And The Good News Came

We're recently informed that my wife already had an offer abroad, and needs to be there (tentatively) by the 20th of this month... the long wait is finally over.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

Jeremiah 29:11

But during that time, her agency told her that we will just follow after 2 to 3 months, the most.  Right then questions rushed into me.  Can I handle everything by myself?  To accomplish all documents and transactions needed before we leave... and more, to travel and handle all my 3 kids alone (with all the baggage and paper stuffs in the terminal and immigration).  I was thinking of tying them all to me but that's just the worst-case scenario, there must be better options than that.

And just today the news came.  We will be traveling together (hooray!!!), wifey's agency finally gave their approval.  But, our expected time of arrival is still undecided since we had a pending request to move it early next month.  Just to give us enough time to prepare.  Still, I need to tender my resignation ASAP and deal with all that needs to be done (and there's a lot), just in case.

It was really a great relief.  We can now skip the thought that I need to travel alone with the kids.  The Lord indeed provides what you need in a perfect time.  And we know, He will guide us all throughout the way... and we CLAIM it.  We thank the Lord for the blessings we just received.  All for His honor and glory...

Hafa Adai, Guam - Third Day: Going Home

We had our simple breakfast inside our room, instant noodles cup we bought from a convenience store near our place.  It was sort of a brunch since we woke up late, recuperating from the whole day of tour around Guam yesterday.  Then after a while, I went to McDonald's and ordered for our lunch "to go" (termed "take-out" in our place).  Included in our accommodation package was our ride to the airport, so even if our flight was still in the evening, we checked-in way ahead of our schedule. 

After we checked-in our baggage, we had our lunch and then roamed around A.B.Won Pat International Airport.  There were actually a lot of shops inside selling signature items and goodies (and the prices? hmmmm...), and one can actually try them (especially the chocolates). There were a lot of Filipinos working as sales representative, so there's really no need to speak a lot of English there.  We then settled on the benches and watched an animated movie over and over again (I think 3 times before our flight schedule came).

Our plane departed at around 7 p.m. Guam time and expected to arrive at 9 p.m. Philippine time.  Our flight was fully occupied and I had to endure more or less 4 hours of being seated away from my family.  We had an uncomfortable flight, there were a lot of turbulence along the way, wasn't able to relate with the food they served me (sorry...), and the kids were not feeling well (did I mention we all had cough) which made me worry a lot, thinking my wife was left alone with our kids.  Still, everything turned out well, we arrived safe and sound in Manila... and we thanked the Lord for a safe trip.

From NAIA Terminal 1, we rode a shuttle provided by the airport to Terminal 3.  And since our flight to Davao was at 3:45 a.m. the following day, we decided to wait inside the airport terminal.  We had a midnight snack with the kids (good to see prices to be lower and in pesos... LOL).  The only downfall was, even if we are known for our hospitality, a lot of passengers (both locals and foreigners) were sleeping on the airport floor.  Good thing we brought a lot of blankets for the kids.  Our airports should install or at least provide more benches for their passengers especially for those staying for an early morning flight schedule.  It would definitely show their concern to passengers and more making the world know that our hospitality isn't only limited in books.


Good thing we're seated together during our flight to Davao.  We arrived safely in Davao on a beautiful Saturday morning.  When we arrived home, it seemed like we had not rested for days, so we slept the whole day.

Thank you Lord for the great experience, You gave our family, to visit another wonderful country.  For providing safety and guidance in the whole duration of our trip.  We are truly grateful for your kindness and we bring back all the praises and glory to You... 

Hafa Adai, Guam - Second Day: Visiting Landmarks

We woke up late in the morning, it was almost 11:00 am when the kids woke up.  There was not much we could do, as we were losing our chance to roam around Guam.  And the only way that fitted our budget was to contact the hotel service driver and ask if he could drive us to a popular beach resort near the place.  He agreed but we had to pay him $10 for the one way trip.  

The driver then brought us to Tumon beach.  It was indeed a popular location for tourists like us, as we've seen different nationalities there.  The white sand and warm water were just perfect for a swim.  And surrounded by famous hotels, made it very accessible to visitors.  We took a couple of pics and decided to find a place to eat and maybe we could walk after to roam around the places nearby... that was our plan.  But just as when we're ready to accept our fate, that it'll be the only place we'll get to visit in Guam, a blessing came... we met a "kababayan", Ray.

