Service: Lynderm Facial Center and Day Spa

I've been wanting to write a review on Lynderm Facial Center and Day Spa, but I never seem to find the time. Until today. This is where we frequently go for spa services because we find their rates sulit and it's located inside SM Hypermart in Muntilupa, which is the mall closest to us.

I know that for some people, pampering oneself is a necessity and something that they are willing to spend money on. It's not exactly the case for us, but D and I agree that a massage every once in a while won't hurt especially if it will relieve us of muscle aches and make us feel better. But we're still a bit reluctant to spend so much on massages. I think it was last year when we saw that Lynderm Facial Center and Day Spa offers 1-hour full body massages with either sauna or ventosa for only Php500. We knew right away that it's a good deal.

So we had our massage. And since then, we've been returning whenever our neck and back muscles start to ache and sitting in front of the computer, which is something we do for many hours each day, is no longer bearable.

As most spa inside a shopping mall, the reception area is small and cramped. I don't think it could sit more than 5 guests. But the staff are very friendly and accommodating.

To get to the massage room, you'll pass by other customers getting different treatments. I find it a bit uncomfortable especially if I will be getting an underarm treatment, but it's understandable considering the relatively small space that they have.

Inside the massage room, the lack of space is still evident. They only have enough for the therapist to move around the bed. But they have overhead cabinets where you can store your bag and other stuff in and it has a lock and key so you'll feel a bit more secure to leave your things (when you're in the sauna or shower).

They will give you a hanger to hang your clothes on or you can place them inside the cabinet. Your shoes will go under the bed.

 

 

 

They provide boxer shorts for the men (but I suppose females can ask too) and bathrobe and towels for all. A pair of rubber slippers can be found under the bed.

 

Like what I mentioned earlier, on top of the 1-hour full body massage and shower, you can choose to have a 15-minute sauna or ventosa.

 

The sauna booth can fit two people inside and uses rocks (and that heating-whatever-you-call-it-machine) to generate heat and create humidity. If you want it hotter, just pour water onto the rocks. They usually bring you a glass of cold water or iced tea so you can hydrate yourself. Or you can ask for it before you enter the booth so they won't forget. Standard sauna time is 15 minutes, but there are some occasions when I've stayed longer than that (either they forgot how much time has passed or I ask if I can extend).

 

After your time in the sauna booth, you can rinse yourself in the shower room. The shower has a heater and they also provide soap, shampoo and conditioner (although I don't always use these because I usually just rinse myself of sweat as I take a bath at home before having a massage.)

 

 

The Massage

 

The massage is a combination of Swedish and Shiatsu. I believe that in most cases, a good massage will depend on the skill of the therapist and not so much on the technique used. So the massage I get is not consistent because I don't always get the same therapist. It's kind of hit and miss. If my therapist is good, I go home satisfied and free of aches. Otherwise, I go home still feeling a bit sore.

 

Also, I noticed that the time I went in affects the quality of the massage. If I went in early (as in I'm the first customer to have a massage), the therapist has more energy to expend and not as hurried as if I get my massage late in the afternoon or close to evening, when the therapist seemed tired already.

 

 

Other Services

Aside from the massage, I also tried one of their facial services: warts removal. They use regular electrocautery for zapping out warts and they charge Php500 for every 25 pieces. I was in luck that day because they were offering 50% off for warts removal (only Php250/25 pcs). Sweet!

My only gripe was they charged me Php750 for that one session, which means I have somewhere between 50 to 75 warts on my face, and I didn't believe I do. I remember hearing the therapist counting but her voice faded when she reached 30 or so. Did she stop counting? Did she just jack up the number so they can charge more? Good thing the service was discounted, I wasn't so upset about paying more than what I should.

After the warts removal session, they told me that I need to buy an antibacterial cream and a purifying soap from their product line to help my wounds heal faster and avoid infection. I thought it was part of the Php750 quotation but no, I had to buy them separately.

 

 

The products were good, though and I especially like the antibacterial cream. I still have some left and use it every now and then on rogue pimples that decide to plant themselves on my face. It's effective in drying up and flattening these pimples. The purifying soap was okay, but had no significant effect on my face for me to trade my trusted Shulammite Carrot soap.

 

The SM Dasmarinas Branch

We are regulars at the SM Muntinlupa branch but we had the chance to try having a massage at the SM Dasmarinas branch when we visited D's family last week. Although, my massage was definitely better than what I get from the SM Muntinlupa branch (because my therapist was very good), I feel that overall, this branch was inferior of the two.

They have smaller sauna booth and shower room. The shower room doesn't have hooks to hang the towels and robes on, so we just stuffed them on the door knob and were careful not to get them wet while we take a shower. They also don't have enough bathrobes - I had to use the sarong/blanket for sauna because they don't have bathrobes anymore - and their towels don't smell fresh either.

They don't have a face/neck pillow - you know that hollow pillow where you can comfortably rest your face while you lay on your stomach. I thought I strained my neck because my face was turn to one side during the duration of the back massage, and the pillow I was using was a little high and smelled of rancid oil. And they don't have cabinets or shelves inside the massage room so there's no place to put my bag on except the floor.

So as much as I like my therapist, I'd still prefer to have my massage on the SM Muntinlupa branch.

 

 

The Verdict

 

The services and facilities offered by Lynderm Facial Center and Day Spa are not top-notch but very affordable. Having a free sauna/ventosa with the standard massage service is really a big plus. This is the reason why we kept coming back and why we're less guilty about having regular massages (minsan kuripot lang talaga kami). But if we find another day spa providing the same services but better massage for the same price, we might switch over.

Service: SM Traveller's Lounge, Cebu City

Thank heavens for SM Traveller's Lounge!

Going straight from Camotes Islands, Cebu to Tagbilaran, Bohol was a very exhausting trip. Imagine 2 hours on a ferry boat from Camotes to Danao, 1 1/2 hours from Danao to Cebu City, then another 2 hours on a fastcraft from Cebu Pier to Tagbilaran Pier in Bohol. That's 5 1/2 hours travel time. But the thing I hate the most was the waiting time in between.

Because we left early in Camotes Islands (5:30 am), we arrived early in Cebu City. In fact, too early at 9:00 a.m. because our scheduled ferry trip was not until 2:00 p.m. We needed to be at the pier an hour before though, but we still had 4 long hours to kill.

