netnet dot PH

Exactly a month ago i wrote about wanting a dotPH domain but found it too expensive. Sometimes though your wishes can be granted in different ways.

The i.PH domain that i purchased will not push thru and as a replacement dotPH gave me a 2 year dotPH domain at a discounted rate. Thank you to Jonah of dotPH for informing me about it and for the great customer service.

I am still searching for a cheap Web developer and hosting to create the website otherwise i will have to rely on my limited skills for launching the site. 

By end of May please note that this blog will either be migrated to a Wordpress account or to netnet.PH.

Domain Reservation for i.ph

The staff of i.ph sent an email last month announcing that they will be closing down. I was really sad to hear the bad news that i.ph could no longer support the cost of maintaining the free blogging service and have to close down. 

Today is the last day of reservation for bloggers who would want to reserve their existing domain with i.ph. I haven’t been blogging for awhile since i was so caught up with my work as a recruiter for home-based Virtual Assistants. I was online almost 24/7 but did not really have the leisure of time to do some personal blogging outside of my work. I decided to reserve the net.i.ph domain for $14.00 (Forex Php43.00 = $1) which is good for 2 years because i just could not let go of this blog. If I can already afford it, i would want to have a com.ph account but for now a domain associated with i.ph will do. I have maintained blogs from various free blogging sites but this i.ph blog has the shortest domain and my mini write-ups here tend to have more hits compared to my other blogs.

I hope that i can use this blog fo a good purpose especially since i have already paid for the domain. Thank you all for taking time to drop by and read my blog/s.

Happy Easter Monday everyone!

Ziplining at Papa Kit’s

Conquering my fear of heights with my five year old daughter.

Ziplining at Papa Kit’s which is located in my hometown–Liloan.

Virtual Assistants Needed

Working from home is rewarding!

None of the glamour from working in an upscale office but it definitely has some perks. Working from the comfort of your own home office saves you commute time which you can spend instead to bond with your family or catch up on one’s beauty sleep. With the rising price of gasoline, you’ll definitely save hundreds if you work from home. If you don’t own a car, a VA doesn’t have to worry about the PUJ, Vhire, Trisikad, habal-habal or whatever mode of travel there is in her place. A VA can dress up in any fashion if her boss does not require her to be in a webcam.  

If you aspire to become a Virtual Assistant, email me your resume at net[at]i [dot] ph with your Skype ID in the subject of your email. Call center experience is preferred but not necessary.

Maternity Packages in Cebu

There are several  hospitals in Cebu offering maternity packages.

Here’s a partial list:

CHONGHUA HOSPITAL - (6332) 255-8000

Rates:

Normal Delivery:

Cesarian Section: 20,000 - 25,000

25,000 up if with complications

CEBU DOCTOR’S HOSPITAL

PERPETUAL SUCCOUR HOSPITAL

Planning and Saving for 2011

I won’t be having any Starbucks planner for 2011.

Nonetheless, I’m equally happy to have EASTWEST BANK’S green colored 2011 planner. EastWest Bank, which is owned by the Gotianun’s of the Filinvest Group is now open in Mactan. The bank is just a few minutes away from Mactan International Airport. Call (6332) 236 6517 for your banking needs. 

Lesser caffeine, more savings for 2011!

Ginamos Can’t Travel On Go Lite

My cousins Bea and Micah on their first visit to Cebu had our famous ‘Ginamos’ on their pasalubong list. They went to Tabo-an to buy the ginamos and buwad danggit at wholesale rates. Kudos to my sister Rys and her BF for bringing them there. I can’t remember the last time i’ve been to Tabo-an.

At the pre-departure area on their flight back to Manila, the ginamos did catch the attention of Mactan International Airport’s personnel and they were told to buy styro containers even if the bottles were already wrapped in newspaper and plastic bags. The styros cost Php150/each which was 3x the price of the bottled ginamos. I told my cousin to leave the ginamos and we will encase the bottles with styro and have my brother handcarry it when he goes to Manila for a job interview in six days in order to save.

My brother who works for an exporting firm brought a styro container which they use to box accessories for shipment abroad. The bottles were neatly sealed inside the styros ready for its trip to Manila. I got a call Friday night around 10PM, my sister was on the other line telling me  that they need to pay an additional Php300 because my brother was on Cebu Pacific’s go lite fare and the precious ginamos needed to be checked in. I said leave the ginamos behind and let him travel the way i booked him - Go Lite. It was irrational going to Tabo-an with the El Nino heat to save, then pay an exorbitant amount to transport it. 

