The World of Second Chances

Gabay Sa Pagkuha Ng Urn sa Thai Airways Cargo

January 20, 2014

Wedding & Family Life

Mahirap ang mamatayan sa ibayong-dagat at nagpapadagdag ng hirap ng loob ang mga gastusing kaakibat ng pagkamatay gaya ng bayarin sa ospital at repatriation ng bangkay. Walang problema kung ang namatay ay miyembro ng OWWA o may employer bago namatay dahil sasagutin ng OWWA at employer ang mga gastusin pero kung ang kaso nyo ay parang kaso ng namayapa kong tiya, heto ang ginawa kong mga gabay para sa pagkuha o pag-claim ng urn.

Kung ang namatay ay walang aktibong trabaho at hindi rin aktibong miyembro ng OWWA, ang Philippine Embassy ang otomatikong may hurisdiksyon sa bangkay. Importante ang pasaporte ng namatay para ma-verify ang pagkakakilanlan nito. Ang mga gastusin ay dapat pag-usapan ng kamag-anak ng namatay at ng Philippine Embassy.

Magastos ang mag-repatriate ng bangkay at aabot ng 2 buwan o mahigit pa ang pag-uwi nito. Kung katulad namin kayo na bukas ang isipan sa cremation, ang cremation ang isang option kung gusto ninyong mapadali at mabawasan ang gastos ng pag-uwi ng bangkay. Syempre, kinakatawan ng artikulong ito ang mga normal na mamamayan na walang gaanong kakayahan na magbayad ng malaki.

Mula sa araw ng cremation hanggang araw ng pagpapadala ng urn sa bansang pinagmulan ng bangkay ay inaabot ng 10 working days. May mga permit kasi na kailangang lakarin.Sa mga panahong ito, importante ang madalas na komunikasyon sa Philippine Embassy. May mga representative silang naka-assign sa bawat kaso. Sa kaso ng aking tiya, si Atty. Chares Marie Elacion ang syang masigasig na kausap namin mula sa Philippine Embassy in Cambodia.

At dahil sa Cambodia dinatnan ng kamatayan ang aking tiya, sa Thai Airways ipinadala ang kanyang mga abo. Hintayin ang airway bill number ng cargo upang ma-track sa Thai Airways Cargo. Tatlong oras ang byahe mula Bangkok o Cambodia hanggang Pilipinas.

1. Alamin sa DHU (Document Handling Unit) ng Pair Cargo ng Thai Airways kung dumating na ang eruplanong nagsasakay sa urn. Ipakita ang airway bill number. Ang pag-aayos ng cargo ay kadalasang tumatagal ng hanggang 2 oras mula paglapag ng eruplano.
2. Kapag ready na ang dokumento sa DHU, ipa-photocopy ang mga ito. Safe na ang 4 na kopya.
3. Pumunta sa Customs Office malapit sa Terminal 1 para makakuha ng gate pass. Apat na kopya ng gate pass ang ibibigay. May babayarang halaga na nasa Php50.00. Fill-upan ang gate pass at pumunta sa Terminal 1.
4. Pumunta sa opisina na nagbibigay ng gate pass para makakuha ng pass papunta sa Customs Office sa Terminal 1. Kung may kasamang kukuha, ihanda ang PhP50.00 para sa kanya. Mag-iwan ng ID. Wag kalimutang balikan.
5. Pumunta sa airport ng Terminal 1 at dumiretso sa Customs Office sa dulo. Ipasa ang mga dokumento para matatakan. Magbabayad ng PhP200.00 dito.
6. Kung wala pang 5PM, pipirmahan ang gate pass ng Customs Officer na naroroon sa may Pair Cargo sa Ninoy Aquino Avenue.
7. Ipa-photocopy ang pirmadong gate pass sa 1st floor ng building at dumiretso sa warehouse na nasa likod ng building. Maraming sasalubong na fixer. Nasa sa inyo na kung papatulong kayo. Nagpatulong kami! Hahahaha!
8. Ipasa ang gate pass sa warehouse custodian at hintayin ang cargo. Tignan kung tamang cargo ang naibigay sa inyo.
Are We Done Yet?

January 16, 2014

That’s Entertainment

I was laughing from start to end of the movie, “Are We Done Yet?” It’s a 2007 family comedy film starring Ice Cube. The movie’s message is simple— a house and a home are two different things. A big house does not necessarily translate to the dwellers’ happiness if there are conflicts within them. Some families that live on large houses tend to alienate from each other because of too much space built between them while some families that live on cramped houses tend to complain of lack of privacy from each other.