Initially, I suggested to my husband that we stay in Sugbutel Bed and Bath, so we can rest and perhaps, catch some sleep and refresh ourselves before travelling to Bohol. Then I remembered about SM Traveller's Lounge and thought we could check it out since the van will drop us off in SM City Cebu anyway.

[Image Source]

SM Traveller's Lounge is located on Juan Luna Extension, near the North Wing entrance. I thought we needed to get inside the mall to get to the Traveler's Lounge but when D asked a security guard, he told us to walk a little farther from the North Wing entrance and there we saw the lounge.

Here are the services offered:

Baggage Storage: P30 (half compartment)
                             P50 (full compartment)
Restroom: Free
Shower Room: P50 (20 minutes)
Wi-Fi: Free
Battery Charging: P25/hour (cellphone)
                              P50/hour (laptop, ipad/tablet and other gadgets)

They also offer ferry tickets sales, hotel reservations, and flight and bus trip information. There's a taxi terminal in front of the lounge if you want to go somewhere or you can simply enter the SM Mall to while away the time. Or if you're really tired, you can take a seat inside the air-conditioned lounge and take advantage of the free Wi-Fi.

After leaving our bags at the Traveler's Lounge, we went inside SM. D played in the Bibo Arcade while I strolled inside and surveyed the place for a good place to eat. We ended up having lunch at CnT Lechon, right across SM.

At 30 minutes before 1:00 p.m., we went back to SM Traveller's Lounge to retrieve our bags and took a taxi to Pier 1 for our Ocean Jet ferry trip to Bohol. We didn't exactly have a relaxing time, but having a place to store away our heavy bags while we pass the time was a great convenience for us. Plus it's a lot a cheaper than if we stayed in Sugbutel.

So if you find yourself with plenty of hours of waiting time in Cebu City, remember SM Traveler's Lounge.

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SM Traveler's Lounge
Juan Luna extension, SM City Cebu
Phone: +63 (32)-232-0293
Lounge Hours: 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Service: Club Ultima Membership

Getting a Club Ultima Membership is the reason why we ended up staying in Crown Regency Hotel and Towers Cebu. But before I go on, let me make one thing clear: this is not about Crown Regency Hotels, although Club Ultima is an offshoot of this hotel chain. This is about Club Ultima and why we decided to back out less than a month after we signed up and purchased a club membership.

For our trip to Cebu, I was initially planning to stay in a hotel near Ayala Center and in fact, we've already booked a room in Wellcome Hotel. But my husband received an invitation to attend a timeshare presentation in exchange for a free 3D/2N Crown Regency accommodation voucher (which we were told was worth Php24,000. I have the text message to prove it). We, wanting to save a few bucks, thought a free accommodation sounds good (though we didn't really believe it to be worth Php24,000) so we decided to accept the invitation.

We are both aware of what a timeshare presentation is, having attended a similar one in Boracay, and were prepared to say "No" to every offer that will be thrown at us, because what we're really after was just the free voucher. But during the presentation, we thought that what they were offering was a great deal and will give us a lot of savings in the long run, especially since we are planning to start traveling out of the country.

The main benefit of the membership is the yearly issuance of 7 certificates that are equivalent to 7 nights of accommodation at any of the Crown Regency Hotels nationwide (accommodation only, breakfast not included). The certificates are non-expiring and can be transferred and sold to other people. If we want to travel out of the country, we can exchange them for international accommodations via Interval International and Direct Tie-Ups subject to the following conditions:

It was a take-it-or-leave-it today-only offer, which doesn't give you time to research and think your decision through. I guess the ones who will fall prey to these types of marketing are those compulsive buyers who decide with their emotions, rather than with their brains. We are normally practical individuals, who always make sure that we'll be getting our money's worth with every big ticket item we purchase. Apparently, we're not ourselves that night. Hehe. But kidding aside, we really thought this was a good deal.

So long story short, we bit the bullet - we got a 15-year membership, which they called Trial Pack, that will cost us Php195,000; Php10,000 of which was the deposit fee to be paid impromptu and the remaining amount will be broken down into Php5,000+ monthly installments to be paid for the next 3 years; plus an annual fee of Php6,000+.

Of course, we got our 3D/2N voucher for free because we bought the membership. Otherwise, we will still need to pay Php3,000 once we use it. So had we decided to turn down their offer, we won't be getting a free "24k-worth" accommodation. Deceiving, no? Anyway, because we chose to become members, the marketing manager was kind enough to assist us with our room reservation after we told her that we want to avail the voucher for our Cebu trip (which was 2 weeks away at that time).

We went home feeling good, thinking we have saved a 2-night worth of accommodation at a 5-star hotel and we're looking forward to our future travels with less expenses. Upon reaching home, I did the one thing that I should've done before going to that Club Ultima presentation - research about Club Ultima and Crown Regency Hotels. My heart sank when I found a number of not so good reviews, mostly about Crown Regency Hotels.

But we told ourselves to wait until we see and experience staying in the hotel firsthand before making any conclusions. That fateful day came and it dawned on me that the online reviews were correct and we are about to make a very costly mistake if we will not cancel the membership immediately. We had no problems with Crown Regency Hotel and Towers Cebu (read my review here) and I find it to be one of the better hotels we've been in. But we feel that paying for a Club Ultima membership just to be able to stay in their hotels for free for 7 days every year is just not worth it.

Right after we got home from our vacation, my husband called Club Ultima to inquire about the cancellation process. He was told to send a letter via email to formalize the request, and swiftly, I wrote the letter so he can send it within the day.



These are the reasons I stated in the letter:

1. I stayed in Crown Regency Cebu Tower last December 3-5, 2013 and found it not to be the 5-star hotel accommodation that was promised during the presentation.
2. I checked the Crown Regency website for the average room rates and found out it to be in the range of P3000-P4000. If I multiply it to 7 (hotel vouchers I’ll get every year) and 15 (years contract term), the total amount is P315,000-P420,000. I feel that I won’t really get a big savings from the membership given that I need to pay the P195,000 membership fee and P6,000+ annual fee for 15 years.
3. I realized that I don’t want to be tied up to a particular hotel/resort when going to a certain destination because there are many factors to consider when choosing an accommodation: proximity to tourist spots, restaurants and public transport, value for money, etc.
4. I haven’t tried booking with Interval International but have read not so good reviews about it and I don’t want to take a risk.

