sometimes i hate being a Filipino

why is it that the process of accomplishing things here in the philippines is way too slow? i am just so not used to the system here anymore…or is it because i am exposed to the efficiency of other countries (especially hong kong) that i resent being a Filipino?

i need to renew my passport. this is a simple sentence which will bring about such complex dilemmas on my part. the new system for renewing the Philippine passport sucks big time! the previous green passport was far simpler than the current one. nowadays you have to go to the department of foreign affairs just to make an appointment (you can do it on-line too). then you have to wait for 7 days just to get the appointment schedule. once you get you schedule which is about a week from the time you have set an appointment, you will go back to DFA to process your application. it usually takes about 7 days at the fastest to 2 weeks if you are unlucky (e.g. they need you to come back because of some clarifications…more proof of your existence…a letter coming from you stating that you wish to use your maiden name and the like…)

in hong kong however, you pay a visit to the consulate of the philippines then they will ask you to come back after 3 days for the processing of your application. once you have filed your application, you may start counting 20 working days before you can claim your new machine-readable passport. so i counted that i needed a little bit over than a month for that.

the problem is…I DON’T F*CKING HAVE THE TIME!!!
first and foremost my schedule is so diverse that i don’t have a pattern at all. then there is the factor that we are only allowed 9 days off at the most at one time. so that is 7 working days of processing for you because i included the 2 weekend in between. that is good…if you can get 9 days off in a row! it is truly not easy to get one! plus i won’t be able to operate the next flight because the company’s policy on passport renewal is to allow 3 working days for updating the passport information before one can operate a flight. so basing on my last count that is 12 days all in all.

the funny thing is…they don’t allow us to renew our passports way before the expiration date which is 6 months before the actualy expiration date.

i have been thinking about this since december and i didn’t quite enjoy my holidays that much because of this. i could not even renew my passport over the holidays because the government just declares too much public holidays! it’s one of those times that i hated it being a holiday. i feel so helpless and frustrated at the same time. it’s just that things like these makes me want to be an unFilipino…talk about inefficiency…hi-tech doesn’t always necessarily mean hi-speed too…

sometimes i hate being a Filipino

why is it that the process of accomplishing things here in the philippines is way too slow? i am just so not used to the system here anymore…or is it because i am exposed to the efficiency of other countries (especially hong kong) that i resent being a Filipino?

i need to renew my passport. this is a simple sentence which will bring about such complex dilemmas on my part. the new system for renewing the Philippine passport sucks big time! the previous green passport was far simpler than the current one. nowadays you have to go to the department of foreign affairs just to make an appointment (you can do it on-line too but then you have to wait for 7 days just to get the appointment schedule). once you get you schedule which is about a week from the time you have set an appointment, you will go back to DFA to process your application. it usually takes about 7 days at the fastest to 2 weeks if you are unlucky (e.g. they need you to come back because of some clarifications…more proof of your existence…a letter coming from you stating that you wish to use your maiden name and the like…)

in hong kong however, you pay a visit to the consulate of the philippines then they will ask you to come back after 3 days for the processing of your application. once you have filed your application, you may start counting 20 working days before you can claim your new machine-readable passport. so i counted that i needed a little bit over than a month for that. (note to self: even if they are in hong kong…the system is still very much the same…or worse? since they need to send the applications back to the phils and wait for them to send it back to them).

the problem is…I DON’T F*CKING HAVE THE TIME!!!
first and foremost my schedule is so diverse that i don’t have a pattern at all. then there is the factor that we are only allowed 9 days off at the most at one time. so that is 7 working days of processing for you because i included the 2 weekend in between. that is good…if you can get 9 days off in a row! it is truly not easy to get one! plus i won’t be able to operate the next flight because the company’s policy on passport renewal is to allow 3 working days for updating the passport information before one can operate a flight. so basing on my last count that is 12 days all in all.

the funny thing is…they don’t allow us to renew our passports way before the expiration date which is 6 months before the actualy expiration date.

i have been thinking about this since december and i didn’t quite enjoy my holidays that much because of this. i could not even renew my passport over the holidays because the government just declares too much public holidays! it’s one of those times that i hated it being a holiday. i feel so helpless and frustrated at the same time. it’s just that things like these makes me want to be an unFilipino…talk about inefficiency…hi-tech doesn’t always necessarily mean hi-speed too…

the best lip gloss

in my criteria a lip gloss has to have that original minty flavor that most of us are familiar of, must not make lips too glossy and too heavy. it has to have that right sheer or shine. i have found that in that tiny stick which i accidentally picked up in a grocery in Anchorage. it’s called burt’s bees lipstick. the thing that sealed the deal is the variety of color.

i was so pleasantly surprised to have found a lipgloss that has that minty taste and just the right amount of weight on your lips. it makes it shiny but with the right amount of shimmer and the colors are just wonderful. as a flight attendand it is very handy and reliable too. the dryness of the air inflight simply ruins my skin and my lips too. i am so thankful that i have discovered this wonderful product. i just apply my original lipstick for full blast color and use my burt’s bees lipstick for retouch. viola! ready for my close-up smile!

