OMG!!! I'm In! Again!!!

I just got this screenshot message from my email:

I can't contain my excitement!!!  That's just more than a month away from now!  OMG!!!

This will be my 3rd time to attend the Blogapalooza.  This time, on November 18, 2017, it will be in City of Dreams Manila.  The 1st one was in SM Aura about four years ago.  The 2nd one was in One Esplanade about two years ago.  And now! OMG!!!

A Taste of Sky-High Luxury

my view onboard

Unfortunately, I had unpleasant experiences right before I boarded the Emirates plane in Manchester, United Kingdom, and after I landed in Manila, Philippines.  That, I will talk about in another post.. but in the meantime, allow me to reminisce my recent business class experience aboard the Emirates airline.
It started when I was about to board the plane in Dubai.  Few hours before, I was already frantic that I might miss my connecting flight from Dubai to Manila as my flight in Manchester was already delayed by about an hour.  FYI, I had a very short layover in Dubai (about 2 hours, I guess) that any delay will surely have repercussion.  And I was supposed to make my last-minute shopping in Dubai airport - that drone that I had been eyeing on.  (Sigh!)

Since I was assured by the stewardess that I would still be able to make it to my connecting flight, I did not bother to move fast on my way to the boarding gate.  True enough, I saw my co-passengers still waiting in line for their turn.  I heard that my zone was called and I walked passed them and found myself next in line.  I was nervous when I saw  the assigned crew checked on the weight of every carry-on bag.  I tried to tell the crew that I had an overweight bag but she just dismissed me in haste.  (Another sigh!)

When I presented my boarding pass to the 2nd crew-in-charge, she immediately exchanged it with another one and to my surprise, it was labeled as business class!  Whoa!

my appetizing appetizer

As much as I would like to document every detail of my luck, I could not do so as my cellphone battery was already draining out.  I was able to take a few pictures only in-between my movie marathon and naps.  I didn't even bother to stand up and check out their cocktail bar for some sips as I was too comfortable either watching a movie or snoozing halfway through the flight.

Too bad, the 9-hour flight was too short for me to savor the so-called luxurious journey. :(

my deserting dessert

Miles..

I have mentioned in my other blog that due to unbelievably peak-season ticket fares, I might just take a RORO or SuperFerry just to reach my hometown in time for Christmas.  (I'm not kidding! Maybe a little adventure is what I really need..)

Well, I've thought of another option.  That is, to use the Mabuhay Miles I earned from riding PAL planes.  It wasn't that much though considering that I rarely travel nowadays and if I do travel, PAL is no longer a practical choice.

Thus, without further delay I dialed the customer service and the first problem (take note, it's just FIRST of many) I encountered was that there is no PAL plane servicing Surigao.  In other words, I do not have any recourse but to take the Butuan route.

Next problem: they no longer have slots for economy class, only for business class.  As I was wondering what a smaller plane could provide to business class passengers, I innocently asked, what's the difference? Accordingly, I will have a special seat and more leg room.  I thought to myself, who cares?  And I would be using an additional 2,000 miles for that?  Not worth it.  If only they would at least offer a front view of the horizon, say, a seat at the cockpit.  Hehehe

3rd problem:  I am short of almost 3,000 miles!  How's that?  I almost fell from my chair.  How could that be?  When I checked my latest statement of account sent to my email about four months ago, here's what I found out:

I lost 728 miles!  I would not have allowed it to happen had it not that at that time, I was so busy with everything.  Tsk! Tsk!

It's only 728 miles anyway, I consoled myself.  But when I checked my account online, I realized I did not only lose 728 miles but a total of 2,767 miles! Whooa!  That's more than enough to cover my shortage of miles!

There's no use crying over spilled milk.  And so, I told the customer service representative that I will just have the points, earned from using my HSBC credit card, converted to Mabuhay Miles.

Now for the 4th problem, I can't have the reservation made not unless I have enough miles from my account.  In other words, they will have to wait for the points-to-miles conversion.

5th problem:  Processing of conversion will take at least ten days.

 

6th problem:  They cannot assure me if there will still be available slots after ten days.

Now, therefore, I, Gay, might... just... take... the RORO! Huhuhu! Hehehe! ;)

Reminiscing Pre-Ondoy...

Exactly a year ago, Metro Manila residents woke up to a rainy morning not knowing that something extraordinary will happen later that day.  I, on the other hand, was almost tempted not to attend my 7am class that day.  But then, just thinking of my favorite teacher (hi Mr. Jovy! harharhar!), made me jumped from my bed, rushed to school and took my teacher's challenge (well, that's another story).