Let me explain further:

Reason No. 1

During the presentation, it was practically drummed into our heads that ALL Crown Regency Hotels are classified as 5-star hotels. The hotel near Fuente Circle, Cebu City is clearly not a 5-star hotel. It's an above average hotel, probably a solid 3.5 to 4-star. But not 5-star. I checked out the reviews of the other Crown Regency Hotels (2 more in Cebu, 3 in Boracay, and 1 each in Makati and Davao) and none were categorized as 5-star either.

If we won't be getting 5-star accommodations from any of the Crown Regency Hotels, what's the point of paying for the club membership?

Reason No. 2

Our agent actually corrected us on this. He sent us a text message to tell us that Club Ultima members will get Executive Suite accommodation, which is more expensive than the Standard/Deluxe rooms and Corner suites which we used as basis for our computation. But even with an Executive Suite, which cost almost P7,000/night, I still feel that we won't get value-for-money benefits with the membership because, going to back my first reason, the 5-star rating that they give their hotels is questionable.

I'd rather stay in the cheapest room of a 5-star hotel than stay in an Executive room of a non-5-star hotel. People stay in 5-star hotels to get 5-star accommodation, 5-star amenities, 5-star service and 5-star treatment. Staying in an Executive room of a non-5-star hotel gives you just that - an Executive room and a non-5-star experience.

Reason No. 3

Like what I mentioned earlier, we were supposed to stay in a hotel that's within walking distance to Ayala Center. I chose that because most of the restaurants that we want to try are in or near Ayala or SM (which is relatively near Ayala). When we moved to Crown Regency in Fuente, we found out that cab fares to Ayala and SM cost around Php80-Php100, one way. This brings me to my point: there are a lot of factors that should go in when choosing an accommodation. Often, a strategic location could mean savings in taxi fares and travel time. Value-for-money, amenities, services and good reviews are also important to consider.

Each destination calls for a different set of criteria that suits your budget, itinerary or preference. Being tied to a particular hotel chain meant you won't likely get to choose your accommodation based on these criteria and this could potentially ruin your travel plans or blow up your travel budget.

Reason No. 4

This is pretty much explanatory. We just don't want to risk paying for something that we're not sure if will be beneficial to us, especially because Interval International will cost us $89 every year, on top of the Php6,000+ Club Ultima's annual fee.

Rude Agent

I wasn't planning to write about our Club Ultima experience because technically, we haven't really use the benefits of the membership yet. But our agent sent us a rude and sarcastic text message after learning that we backed out. I know he's not pleased because it meant that his commission will be reduced, if not called off. But that's no reason to be rude to a client who chose to cancel their membership. It is our right and he should respect that, whatever our reasons are.

Because of his indiscretion, I decided to write this review. Marketing and customer service should still go hand in hand even after the sale has been made, and even after it has been revoked. You'll never know if that client will rave or rant about you on the internet, and potentially make or break your chances of making more sales through recommendations.

UPDATE: I have received a few inquiries regarding Club Ultima membership cancellation, so here are some more details.

Line 7.1 in our contract reads: I understand that should I wish to back out of this reservation, there will be a cancellation fee of Php20,000.00 if done within 15 days of reservation. There will be no refund of all payments if cancellation is done after 15 days of reservation.

To me, this clearly means that we can cancel the membership subject to the rules in the contract. If we cancel within 15 days after we purchased the membership, we will pay a whopping P20,000 cancellation fee. But if we cancel after 15 days from the date of reservation, we don't need to pay anything anymore. The downside is, we also don't get to refund any payments we've made. At this point, we've only paid the Php10,000 reservation fee, twice as small as the other fee, so it's better if we will cancel after 15 days but before we start the monthly payment. (What I'm not sure of is if you will get a refund if you cancel within 15 days and what percentage of the total amount paid can you refund.)

We made the reservation on November 13 and requested a cancellation on December 11, more than 15 days after so we didn't have to pay the Php20,000 cancellation. At this time, they haven't charged my husband's credit card with the 1st monthly amortization fee yet so we acted quickly.

He called the Membership hotline we found at the back of the Club Ultima brochure that they gave us and inquired about the cancellation fee. If for some reason, you don't have that brochure, you can also go to their website and look for contact numbers you can call. Call, don't email.

When my husband sent the cancellation letter (to the email address that they gave), he didn't receive any confirmation so he called up again the next day to follow up. They confirmed the receipt of the email, told him that they will cancel the membership and assured him that his credit card won't be charged with anything. They didn't send any document so we just took their word for it. Good thing this time, they lived up to their promise. The membership was cancelled and we didn't pay anything other than the Php10,000 we paid during reservation.

Inisip na lang namin that the Php10,000 is for the 3D/2N (breakfast not included) that we've stayed in Crown Regency Cebu. Surely, we can find better accommodations that worth's Php5,000/night, but at least we didn't just give them Php10,000 for nothing and cut our loss to half of that amount (Deluxe Room is worth Php2,000+/night).

Service: Ocean Jet via Luzviminda Travel and Tours

Here's a review of my experience purchasing Ocean Jet e-tickets from Luzviminda Travel and Tours and travelling from Cebu to Bohol via the Ocean Jet ferry.

Before the earthquake that struck Bohol last October, going to Bohol via a ferry from Cebu was easy. You can simply go to the pier/port and buy ferry tickets on the day of your trip. But after this disaster, they said that it's now more difficult to purchase ferry tickets from Cebu to Bohol - you have to buy at least a week or two in advance.

That was a problem, because we are in Laguna and I cannot possibly go to Cebu a week before our trip to Bohol. We will be in Cebu 4 days before, and I thought that was sufficient enough. But that's taking a risk, according to some people, and the last thing I wanted is to botch our Cebu-Bohol vacation.

So I had to find a way to buy ferry tickets online. I registered at 2Go's Supercat website and waited for days to get a reservation. I never did. We then tried calling the branches listed in the website, but they all said that their Supercat connections were offline, which means they can't sell Supercat tickets. When we called their helpdesk, they told us that they're not sure if they have a scheduled Cebu-Tagbilaran trip on our travel dates.