Ray was eating his lunch alone when we met him.  So, it was easy for us to ask him where we could find a good place to eat.  He suggested a couple of restaurants thinking we had a ride, when we told him we didn't have any, he nicely offered to accompany us.  We were hesitant at first, but considering the kids, we took the offer.  And after a short introduction, he then asked us if where do we want to eat... He offered Ross or Kmart, and we chose to visit Kmart.

We asked Ray to eat with us at Kmart's food court to at least return the favor.  The place was just typical but it was where I first enjoyed refilling your soda cup to whatever you like and to your heart's desire until you can't take no more.  After we roamed around and bought some groceries and goodies to bring home, Ray decided to tour us around, which we first denied, but he insisted... he said, it's Filipino hospitality.  We're not in the position to argue, I guess, we were just in luck.

He then took us to Guam Premier Outlets to see Ross.  Ross, focuses on discounted RTW's, shoes, accessories and alike... as it's tag line says,"dress for less".  We were able to find good buys as a treat and remembrance for our visit.  We didn't stay long as there were still a couple of places we were going to.

Next stop was Paseo de Susana where  a smaller version of the Statue of Liberty stands.  We saw some Chamorros fishing nearby and tourists parasailing in the deeper sea were also visible in the place.  It was a cool location to enjoy the sea breeze and the sights of the sea.

A famous church in Guam was our next destination: Dolce Nombre De Maria Cathedral - Basilica.  Ray said the church is air-conditioned when there is a mass, but having a high ceiling compensated the temperature inside at that moment.  The feeling of serenity and calmness as we entered the church also added to our ease.  We were the only people during that time, so it was just perfect to pray.  They say, when you visit a church for the first time, you pray and you get to have one wish.  I say, the Lord is listening all the time.

More, the church is located within the perimeter of Plaza de España, another tourist destination.  We enjoyed relaxing there for a while... under the shades of the trees and the cool breeze, just perfect.  Also in the area were the Guam Insular Force Guard monument, Chocolate house and Pope John Paul II statue.
 

It was getting late, so we then hurried to Two Lovers Point before it closes.  Talking about saving the best for last. The place offered a breathtaking view of Guam's shoreline from a cliff.  The place is famous for lovers who want to tie the knot, stone after stone of engraved names of couples who married in the place served as evidence.  They also had what they call "wish or love lock", its a padlock with a heart where you can write a wish or dedication.  It is then attached to the wire fence in the place.  We also tried their machine that converts a penny to a souvenir piece.  Well, there's practically a lot of things to do there... truly, a must see.

We had our well-deserved meal at Mc Donalds, the one near our place.  We treated Ray for a meal, though we know, it wasn't enough to return all the favors he had done for our family for the day... it was a gesture that we were truly grateful for touring us around Guam.  So after, we returned the favor by accompanying him to watch his favorite game, we watched a friendly game of soccer nearby.  Then he gave us a ride to our hotel and bid our farewells afterwards.

We thank the Lord for using people like Ray in making our stay in Guam memorable and meaningful.  And most of all, for the gift of friendship.  We felt accomplished and satisfied as we rest the night off.  To Him be all the glory.  Yahweh bless.

Hafa Adai, Guam - First Day: To Where America's Day Begins

We woke up early the following morning (in as much as we still wanted to sleep), to prepare for our flight to Guam.  Just wanted to say that we had a comfortable stay at Lorenzzo Suites, good facilities and very accommodating staffs.  So, in behalf of my family, thank you for making our stay easy for us.  And off we went to war... i mean, to the airport.

I just don't know why people are giving you a hard time going out of the country (not to mention how many times we and our things went to x-ray and metal detector machines).  We went to the airport early because there were just a lot of things to do and comply (just like when we went to Singapore).  It took us a couple of minutes just checking in to our flight, a little problem about our baby's ticket.  It was a good thing though that the travel tax's already included in our plane fare, we skipped that another long line.  Our departure was scheduled at 10:55 am and 4:55 pm arrival time - that will be 4 hours flight duration.  Yup, that's definitely correct, Guam is 2 hours ahead of us.

Next stop, filing up documents for our local immigration requirement where it took another couple of minutes.  Then, we again strip up for another body search before we entered the waiting area.  Finally, we reached the finish line and boarding came next.  

