worth it to take the leap of faith. But ultimately, I just pray hard and take things as they come then no longer look back.

Oh rainy season, you're so not helping...

How do I get out of this?

I already know how this will end. I need to get out as soon as I can. Lord, help me...

When the good days come...

..take advantage of it. This is one of those days, I took a sick leave since I was not feeling well... NOT!!! Hahaha. This was kinda planned, but I did not tell my "plan" to my teammates, because I read in a magazine that you can better achieve a goal if you don't tell a soul. I can't remember the whole complex explanation, but I think it goes something like if you tell someone, it already feels like you've already done something, when in fact you have not. And if you don't tell anyone and you do achieve your goal, the magnitude of the gratifications are n times better. Haha, I hope I understood correctly. So from now on, I'll restrain myself from being such a blabber with my goals in life. Today, my objective is simply to take a breather. I haven't taken any leaves for weeks now and working 5 days a week, though a norm, is still quite taxing. And I'm glad I did it, my mood today is contemplative and laid back. If I get into the groove, I'll try to sort whatever it is I feel like sorting today.

On another note, I got a postcard from Soli!!! And it adds to my already good mood:


Thanks Soli, you're so sweet :)

Lowest of lows

All-time low. Hindi ko talaga kinakaya ito. Lord, please help me get through this.