A memorable vacation in Dumaguete and Siquijor (before lockdown)

Last March 6-9 2019, I had an awesome adventure with my fellow momshies: Carine, Maymay, Luma, and Abby together with Jolie, Sir Carl and Sir Louie in the island of Negros Oriental. At least, I ticked off some of my dream destinations before I leave the Philippines!

At first, I was so sorry I turned down their invitation due to personal reasons, but when I realized this is an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed, I told them to count me in and prepared myself for the trip.

GOING TO DUMAGUETE, THE CITY OF GENTLE PEOPLE

I’m from Alegria, Cebu and I’ve heard so many positive feedbacks about Dumaguete City.

This is our Dumaguete Itinerary:

·       11 PM – 6 AM We went to Cebu South Bus terminal and waited for the 11PM Ceres bus going to Bato Port (via Oslob) to get us in a RORO, a vehicle vessel ship. It was a long ride that took us approximately 5 hours to arrive at Dumaguete bus terminal. We had rented a car for the eight of us with Lumarie as our driver of the day.

·         6 AM – 7 AM Bag drop off at the Pethouse

We dropped our bags at the Pethouse, which I must say a very wonderful bed and breakfast accommodation. It was homey and the owner was hospitable. Needless to say, they have an adorable dog named Blue who greeted us with a happy bark. We ate our cup noodles for breakfast and I took a refreshing morning shower before we started our first destination.

Dumaguete is not a big city so we just explored it in just a day.

·        10 AM – 10:45 AM Smokey Mountain, Valencia, Negros

Unfortunately, the weather was unfavorable due to a low pressure area but it didn’t stop us from going to our first destination. It was lucky that Carine brought her bluetooth microphone for us to sing-along during the road trip. Before we reached the place, we stopped by a convenience store for coffee. Truly, as we went to Smokey Mountain, there was a NATURAL TOXIC GAS sign. The gloomy weather was a good thing since the geothermal vents produced more sulfuric smoke on dark. Even though it was drizzling, we still took group pictures and carefully climbed the top of the yellow barrier. One thing that should keep in mind is that it is a landslide prone area so extra precaution should be observed.

·         10:45 AM – 12:00 PM The forest Camp

This tropical resort is fascinating! So many greens around! Being a nature lover, I was enraptured by its scenic beauty. A paradise! I love how the place was developed and we got awesome pictures at some of the locations of the resort. I love the lush rainforest and the cauldron shaped pools. There was a hanging wooden bridge too! I would like to thank Maymay for her exceptional photography skills! With her, we had awesome pics.

·         12:00 PM -1:00 PM Lunch in a carinderia near Tejero resort.

We kept on reminding ourselves that we are on a tight budget so for now, we decided to stop by a carinderia. We ordered their homecooked meals and  asked ‘Ate’ to cook corned beef and scrambled eggs. We had a satisfying lunch at a cheaper price.

·         1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Pulangbato falls.

Too bad some of my comrades were tired of trekking to Casaroro falls so we just decided to take a quick visit to the soothing waterfall of Pulangbato and true to its name, the rocks are rustic because of the sulfur.

·         2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Red Rock Sulfur Hot Spring

At first, I was bothered to take a dip in to the yellowish and cloudy water but as I watched other tourists enjoying, I gave it a try. The bath was so relaxing and I thought that the warm sulfur water is good for the skin. It relieved my back pain.

·         4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Tierra Alta Resort

We made a side trip to this Santorini-inspired mountainside clubhouse. It is a perfect venue for social gatherings and pre-nup pictorials. The pavilion in its clean whites and royal blues speak of the Greek vibe. There is a lighthouse offering an aerial view of the luscious greens of Valencia highlands. With our matchy Polo shirts, we had a good time taking group pictures.

·         6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Gabby’s bistro

We wrapped the day trip with a sumptuous feast. Gabby’s is a European themed restaurant and the vintage ambiance added to the beauty. I was impressed to each of the menus for it has its own stories. They are known for their baby back ribs. When we were waiting for our orders, we spent taking pictures . I was able to taste all my colleague’s dishes. They were very delectable.

·         8:00 PM – 8:30 PM Sans Rival Bakery

Before we bought our tickets going to Cebu, we stopped by Sans Rival Bakery, the famous bakery in Dumaguete and bought our pasalubongs to our loved ones. I bought Silvanas. These are frozen buttercream cookies that are covered with crumbs. This is the signature delicacy of Dumaguete

·         8:30 PM – 9:00 PM Rizal Boulevard

Just near the port, we passed by the Rizal Boulevard at night and saw the oldest American university, the Silliman University. I marvelled the stretch of bright lampposts giving a vibrant atmosphere to chill and hangout with friends. As we were on our way to buy tickets going to Siquijor, I witnessed the beautiful sunrise at the heart of the city.