We had a smooth sailing flight, the airlines provided meals, we were entertained by their movie feature: Johnny Depp's The Lone Ranger, and most of all, the kids were tame during the flight duration.  Although our baby "pooped" just minutes before we landed to Guam.  At the plane's window, Guam looked like our Samal, the difference was just evident when we landed.  It had nice buildings, infrastructures and wide streets that really made us think we're in another country.

Upon arrival, we went directly to the U.S. immigration office.  Good thing we had our kids with us, it lightened up the atmosphere with airport police officers.  Though there was still something we had to comply, however, we were told that we had the option to do it later, so we were allowed to enter Guam.  They even helped us contact our hotel for our ride to the place.

Guam: Where America's Day Begins... seen this in a car's license plate, so I asked why?  I was told that it is the U.S. territory where the sun first rises.

When we arrived in our room in Harmon Loop Hotel, we were happy to see Mc Donald's just across the street.  But we had a different plan, we wanted to see the place so we took a hike with the kids to the Micronesia Mall, we were told that it was just a walking distance from our place.  Though it took us a while walking with the kids, it was a fun experience, as we saw a lot of Filipino establishments along the way. 

We were hungry when we arrived, so we went to their food court and settled with Burger King.  And as expected, it cost us $20 for a simple meal.  We can't really help to convert the cost to peso since not one of us earns dollar, our pocket money were exchange from our bank.  But we must spend for our necessity, so there's nothing much we could do about it. We then enjoyed the rest of the night roaming around the mall.

We walked back to our place after.  Strange as it may seem, we only saw very few people walking in the streets.  I guess, everyone had a ride.  Though the walk maybe a little far, but everyone enjoyed the short talks and sights along the way.

Even if it's very evident how everyone looked so tired as we arrived in the hotel, but the kids still had the energy to watch the Disney channel...  Amazing, though I hate to be "killjoy" but it's time to rest.  Goodnight all.  Yahweh bless.

Pre-Departure Registration and Orientation Seminar

We had a busy early morning today as we prepared to travel to Manila, not for a vacation, but to attend a seminar in the Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO).  We traveled along with our 3 kids (including an infant), so my wife and I already prepared ourselves for a tough whole day.  Even if we already briefed them with the dos and don't(s), still kids are kids, always be prepared that a lot of unexpected things will happen.

Upon arrival in Manila, we proceeded to our hotel to unload our things.  Just a tip:  There are taxis outside the airport, those with fixed price and those metered ones.  We preferred an airport metered taxi, although their flag down rate is higher than the usual, it would still come out to be cheaper and safe.  It was still early so we can't check-in, good thing the hotel personnel were kind enough to tell us that we can leave our baggage in the counter.  So off we went to CFO.

Why are there Filipinos who give our country a bad reputation?  Going to CFO, we were told by the taxi driver that he won't be using his meter because we will be caught by the traffic and told us we will pay him ₱300 (if not for the rain and the kids, we already vacated the taxi).  I told him that's too much for a short trip, and negotiated the price to ₱200, told him it'll be more than enough.  The driver didn't say a word, so I assumed we had a deal.

We arrived in CFO on time, we registered for the seminar, with wifey, filling up a lot of forms and me taking care of the kids.  Thinking that it will only cost us a registration for me and my wife, it was ₱2,000 for the whole family (₱400 each).  Never thought the kids were included, what will they orient them about, ABC's?  Our baby won't still get it... LOL.  The seminar was scheduled early in the afternoon so we decided to stay and wait in the place (as much as we wanted to rest in our hotel, the time didn't permit).  And as always, the tough part was, taming the kids.

What was the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) all about?  Well, generally it was what life would be like abroad and how laws and authorities are much respected there.  We also were told of what things to bring and not to bring during the flight and what processes to expect and undertake going out our country and upon entering US the first time.  And most importantly, to check the completeness of our documents and ensure that everything is in order.  I don't know if I missed something, to tell you frankly, I had not been able to concentrate well with the seminar since I had a bad cough (sadly, the kids had it also).

Glad everything went well, and we received another important sticker in our passport which we would need when we go out of the country.  Everything's done for the day and at last, we went back to Lorenzo Suites, where we stayed and had our needed rest, before our long travel the next day. 

The kids were  already asleep as we thank the Lord for keeping our family safe and sound the whole day.  Looking forward to another out-of-the-country adventure tomorrow. I know that He will be our guide... Yahweh bless.