But what is really a home if a house is not a home? A house is a shelter, our physical protection from sun, wind and rain. A home is where we find emotional protection from the forces outside of our house. Therefore, a home is what every families want to achieve—peace, love and protection.

A house can be a home if every families and even housemates spend some time to bond with each other. There has to be a constant communication to keep that connection. My kids’ yaya noticed that Adi and Robi turn unruly everytime I’m around. In the past, when I was physically and mentally drained due to a day’s hard work, I shunned the kids away but the result was they became more disorderly. When I did the reverse thing like giving them my attention, they behaved.

A house can be a home if husbands and wives love and respect one another. If there is more understanding and acceptance between couples, then there is less to be annoyed about.
Should I Get Worried, Ensogo/Livingsocial?

December 6, 2013

Life & Love

I am not a fan of online shopping because I prefer to look at the item before deciding to buy it. The reason why I bought a single airbed from Livingsocial (formerly known as Ensogo) is to test the waters before taking the plunge. I bought the airbed last November 22 and when the proof of payment was generated, I was surprised to see the delivery date supposedly on December 20. I called up their hotline number at 555-6868 and they assured me that the shipment timeframe was December 6-20; they will deliver the item once it’s available.I asked if they could make it on December 13 so that there would still be enough allowance for delivery should any problem take place. They agreed.

The shipping address is at my office address since our company is well-known in the area. I called up their hotline last Tuesday to inquire if there’s any possibility to expedite the delivery from December 13 to December 6. The lady customer service representative assured me that she would do her best to expedite the delivery on Friday.

I called up their hotline yesterday morning to inquire the delivery status of the airbed and I explained that the reason why I was calling them since Wednesday was because I needed to inform the guards on duty about the package. Our guards are on a shifting schedule and the person who received my instruction might not relay the message to the incoming shift. The male customer service representative suggested that the rider would text me if he is along the way. It was a nice deal.

Early this morning, I told the guard-on-duty that I am expecting a package but she told me that she would leave in a while so I needed to tell the other guard about it. So anyway, I have informed the outgoing and the incoming shift of guards about my package.

Just to make sure that everything will come out as planned, I called up Livingsocial’s hotline to ask about the status of the delivery.

Livingsocial: Your delivery time frame is between December 6-20.

Me: Yeah, right. I know. I’ve talked with two of your customer service representatives and they assured me that they would expedite the delivery to December 6.

Livingsocial: Who among us did you happen to talk with?

Me: I did not get his name but he’s definitely not you!

Livingsocial: Kasi po, the delivery time frame is December 6-20.

Me: Yeah, I know. Is there a way to expedite it? What’s the problem? (beginning to show signs of annoyance)

Livingsocial: The product is not yet with us……

Me: (very pissed off) So sana, you told me from the start that the product is NOT yet available para the customer can better understand WHY you can’t make it on December 6!

Debah? Why would they print out the shipment date as December 6 if the product is not even available on that DAY. Ano to, lokohan? Stop the BS! Just deliver my airbed and we’re done!

Update: I got my airbed last Monday, December 16! Yey!
I would like to commend two of Living Social’s customer service advocate, Cash and Cris. I am not sure if these are real names though. Cash and Cris were polite and knew how to handle an agitated customer. They knew what to do and offerred a solution to my delivery concern.
Yolanda Victims To Relocate In Bataan

November 27, 2013

Life & Love

I found a good blog (http://bataan-prpc.blogspot.com/) about the Bataan Philippine Refugee Processing Center in Morong, Bataan in my effort to get to know about this project that was funded by the UN. I’ve never been to the BPRPC and I regret not being given the chance to go there before it closed in the 90’s.

There’s a suggestion to relocate the Yolanda victims to the BPRPC while the government is busy with rebuilding the affected parts of Leyte like Tanauan, Palo and Tacloban. Personally, I have no problem with that; if my province was able to accommodate foreign nationals in BPRCP, then it is more logical and moral to do the same with our kababayan.

The mayor of Hermosa, Mr. Danny Malana, expressed his intention to welcome the Yolanda victims as soon as the PNP gives their nod to lend the still uninhabited housing community there.

We are talking about an interim solution here. The real challenge that the government and the Yolanda victims must face is how to rebuild that part of Leyte. Architect Palafox guested on a morning show last week discussing about what kind of building and house design is suitable for coastal areas. What about the livelihood of the people? I heard from the news that the government will stop its relief operations by December. Isn’t it too soon? I hope I just got it wrong. I have no problem with stopping the relief operations as SOON as the people are financially, physically and emotionally capable.
Stop The Negativity!

