What’s My Destination Wish List

Wanderlust - that sweet longing to travel, to be there - wherever there is -  to have a change of environment and discover new experiences. A lot of people are afflicted with this appetite for traveling, myself included. Although I have always reined in the desire with the reality that I don't always have enough money to scratch the itch. Wanderlust involves traveling and traveling entails expenses.

But if money was not an issue, I believe a lot more people will cave in to their wanderlust. Who wouldn't? Traveling is one of the best forms of therapy. People travel to clear the mind, recharge the body, soothe the soul. And then there are the lucky ones who travel - just because they can. Oh, how I envy them.

It's a good thing that a number of local budget airlines are more available now, offering cheaper rates that you can opt to choose to skip the hassle of booking promo airfares. One such airline is AirAsia Philippines, a  5-time World's Best Low Cost Airline.

Recently, AirAsia Philippines has partnered with Zest Air, another affordable low cost airline, and the tie-up is christened with a new name: AirAsia Zest.



Visit AirAsia Zest website by clicking on the photo

As result, now AirAsia Zest flies from Manila (at NAIA Terminal 4) to some of most traveled terminals in the Philippines and in Asia, including Cebu, Davao, Kalibo (Boracay), Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, Cagayan De Oro for local destinations, and Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Shanghai, Incheon for Asian destinations. Prior to the merge, Air Asia was nestled in Clark Airport, Pampanga, discouraging most Manila and South Luzon-based travelers to fly with the airline.

AirAsia Zest, The Right Way to Fly is the slogan of this partnership, which aims to serve Filipinos better by offering more options, better value and enhanced services. With this, AirAsia Zest is poised to take you to your destination at affordable prices (AirAsia Zest dares you to compare prices!)

I haven't flown with either AirAsia or Zest Air, but with the promise of cheaper rates and better service, it's definitely something that I will consider for my next travel. And speaking of traveling, I might as well bring up my destination wish list (for next year hopefully).


1. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
The Philippines, being a tropical archipelago, is lined with many beautiful beaches. But there's something about going to another country's beach that appeals to me. Mind you, I'm not an overly beach lover and perhaps, more than frolicking in the sand and sea, it's really being in another country that draws me in.

I first learned of Kota Kinabalu through a friend's post in Multiply (a defunct social networking site). And instantly, I fell in love with their photos and stories of the place (this is where her husband proposed, making everything even more romantic). But it's the beach, more than anything that really clinched a longing in my heart.



[SOURCE: Ivan Henares]

Kota Kinabalu sounded so exotic yet after some light research, I found out it's a modern, sprawling metropolis, being the state capital of Sabah. Now, Sabah is a familiar name - a would've been part of Philippines and the recent stage of a stand-off that turned into a bloody siege. But let's not get into the details of that fateful and sad incident.

I also learned that aside from the beach, Kota Kinabalu's prime tourist attraction is the mighty Mount Kinabalu, which provides a majestic background to the city's modern landscape. It reminds me of the Mayon Volcano looming over Legaspi City and that morning when we strolled the city, with the imposing view of Mayon always visible, it felt like the mountain volcano was watching over the city as if a vigilant big brother.

Back to Mount Kinabalu, I don't fancy climbing up to the peak as my health won't probably allow me (I have a thyroid condition which makes me feel exhausted easily). But a trip to the Kinabalu National Park, which they said is an easy hike, will suffice, especially with a view like this:



[SOURCE: Trek Earth]

The city also boasts of paradise islands, virgin coral reefs and tropical rainforests, which is similar to what we can find here in the Philippines. But as I said above, it's being in another country that makes the experience sound twice as exciting. The chance to immerse myself in a new culture, to treat my taste buds to different gustatory delights, to indulge in the beauty of another country. And even if I found out that our beaches are still notches better than Kota Kinabalu's - these new experiences, I'm sure, will make the trip worth it.


2. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
There was a time, not too long ago, when the PETRONAS Tower was the highest building in the world, and it was the answer to a bonus question in one of our exams. I got it correctly thanks to a quiz game show that I watched previously. Back then, I didn't care so much about the towers, nor how beautiful they are. Heck, I didn't care so much about traveling out of the country because it seemed so expensive.

But I do now. I want to see the PETRONAS Towers - the twin towers that some tourist allegorize as two lovers holding hands.



[SOURCE: The Chronicles of Mariane]

Call me helpless romantic (although I'm really not), this is my only reason for wanting to go to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I know there are other must-see places that are equally charming as The PETRONAS Towers. And I will be delighted to visit them as well. But if I can go to Malaysia, feast my eyes on the magnificent view of the towers, cross the Skybridge that connects them and hold hands with my husband as we take in the beauty of the twin towers at night, then go straight back to Manila - I'd be completely satisfied.


