US VISA SAGA
------

so today, my US visa and passport arrived via AIR 21. i got a 10-year visa, so a 2019 expiry, ok that makes the visa fee i paid (US $131) so worth it, making it only US $ 13.10 per year. talk about being cost-efficient.

i waited in the embassy for roughly 4 hours, getting bored (i actually don't know how i survived waiting for such a long time), i was tempted to leave and just leave everything of that behind (i know, patience is a virtue that i actually dont have).

upon queueing, i suddenly realised that i left all my bankbooks with mom, at home, and the funny thing is that its one of the supplemental requirements they are asking for. goodluck to me, i thought, i have my employment certificate that i requested for anyway. i was near cubicle number 2, when she denied the 3 women before me, so i was really hoping to get into cubicle number 5.

my number flashed and it was at cubicle number 2 - she asked me 3 questions:
1) the purpose of my visit
2) how long do i plan to stay
3) where i was working

after 5 minutes, she told me that my visa has been approved and it will be sent via air 21, etc. i was expecting for more questions -- won't you get my NSO birth cert? how about the employment cert and leave forms that i asked the office to prepare for me? no, nothing like that, they didn't even look at my old passport, just got the new one, and went on.

so that was my experience, they are actually very efficient (same with my china visa application a few months ago) - i wish all philippine agencies would have that same level of efficiency.

DUTY FREE's PESO POWER
------

mom, tita bot, and i went to duty free in paranaque, even though it is far from where we are staying, we had to go, since they are running this promo called PESO POWER, meaning that consumers will be charged at the rate of USD 1 = Php 43, even if the real exchange rate is Php 48.65. If you want to pay in USD, they are also giving you 11.62% discount in your purchases, which is equivalent of the discount you get in paying in Php.

i finally decided to get these shoes i have been eyeing since the last time i was in duty free (which was end july'09) sanuk black shoes - it is really comfortable i have to say - and i have the option to wear it with or without socks. its a good deal, i was actually deliberating whether to get these or a vans slip on, and i decided on these.


sanuk black shoes, USD 47.10 (without the 11.62% discount), do the computation yourself.


ACCA KAPPA GENTLE CLEANSING MILK, mom bought ACQUA DI COLONIA (perfume) from ACCA KAPPA last year, and i loved the smell, the scent is actually unisex - suitable for men and women. i was able to smell it and its just really good. i also heard good things about this brand, so i bought one as a present for someone.

i have bought chocolates and grocery items as well, my favorite amongst them will be the yakisoba from the japanese grocery section. i also saw a lot of US soaps - from olay body wash that is currently not available in the local market. i had fun going around the grocery store, the only downside was there were a lot of people in there, i had a headache.

--

things to do tomorrow:
- meeting bede tomorrow to pass my housekey, and also to ask him to bring some of my stuff back.
- badminton training with twing at battledore (sct. ojeda)
- dad's bday dinner @ luk fu.

ongpin shopping and food trip
------

i have been so lazy to blog lately. all i wanted to do is to sit down, lie back and watch dvds, go out and have coffee with twing, play badminton with my cousins. i barely meet my friends as well, i haven't even seen tracy and mic. HAHA!

two saturdays ago, we all decided to go to ongpin and binondo for a food trip, of
course these included shopping - or buying my favorite things in ongpin.


we had sincerity for lunch - with their famous fried chicken.


i got myself a lucky charm from this store - and it was blessed before i wore it, cost me Php 1,300.


the CFs - ainee, lisa, sheryl and ena (left to right)


we all said a little prayer before we went home.

we also went to the following store:
- crepe de chine for afternoon drinks - really i'd not recommend people to go here, it was just the worst place i have been to.
- DEC and bought puto for dad
- ENG BEE TIN to buy my hopia ube
- BAKERS FAIR for my hopia mungo
- grocery store to get my bag of peanuts, lisa and ena got these chili flakes, etc.

--

i also went to duty free last sunday, my mom has these platinum card meaning we can go in and enter anytime that we want, and we also get 10% off. we went there since they had this promo called peso power (their conversion rate is Php 43, from Php 48.65), this will last until the 31st of august. so its a good opportunity to buy things. i got 2 items that i will write about in my next blog post.