November 11, 2013

Life & Love

Source: GMA News

Sharon Cuneta and Congresswoman Lucy Gomez’ plea for help for the victims of supertyphoon Yolanda in Samar and Leyte received bashing and bickering from some netizens whose motive is to obviously annoy these two personalities. These netizens question Sharon and Lucy’s sincerity and even ask them why giving of donations must be passed to the common people when celebrities and rich people can donate a portion of their wealth to help the victims.

How sure are they that Sharon, Lucy and some of the rich people DID not donate? Kung sino pa ang walang naiambag, sila pa itong malalakas ang loob mangutya at magsalita!Have they seen the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda in Samar and Leyte? If no, they better watch the news for their information and if yes, OMG, what kind of people are they? Where is their EMPATHY?

It’s true, people who do not contribute are the ones who whine and bash. They are the types who would shout at a beggar but would not dare to give even a centavo for them. What is wrong if Sharon and Lucy call for a donation? They are famous personalities with followers that they can influence. It’s human nature to give especially if we’re living a more comfortable life than the others.
A Change of Style, Perhaps?

November 6, 2013

Life & Love

Oh, this link (http://www.zeibiz.com/2013/11/arnold-clavio-rude-interview-atty-alfredo-villamor-video/) reminds me of rude interviewers that I came across in the past. Good thing, the interview was just done in the privacy of the interviewer’s cubicle where nobody could see or witness how I cringed in disbelief that even professionals could be so unwelcoming and rude!

Arnold Clavio just hit the fan with his sarcastic and rude interview with one of Janet Lim Napoles’ lawyers. No, I have no sympathy for Janet and the rest of those involved in the PDAF scam but I feel for Atty. Villamor in the way that the interview was mishandled by Arnold Clavio.

In the first place, it was a case of mistakingly asking a lawyer who’s handling another case (serious illegal detention). Arnold, in his best effort, probably tried to squeeze info about the PDAF case but failed big time because the lawyer wouldn’t speak about a case that he does not handle. This probably triggered Arnold’s rude remarks towards the “tatawa-tawang” lawyer.

If Arnold thinks that he can get away with his “pa-astig” style just because the majority of us hate Janet Napoles, well, the viewers are intelligent to discern what is respectful from what is rude. Arnold, you are a respected public figure. You should at least act like one to continue to earn the trust and viewership of the people supporting the station that you are working for.
Season of Split Up

October 25, 2013

That’s Entertainment

Ouch! That hurts!

What do Angel Locsin and Philyounghusband, Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom, Jennylyn Mercado and Luis Manzano, Cristine Reyes and Derek Ramsey, Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth, Sheree and Gian Magdangal, LJ Reyes and Paulo Avelino, Sunshine Cruz and Cesar Montano, Claudine Baretto and Raymart Santiago and Nikki Gil and Billy Crawford have in common? Yeah right, these couples are no longer together. What’s with 2013? This year must be a year of split ups.

One day you see these couple acting sweet and the next day, their love for each other is gone. I don’t believe in the “it’s a mutual decision to end our relationship” press release. In the first place, I never believed that love stands on a fulcrum; one of the couple will love more and give more while the other will love less and receive more. In ending a relationship, one will definitely do the first move and the other one will just agree but ending the relationship does not necessarily mean that it is a mutual decision. From the point of view of the initiator, declaring it as a mutual decision will probably ease all guilt feelings while from the receiver’s perspective, it’s like putting on a brave front.

In the case of Paulo and LJ, Orlando and Miranda, Raymart and Claudine and Cesar and Sunshine, the split up becomes complicated when there are children involved. Maybe the separation will not be traumatic to first two pairs’ children mentioned because they seem to be working on being civil with each other but the last two pairs look like they need to raise the white flag, if only for the sake of their offsprings.

Ah, love is really magical. Just when you thought that you have found the right partner and live with him/her, love slips away the moment you realize that there’s nothing really special about your other half. Love is magical and blinding in the sense that you need to dissect it a little deeper for you to take hold of it once more. That is why love is said to be accepting, hence, learning to love a person at his worst.

Love is about loyalty, very simple. There would be a thousand colors in the spectrum but I would always choose celadon green to be my favorite color, yeah, the most special one. The problem with committed couples is, they can’t decide which color to pick on.