We also tried calling the travel agencies in the Ocean Jet website, but to no avail. We were getting frustrated. But I wasn't giving up yet. I decided to search for other ways to travel to Bohol from Cebu and found out about the Cebu-Tubigon route. But none of the Tubigon-bound ferries sell advance tickets so we have to buy the tickets on the day itself. A bit risky, but at least that's an option.

Then out of the blue, I just thought of searching how to buy an Ocean Jet e-ticket and I saw two websites selling Ocean Jet e-tickets: one is AsiaTravel and the other is Luzviminda Travel and Tours. I sent emails to both, inquiring about Cebu-Tagbilaran e-tickets. But LTT also provided a Skype account in their website, which I promptly added to my contact list, hoping to get in touch with them in the morning (it was already 9 p.m.).

I was surprised when my invite was accepted a few minutes later and the account was online. So we chatted, and their Skype support assisted me while I purchase our e-ticket. He was even kind enough to extend the promo rate to me, which is available only when purchasing 14 days before the trip, even if I only have a week before our travel date.

I chose Tourist class seats for P560/person (promo rate) and 2 p.m. schedule. The best thing is they accept payment through Paypal, so I was able to send my payment right away. I just added 5% to cover the transaction fees. If you don't have a Paypal account, you may also pay via bank deposit.

After I made the purchase, they sent me a confirmation receipt and told me that the e-ticket will be emailed to me not later than December 3. The person I was chatting with was very helpful and accommodating, and I was just too grateful to secure ferry tickets to Bohol.

Before we left for Cebu, I asked them if they can send the e-ticket so I can print it while we're still at home. But they were having problems with their system and said that they'll send it to me as soon as they can. To be honest, although the online transaction went well, I was a bit worried if they will really send the e-ticket. This is my first experience dealing with a travel agency that I only found online and wasn't exactly sure how things go.

But when I checked my email at the airport, Luzviminda Travel and Tours had sent the e-tickets as they promised - not later than December 3. And all my doubts were erased. (They even left a message in my Skype account, apologizing for not being able to send it earlier, as I requested.)

We look for a place to print the e-ticket. Actually, they don't encourage you to print the e-ticket but rather present the online copy using a smartphone or tablet. But my iPhone doesn't have a PDF reader and I feel it's safer and more convenient to present a printed ticket than an online copy. So I printed it anyway.

The Ocean Jet terminal is stationed in Pier 1, Cebu City. When we got there, I just asked the lady guard where to present the e-ticket and pointed me to the check-in counter for Ocean Jet ferries. There was a long queue, but the line moved fast. Checking in was quick, and all they did was verify my e-tickets and issue me 2 boarding passes. I was advised that boarding time is 1:45 p.m. After that, we checked in our baggage and paid the terminal fee of  P25.00 per person.

Inside the waiting area, I wasn't sure where to go. I asked D to take a seat as I went to approach a cluster of passengers who look like they were lining up for something. I asked what was the line for and one woman said it's for Ormoc-bound ferry. So I just joined D and waited for further announcement.

At around 1:45 p.m., they announced that the Bohol-bound ferry has arrived and we were told to proceed to Gate 7. At 2:00 p.m., we started boarding and the ferry left the pier 30 minutes later.


Traveling with Ocean Jet

I chose Tourist Class seats, which are in an air-conditioned passenger section located at the lower deck. The seats weren't the most comfortable, in fact they were hardly comfortable because they were too compact, there was barely an elbowroom and certainly not much legroom, and the back of the seat has a 90-degree inclination. (I am petite but I am still complaining, so imagine what the tall and big passengers are going through). But there is a TV to distract you and being in an air-conditioned room meant you will emerge fresh from the 2-hour trip. I was even able to sleep.

We arrived at the Tagbiliran port at 4:30 p.m. We were very tired, having gone from Camotes Island straight to Bohol (which is more or less 6 hours of traveling plus a few hours of waiting time in between), but our trip from Cebu to Bohol via Ocean Jet was smooth and relatively prompt.

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Ocean Jet via Luzviminda Travel and Tours
Web: http://oceanjet.luzvimindatravelandtours.com/
Email: oceanjet@luzvimindatravelandtours.com
Skype/YM: luzvimindatravelandtours
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/oceanjetlibrebalikpromo.page
Phone Nos: (Manila)  +63(2)6229632
                   (Cebu) +63(32)4167479
Mobile: +63(917)6257776
              +63(920)9577759
              +63(932)8677768

Fibr: Home’s Most Powerful Broadband

And because 'tis the season of pageants, let's try to answer this ala beau-con.



How would the odds be in your favor if you had a Fibr connection?

Thank you very much for that wonderful question. How would the odds be in my favor if I had a Fibr connection? For me, having a faster, more reliable internet connection definitely put the odds in my favor. Being online is no longer about connecting to the internet. It's being able to experience faster and consistent internet connection.

Fibr guarantees dedicated fiber optic lines and this means that I will no longer be troubled by congested networks, which slows down my online experience. Streaming movies, watching online videos, uploading and downloading files, opening nth number of websites simultaneously, connecting online via various mobile devices- these will no longer be a problem because Fibr provides ultra - as in major, major - high speed internet. So whatever device I am using to connect to the internet, as long I have Fibr, then the odds will always be in my favor.

Thank you Fibr and I promise to be the best internet user ever.

And that wonderful question was brought to you by: PLDT Home's Fibr.

Fibr, Home’s most powerful broadband, allows you to seamlessly and simultaneously experience the following:

1. Browsing of multiple websites

2. Stream hundreds blockbuster movies on-demand from Clickplay

3. Watch Cignal Digital TV Channels

4. Available now in over 800 fiber-powered villages nationwide

5. Visit www.pldthome.com or call 101-FIBR (3427) for more details.

Real UnliCHAT Experience with Globe’s GoUnli30

I remember the days when a P300 call card will give you 300 free text. That was a long time ago, and back then, sending text messages and making calls are all you could do with your cellphone (okay, you could also play Snake).

But times are always changing and the discontinuance of the free text somehow gave way to UnliText - unlimited texting to the same network provider - and it became all the rage. Back when I used to work (in an office, that is, because I now work at home), all my colleagues were Globe subscribers, and I wasn't. They were convincing me to switch so those who were always "naka-unli" will be able to forward me quotes and group texts. I hesitated because my family was also subscribed to this other network, and I don't want to lose our unli-texting privilege. (But I've seen the light, and now I'm a Globe subscriber.)

