Our Longest Travel So Far

It was a long way to our destination... and we're traveling along with 2 kids and a baby, 3 huge traveling bags (22 kilos average), and of course our hand-carries.  I know it'll  be tough, but we had to go through it.  After having our farewells with our families, our journey begun...

We stayed overnight in Manila for the "finishing touches" transactions and  prepare/rest for the early flight the following day.  It was 4 hours before our scheduled flight when we arrived at NAIA, Terminal 1 (not to take any chances).  Events were such a series of long lines, carrying heavy loads, paper works, and thorough inspections... man, was I glad I had my wife with me.  Everything went well, then we boarded our plane heading to Nagoya, Japan, for a technical stop.

The travel lasted for 3 and a half hours, more or less.  We arrived in a cold and foggy Japan (the kids were a little disappointed not to see snow).  We already prepared winter clothing, but as first-timers, the weather was freezing cold as we got off the plane.  Though it didn't last long, it became warmer as we walked inside the terminal.  While we were there, got this funny experience; wanting to finish fast with the inspection I immediately hopped in to the metal detector.  As a consequence, the inspector found metals, had a more thorough inspection and had to go through the detector a couple of times.  In short, it took longer (LOL).  Tip: take every metallic object off, even coins...  After hours of waiting, off we went to our longest flight... Detroit, Michigan.

During the almost 14 hours of flight, there was nothing much to do.  Just slept (since the baby was sleeping most of the time), watched movie on the monitor (there's a lot to choose from) and walk/stand once in a while (or else you'll have a sore bottom).  We had no problem with food and beverages, the attendants kept on serving them.  One thing I couldn't ignore was how courteous Americans are, especially the flight crew.  Overall, the trip was very nice.

We arrived at Detroit seeing the ground covered with snow, which made my kids excited (us, we had our reservations).  We landed good, though we felt the plane slipped a little bit (understandable).  Then, after we were held in the immigration office to clarify some matters (long story), my wife and I finally took a well deserved nap (alternately, the kids were still there... hahaha).  And since we can't let the kids go outside the terminal, we accompanied them to roam around inside the terminal... it's still pretty amazing after all.

Then finally our flight to Houston, Texas came.  It's a shorter flight but still around 2.5 hours.  We were fetched at the airport, took out Whattaburger (first meal, huge servings), went to our apartment, bought some stuffs @ Walmart, and then sleep?  No, we all had a jet lag...  and were all wide awake...

We thank the Lord for our safe journey and for all the guidance and blessings He showered upon us...

Despedida...

It's a practice for most of us Filipinos to spend a little time with people who are leaving for good or for such a long time.  Commonly, a "despedida" is like any other celebrations.  There are foods prepared for all, friends and family gathered together, and prayers and messages of goodwill are given to those leaving.  And my whole family had them before we leave the country.

I had it with some of my friends in Calinan office, also in our main office and another with my two "get together" buddies.  Most of it, I didn't spent a single money since it's their treat. I assume that they already considered traveling (especially outside of the country) isn't cheap.  It's really nice to know that even in that way, people showed me their concern, and little as it may seem, it helped.  Appreciate it.

And to set the minds of our kids that we're already leaving for good (as a friend suggested), a day before we left for Manila, we also had a simple farewell gathering with our family, relatives and close friends.  It may be hard for them to leave their friends behind, but to see everyone being happy and supportive with our travel and hearing all the nice things about it from them, helped a lot to ease things up.  So glad...

This is one of the things in life we thank about, the gift of family and friends.   It'll be a long journey for all of us, and it maybe tiring... but the support of all makes it easier for us to face the uncertainties ahead.  

It'll be a long travel for tomorrow.  Praying for a safe and manageable trip.  All glory to our Lord.  Yahweh bless.

And I'm Jobless

Today is my last day of work.  And I thought I was going to grow old with my company.  I'm a little of a sentimental person (I don't know what I mean either).  The thing is, I get easily attached to things and stick to them.  Unless of course it's necessary and there's a deep reason behind to leave.  So what are the things I'm going to miss with my work?  Let me see:

Foremost, I'm going to miss riding my motorcycle to work.  For more or less 11 years it was my daily routine.  I would definitely be reminiscing all the adventures and travels we had, the good and not so good times.  I used 3 motorcycles during my stay, the longest would be my very own Honda XR200, which generally speaking had never let me down.  And with it, using my "Caltex StarCard" whenever I needed to gas up (though the fuel allocation was used in work-related transactions still a great help).  Also the maintenance allowance given by the company (though recently became complicated because of some tax issues and policy revisions)... hehehe.

