Friday, December 30, 2016

Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte - Meeting with the Filipino Community in Singapore (16th Dec 2016)

ABBEY: When we heard the news that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will visit Singapore we got excited. We'll be able to see the tough head of state in person. He visited the city-state for two days where he spent some of his time for the Filipino community. Come December 16, we went to Expo and waited for him to stand behind the podium and listen to his speech. The schedule of his arrival is at 6PM, but the gates were opened three hours early. Snacks were given to each guest. It was well organized and no major issue happened.  

His delegation includes:
Philippine National Police Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa
Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Lieutenant Edgardo Año
Senator Allan Peter Cayetano and his wife
Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Pefecto Yasay
Special Assistant to the President Bong Go...and many more.

During the 3-hour wait the audience were entertained with dances and singing by the hosts and performer.
And then the crowd roared when they saw President Duterte coming up on stage.

We were given an instruction to remain quiet and be seated on the duration of his speech. But still some walked here and there disturbing the ones eagerly listening. Some even played back the videos that took early in the program. And it became worst when the excess snacks were given. The organizers started to "shhh" some of our kababayans who wants that brown bag.
Come on, where is the respect? Are you here for the food and for the entertainment only?

Back to President Duterte's speech, he explained about his administration's fight over drugs. He denied that there is extra judicial killing and the salvage-type killings are not of government's work.
His stand is: if you will destroy my people, I will destroy you.

He even did the math of the narco-business which starts at 200Php per user per day. And that is a big number.

He also reiterated his support over the burial of former president Marcos in Libingan ng Mga Bayani. He told that the law states anyone can be buried there if he is a president and/or a soldier in which Marcos was fully qualified. And with regards to the claim that it is false, he called them to submit a case.

He asks for peace and end the hatred.

Internationally, he made quite a scene by slamming US President Obama. He explained that he cannot be reprimanded by anyone as he holds sovereignty except by UN.

He proudly shared that there are no more queues and will be no more in the future for the paper works to be obtained by the citizens. The process will be smooth and clear.

He encourage everyone to be assertive of their rights and wished a merry Christmas.

Now, that's the kind of president you'll be wasting your time to listen.


Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
Meeting with the Filipino Community in Singapore
FREE LIGHT SNACKS
Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
Meeting with the Filipino Community in Singapore
VOLUNTEERS   

Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
Meeting with the Filipino Community in Singapore
16th Dec 2016

WILL: 
Be careful what you wish for... This is my another "sana" (i hope)for this year. Every time my silent hopes were granted, all I can do is smile and murmur "thank you" to HIM. 


Before my year 2016 ends, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte visited Singapore!!! I took an unpaid leave just to see him in person. See! I spend time listening to the President of the Philippines. 

Gosh, the queue was very long. There is discipline and all are enthusiastically waiting for their turn. Not more 30mins I am on my designated seat, second right side. 

Before he arrived at Singapore Expo Pavilion, some of our "kababayans" showed off their talents in music, dancing and even martial arts. The Masters of Ceremony do not let any dull moment pass through. Oh! Even General Bato performed a song for us. It is a happy event! 

President Mayor Duterte got on the stage and Philippines National Anthem was sang. You can see in every Filipino on there the love for our country. No seconds were wasted, Mayor spoke. We laughed and clapped and cheered his name! He thought us how to help the Philippines to get rid of corruption and how big is the drugs business in Philippines (trillions of Peso a month). 

Thanks Mayor Duterte for visiting us! It uplifted our spirit during this holiday season! Mabuhay ang Administrasyong Duterte!

Thursday, December 29, 2016

The Great Wall (Film 2016) - Singapore Premiere Screening

ABBEY: Wow, it is definitely a Christmas gift that we're able to watch The Great Wall starring Matt Damon almost two months before it hits the theaters (globally). 

It's usually been told that the wall was built for protection from raids and human invasions. Or is it really for human invaders only? The movie has its moments of action and comedy. Colorful and uses innovative army tactics and weapons; that's how I'll describe the army. The war scenes are great and intense. 