Soon enough, UnliCalls joined in the bandwagon, allowing subscribers to make unlimited calls to subscribers of the same network. Then, the UnliText evolved into AllNet, much to our delight because this means we can finally send unlimited text messages to all networks.

And now that connecting online has become a ubiquitous way of communicating, Globe's GoUNLI30 is pushing the Unli craze up one notch to give you the real unlimited chat experience.

How does Globe GoUNLI30 give you the REAL UNLI chat experience?

With GoUNLI30, subscribers get unlimited texts to all networks, unlimited calls to Globe/TM, and unlimited chat with the best messaging apps like Viber, Kakao Talk, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, WeChat, Line and the telco’s very own messaging app GMessage without the need for Wi-Fi or additional data charges. Available for only P30 valid for 1 day, GoUNLI30 gives you no excuse to stay out of the loop and connect with more than 1 billion users around the world regardless of mobile network or location.

To be honest, I haven't used any of these chat apps (maybe if I was younger), and I really have no problem being online 24/7 because my Globe plan has UnliSurf (naks!). But if I don't have the postpaid plan, I'd definitely use this Unli service.

All these features for only P30? I think that's a steal. With GoUNLI30, it's like having all 3 Unli promos for the price of 1. You get UnliText AllNet, UnliCalls and UnliChat - all for P30.

Back in the earlier days of the Unli's, P30 would only give you unlimited texting. Now, your P30 with Globe's GoUNLI30 will not only allow you to connect with your friends and families (and whoever) across all networks and anywhere in the world, but will also enable you to communicate and express yourself in many different ways through these chat apps.

That's a long way from the P30 UnliText to the same network that I thought was cost-effective back then. Globe's GoUNLI30 redefines cost-effective prepaid mobile communication.

So, what are you waiting for? Go all-out unlimited with GoUNLI30 and UNLICHAT25 now. Register by dialing *143# and then choosing GoSAKTO on your Globe mobile phone or texting GOUNLI30 or UNLICHAT25 to 8888.

Service: PhilHealth Reimbursement

I'm guessing that because you're reading this post, you weren't able to submit all the necessary PhilHealth documents prior to your hospital discharge and you're looking for reimbursement procedures (because this procudure from the PhilHealth website is just too short to give you an idea). But if you're not - meaning you (or someone else) are still in the hospital - and you're contemplating on the reimbursement option, I'm telling you: opt for the outright/automatic deduction. It's easier, simpler, less hassle, less stressful and less time-consuming. Believe me.

For those who don't have a choice but reimburse their PhilHealth benefits, I hope my experience below will help you or at least give you an idea on how to go about it.

Due to the unfortunate death of my first born, we were too messed up to think about anything else. All we wanted was to go home and give my son a proper burial. In the end, we decided to have him cremated.

After I got the discharge order from my OB-Gyne, there were a lot of things that needed to be taken cared of that we forgot to submit my PhilHealth documents when my hospital bill was settled. I don't remember anymore who reminded who, but because I was already discharged from the hospital, our only option was to have my PhilHealth benefit reimbursed.

I was still too weak then, so my husband was the one who went back to the hospital to secure all the necessary documents. He went to the PhilHealth window (in the hospital), asked for the list of requirements and went to the corresponding offices. After he got all the documents, he submitted them to the same PhilHealth window. He was given a name and phone number, and was told to contact the person after 2-3 months to inquire on the status of the reimbursement request.

On the third month, I contacted the person, who turned out to be a PhilHealth personnel. She told me that my reimbursed benefit was already available and the check has been forwarded to the hospital where I gave birth. In fact, it was already available 1 month after we filed the request (so call as early as 1 month). But she instructed me to get a BPN (Benefit Payment Notice) first before heading to the hospital to claim the check. I was told to go to the nearest PhilHealth office to get this BPN.

After securing my BPN, I went to the hospital thinking I'd be able to claim my benefits right away. But the check issued by PhilHealth was for both my hospital bill and my attending physician (doctors usually deduct the PhilHealth percentage from their professional fees). So the hospital has to cash out the check first, remove the amount allocated for my doctor, before reimbursing me the amount for my hospital bill. Because of this, I was told to go back after a week to claim my money.

The following week, I was able to get my money, a total of P11,000+. My PhilHealth benefit was P19,000, P7,000+ went to my OB-Gyne.

The procedure sounds simple, right? Well, it depends on the PhilHealth branch where you will get your BPN and the hospital where you were confined. We went at the PhilHealth Taft branch and queued for more than two hours just to get the BPN, a short information about my contributions which were printed at the back of a used bond paper. I commend the idea to recycle, but lining up for 2 hours for such a small amount of information? Is a faster, easier, more efficient way of obtaining these types of document from government agencies not doable?

I also gave birth in a government hospital (PGH) and this unfortunately means more lines, more inefficient systems of record retrieval and more frustrations. It took a total of 3 days before my husband was able to complete all the required documents. Usually, the persons who need to sign the documents were not present so he was asked to come back on another day.

On the day when I presented my BPN, we lined up for hours at the Billing window just to be told that the person in charge of reimbursement was not around and the guy at the window didn't know when she'll be back. We went out to have lunch, then back to queue again, only to be told the same thing again. My husband, partly irritated and party frustrated, decided to go inside the Billing office and look for that person.

Surprisingly, he found her, and also found out that she was there all along. The guy at the window just didn't bother to check if she's there or not. Imagine if my husband didn't go inside, we would probably go home empty-handed (and would need to go back the next day). What a waste of time.

But all is well that ends well. Given a different PhilHealth branch and hospital, your experience might be different from mine, but the procedure will be more or less the same. Also, some say that you'll get more amount by reimbursing your PhilHealth benefits than having it automatically deducted from your hospital. This is not true, at least for C-Section deliveries. My total reimbursed benefit is still P19,000, which is the allotted amount for CS delivery based on PhilHealth case-rate table.

Because of our experience, we learned our lesson. Unless it really, really, really can't be avoided, we'd rather stay a few hours more in the hospital and accomplish all the necessary PhilHealth documents and opt for outright deduction than go through the process of  PhilHealth reimbursement again.