Dino and Toni closed for summer

tough luck! i arrived sheraton roma in rome on a monday. took a nap and met up with my colleague. we were meaning to go to warner village for a pizza in this very good pizzeria. it was a good thing that we asked the front desk before heading out. we learned that the pizzeria is closed on mondays. bummer!

we ended up ordering food by the pool at the hotel. the ambience was really nice. the weather was perfect and the company of my colleague was comforting. the red wine that i ordered was not that great it costs €12 raim merlot. the iceberg and rocket salad €12 didn’t have any rockets in it. i had to ask the waiter for the missing rockets. i thought it flew off to outerspace.

for my main course i ordered for pasta with tuna, olives and capers €18. it was nothing great and i was disappointed. all in all my rating would be a 4 out of 10. it was better than nothing i would say at least we satisfied our hunger pangs.

the next day we headed to the vatican to eat at Dino and Toni along Via Leone IV. We missed our stop and just trusted my nose. we asked around and found out after 30 minutes of walking that we were trodding the wrong path the whole time! it was not actually totally wrong but it would take us an hour and hundreds of steps if we would continue to tread the path that we were taking. it was totally my fault i admit. so i decided to hail a cab. the cab costs €10 and i was willing to pay it fully but my colleagues were insistent that we all share the cost.

finally we stopped in front of Dino and Toni…it was CLOSED!!! bugger!!! i took a closer look and it was just my luck that it was closed from August 04 – August 30 for the summer holidays. i was really looking forward to having that home cooked italian meal at dino and toni. they don’t have a menu but the antipasti and pasta dishes that they will serve you will surely satisfy your discerning palate. the host is very accomodating as well even if he could not speak much english. the last time i was there they even offered us limoncello for free after the meal. we took pictures and tried to know each other thru little english and sign language. i was really really disappointed that it was closed. after all the walking and wasted time that we had to go through we ended up eating at the fast food next door. the food was lousy.

after looking at bags at via condotti (the main street where all the high end name brands are housed) snapping some pictures at the spanish steps, eating local gelato and buying a bag and wallet, we headed for our shuttle bus. while walking in via del corso (the main street) we were looking for the pizzeria where we were planning to get some pizza for take away. it was fucking closed!

all in all the experience was highly frustrating if not for the company of my funny and patient colleagues. hopefully the pizzeria at the warner village is open tonight where we will have our dinner…i’m keeping my fingers and my legs crossed.

to veneers or not to veneers

I have always thought that cosmetic surgery is not for me…as long as it is not necessary for me to do it then I wouldn’t.  Unfortunately, I was not blessed with a good set of teeth.  When I had my permanent teeth my two front teeth got chipped off right in the middle…right where they met. A filling, root canal and two crowns after I was confronted with a decision that would change my point of view…somehow.

Winter of 2007 I bothered by a slight pain on my left front tooth. I tried to withstand the pain but it was annoying like a fly that wouldn’t go away.  I finally decided to confront my problem head on. I have decided that since I am going to get my root canal redone…why not have my crowns changed as well? If I was going to have my crowns changed…why not go the extra mile and have veneers instead? You see, it’s a vicious cycle that will never stop. It’s just like love and addiction…(they’re both bad by the way) you know you want to see the person, once you see the person and you kissed, might as well kiss torridly since you’re gonna kiss that person anyway…why not go all the way instead? Hahaha! What a comparison!

Anyway, I had my veneers done and if you were to ask me…I won’t do it if I had a perfectly normal teeth. No matter if your teeth is yellowish or a little bit crooked. The experience was very unpleasant. It was taxing and ate up a lot of my time. I also felt violated when the dentist filed my teeth ruthlessly swift as if it was just a task that he had to do. The weirdest feeling of all was when your whole mouth is still sedated with anesthesia and they would ask you to spit…how on earth could you spit when you can’t even feel your freaking lips? Go figure.

Just to give you a better picture as to how time consuming it was let me give you a rough time line:

1^st visit – you will have “the talk” with the wife of the dentist selling you the services/products. The dentist will give you a face analysis and take a picture of your teeth for evaluation.

2^nd visit – you would have decided by then since you came back and go on with the process and choose the plan and service that you prefer. They will cast a mold of your existing teeth.

3^rd visit – root canal or other services had to be done before removing all the previous crowns and filing of the teeth.

4^th visit – removing of crowns and filing of the teeth. Contouring of the gums (if needed).  Attachment of temporary veneers.

5^th visit – I forgot what I did but I remember they polished my temp veneers too.

6^th visit – attachment of the permanent veneers.

7^th visit – adjustment of the permanent veneers. Requested to redo my tooth it was too short.

8^th visit – adjustment of veneers and attachment of redone tooth.

9^th visit – adjustment of veneers due to teeth sensitivity.

And so on and so forth. I thought the sensitivity has gone down. I only felt it when it was really cold in the plane and there was a whiff of cold air while my mouth was open. I do feel better and feel more confident when I smile…but if I was given a choice, nothing beats genuine teeth.