So this is how i ended up eating ginamos in every meal. I am not really a ginamos-eating bisdak but lately i’ve enjoyed pairing the appetizer with different kinds of food. Yesterday, i had squid and sweet corn with ginamos for lunch. Breakfast this morning was hotdogs and ripe mangoes with ginamos.

The appetizer is now on its week 2 of being the center piece in our dining table. Up until the bottle is empty will we take it off the table. Ginamos anyone?

Kadaugan sa Mactan 2010 (4/24, Saturday)

We attended my hubby’s company summer outing held at EGI Resort in Mactan.

On the way home, we dropped by Mactan Shrine to have dinner. It was a pleasant surprise because the shine was jam-packed with people both locals and foreigners. I bought Yang Chow rice from Waterfront Hotel’s stall at Php50.00 and Squid in Coco Cream from an unknown stall. Hubby had his favorite Crispy Pata and my daughter had hotdog. I hope her Daddy will let her try a variety of foods and not stick to her usual favorites.     

Red Letter Day at Red Kimono

My parent’s celebrated their wedding anniversary by having an intimate dinner for two at Woo Choon, a Korean Restaurant in Flushing Queens, NY.

We also had a sponsored post dinner anniversary celebration at Red Kimono, a Modern Japanese Restaurant in Ayala Terraces, Cebu.

My original plan was for us to dine at The Port Seafood Restaurant where the eat all you can dinner was at Php299 only and comes with lechon in Waterfront Hotel Lahug, but since we were carless, it was more accessible to dine in the mall where there was the convenient v-hire on the way home. Also, while passing Ayala’s Atrium, Aiza Seguerra was singing some love songs. I called my sister to ask if she hasn’t ordered yet but she already did. Too bad, it would have been lovely to hear romantic songs while we ate at Cafe Laguna. It slipped my mind that it was Earth Day and Ayala mall had some entertainment planned for the shoppers. 

I came in late with daughter in tow because i woke up past 5PM already. I worked until about 2PM and needed to get some sleep to soothe my throbbing head. I had my sister choose between Mesa and Red Kimono at the Terraces, both of  which i haven’t tried yet. She chose the latter and we paid an almost equivalent amount in dollars of what my parents paid for their dinner in NY . I  somehow went over the given budget for our sponsored dinner. Our Japanese and Korean looking cousins happened to pass by and we invited them to join us . The dinner for five turned to be a fun dinner for seven, a group looking like a fusion of different Asian Races.

Somehow, my not so little brother didn’t quite enjoy his meal. Either that or he was just getting worried about inheriting the receding hairline of my Dad’s clan. Hubby was not very full either maybe because the serving was too small or the fact then he isn’t into Japanese food. My li’l girl wanted lumpia but of course the restaurant didn’t have it in the menu. The attendant suggested Gyoza but  when i counted the pieces that came with the price, i declined. I can buy around 3 dozens of Siomai sa Tisa with the price. 

Next time we will dine at Larsian instead — as long we handcarry a chocolate Red Ribbbon cake to satisfy my sweet tooth it doesn’t really matter because i am an isaw-eating pinay. =)

Happy Anniversary again to my Mommy and Papa! Thank you so much for our dinner.

Bahay Kubo (Lyrics)

Bahay kubo, kahit munti
Ang halaman doon ay sari-sari.
Singkamas at talong, sigarilyas at mani
Sitaw, bataw, patani.

Kundol, patola, upo’t kalabasa
At saka mayroon pang labanos, mustasa,
sibuyas, kamatis, bawang at luya
sa paligid-ligid ay puro linga.

36 Years and Still Counting…

Happy Anniversary to the loving couple who brought me into this  world!

  i love you Papa and Mommy..

Hoping and praying for our reunion next year.

May you be blessed with more loving years, good health, peace and happiness.

Lunch Escapade at Co Jordan 4.18.2010

My cousin called to invite us for lunch at Co Jordan in Tayud, Consolacion near Poor Clare Monastery.

I was amazed to see the fishing/seafood haven bustling with people. How come it was only my first time at that place when we lived closer to the area than the ones hailing from Cebu City? We waited around  20 to 30 minutes before we finally found a cottage which a group can rent for Php150.

We ate a sumptuous lunch of fried tilapia, prawns, grilled pork belly, lato and mangoes.  We also ordered manggo shake though we brought softdrinks beforehand. I had a cup of chocolate ice cream from the peddler  because my daughter insisted on buying some. She ate more ice cream than rice and viand.

Can’t wait for our next visit!