Watch the movie and you'll see that Tian Jing (Commander Lin Mei) is more than just a pretty face.

Golden Village Gold Class Ticket for
The Great Wall (Film 2016) - Singapore Premiere Screening 

WILL: 
Abbey is well aware that I am fascinated with Egypt's treasure, power and its enigmatic pyramids and of course China's dynasty, empires and specially the Great Wall. So when Matt Damon announced that he will star The Great Wall Film, without second thought, I invited Abbey out. 


This is our December 25th date. He bought the Golden Village Gold Class at VivoCity ticket. 

How the film went? There is no dull moment. Now I know that Great Wall is not just to protect the village inside from intruders but also from other beings. :) 


***
The Great Wall (Film 2016)
Casts
Matt Damon as William Garin
Jing Tian as Commander Lin Mae of the Crane Troop / Nameless Order 
Pedro Pascal as Pero Tovar
Willem Dafoe as Ballard
Andy Lau as Strategist Wang


Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Our Ways to Get Free (or Almost Free) Airline Tickets to USA

ABBEY: Flying to United States for free? Wow. We harnessed the power of our card to collect miles just in time to visit my sister. 

We swiped here and there. Let me make this clear: the miles were accumulated for a number of years. And whenever there is a huge purchase by our friends by cash, we took the cash and then we got our bonus miles without actual spending. 

The miles covered one return ticket. It was a good experience and a very rewarding one. 

Know or befriend your card, spend wisely and reap your reward.


Premiere Citibank Miles

52 Week Money Saving Challenge

WILL: 
Abbey tagged me as a "freeber" (a woman who extremely loves free stuffs) so, pinanindigan ko na! Ha! 

We have a US invite and checked the amount of fare we will be spending on that! And holy molly! It will cost us a fortune for a SIN-CHI-SIN flight. And on that, we look out how to get there for free or almost free. And viola! Seek and you will find, ask and it will be given :) Presenting the Citibank Premiere Miles. Our black credit card :) 

For almost 4 years, we have this card. We charged everything and anything on it. We topped-up our ezLink using that. Abbey and I encouraged our colleagues and friends to use our card on their purchases. Yes! We tag-along to their shopping escapades. We trusted them and no one ran after their bill haha. Actually, I am frantic when they want to settle the bill before the actual payment date. Grrrr.. 

For 119,886 miles piled from the credit card, it is the reason we got a free 2-way (1pax) ticket for our US trip. 

You are thinking how about the fare for the other person? That is when, we opened our 52-week money saving challenge. For another ticket, we spend S$1,631.27 out of our savings. We still have S$600++ pocket money. :) 

But what can we spend in Chicago? We are there not to tour the place but to be a nanny to our Ate Abigail and Kuya Victory! Haha. 

Plan ahead guys! There are STILL free things here on earth. :) You can save a lot of money with proper planning!


***
Citibank PremierMiles Visa - Earn Up to 42,000 Miles*‎
(W) www.citibank.com.sg/PremierMiles‎

You want us to refer you? Kindly pm us on our facebook account the following details: Full Name/Mobile/Email Address

Need a fresh start for your saving habit? Download the 52-week Money Saving Challenge in here!

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Two Men Bagel House

ABBEY: Wilma is a fan of bread. And she was delighted when we dine at Two Men Bagel House (01-12 Icon Village Altez at Enggor Street). They have different flavours of bagels like garlic, rye, multi-grain, black and white sesame and they also have the original or plain one. 

You can ask to put cream cheese, jellies and peanut butter. There are a lot of options to choose from. And then they have bagelwiches. Yup, bagel made into sandwiches. I got their bagelwich of the month: the Yoe. It has roasted lamb slices, coconut red curry, onions and tomatoes. The toasted bagel is crunchy and flavorful. It will be messy but worth it. My meal costs $14.00 and it came with a cup of coffee. Only NETS and cash are accepted.