Friends You Can Depend On

I really thank the Lord for giving us friends.  My buddy, with his family, let us stay in their condo unit in Mandaluyong City.  It was really a very big help since lodging costs a lot in the metro.  We were able to use the savings instead for our other important expenditures.

The couple, Stoi and Berna, had been really good to us.  Not only did they welcome us to their home, they also accompanied us around Metro Manila. Considering that Berna was 7 months pregnant, It was so sweet of her to be so accommodating and hospitable, to the extent of showing us the route, the hows and wheres of MRT/LRT from our place to our destination.  It became easier for us to go places with them being our guides. And my buddy Stoi, who had to delay working on his project just to be with us during our visits to the malls there.

Our trip to Manila  was overall a fun experience , though there were really hectic days (which i wouldn't want to go through again..lol!).  We enjoyed the rides and fireworks in Mall of Asia (MOA), first time to attend mass inside a mall, kids being amazed by cosplayers or those impersonating anime (cartoon) characters and most of all, my kids fave, hours in the clubhouse's swimming pool.

We were also thankful that they were the ones who took care of preparing for the birthday of our daughter.  Since my wife and I accompanied our son to get his medical result and had his needed vaccines.  We won't be able to push through with the celebration if not for Stoi and Bern.  They made it possible for our daughter to have a simple yet memorable celebration.With all these, we couldn't thank you enough guys...we really appreciate what you did for us. I hope we could return the favor someday..

Another person to thank was my cousin, Franz, for making our trip to Cavite hassle free.  Though we can handle the 3 kids, the trip could had been much longer and difficult for us.  Even if it would mean waking up very early just to cover a 3 hour drive back to Manila, he arranged everything just to give us a free and much comfortable travel... we really appreciate it, bro.  It was our grandma's birthday and more, we wanted her to see our youngest... that's how much we value our family ties.

We returned to Manila in the break of dawn.  Very early yet convenient.  When we reached Stoi and Bern's place, we rested for a while then we had to bid our farewells.  We arrived safely home but the goodness of friends will forever remain in our hearts.  Yahweh bless.

  

Physically, Emotionally and Financially Stressed

Traveling to Manila or to any other places could had been much easier in a perfect world.  But let's face it, life's not like that, more if you have 3 kids traveling with you.  Just when we thought we had everything figured out and arranged, there were just unexpected turn of events.

We were booked in a late flight, more it was delayed by 30 minutes.  It was almost midnight when we arrived in Manila.  It was most favorable to us, since the traffic during that time was very light.  The only "but" there was we were scheduled in an appointment early the following day.  So, we didn't have enough time to rest.  Good thing we were already booked in advance for a place to stay for the night.  That was what we knew before we arrived in the place...

The receptionist told us that we didn't have a reservation in our name... wow.  It was almost 1 a.m. with no place to stay.  Good thing the place had a lot of hotels around it.  The problem was finding an affordable place to stay.  The guard of the hotel where we should have stayed suggested a place but the cost was too much, so I left the kids with my wife in the lobby to look for other options.  It's late and it's no longer safe, knowing Manila especially during wee hours... Praise God, we easily found a place.

That much!!!

We woke up early the following day to prepare the kids for our appointment at St. Luke's Extension Clinic (SLEC).  With not much sleep, we were glad that the kids still had the energy to stay awake during the day.  Upon arrival, though I was told of the cost, I still can't help but think of the amount we were letting go.  Let us just say, that it wasn't easy to save that much considering our daily expenses and with our earnings.  And it was just part of what we are going to spend.  But, I kept on thinking that everything's for a good cause.

The process and examinations lasted the whole day.  It wasn't easy since we had a baby and two kids with us.  Good thing that the SLEC guard let my mom inside for the baby and I was able to help my wife with the requirements and needed processing.  And since we were scheduled after a holiday, SLEC was congested that day, which made every step took many hours.

After one exhausting and stressful day, at last all examinations were done.  We returned to the hotel where we were staying for the much needed rest.  And I can't remember a thing by the time we hit the bed.  The next thing I knew was my mom was inviting us to accompany her in meeting a friend.  We didn't expect that they will be paying for the dinner.  But knowing Filipino hospitality, we were just grateful.

At last, we accomplished our first step.  To Yahweh be the glory.
 