Service: Maternity Benefit of an SSS Voluntary Member

Being an SSS member doesn't automatically qualifiy you to certain SSS benefits such as sickness and maternity. You have to pass their eligibility requirements.

I've been an inactive member for almost 4 years and I wouldn't have updated my SSS contributions if I hadn't been pregnant. Thankfully, I was able to update in time and paid the required number of months to be eligible for maternity benefits. According to the website, a female member, employed, self-employed or paying voluntarily, is entitled to the maternity benefits if:

1. She has paid at least three monthly contributions within the 12-month period immediately preceding the semester of her childbirth or miscarriage.
2. She has given the required notification of her pregnancy through her employer if employed, or to the SSS if separated, voluntary or self-employed member.
   
   
   

How to know if you have the required monthly contributions?

If you are updating your contributions regularly (and have not skipped a payment), then you most likely have paid the required number of monthly contributions to qualify. To determine this, take your estimated month of delivery and know which semester it falls under.

By semester it means:

Two consecutive quarters ending in the quarter of contingency, where a quarter refers to three consecutive months ending March, June, September or December.

For example, if your expected month of delivery is November 2012. November falls under the 4th quarter (Oct-Nov-Dec). Then include the quarter preceding that, which is the 3rd quarter (Jul-Aug-Sep). From July, count 12 months backward:

• Jun 2012
• May 2012
• April 2012
• March 2012
• February 2012
• January 2012
• December 2011
• November 2011
• October 2011
• September 2011
• August 2011
• July 2011

This means that from July 2011 to June 2012, you must have paid at least 3 monthly contributions in order to qualify for maternity benefit. Otherwise, your maternity benefit application will be rejected.

How to file for notification of pregnancy?

Voluntary members must go to the nearest SSS branch, fill out the MAT-1 (Maternity Notification Form) and submit together with a proof of pregnancy (a pregnancy test from the hospital or an ultrasound result). I don't think home pregnancy kit results are accepted because they cannot show when the test was done.

Filing of the MAT-1 form must be at least 60 days from the date of conception but not later than the date of delivery. I asked the personnel from our local branch if there's a deadline for filing, and he said that as long as the female member hasn't given birth yet, she can still submit the MAT-1 form. However, voluntary members are encouraged to file a notification earlier for faster processing of benefits.

After submitting the MAT-1 and proof of pregnancy, now what?

You will be given a MAT-2 (Maternity Reimbursement Form), which you will need to submit together with the registered copy of the child's birth certificate, after you have given birth. Registered copy means that it was already registered at the city/municipality where you gave birth. Hospitals are the ones who will submit the birth documents to the city registrar. You'll just have to wait for a few days to a few weeks to get a registered copy. You can get this either from the hospital or directly from the city/municipal hall. But this is only for normal spontaneous delivery. For C-section delivery, you will also need a certified true copy of operating room record/surgical memorandum from the hospital where you gave birth.

When I submitted these documents, I was also given an Obstetrical History Sheet and they asked me to have it signed by ANY OB-Gyne. I even asked this twice, and the personnel who received my MAT-2 said that ANY OB-Gyne, even if he/she was not the one who attended to me, can sign the form. But when I went to the nearest OB-Gyne, she refused to sign the form and said that they're not allowed to fill out that form unless they are the one who facilitated the delivery. So to be sure, just go to your OB-Gyne and have it signed.

After you've accomplished this, wait for at least 2 weeks for the check to be delivered to your address. You can also check the status of your maternity benefit claim if you have an SSS online account. Mine was processed in a week (after I submitted all the required documents) and was delivered to my home address less than 2 weeks later.

NOTE: Please note that there's a lot of unanswered questions in the comments section below. I am in no way affiliated with SSS so I am not qualified to answer all queries pertaining to your account. The information I shared in this post is based on my experience and knowledge as a voluntary paying member of SSS. If you need more information or if you have a particular question that wasn't discussed in the post, the best way is to contact SSS directly. You can go to your nearest SSS branch, or leave a message on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sssonlineinquirysystem, or you can also shoot them an email at SSS Member Relations <member_relations@sss.gov.ph> (yes, they do reply to emails but it might take a while).

Service: SSS: Changing from Employed to Self-Employed/Voluntary Members

If you're regularly employed -- that is, you are employed by a company, an organization or an institution -- paying your monthly SSS contributions is the least of your worries because they are automatically deducted from your salary. But if you're no longer employed but are still earning an income, you can continue your SSS membership, update your contributions and enjoy the benefits by being either a self-employed or a voluntary SSS member.

Formerly employed members are often confused which type of membership to change to. So let me try to differentiate the two. By SSS definition, a self-employed member is:

A self-employed person, regardless of trade, business or occupation, with an income of at least P1,000 a month and not over 60 years old... Included, but not limited to are the following self-employed persons.

a. self-employed professionals;

b. business partners, single proprietors and board directors;

c. actors, actresses, directors, scriptwriters and news reporters who are not under an employer-employee relationship;

d. professional athletes, coaches, trainers and jockeys;

e. farmers and fisherfolks; and

f. workers in the informal sector such as cigarette vendors, watch-your-car boys, hospitality girls, among others.

It seems that anybody who is earning can fit into the criteria. However, when I asked a local SSS branch, they said that if not a self-employed professional (like the ones mentioned above), a member must at least have a small business as source of their income in order to qualify as a self-employed SSS member. And when I asked which type of membership should I be if I'm no longer employed, not a professional, don't have a business but still wants to continue my contributions, they replied voluntary membership.

In order to become a voluntary SSS member, all you need to do is to pay your contributions using the SSS Form RS-5. No need to update your membership status as it will be automatically changed to voluntary once your payment is reflected.

If you prefer to be a self-employed SSS member, you have to change your membership status by accomplishing the SSS Form RS-1 and submitting the required documents (any of the following: authenticated birth certificate, driver's license, passport, click here for the complete list).

Another difference: as self-employed member, your monthly contribution will be determined by the monthly income declared during your change of membership status while as a voluntary member, you can choose your monthly contributions based on the amount that you're comfortable paying.

Once you've decided which membership to update to, there are still a few things that you need to take note of to make the transition from employed to self-employed/voluntary member easier.