3. Puerto Princesa, Palawan
I remember being younger and wishing to go to Palawan. Back then, when traveling by plane (even to local destinations) was a luxury that only the privileged can enjoy, Palawan was my dream local destination. The Philippine's last frontier, it is called and I had imagined it as an ultimate haven for nature lovers: pristine white beaches, coral blue waters, lush green forests. I promised myself I would go there, that it would be the first thing I'd fly to when I can afford plane tickets already.

And when we finally visited Puerto Princesa, Palawan last year, I realized it was so much more.



Palawan from above

The Food. After sorting out our airfares, accommodations and tour packages, where and what to eat was next on the to-do list. Fortunately for me, who's always the designated trip planner, Puerto Princesa is a cornucopia of many good restaurants. Choosing rather than finding where to eat is the real task. But the best part is, and this we found out to be true whether eating in a posh restaurant or paluto style by the beach, the seafoods in Palawan is the among the best in the country. They're the freshest, most reasonably priced, and most enjoyable seafoods I've ever had.



Sweet Chili Crab at Badjao Seafront Restaurant

 

The People. I love Palawuenos. I love that they are very friendly, very helpful and in a very touristy town where the opportunity to overprice everything is ripe, they do not take advantage on tourists (both foreign and local alike). Case in point: regular trike fare is P8, and in the five days that we spent going around the town proper, we didn't encounter a single tricycle driver who charged us with more.

But what I love most about them is their love for their city and their commitment to preserve their natural treasures. To successfully implement a No Littering City Ordinance amongst themselves and their visitors. To take pride and responsibility in maintaining their tourist attractions. To ensure that they give back, as much as they take in from their environment. These are the qualities that make Palawuenos truly admirable and endearing.

The Places. The Underground River - one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. The Ugong Rock Cave. The Hunda Bay Islands (Cowrie Island, LuLi Island, Pandan Island). The City Attractions (Baker's Hill, Mitra's Ranch, Crocodile Farm). These places speak for themselves. Puerto Princesa, Palawan is a wonder among wonders and going back to this slice of heaven on earth is something I'd do in a heart beat (as long as I have the funds, of course).



Karst Mountain



Pandan Island

LuLi Island

4. Tagbilaran, Bohol
If the hills are alive with the sound of music, then the famous Chocolate Hills in Bohol must be alive with the sound of chocolates - which if you ask me, is just as pleasant to the ears, more so to the taste buds.

Ever since gradeschool, when I was just starting to learn about the main tourist attractions in the Philippines, I have always marveled at the Chocolate Hills. Sure, perfect-cone volcano, tallest falls, rice terraces are beautiful in their own right. But to my young mind, these almost uniformed mounds of dirt and rocks that turn the color of chocolate are simply amazing.



[SOURCE: Pinoy Backpackers]

Mother Nature must be having fun as she was instructing the ground to sprout these mini-mountains and space them close enough, like carefully molded chocolate pieces spread out on a tray, so we can later marvel at her creation with the sweetest smiles on our faces.

*Although not exactly in Tagbilaran, the famed Chocolate Hills can be easily accessed from this city.


5. Boracay via Kalibo, Aklan
I broke my promise to myself that Palawan will be the first destination I'd go to once I can afford to fly - but for good reason. The first ticket I bought was for a plane bound for Boracay - the world-renowned beach in Aklan. But it wasn't just Boracay that reeled us in, we were also visiting my husband's relatives in Nabas, Aklan - my mother-in-law's mother and sister, who she hasn't seen in years.

When airline companies started rolling our their Piso Sale and other airfare promos, Boracay was among, if not the fastest flight to be sold out. Upon setting my feet on the conspicuous powdery white sand and dipping into the cold azure water, it's not hard to see why. Boracay Island is a paradise. The sprawling resorts, restaurants, and shops may have robbed it of its rustic charm, but it still remains one of the most beautiful shorelines in the Philippines.




White Beach, Boracay near Station 2

To be honest, one of the good things that I - and maybe some of you as well - really like about Boracay is having both the convenience and the beach at your doorstep. The lines of beachfront hotels, shops and restaurants allow you to go back and forth to your room, eat and dine, do a bit of shopping and hit the beach without having to flag a tricycle or hire service vehicles. Almost everything is here, most likely just a few steps away from where you are staying. Unless of course, if what you're looking for are tranquility and remoteness, you won't find it here.




The Grotto at Station 1

For some people, it's the vibrant nightlife that adds cherry to the top, although it's not the case for us as we're not really into partying. We'd rather curl up in bed, watch some TV and sleep early (early is 10 pm) so we can wake up early the next morning and take a stroll on the beach before the sun rises; that's the time when the water is most peaceful and the beach is most beautiful.

Regardless of the reason and the season, Boracay is indeed, and still is, a place to be. And it's a place that I'd like to go back to whenever I have the chance.

* * * * *

Wanderlust, traveling, dream destinations. Ahh, the world is truly a better place when you travel. And it's more fun if you travel in the Philippines (and in Asia). How about you, what's your destination wish list?

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.