·         9:00 PM onwards Shower and rest

We were not satisfied with our bath from Red Rock so we showered once again to make sure we’re clean before going to bed. We drawed lots as to who’s gonna be bedmates. I and my ‘fierce’ mentor Sir Carl got the same number. Hahaha. We got the chance to chat with Thea in Missouri.

GOING TO SIQUIJOR, THE ISLA DEL FUEGO OF THE PHILIPPINES

Linked as a mysterious island of witchcraft and exorcism but for me, Siquijor is paradise. A remote island blessed with natural resources such as white sand beaches, waterfalls with luscious greenery, and iconic landmarks. We headed our way to Siquijor a day after. The moment we landed to the port, I already knew that there’s more to discover in Siquijor!

·         7:00 AM – 8:45 AM Ferry boat ride from Dumaguete to Siquijor

It took 1 hour and 45 minutes on a ferry to reach the island of Siquijor and this time, we had rented a jeep with a driver. Luma can now enjoy the coastal tour.

·         8:45 AM – 10:00 AM Larena Triad Restaurant and Coffee Shop

It was a good way to start our Siquijor escapade. Kuya driver suggested that we take our late breakfast at this restaurant. We arrived at Larena Triad at around 10 AM and we ordered foods from their menu. While waiting to be served, we enjoyed the vast expanse of Siquijor as well as the vantage view of the islands of Cebu and Bohol. The relaxing ambiance and spectacular view deck of the restaurant was marvellous. The foods were superb! We relished in a hearty brunch of their Sisig and Pansit. We had the chance to call Divina in Australia while we’re eating too.

·         10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Paliton Beach, San Juan, Siquijor

It took us 30 minutes to get into this hidden paradise. This postcard perfect white sand beach is lined with palm trees. I changed my outfit to have an awesome pic. You need not to worry if you don’t have someone to take pics of you because there are locals who will do it for you but for a fee of course. They would even teach you how to pose! I enjoyed swinging on the tree swing tied to a palm tree as Kuya took a picture of me.

·         1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Old Enchanted Balete Tree

The mystical tree surrounded with vines is said to be 400 years old, making it look more enchanted. But the catch is this, there’s a small pool at the base of the Balete tree for a foot spa. I found it enjoyable as I dipped my feet into the pool and fishes started to eat the dead skin off my feet! It tickled me. I sat still so the fishes nibbled my skin. We bought ice candy to beat the humidity and I chose the vanilla flavor.

·         2:00 PM – 2:30 PM Hapitanan

Since Siquijor is known for witchcraft and dark magic. We didn’t miss the opportunity to stop by Hapitanan and take a photo of us flying with a broomstick! The movie Harry Potter came into the picture. The volunteer’s photographic skills are commendable, we got awesome photos of flying to the sky! I also had the chance to have a photo op of their garden with the stunning overlooking view as my background.

·         2:30 PM – 3:00 PM San Isidro Labrador Parish, Siquijor

It is also known as the Lazi Church. This century-old Baroque church is well maintained and surely stood the test of time. Its architecture is compelling, showing how prestigious it was during the Spanish colonial era. When we went there, there was a pre-nup session.

·         3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Cambuhagay Falls

The place is most-visited by foreign tourists and I must say that this is the most epic waterfalls ever! During our visit, the tourists enjoyed cliff jumping. It is a 3-tiered cascading aquamarine waterfall where flowing rock pools and swimming holes are located. They have bamboo rafts and this improvised rope swing called the ‘tarzan swing’ in which I took the courage to try it, not just once, but thrice! Good thing, there were locals ready to assist us from the moment we swung till we splashed our way to the water. I unleashed the dare-devil in me as it was my first time to jump that 10 feet high! I even dared myself to jump a level higher but unfortunately as kuya let go of me, I couldn’t grip the swing handle anymore resulting to an epic fail jump. My chest hurt but I decided to give another try to make use of this exciting moment.

·         5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Salagdoong beach

Sir Lou dared to jump that 35 feet high cliff. I and the rest of the group remained watching. I am not a swimmer and I thought that jumping in Cambuhagay falls was enough of an experience.

·         6:30 PM onwards Glamping at Aquamare Beach Camp Resort

This was our last destination to unwind from the whole day’s fun adventure. The inside of the dome-shaped teepee style tents are very functional. It features a cozy atmosphere! The tents are air-conditioned with appliances such as television and water heater plus free wifi connection. The bathrooms had clean towels and toiletries. It could accommodate more than four people since it was spacious.