First, register for an online account on the SSS website. This is really helpful in keeping track of your contributions and other notifications regarding your membership (loan eligibility and status, benefit eligibility and claim status, etc). Actually, all members can benefit from having an online SSS account.

Second, know the deadline of payment for your SSS contribution. Because you will be updating your contributions manually -- meaning, you will have to pay directly to a local SSS branch or to any accredited payment centers, you have to know the deadline for paying your contributions to ensure that you pay on time. SSS penalizes late payments and does not allow retroactive contributions.

SSS has released a new payment deadline schedule based on the last digit of member's SSS number. For SSS number ending in:

• 1 and 2 - every 10th day following the applicable month or the month you're paying for
• 3 and 4 - every 15th day
• 5 and 6 - every 20th day
• 7 and 8 - every 25th day
• 9 and 0 - every last day

For example, my SSS number ends in 4, and I'm going to pay my contribution for the month of April, my deadline will fall on May 15.

Likewise, you have an option to pay your contributions on a quarterly basis. Quarterly payments refer to contributions for three consecutive months ending in March, June, September and December.

Again, using myself as an example, if I'm going to pay my contributions for the 2nd quarter (April, May and June) and my SSS number ends in 4, my deadline is on July 15.

Third, locate the SSS branch or accredited payment centers most accessible to your house or office or place of work. Remember that SSS is open during weekdays only and like most government agencies, usually have long queues so make sure that you can spare at least half a day (a weekday, that is) each month or quarter to update your contributions.

Thankfully, you can now pay your SSS contributions at selected SM Malls. I did this just last week and this is so hassle-free because there are no queues and you can pay during the weekends.

Fourth, keep tabs of all SSS contact information such as email, hotlines, Facebook account. Why? Because chances are, you will have inquiries regarding your membership at some point. Self-employed and voluntary members don't have the benefit of having HR officers, who can answer questions and usually take care of anything SSS related, unlike employed members. So keeping these contact info will come in handy when you need them.

NOTE: Please note that there's a lot of unanswered questions in the comments section below. I am in no way affiliated with SSS so I am not qualified to answer all queries pertaining to your account. The information I shared in this post is based on my experience and knowledge as a voluntary paying member of SSS. If you need more information or if you have a particular question that wasn't discussed in the post, the best way is to contact SSS directly. You can go to your nearest SSS branch, or leave a message on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sssonlineinquirysystem, or you can also shoot them an email at SSS Member Relations <member_relations@sss.gov.ph> (yes, they do reply to emails but it might take a while).

PLDT myDSL & Nuffnang bring you The Avengers!

So I was asked this question:

"What are the things you love to do with a fast Internet connection, and how can the Great Payday Sale help you get you that fast Internet connection?"

Both my husband and I are fulltime online workers. Our lives revolve around the Internet and we spend at least 12 hours a day online, opening our PCs being the first thing that we do as soon as we get up from bed. So to say that we need a fast Internet connection is an understatement. We REALLY REALLY need a fast and reliable Internet connection to do our work efficiently.

There are times when I'm working, that I have to use 3 browsers and open anywhere from 3 to 10 tabs on each. Aside from that, I have online applications running on the background and Skype for when I need to conference with my client. And I can image how I can do all these easier and faster with an Internet connection that can catch up with my work pace.

But aside from work, there are a number of other things that I love to do if our connection is lighting-speed fast.

For one, there's YouTube and the many free videos that I can watch uninterruptedly.

Then there's my blogs. For those who don't know yet, I maintain 4 blogs and in all of them, I always accompany my posts with images. Uploading images, and other multimedia files for that matter, can be a pain sometimes, especially when my Internet connection slows down. But with a fast Internet connection, it will be a bliss.

My husband is also a download freak. He downloads a lot of things from the internet, and I mean A LOT. Not having to wait for hours, sometimes days, would mean more downloads -- more fun stuffs.

In fact, I was already thinking about upgrading our existing Internet connection plan. Currently, we are subscribed to PLDT myDSL, and if I may say -- is the most reliable and fastest ISP that we've tried, and we've tried a few already. But we need more speed than our current plan is offering.

So when I learned about PLDT's Great Payday Sale from Nuffnang, it's like an answered prayer.

Here's a short info that I gathered about this wonderful promo:

1. PLDT myDSL’s Great Payday Sale is happening this summer, April 27-29, 2012, which is the perfect time to enjoy the strongest connections at home.
2. All you and I have to do is register at the nearest PLDT Home booth or malls nationwide on April 27-29, 2012 with 1 valid ID, and NO CASH OUT!
3. We can upgrade our Internet with PLDT myDSL’s biggest Internet sale ever.
4. This one I really like: Freebies like a WiFi+Modem with free installation and 1 month DSL will be given away. That’s as much as P5,000 savings. Exciting!
5. Online application is also available at www.pldtmydsl.com.

The Great Payday Sale will truly be a big help for people like us who live and breathe the Internet and need fast connections at home or anywhere else. Besides the savings and the freebies, I like the idea of being able to inquire and register at one place, and that you know that you're application will be processed immediately. And if it's conveniently located in malls, that's so much better.

So I am definitely going to take advantage of this. Aside from upgrading our current Internet plan, I am also considering getting a WeRoam connection, which according to those who've tried, is the fastest and has the widest coverage wireless Internet connection in the country. This will literally allow me to be online anytime, anywhere. Awesome!

Service: Niño and Activities in Boracay

Along with "Where to stay?" and "Where to eat?", another W-question that plagues most first-time visitors is "What to do in Boracay?"

This one was a little easy for me because I contacted a highly-recommended activity-guide in Boracay. None other than the famous, Niño and his partner Kuya Ron. They were refuted to offer the best (meaning cheapest) rates for activities in the island. At first, he was referred to as Mang Niño o Kuya Niño, so I expected he will be an older man who's seen Boracay rose from the sands. But when I finally met him, he doesn't look old, but not too young either so I started to call him just Niño. I never got to meet Kuya Ron though.

"Andito na kami sa tapat ng Yellow Cab." Meeting Niño for the first time.

Jovial, funny, animated guy, Niño was like a "kabarkada". He claimed to be honest when dealing with his guests, so when he said that the better Zorb is in Mt. Luho and the better zipline is in Fairways, we believed him. And he did offer the best rates, for parasailing at least.