Menu

Porkey

Two Men's Special

The Yoe


WILL: Abbey is ecstatic that he will be presenting to me the newly repaired engagement ring. We agreed to meet at Two Men Bagel House, few steps away from my office. 

I ordered Porkey at the counter. It was consisted of tomatoes, bratwurst and melted cheese, garlic aioli and egg (S$8.90). Once we are settled and while waiting Abbey threw a second engagement. Haha. The ring is exquisite (see our  separate blog here). Food arrived and we dug in. What's the taste? Not your ordinary "burger". Bagel is firm and the taste of bratwurst complements well with other ingredients. 

Oooh! The guy behind the cashier (I think he is the owner) is handsome and friendly. Haha! 

Abbey always proposes to me with the food that I love. First at pizza now at bagel shop. Now I am thinking where will be the next? ;) 

Two Men Bagel House are very recommendable. And it is a must try at Tanjong Pagar area. You will fall in love with their food. 



***
Two Men Bagel House
(A) 16 Enggor Street Icon Village Altez #01-12
(T) 6509 4125
(W) http://www.twomenbagels.com/

(H) Weekdays - 8am - 7pm or Sell out
Weekends - 9am - 6pm or Sell out
Public Holidays - 9am - 6pm

Monday, December 19, 2016

Ateneo School of Government: Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship (LSE) Batch 38 Singapore

ABBEY: Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship is a program of Ateneo School of Government to empower Filipinos worldwide to become entrepreneurs with social responsibility and at the same to become leaders of their own teams. 

It is a 6-month program (10 sessions / 1 every two weeks). The fee is 300SGD but for the Household Service Workers it is half the price. All students are required to finish their journals, final essay (your LSE journey), and presentation of business plan. 

A certificate of completion will be given once the requirements are met. Yes, there is a commencement exercises at the end. 

I learned a lot from this program and I recommend this to my friends. Thanks Ateneo. Now I can wear those Blue Eagle jackets :)



Ateneo School of Government: Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship 
(LSE) Batch 38 Singapore - Graduation (November 20, 2016)

Ateneo School of Government: Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship (LSE) Batch 38 Singapore 


WILL: Yes! Not only our gadgets are being upgraded, but also ourselves. 1st week of January, I attended Peng Joon's Internet Income Intensive  and almost end of the year Abbey graduated from Ateneo School of Government: Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Course. Naks! Atenista na! 

Unlike the 3-day seminar I attended. This LSE was stretched for almost half of the year. It is only held on Sundays to accommodate all the Filipino working group here in Singapore. I can see in Abbey's eyes the excitement every time he has a class on the following day. He will check his drinks and candies (baon) and looking forward to their lunch. 

When he got home, he is full of stories! Haha! How to do this and how he calculated our financial standing. It is astonishing that we are pretty far from what we should achieve. But it is okay, at least we know our target. 

LSE only not taught my husband on finance side, as promised, they honed my husband's leadership skills. 

Thanks LSE. hoping for more and more people for you to teach. Thanks for helping not only the OFWs achieved their goals but be a good steward to the blessing they are receiving and being a help to each's community. 

Viva Ateneo! Viva LSE! 


***
Ateneo School of Government: Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Course - Singapore Batch
2017 Batch Starts on: February 19
Venue: Bayanihan Centre - 43 Pasir Panjang Road
Kindly send email to: lsesg47@gmail.com



Saturday, December 17, 2016

Holiday Inn® Singapore Atrium Restaurant - Dinner Buffet

ABBEY: We had our send-off party for Gil and Noel at Holiday Inn Atrium. It is a dinner buffet. 

They have BBQ pork ribs (it slides off the bone) and chicken, slow-cooked salmon (had to come back twice for this), sushi, sashimi, roasted lamb leg, and Thai beef noodles. 

I also tried their kiddie meal: red sauce pasta and pizza. For dessert I got ice kachang and ice cream. It was a feast. But when the BBQ pork ribs ran out, it was not replenished. 

We had a good time; good stories and good meal. By the way we availed their one for one promo.