Movie: Insidious - Chapter 2

Insidious, Insidious, Insidious. I liked the first chapter (although not as much as I liked The Conjuring - read my review here) so when I learned about the Insidious Chapter 2, you could say I looked forward to watching it. The fact that it was directed by the same person who directed The Conjuring - James Wan - and that Insidious Chapter 2 was no. 1 in the US during its opening week added to the anticipation.


I find the first Insidious movie a pretty decent horror flick, with an original plot, a good cast ensemble, and dotted with a couple or more scary scenes that were actually scary. The only thing that disappointed us, me and my husband, and made us laugh (yes, we laugh at horror movies that don't live up to our expectations), was how the ghosts were made-up. I mean, literally the ghosts' makeup. I thought it's the case of having too much that they look funny instead of scary. They looked like clowns or Heather Ledger's Joker, which I think was intentional - a lot of people are scared of clown-looking ghosts apparently - but it just didn't work for us.

So expecting that the 2nd installment will most likely have the same clown-ghosts, I counted on James Wan's earlier success with The Conjuring, to build up my anticipation and somehow, to make me believe that this movie can be better than the first. It can even surprise us, and beat The Conjuring in our scoreboard.

Unfortunately, that is not the case. I remember reading a review somewhere: "Just because it's not as scary as the first one, it doesn't mean it's a bad movie". And this is exactly how I feel. Like the first movie, Insidious Chapter 2 employs the same old-style scare tactics (with less clown-looking ghosts, yay!), has the same reliable cast that delivered good performance, and a solid story that picks up from where the first left off, which even went further by explaining some of the events in Chapter 1.

It is a good movie on its own. But it's just not as creepy and goose-bump-eliciting as it's predecessor. For me, it was the extended focus in the astral/spirit world that diluted the scare intensity of the entire movie. Even in the first chapter, I find the haunted house to be the better stage to launch effective jolts and jumpy, haunting scenes than the dark, unchartered spirit realm.

So is Insidious Chapter 2 worth watching? Yes, I can say that, especially if you enjoy the first film and would like to know what will happen next. But don't expect too much. Also, a bit of a spoiler: that scene of the white lady in the trailer, for me, is the lone scary scene in the entire movie. There were a few that came close, but that was it. So really, don't expect too much.

Movie: The Conjuring

Everytime we watch a horror movie, we're almost prepared not to get scared. Yes, you got that right, NOT to get scared. Like most of you, we've seen a lot of horror movies, both Asian (Japanese, Thai, Korean) and Western (American, British, Spanish) and sometimes we can't help but think that most plots, twists, jumpy scenes, ghost make-ups, and almost all elements in a horror movie have been used, reused and abused that they will hardly make you wriggle in your seat. They have become so predictable and tiring, often following the pattern of the successful horror films that preceded them, and that takes away the fun in watching these scary flicks.



Then we watched The Conjuring. I remember reading about this movie on Yahoo, where I learned it's relation to Amityville: the couple who investigated the Amityville haunting were the same couple featured in The Conjuring. While I don't exactly find the movie The Amityville Horror, um well, horrifying, ghost detective stories have always piqued my interests. My husband wasn't too thrilled to watch it though, after a handful of not so impressive horror movies that we cared to watch in a moviehouse. But one boring day in a shopping mall, he didn't want to go home yet and The Conjuring was in the Now Showing list so...

The plot and premise of the movie was nothing new, the scare-tactics were also old-school, but everything was in the right place at the right time, and they wove the right mix of suspense, creepiness and horror that we found ourselves holding on to each other tightly and bracing ourselves for the next scary scene. It was a very good horror movie. The last time we got this scared was with Shutter (Thai movie), and it's been a while.

Was it predictable? Let me put it this way, I was enjoying being scared so much that I didn't want to predict what will happen next or how it will end. It's like watching a ghost reality show where I secretly wish that they were able to actually capture something really scary. And there were a lot of those in this movie. Some scenes were familiar, in fact, they reminded me of other popular horror movies. You get a bit of The Exorcist here, Sixth Sense there, Paranomal Activity, Insidious, etc. but still The Conjuring was able to hold it's own and carve a solid place in the horror movie genre.

One thing that I really really like about this movie is the characters acted "normal". When they hear strange, suspicious sounds in the middle of the night, they don't bring camcorders, they don't navigate their house with flashlights, they do what anyone would do, they TURN THE LIGHTS ON. That's something that a lot of horror movies don't do nowadays because darkness has always been an effective environment to build tension, but there are times when it just looks illogical to keep the lights off. The Conjuring wasn't afraid to scare in broad daylight. Of course, there are some scenes that demand darkness. And those scenes are the ones you should watch out for.

Acting, pacing, sound effects (much of it was just silence which I think is way more effective), camera panning (those contributed a lot), everything was executed so well that makes this movie one hell of a horror film. I can't say enough how good it was, so just watch it. If you're a horror movie buff (the ghost, possession, exorcism type), who like us have been waiting for that film - that film that will scare you and scare you well - you're in for a treat.