Singapore 2012

multiply revisited: awed in batanes

Back when life was simpler and uncomplicated, when all I cared about was myself, I had wanderlust. Back in the summer of 2006, I embarked on a journey to beautiful Batanes, one of the northernmost remote islands of the Philippines.

I'd thought I wanted to share a few pictures of my travel back in 2006.

photos were from my old and now dying blog host: http://capncrisp.multiply.com

SG and back again

quiet anticipation

this skyline may have already changed

chinatown

It will be 6 years since I've last been to the Merlion City. It was the time when we accompanied my sister to start work in a foreign land. Life is hard in Manila and she's looking to grab at the opportunities made available there. 

She has since found a boyfriend, got engaged and married. She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl last year. The family kept in touch with each other through Skype and Facebook. 

In the coming days, the record streak will be broken! We're going to Singapore! This time with my wife and my own baby in tow. We'll be there for only a few days but we're ready to make new memories.

Ill try to post new photos of Singapore 2012 soon.

Photos were from my old blog at http://capncrisp.multiply.com/photos/album/16/singapore-revisited

A Viajero's Nightmare

Aug 26, 2009 - I sent a letter to Zestair's "corporate" email: z2_zestair@yahoo.com

Dear Meg Obejas:

I’d like to raise a concern regarding some information about your online booking as advised by Christine Boras during my inquiries on your customer hotlines.

I’m about to get married on Nov 6 and will flying to Boracay for our honeymoon the following day, Nov 7. During the time of booking, I was aware of the advisory regarding diverted flights from Caticlan to Kalibo. I was looking through promo rates of Cebu Pacific, PAL and was pleasantly surprised that ZestAir still services to Caticlan. During that time, CebuPac and PAL have already updated their arrival destinations to remove Caticlan, while yours haven’t.

I gathered I was in the impression that the advisory was applicable to diverted flights from Caticlan to Kalibo prior to the advisory. However, I CAN still book to Caticlan, giving me an impression that Zestair has limited but still available flights to Caticlan. Taking convenience into consideration, I chose Zestair over other airlines since I really wanted a direct flight to Caticlan. Please see screen cap of my eticket for your review.

  

I shortened my trip from Nov 14 to Nov 12, and was informed that my flight is non rebookable and non refundable. I was advised to book a new one way flight on Nov 12 since it was non rebookable. However, upon booking, I noticed that the return flight from Caticlan to Manila was no longer available. At the time of inquiry, flights from Manila to Caticlan still is available as an option but not the flight back. I made a call to customer service and was able to talk to Christine regarding the flight back to Manila. Only then did I know that Zestair was no longer servicing Caticlan, yet the website still contains booking to Caticlan!

This is very confusing to your customers and I would have made entirely new plans had I known that Caticlan is never an option in your website. Had I known that Zestair wasn’t servicing Caticlan, I could have booked in another airline or destination. Nevertheless, I have already made reservations for accommodations at this time.  

For now, I have 2 options I’d like to suggest:

• Allow me to refund whatever costs I incurred due to misinformation so I can book to another airline - this will be my last transaction with the airline considering I’ll be at a loss as well as promo rates at other airlines are no longer applicable.
• Allow me to pursue my plans - I’m willing to compromise on the Kalibo arrival - granted that I be allowed to rebook my flight to Nov 12 to compensate for any stress and confusion this transaction may have incurred.

  

I hope to hear from your office soon so I can update my plans as soon as I can. I’m hoping for your consideration on the 2ndoption which I believe is a win-win scenario for both parties.

Thank you,

Christian 

Aug 31, 2009 - I followed up and they are on holiday. So far, I haven't received an email or any acknowledgment from the manager Ms. Meg, which i believe is the polite thing to do.

UPDATE:

Sept 1, 2009 - I called ZestAir to follow up on my request. The customer service agent asked my record locator and I had to explain myself all over again. It seems they don't keep track of the background of the complaint and I have to explain myself whenever I call. Since the status is still pending, and no updates were available at this time, I decided to go on with life and booked with another airline. I informed ZestAir that I'm going for option 1 and will ask for a refund of my flight booking.

Sept 2, 2009 - After 7 days since the email request was sent, and a day after I asked to have my flight refunded, I received a call from ZestAir that I have the option to rebook my return flight WITH penalties and rebooking fees. I told them that it's no longer an option as I need to make a decision regarding my plans. They'll try to get back to me. I'm starting to doubt.

Musical Extravaganza

Excited ako...

Atlanta's Fox Theater + NY Broadway Minskoff Theatre

Sana matuloy...

Thank you Lord!

Awake in Atlanta: Symptoms of Missing Home

It has been 3 weeks since I transferred, although temporarily, to the US. It’s difficult but I’m surviving. I’m learning stuff I took for granted when I was home.

I’m used to having food on the table coming from work. Now I'm learning to cook! Ive successfully prepared sinigang na hipon and gambas. I know how to make a good omelet. I have sucessfully dodged the searing and painful projectiles of hot oil while frying chicken. Everything turned out well except for the tripped smoke alarm!