WILL: No, it is not a farewell party. It is just a send-off to our friends. An "all-the best for your future endeavours" party. We gave them choices where to pig-out and they selected the dinner buffet at Holiday Inn Atrium.

As soon as we arrived at the venue, Abbey took videos and started eating. For only $45.90nett we feasted on that dinner. I am not sure how many times I stand to get food for my plate. Haha. My favourite? Their sushi topped with mayonnaise and their ever tender grilled pork. I never had a pork like that. But be alert, it is easily refilled and you will never know it is all gone. Yikes! This is the only buffet that I know that I ate a rice. Grilled pork and fried rice. Perfect!

Plate after plate, we chatter about the next plans in our life, on career and on being an investors. Their tea, coffee is bottomless. They enjoyed a dessert that comes up with a ball of alcoholic drink. :)

We went home with full stomach. Happy belly again!




***
Holiday Inn® Singapore Atrium
(A) 317 Outram Road Singapore 169075 
(T) +65 6733 0188
(E) hiatrium@ihg.com

One-day advance reservation required. For enquiries and reservations, please call (65) 6731 7172.

1-for-1 Promotion*

Weekday
Adult
Lunch SGD52++
Dinner SGD78++

Kids 6 to 12 years old 
Lunch DGD20++
Dinner SGD29++

Weekend
Adult
High-Tea SGD58++
Dinner SGD88++

Kids 6 to 12 years old
High-Tea SGD20++
Dinner SGD 34++

Kids 5 years and below - Free

Thursday, December 15, 2016

More Than Diamonds (Handcrafted Jewellery)

ABBEY: The diamond on the engagement ring I gave to Wilma became loose. At first I planned to have it fix once we go back to Philippines since I bought it there. But Wilma tried to search for a jeweler in Singapore so she can wear her ring again. That's when we knew about the service of More Than Diamonds. 

We went to their showroom at Tanglin Road (131 Tanglin Road, #02-16 Tudor Court, Singapore 247924). And it's closed. Visiting is only by appointment and we didn't have that. Seeing there's somebody inside, Wilma knocked at the door and Chris greeted us. He didn't shoo us away but instead welcomed us and asked how can he be of service. We told the ring's story and he examined it. He quoted us 110SGD to fix the broken claw that holds the stone and for plating. He searched for unique marks in the diamond for us to make sure that it is still our diamond when we come back. I also learned that you can put laser inscription on it. Wow. 

After two weeks of waiting, I was amazed of the beauty of the ring; all cleaned and sparkling. Thanks Chris and team.  More Than Diamonds is literally more than diamonds. They know the value of their clients and their clients' precious possessions.


Second Proposal? Ha! 

WILL: 
 OMGGGG!!!! I am on shock when I examined the diamond clinging for its life on my engagement ring. That is when we are at Centara Ras Fushi. Imagine, if I didn't notice it, the whole vacation in Maldives will be ruined because of such lost. Blessed to detect just on time. 

While Abbey is taking a nap, I can't control myself to look for an expert help. I found More Than Diamonds in facebook and right there and then, I send them private message. Surprisingly minutes passed and someone replied on me. 

Abbey and I scheduled it to be done by November. Yes, 3 months after. Yes, we have a very busy schedule. For that 3 months I feel so incomplete. Haha! 

November 14, we went to their office, without appointment (please book a schedule) we are just lucky that we were accommodated by Chris that time, maybe he feels my desperation about the ring, haha. 

Chris educated us about the diamond. That it has a birthmark and you can encrypt some messages inside (isn't cool?). Then, he found out that one of 4 tower that hold the diamond was cut-off. He charged my husband for $110.00 for cleaning, plating and repair. 

Weeks after, Abbey proposed again to me, using the same ring. Haha. So kilig! 

Thanks More Than Diamond for saving one of the most precious thing in our married life. 




***
More Than Diamonds (Handcrafted Jewellery) 
(A) 131 Tanglin Road #02-16 Tudor Court (S) 247924
(E) info@morethandiamonds.com.sg
(W) http://www.morethandiamonds.com.sg/