It was almost 1130am when we received an announcement that classes will be suspended effective 12nn.  Since our teacher gave all kinds of lame alibis he could think of just to excuse him from giving us a lecture, we were idle for more than an hour while impatiently waiting for class dismissal.

At noontime, I decided to take my lunch at KFC-Guadalupe before going home.  I was supposed to meet a friend at SM Mall of Asia but at the last minute, I backed out.  Aside from the bad weather, I was restless as I slept late the night before and woke up so early that morning.  Hence, what I desperately needed at that moment was, SLEEP.

Guess what happened on my way home? Stay tuned! :)

Luggage I Found

I recently lost a traveling bag.  I realized how important it is after it was gone.  That 12-year old bag had its sentimental value to me.  I was still connected with my first job then at a private auditing firm in Cebu when I bought it for a month-long training in Makati.

Being thrifty that I always am, it took me days before I finally decided to have it for myself.  That Voyager bag was my first so-called investment as I spent more than 2.5 grand (US$53) for it.  Cheap?  If based on today's standards, yes!  But going back 12 years before, it was already expensive for me considering that I was still striving as a new associate then.

Fast forward, I recently went to 168 Shopping Mall.  I chanced upon this shop which sells traveling bags.  I found this red trolley bag which can also serve as backpack and overnight bag.  It was priced at P1,500 (US$32) but I was able to haggle and save 40% off the regular price!  That's what I love about shopping in 168 Shopping Mall!  It is where you learn to polish the art of haggling.

That bag was cute alright, but it was too small for a traveling bag.  I still miss my old bag...


Now, I'm planning to purchase a new traveling bag.  This time I would like a real big trolley bag, which I can use when I go on vacation for a week or more.  As with my old bag, it should be durable enough to hold my voluminous clothes as up to now, I still don't know how to travel light.  But most importantly, price should be reasonable so as not to ruin my budget for a grand vacation.

When would that be?  Maybe soon...? ;)

Metro Manila Is Getting Hotter

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) reported that at around 4pm yesterday, May 19, weather in Metro Manila sizzled at 37.5 degree Celsius.  Accordingly, this is the highest ever recorded for this year.

Well, that's still 1 point below the highest temperature of 38.5 degree Celsius experienced in Metro Manila.  It was on May 14, 1987 (still, same month and only five days apart, huh?).  That, is nothing compared to the hottest temperature in Philippine history which was recorded at 42.2 at Tuguegarao, Cagayan, on May 11, 1969.

By the way, I just heard on TV (I wasn't watching, fyi) that a military trainee just died in Isabela (is that part of Cagayan province?) because of heatstroke.  Several others suffered severe dehydration.  As a result, the authorities there has decided to shorten the training hours of the trainees.

Hey, what about those traffic enforcers, sanitary aides, etc. who are working under the heat of the scorching sun?  I can only imagine what they have been going through...

tagaytay invades manila!

brrr! i found myself almost freezing when i woke up at around 6 o'clock this morning. yeah, "freezing" is somewhat a little bit exaggerated. hehehe. but, at this moment, i could not find any words to describe what i felt at that time.

i was even more surprised when i checked the temperature upon my arrival in the office. 21 degrees celsius! still that low at 830am?! that's the lowest temperature i've ever monitored since i transferred here in manila.

but then, tv patrol reported that manila had experienced 18 degrees celsius more than a week ago. i could say that, that still holds true to this day as i imagined how i buried myself in a bed full of pillows few minutes before reality dragged me up to my senses just this morning.

yesterday, i was strolling along the neighborhood when the cool breeze joined me in. i suddenly exclaimed (to my mind, of course!), this is just like tagaytay!

oh my! i miss my life in tagaytay! (sigh...)

Buhay Coke Bloggers Party

Hi! I am back in manila again! But before i could tell you all about my vacation at my beloved hometown, surigao, let me share with you an e-invitation i got from jomar hilario.

There will be a Coke Bloggers Party tomorrow, August 8, 2008 at Taste Asia (beside SM Hypermart), Mall of Asia, Pasay City. The party will start rolling at 6pm and will end at 12noon the following day.

I am so excited! Free-flowing food, drinks (especially my favorite, coke zero!), and more surprises awaits partygoers! What else can you ask for in this great event?!

Interested? Join me!!!

(inset shows the recent party held at the same venue. for more pics, please click these links: Pinoy Life at Large and Aethen.