Foreigners In Singapore - Sixth And Final Day: Giving Thanks

We're going home.  But it seemed there's still a lot to do.  We'll definitely miss the fun, going back to reality (work and school).  It's Sunday, if there was one thing we wanted to do most for that day, was to go to church.  We also wanted to see their churches.  So Manong Titoy (brother-in-law) brought us to where he was attending mass every Sunday, St. Joseph's Church at Victoria Street.  What a coincidence, it was also the name of our parish church back in Davao.

It was a perfect time to thank our Lord for all the goodness we had received; for all the places we've been through, for keeping our family safe, for all the people who made our stay comfortable and convenient, for our family and friends who extended their kindness, for the wonderful and unforgettable experience and for everything I might not have mentioned.  I was humbled and honored that our Lord provided all that we needed the most... My heartfelt gratitude that he made everything possible.  Thank you.

After the mass, we dropped by Mustafa and bought few things we forgot and wrap up the things we needed to bring home.  We had our last lunch in a nearby restaurant and we headed to the apartment to get our things and off we went to the airport.

We were lucky we had Jenny and Titoy, my siblings-in-law, in Singapore.  They provided us a place in their apartment where we stayed, they arranged their schedules in order to give us a 6-day tour, they were responsible for planning and arranging our everyday itinerary and ticket reservations, and they took care of almost everything during our stay there.  We just can't thank them enough.

It was an overall wonderful stay in Singapore. In our 7 nights and 6 days there,  I couldn't think of a single thing I can criticize the country about, all praises to them.  From their beautiful architectural design, modern facilities, spick and span community, great transportation, nice weather, wonderful sights and attractions, shop-til-you-drop malls, marvelous underground and disciplined people, thus having a low crime rate, as far as what I've heard...  what more can a tourist ask for.  I definitely recommend it as one of the must see places in the world.

And had I already mentioned I would like to thank Yahweh for everything?  If I had, I would never get tired thanking Him for blessing my family such wonderful experience.  Again and again, thank You and may all the praises and glory be Yours and Yours alone.

Foreigners In Singapore - Travel and Arrival

It was the first time for my family to travel to a foreign land together. We all had never been to Singapore so we were so excited for the trip . But even if it was our first time were quite confident to go there because the place where we stayed and the tour around the city were all taken care of by people dear to us.  So basically we had nothing so much to worry about in terms of where to go and what to do.

While waiting in line...

We had quite a hassle at the airport, being first time travelers oversees. We were unfamiliar with the processes involved in the airport.  Good thing I booked a flight 4 hours after our arrival in Manila (since the airlines we'd taken did not have a direct flight to our destination).  It gave us enough time to accomplish the pre-boarding requirements and have an early dinner at NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) before taking our flight to Singapore.

Singapore was just more or less a 3 hour ride from our country.  I just can't contain my eagerness to finally be and actually step to a place other than our country, where you are the one considered as a foreigner. I just kept on praying for a safe trip and that everything would turn out as planned.  So when it was announced that we finally reached our destination and the plane was preparing to land.  I wanted to jump and shout for joy, but I just can't do that since the seat belt sign was still on and I didn't want to embarrass myself and my family.  So I let my spirit do it quietly but wildly (ha ha ha, I just can't be stopped).

Arrival in Singapore.

We arrived at around 11:30 pm in Singapore, we saw a familiar view of magnificent street lights as that of our city.  But I have never seen such a huge number of ships aligned in one place... and what a great view it was from above.

Upon arrival, we were met by my wife's sister. We were very grateful to her since it was almost midnight and she should be sleeping instead of going to the airport for us.  During our walk to our taxi ride, I couldn't help but notice the resemblance of the airport's name to it's purpose (Changi's Budget Terminal).  Or was it just a coincidence... In the Philippines, the term "tianggi" is a place where you can buy cheap things, especially when you are having a tight budget.  Hmmm... interesting... LOL.

Simply beautiful...

So here are the things I first noticed in Singapore: the weather's fair as that of our country; their roads were wide and clean with nicely arranged trees/plants along it's sides; there were no jeepney; also haven't noticed any smoke belchers; our taxi ride was swift and smooth (good quality of roads and traffic condition) and a lot of high rise buildings along the way.  It was already after midnight then... and I was still overwhelmed that we already arrived.

I was so impressed that it made me think that I might have made a biased impression....  See you in my next post.  Yahweh bless.