Walking from Station 2 to Station 1, we passed by a number of guides offering us to do this and do that. From them we learned that the current market price for reef walking is P350/person, island hopping is P1200/boat (both the same with Niño) and parasailing is P1200/person (Niño's rate is P200 cheaper). Despite the almost similar rates, we decided to get all our activities through Niño because we feel secured and comfortable with him.

Service: Earth Organics Spa at SM Sta. Rosa

Last week, I experienced some twitching on my right shoulder that went up to my neck and down my back. I tried massaging myself and also asked my husband to massage me using liniment oil, hoping these would relieve me of the muscle aches. But three days after, the pain worsened and I couldn't raise my right arm, sit up straight or use the computer anymore. So I decided to have a massage.

We live south of the metro (San Pedro, Laguna), where there aren't very many spas and wellness centers to choose from. I was thinking of trying those spas that line up the national highway, but husband suggested we go to SM Sta Rosa instead because he saw one there (and because he wanted to take advantage of the free WiFi while I'm having a massage).

The spa that he was referring to is Earth Organics Spa, located at the second floor of SM Sta. Rosa. When we went there, an attendant immediately gave us a flyer (pricelist of the services they offered) and ushered us inside. I chose their Signature massage, a combination of different massage techniques including Shiatsu, Swedish and the traditional hilot. It costs P399 for 1 hour, which includes the use of the shower room. But because I still have my period that day, I chose to skip the shower and just had my feet washed instead.

Sheng Receives Bad News in a Green Envelope

I got a mail today. In a green envelope. I even exclaimed how lovely is the color of the envelope, as I was carelessly ripping it open. Only to find out that it contains a very frustrating news.

It was a notice of overdue balance from BDO.

What the...?! How did I incur an overdue balance? As far as I know, I've settled all my bills for the month of June in time and even made an advance payment for the July 7th due date.

So I promptly called BDO's Collection Department to clarify this mess-up. But to my further dismay, the collection officer told me that no payment was reflected for the June 7th due date. And there was a payment made last June 25 (which was supposedly for the July 7th due date), but they considered it as payment for June 7th and charged me additional fee for the delay.

What the...?! I am sure that I settled the June 7th balance. My BF also remembers it because he was with me that day. The officer told me if I have the receipt for the payment, she can revert the billing and I can just disregard the notice. Okay, sounds fair and simple. I only need to find the receipt.

Food: CCME Homemade Foodstuff

I learned of CCME Homemadefoodstuff when I was searching for an affordable wedding caterer. Their catering service is affordable indeed and they enjoy a good number of positive feedback from those who have tried their food. But I decided against getting them when they told me that they only use artificial flowers for the table setup. I figured, it'll cost me more to hire a separate event stylist to dress up the reception venue.

But then, because a lot of people are raving about their food and their price, I recommended CCME to my brother for his first son's christening party. He had a limited budget and opted to have the food delivered instead of availing their complete catering setup. Based on menu recommendations I've gathered from online forums and other blogs, we ordered the following dishes:

• Chicken Pastel (6 orders)
• Beef Morcon (4 orders)
• Barbeque (3 orders)
• Chopsuey (3 orders)
• Lumpiang Shanghai (2 orders)
• Dark Chocolate cake (3 orders)

Rating Guides:

= A big headache!
= Relieved that it's over.
= It wasn't that bad. But it wasn't that good either.
= Happy about the outcome.
= I wouldn't be grinning this big for nothing.


How did they fare?

Food:

Chicken Pastel. A lot said that this is highly recommended and they were right. It's delicious and had big chunks of chicken, sausages, juicy button mushrooms, potatoes and carrots in a light creamy sauce. But I failed to considered that a lot of people are not fond of milk-based or cheese-based dishes. Out of the 6 trays that we ordered, we had 3 leftovers. So we had chicken pastel for dinner and for breakfast the morning after. Surprisingly, it tasted even better than it did the day before. My mom said that it was cooked well that's why it lasted until the next day and was even better tasting.


Beef Morcon. I'm not a fan of their beef morcon. Probably because my mom cooks a better version and all the other beef morcons I've tasted pale in comparison to her cooking. But it doesn't mean that the beef morcon is not delicious. A lot of guests loved it. They just didn't like the sauce that came with it. One guest even said that it tastes better with the vinegar concoction that came with the Lumpiang Shanghai.

Pork Barbeque. It was ok, tasted a notch better than regular barbeques. But like the morcon, I've tasted more delicious barbeque recipes.



Chopsuey. I saw that the Chopsuey has generous amounts of ingredients like button mushrooms, carrots, cabbage slices, shreds of chicken, etc. The vegetables were not overly cooked and overall, it tasted good. But again, my dad cooks a really scrumptious and crunchy version of the dish so I can't really rave about CCME's Chopsuey.

Lumpiang Shanghai. I didn't get to taste the Lumpiang Shanghai except for a small bite. And I forgot how it tasted.

Dark Chocolate Cake. The cake was too sweet for me. But it was moist and the kids love it so I guess, it was ok.



Ordering:

Ordering was done through phone. I made several calls before giving my final order and whoever answered was very polite and patiently entertained all my inquiries. There was just a little misunderstanding when it came to what they'll write on the cake. And they misspelled my nephew's name.

Delivery:

Delivery Fee was remarkably low and delivery time was more than punctual. Our food was scheduled to be delivered at 10:30 am. The delivery van arrived at 9:45 am. Before the driver left CCME, he sent me a message asking for directions. I gave him the vaguest of directions and yet he was still able to arrive 45 minutes ahead of schedule.

Packaging

The dishes were piping hot when they came, as if they've just been cooked which is impossible because it came to Laguna all the way from Quezon City. They were in cardboard box containers lined with aluminum foil wraps and covered with plastic. Although not aesthetically appealing, these containers are very convenient and can easily be disposed of. The sauces and dipping were packed separately in plastic bags.

Serving:

They said 1 tray can make about 10-12 servings. That is, if you only have 1 dish to serve. But if paired with other viands, 1 dish can serve at least 20 persons. Our orders above can feed about 80 to 100 persons. And for only P10,340.00 (including delivery fee), that's really an affordable way to cater a party.

Overall: We'll definitely order from them again.

Food item list and prices, and contact information are available at CCME's website: www.homemadefoodstuff.com