--

tomorrow is dad's 58th birthday, i sent out an SMS to invite everyone out for dinner at LUK FU. i thank dad for everything and for really just being there for me and supporting me in whatever endeavors i make.

--

yesterday i went to the US embassy for my visa interview. i waited for almost 4 hours, but the interview lasted for less than 5 minutes, oh i got it approved, hopefully i can get my passport with visa this friday.

ok, till next update.

addicted to watches
------

right now, i am very much addicted to watches - i am dreaming of having a vast collection of watch that i do like, not necessarily the nicest one, but certainly the most appealing to me. having all the time in the world right now, really doesn't help as much as well, i googled the watches i really am dreaming of, and this tops my list:


CARTIER TANK FRANCAISE Men's Watch - around SGD 7K, if i remember correctly since i have asked them before. i don't really know why i like it but there's something in the style that really appeals to me. ever since i saw one of my aunts wear it, it has been haunting me.


CARTIER PASHA Seatimer Mens Watch - Marj has the women version in mother of pearl face, i like a more sporty look that has chronographs etc, it just looks cool.


TAG HEUER FORMULA ONE Grande Date Mens Watch - this is a good alternative to chronograph watches without hitting the 6 digit mark.


ROLEX EXPLORER II Mens Watch - this is just heaven, sporty and real classy in one.

I saw Bvlgari watches ever since i was in College, i saw it first in Greenhills, and i fell in love with it. Then i get to see it in Singapore, and it costs around SGD5K to 8K, kind of expensive, here are the top 3 models i like:


BVLGARI Diagono Steel Mens Watch


BVLGARI Diagono Chronograph Watch


BVLGARI Diagono Acqua Mens Watch

....... and i still like a Philip Stein Watch in black face and black leather strap (that costs around Php 28,000). :)

WHAT A THURSDAY!!!
------

ever since there was the conversation of me going back to manila for good, i told my mom i wanted one car - and its the isuzu swift. i first saw it in singapore, when my friend nas bought one for herself. i thought it was an ok car for city driving - meaning just around the metro, running errands, and meeting friends with.

manila is so unlike singapore - in singapore, you can live without a car, and cab it out, like how i do it. or you can ride the train and its all of a sudden convenient. HAHA! in manila, one really needs a car. anyway, mom told me, that they are planning to buy a car, since my sister is currently using my car which is the lancer. but all of a sudden, i have to stay back in singapore (ok fine, decided to stay back) and now, my sister gets to keep the new car. while, i can use my old one. its ok, am planning to buy a new one once i settle back in manila naman.


aggie signing the papers before the car gets released.


the new car in color white - in case you don't know my dad - he likes the color white so much, that most of our cars are in that color.

mom, aggie, cho and i went to greenhills since i wanted to buy something for myself, we look through it and i might get it on sunday, once mom brings her checks to pay the bill. HAHA! don't get the wrong idea, i will pay for it, its just that mom has to issue the check, since she definitely has more money than me in her checkbook account. was i able to mention that i have my own checkbook account, yea, am still excited about that. anyway, that will be another topic na lang. mom and i went to promenade, and saw this:


GOYARD St.Louis PM in blue. mom likes it so much, we were supposed to go to HK and buy there kasi its not available in MNL. i told mom that she could get it and lets not go to HK na lang, since its there na. mom did not get it pa, since she has no check in her wallet. we will go back to GH on sunday, so lets see if mom will get it.


on the way home, i passed by a grocery store and bought this:


MAGNOLIA Double Dutch Ice Cream Pint, Php78. i missed magnolia ice cream, since all of the ice cream i have tried in SG sucks, of course except for HD and B&J - which is so expensive, i prefer magnolia anytime of the day. oh, twing and marj told me that masarap daw the new ice cream from selecta those chef creations, so i will try next week. lets pace it out, so i wont have such a big tummy naman when i go back in SG, not that i don't have a big tummy na. HAHA!

--

off to other plans, i am planning chicho's birthday come 19th of aug - i am the one choosing the restaurant and all that, not a big deal, but it is for me, since i want to make it extra special since am here in MNL. plan is to fo ALBA's at tomas morato since i am craving for paella and lechon. i called them na and will call again for reservations.