 

closing time

i will be closing this blog soon. will transfer everything to http://milescat.blogspot.com

please check for updated blogs there. i won’t be updating this one anymore.

thanks for coming!

miles

gone fishing

it was a beautiful sunny day and the warmth of the sun kissed my skin. the day was not to be spent in front of the computer i said to myself. my days have been rolling along like the spinning wheel of a clock. it just kept on spinning around and around. passing the same way over and over again. i figured i was bored. time to do something exciting.

 

i asked my friend the mouse if she can go fishing with me. this mouse was a very busy mouse. day in and day out she would go out to find food. she was interested and so we went.

 

the first lake that we visited was huge…it boasted of pristine waters and well manicured bermuda grass with lush gardens. the flowers were oh so colorful and humongous. it was nothing like you’ve ever seen before. i am positive though that i have been here before. it was so familiar. the smell of the freshly cut grass and the sound of the artificial waterfalls at the farthest side of the lake. i remember being so fond of this lake fishing, swimming to beat the heat or just hanging out up until a migrating alligator spoiled the fun.  

 

this time i have to be wary. i tested the water it was lukewarm. it was very inviting. though i wasn’t quite sure if the water was really lukewarm at the deepest end or is it all throughout the lake.  i went into the water and felt that it was cold below. i could not stand the coldness so i had to get out of the water without catching a fish.

 

i was a bit hungry by noontime. i have decided that if by mid afternoon i have not caught any fish, i will head to this not so well known river. that would be my last resort. there i am certain that i will catch some fish. eventhough that river did not appear pleasant, i am sure that fish is bountiful there. at least i have a last resort i thought to myself.

 

mouse in tow we headed for this not-so-grand-looking lake but very inviting and homey at the same time. we felt at home right away and the prospects of catching a fish was great. the mouse didn’t want any fish…she just wanted to watch me go for the kill. i normally catch fish with my bear hands or rather claws but this time i also brought my fishing rod along with me.

 

i was getting ready to go into the water when i stopped halfway. i could not possibly dive into the water. what in the world was i doing? i’m a cat! cats don’t do that! but this lake had a hypnotizing effect on me. i was sinking little by little…inch by inch. i had to fight the overpowering effect that this lake has on me. i have to ask for help…

 

wait…mouse! mouse! mouse? why are you applauding me and cheering at me even? gosh! mouse thought i was a dog! mouse thought i was just waving at her! oh my gosh! what should i do?! cat’s can’t swim!!! when i said i catch fish with my barehands, i catch fish in the fish bowl not here! when i almost touched the bottom of the lake i paddled hard with my claws out and finally reached the surface again.

 

i was catching my breath when i was lying on the carabao grass with mouse.

 

“why didn’t you save me or asked for help?” i asked mouse

 

“you looked good inside the lake. i thought you were lovin’ it.” replied the mouse

 

it was evening already. empty-handed i was not hungry anymore. i couldn’t muster enough energy to go to the river. the experience that i had in that second lake was too much to handle. i love fish but no thanks…i’ll stick with fancy feast.

Christian the Lion Reunited

this is so heart warming. i love cats!!!

 

for the real full story with the real lion pls watch in 10 parts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzxms9-qQZ4

cold sores and chapped lips

you know how sometimes you are just hanging out at the grocery store killing time and just checking out the stuff one by one? that was how i chanced upon this amazing BLISTEX medicated lip ointment for chapped lips, severely dry lips or even the persistent cold sore buster. it comes in menthol flavor and has a pleasant tingling feeling that would soothe your sore lips. i have been using this for 10 years now and never found anything better.

one winter my alluring flatmate’s dorky husband had the worst cold sore ever. i offered him my Blistex medicted lip ointment and he never looked back.

i usually apply it when i go for my crew rest on the plane during winter.

yesterday i had this painful crack on the right hand side of my lip. of course just like the origins spot remover i have this lip ointment in my work handbag, in my home port and my flat. i applied it once yesterday

evening…today the soreness is gone that is why i decided to write about it.

try this next winter…it might be your next bestfriend.

pimples away

here are some of my beauty secrets……sssshhhhh not everybody know this.

when it is that time of the month a tiny bump normally appear on my t-zone area either before or after. i have a magic weapon for that. even before that darn thing comes out as soon as i feel the painful bump and notice the reddish swelling coming out, i reach out for my reliable ORIGINS Spot Remover. i have tried Lancome Spot Corrector and Balea stick on from Germany and i swear that this thing works like magic. it stings a litte but it is very effective. whenever i see someone who has pimples i offer it immediately or recommend it to them.

i keep one in my make up kit, one in my home port and one in my second home where i am based in. my mom loves it too. my best friend bought it and stuck with it. you have to at least try it before you say that it doesn’t work. i apply it to the pimple a couple of times a day. the pimple magically disappears even before it comes out. if it is fully out however i still apply it to the affected area. the pimple dries up much faster. the best thing is it is only $11.00! how can you go wrong? try it today!