Pre-school Choices in Northern Cebu

I’m still undecided on where to enroll my daughter for school year 2010-2011. Her Dad wants her to stay at SRCDS in Yati, Liloan until she graduates from pre-school. My daughter wants to stay in the same school too but its a bit far from the place where we will be moving.

I am more inclined to enroll her at The French Maternelle Academy since it’s nearer to Jagobiao. I also have a vested interest in the school since the parents and caregivers get to learn French for free together with the student. My hesitation is that the school patterned their curriculum after France and doesn’t offer Religion. I’d like my daughter to be more grounded in her values at an early age.

My soon to be neighbor at Deca mentioned a new pre-school named Special Gems. The tuition already includes snacks. I still have to visit the school though.

If I could afford it then she would go to Children’s Paradise in Canduman. I attended one of  the open-houses when my daughter was barely three and was quite impressed. They use the Montessori Method of  Teaching which is also my favorite, next to The Waldorf Method that is.

Here’s a list of some schools in Northern Cebu.

1. Dominican School

Pitogo, Consolacion - 5643978

2. Forum for Literacy

Consolacion, Cebu 3466585

3. Inchland Academy (formerly MZed) -PACES method

near Metro Gaisano Mandaue -  2388772

4. Maternelle Academy -

Canduman, Mandaue City - 3442443

5. Sacred Heart School - Jesuits

Canduman, Mandaue City

6. San Roque Child Devt. School -  Montessori

Yati, Liloan, Cebu -  5642992

7. Special Gems

Maguikay, Mandaue - 4206165

8. Tender Minds - Waldorf Method

Pagutlan, Yati, Liloan,Cebu - 4246730

9. Our Lady of Joy

Jugan, Consolacion

10. Divine Life Institute

Yati, Liloan, Cebu

 11. Little Dominic Learning Center - 3452357

Cabahug St., Guizo, Mandaue City

to be continued…

Window Shopping for the House Renovation @ Deca Prime

After updating my PAG-IBIG records yesterday at their Mandaue office, I canvassed for materials for  the house renovation. I also dropped by PLDT to inquire about phone lines and DSL service. I’m quite worried because there are no lines available yet at Deca Prime and an internet connection is a vital requirement for my job as a VA.

I visited the following stores along A.S. Fortuna on foot and via PUJ. I really miss GRT 878 since its hiatus.  

@ CENIT  right beside Starbucks, Benedicto Bldg.

- i found patio and garden lights @ Php1,200 to 1,500 per piece. The sales rep advised me that the casing is made of resin which is more expensive but requires less maintenance and lasts longer since it does not rust. 

@ AM Hardware

- 24″ x 24″ porcelain tiles for the ground floor @ Php158/pc for the color which i preferred, price would depend on the color and the design.  

- laminated wood planks for the 2nd floor. 8 pcs per bundle with free installation

@ Cebu Home Builders

- ready made cabinet doors

It was already 6PM but my window shopping was not done yet.  l decided to drop by Metro Gaisano before heading home. Tried fitting some shoes on sale but the styles which were my size were the last ones on stock. I am now hesitant to buy shoes on display or the last pair because the shoes which are on display usually has a different shade than the one left in the stockroom.

@ Metro

- found some do-it-yourself cabinets made of MDF  in bamboo finish which were on sale ranging from Php1,700 up. I was hesitant to buy it since the house hasn’t been turned-over yet. The sale only lasts until April 18.I have until tomorrow to decide.

I went home with 2 bags of groceries, 7 cupcakes with sugar frosting and a synthetic leather pink wallet at 50% off the price. I wasn’t planning to buy one but i’ve been meaning to have a pink wallet ever since i saw Geum Jandi’s wallet in the Korean TV Series — Boys Over Flower episode which was filmed in Macau. This is my nth wallet with not so much inside but membership and discount cards.  

And you thought this blog was all about house renovation huh?

Too Many Blog Sites

I’ve got too many blogs running on different sites and I’m in a dilemma on which site i  should focus on. Eversince I started working as a VA, i’ve been exploring the internet a lot!

I’m learning more about social media marketing and glad that my client is sending me training materials to be more adept  with my work and contribute to the growth of his business.

The 2010 Planner Search

I’m starting with collecting the 17 stickers to get the 2010 Starbucks Planner.

As of today i have 8 stickers to wit:

2 - coffee with my sistah

4 - treat from Maricar with Star and Ron

2 - from JL and Jem’s date

I’d like the 9 more to be gained from coffee conversations with those close to my heart…

1st Post on My B-day

i just discovered this i.ph blogsite 2 days ago. had i discovered the site earlier then i wouldn’t have searched with other blogsites. for now i’ll stick to i.ph.

launching this site on 10-10.