Back home, my clothes become magically clean every weekend – thanks to our labandera. Now, I do my laundry and iron my clothes. A hurdle I have yet to do though - cleaning the toilet!

I miss home. I miss my family. I miss our morning chit chat while having breakfast. It’s customary that we spend quality time talking about everyday stuff - work, love life, career, aspirations etc. I miss mom’s cooking. I miss her adobong chicken, menudo, picadillo, nilaga, sinigang, halabos etc etc… I miss waking up to breakfast already served. I miss my friends. I miss my church. I miss my church friends. I miss late nights hanging out with them at the coffee shop. And of course, I miss Cleng, my best friend and girlfriend. I miss our dinner outs. I miss our “asaran”. I miss our serious talks. I miss our fun times. I miss her tantrums and her frown.

But It’s not that bad as it may seem. I’m grateful that I have colleagues who were sent here with me as well. The company I work for paid for all our needs – rent, food, transportation, cable and internet. I’m grateful for the Internet, where I can keep in touch with people back home. In fact, I believe I’m much more updated with what’s happening in ICS than the majority – thanks to Multiply! I thank God for chikka, skype, yahoo messenger – family and friends are just a buzz! away… literally. I can listen to Pastor Kuya Jerry’s preachings in ICS via ics.org.ph. It’s like I’m there! I pray that I can eventually find a good church and be able to meet new friends as well.

The Bible says everything has its season. Now is the time to venture beyond my comfort zone. This is the time for growth. For out of trials and difficulties come forth wisdom and experience. I believe God sent me here for this very reason. For me to grow, I must die to myself. Die to my own comforts. This is my cocoon. From the cocoon will come out a better individual. This is an opportunity to reach out beyond my own capability and rely more on Him.

It’s now day 20, I have less than 150 days before I return. I can’t wait to be home. But until then, I have to fulfill my purpose for being here. By God’s grace I can.

---

take it away yang!  ;)

Lakbayan: How much of the Philippines have you visited?

We Filipinos are blessed to have such a beautiful country. There is so much to see and explore... I'm targetting for a B at the least! 



My Lakbayan grade is C!
How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!
Created by Eugene Villar.

singapore revisited

My second visit to Singapore is a little different. We went there to help my sister settle down. Yes, she's now part of the nation's new heroes - the OFW. She wants to grow her skills aside from a bigger income. She's an architect, and potentially may become one of the country's best (best in thesis in her university days + top 2 in the board exam + being employed in the country's more prestigious architectural firms). You go girl! Yes, I'm proud of her. She was able to get a job in one of the well known archi firms in Singapore *cough* *Esplanade!* *cough*

This is the first time we as a family were able to go out of the country. It was one of the better days where we spent quality family time. We went to the zoo, chinatown, marina, river tour, and hawkers. It was good while it lasted. Sunday came and it was time to go. Farewells had to be said. Tears were shed. I saved my tears. It may somehow ease the goodbyes. I know that God will help her to find her purpose in life - even a lifetime partner!. This is the first time another member of the family will be far apart since my Dad worked in Saudi. But I'm at ease. I know she's safe in the Father's hands. Take care Tin! I love you sis!

related blog: The day

gusto kong maglakwatsa

gusto kong maglakwatsa...

kinakati ang mga paa!

pati na rin si mr.camera...

gustong mag piktyuran na!




la lang...

awed in batanes

its been 3 weeks since we last went to batanes and even now, id often think about it and wish i was there again. life in batanes is simple indeed, who would believe that a town exists without a market, a bank, even an atm machine. i got back to manila with 70 pesos left in my pocket!

its supposed to be our "5th annual tarsiers? national convention" - as we fondly call it (the group's name is a different story) - where we go to some far-off place in the philippines and marvel at God's creation. we were 28 folks on day 1 and trickled down to 7 by week's end. we thought that spending our time in batanes in just 4 days/3 nights would be too "bitin", so some of us extended by 3 more days! happy days indeed!

we spent the first 4 days in batanes seaside resort - one of the "better" resorts in batanes. we then bunked in our new friend totoy's house - one of our companion's ancestral homes for the rest of the trip. btw, thanks totoy for accomodating us.

ever tried sleeping inside a hospital sans the medical treatment? itbayat has no official inns and hotels to speak of and most of the residences accepting transients are full. so yes, and we stayed in the delivery room! good thing no delivery was done during the term of our stay! being in itbayat is like going back in time, spanish era time!

a lot of unique experiences happened during this trip:

• its the first time i ever rode a 6 seater cessna plane - fun!
• first time i ate tatus - and i loved it
• northernmost ive ever had the chance to visit after baguio/sagada - hehe
• most beautiful place ive ever been to - ive been to baguio, sagada, batad, pulag, mindoro, cebu/mactan, dumaguete, bohol/panglao and davao - hopefully palawan next time
• first time ive ever ridden a boat with waves bigger than our boat!

sigh!

batanes... i shall return