I would also miss my office in Calinan.  Though I'm alone, there were advantages: I can work faster since I got no distractions.  I can easily plan out things and execute.  I learned to evaluate and handle different situations.  And I was exposed more in the operations and to dealing with different personalities around.  Learned a lot... Aside from the free lunch in the canteen (part of the privileges of being an area auditor), I would miss a lot from there... friends, companions, the pineapple fields, the rough roads and the auditees, as well.

I'll miss our main office, our company, who had been very generous to their employees.  The 13th month, vacation and sick leave conversions, bonuses, and good salary pay, had helped me provide for my family's needs through the years.  Not to mention, the activities it gives to their employees (sportsfest, Christmas party and other enriching programs for development and enhancement of camaraderie).  I'm more than grateful to it.  My department and co-employees (previous and new ones), who mostly were my mentors... there were those who taught me how things were done, and there were those who showed me how not to do things.  Let just say, it started well and gladly it ended well... it was good while it lasted.

Can't deny, I'm going to miss my job, but good opportunity knocks only once in life.  And besides, I have my whole family with me in this journey, a new chapter in our lives...and the Lord's grace have been showering us.  In life, we just need to have faith, and trust in His plans for us.  Yahweh bless.

 

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...

My PMA Cadet Years (Cow Year) - Here Comes The Navy

May 1997

1- Another overnight liberty (privilege) "for the boys", with 2 of my mistah(s).  And when the boys go out, it is expected that there are a lot of fooling around.  But that was part of youth... as people grew older, they mature with time (hehehe).  

2 to 6 - We had a survival swimming lesson this day, but I was not able to join it since I spent the whole day in the sick bay of our ship (Raja Humabon- PF11).  While I was sick, I had a surprised visit from my fos-mom and sisters from Manila.  I felt annoyed that I had fever and embarrassed to my visitors.  They traveled far just to know that I can't be with them.  Why hadn't I texted them?  It's still the 90's (ha ha ha).  I hadn't joined a couple of activities for almost a week.  I learned a lesson the hard way which I promised never to happen again.

7- We transferred from PF-11 to BRP Rizal ship, where the crew had a gunnery exercise.  We were mere spectators that day.  As I remembered, they placed floating targets in the sea for the ship's artillery precision testing.

 

8 to 10- Then from BRP RIZAL, we transferred to BRP Bacolod (LC 550) for our Southern Cruise (at last we started sailing).  It was a 3-day trip of exposure to the ship and a seaman's life.  We often had some basic preparedness drills and fitness exercises while on-board.  And duties as ship watchers at night.  When we reached Zamboanga, we were given liberty to roam around the city.  Along with some mistah (classmate), we bought some of their famous "malongs".

Photo taken from navalphotos.blogspot.com

11 to 14- An unfortunate event happened during this time and we needed to go back to the Philippine Navy Headquarters.  So we had no longer had our Cebu tour.  As we sailed, we were taught how to manned the reel, still with the watch details, and watch VHS during free time.  We were then allowed for liberty upon reaching our destination.  And as what cadets usually do, we visited the house of a mistah who lived nearby.  For me, it felt like as if I already visited my own family.

15 to 17- We were given a few days of liberty, so I went to Harrison Plaza and buy some stuffs and again stayed overnight in a mistah's house.  Then the following day, visited my relatives and friends in our province.  Cadets normally do that, taking advantage to go to places while in the city... to keep up with the world around them and see what's new or just to reminisc how it was before being a cadet.  

18 to 19- As usual, maximizing every minute and beating the termination time of our leave.  Then we boarded our buses and went back to the PMA to continue with our academics... and cadet life.

20 to 26- We then complied our Navy course requirement... the MRMSC or Minimum Requirement for Midshipman Second Class.  It's like putting into writing all the learning and experience we've been through during our cruise along with some research.  Though I thought I couldn't hand it on time, I finished it like everything else. 

27 to 31- It was early morning when we boarded our buses to Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija... my 3rd FTX (Field Training Exercise).  The sun was scorching when we arrived that day.  And we were immediately paired with another cadet in order to build a tent (logical, since we were issued a half tent).  The first few days were set for orientations... and privilege, where I bought some stuffs that would be handy for the training and met again the young lieutenants of PMA class 97.  But what's more challenging was, before the week ended, a typhoon hit the place and we're always wet, inside the tent was wet... but I never recalled we're that affected, since we didn't mind even if we're soaked, we still slept well.  We just think of it as part of the training... Yahweh bless.

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