We enjoyed plunging the pool as we played message relay. As we ate our dinner, we were serenaded by the band and had a good time. Jolie and the rest were so insistent that I sing before the session ends so I just gave in and sang one of my favorite jamming songs, Para sa akin by Sitti Navarro. You know what, I felt great after the performance. There I realized that somehow, there are still people who come to appreciate my talent. I love how supportive they are to me.

Of course, we had ‘Tagay sessions’ once again and Carine opened some topics for us to discuss. The night grew and as usual, I was still sane. The vodka didn’t knock me off as I still managed to go back to our tent, woke my sleeping roommates, and dozed off.

We spent our remaining time in Aquamare before checkout by plunging the pool and pictorials. We checked out at 12 noon.

On our way to Cebu…

As we embarked in a barge and the bus going to Cebu City, we were dead tired. I slept in the bus and so was my seatmate, Sir Carl.

After a long ride, we arrived at the Cebu South Bus Terminal. Carine and Abby were night shiftees so they have to catch the time.

That was the last time I saw my colleagues as each of us parted ways. Well, that was the end of my CebuDoc journey and I’m really thankful for the company of momshies and some of my colleagues there.

Also, I was very thankful that we were able to go back home before the lockdown. I couldn’t imagine if we were stuck there with the little budget that we have.

One thing that I must add in this trip is that I find the locals in both towns friendly and accommodating. We were so unfortunate that we were able to witness how beautiful these places before the lockdown. This has been one of the memorable travels so far. If a given a chance, I would like to visit Dumaguete and Siquijor again with my family in the future.

My first days in America

The moment we landed at Sioux Gateway Airport, I was nervous. At last, I'm gonna meet our HR who we have constant communication with. Her name is Amy. When we saw her outside, we were not so sure if that was her but when we approached her, it was confirmed. My nervousness faded away as she greeted us warmly and helped to load our bags at the back of her car. When she drove us going to the hospital (coz this is where we'll spend our quarantine) I should say she's a very outgoing person. She was delighted to show us the places around Sioux City. 

Upon arriving, we went to the  Levitt Guesthouse located at the 4th floor of the hospital. She showed us our room and I saw a set of scrubs and a T-shirt placed on the table. She was so welcoming as she said that we call her if we need anything.

While staying in the hospital's guesthouse, I couldn't ask for more: a wonderful accommodation (because of the suite room) with free meals, TV, and unlimited WiFi connection. 

As the days passed, here are the things I've observed and I'm still very amused:

• Speaking of free meals, sumptuous meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)  are delivered at 8am, 12noon, and 6pm. Honestly, the big portions are hard to finish for my small tummy. and more and more I miss rice.
• Since we are under quarantine, we monitor our temperatures and it's not in Celsius but in Fahrenheit. From morning, mid-day to night. They are not into metric system here.
• We looked for apartments and I took the courage to call each one of them. I'm thankful the receptionists that I talked to were kind and considerate because there are times I couldn't get my English right.
• I found the nights here weird because it doesn't get dark until 9PM, way much different from the Philippines where we take our dinner at 7PM because it's dark already.
• It is our first time to use the thermostat to adjust the airconditioner's temperature and we were terrified to hear some cracking sounds from the ceiling. At first, we were worried and because of this, we phoned a friend just to make sure if it's alright.
• I found the hot baths refreshing! 
• If you want to cross the street, you need to press the button so the pedestrian lane is free for you to cross
• We went to a nearby convenience store, HyVee and I was glad that I already have 20, 50 bills and coins as change
• In Walmart, we were introduced to the self-check out feature of the store. We used a credit card for that.
• A box of milk is always present on meal times and  we have lots of it inside our fridge
• I'm starting to like pepper because it gives more flavor to the food.

I know there are lots of things that I need to discover in America but this is all for now. I have more to learn.

Buhay OFW 101: Videocalling is the new normal

Until now, it is still new to me to use Messenger as one way to communicate with my family. I still wish I could fly back home and be with them. Whenever I speak to them online, I want to hug them. I miss them so much I was just holding back my tears. 

Usually they are the ones who call me because I can accept it immediately. Adjustments to time has to be made because we are in different timezones already. I'm awake in US while it's nighttime in the Philippines.We usually talk in the morning and in the afternoon before I sleep. Well, I could talk for hours with them about everything under the sun but the most important is, we keep on reminding each other to pray and take care of ourselves. My heart is glad when I see my family smiling as we exchange jokes. My family still laughs at my corny jokes, one thing that I miss the most.

I think I need to get used to messenger now. With technology, communication is made convenient. My homesickness was lessened. I get to see them and talk to them in real time and the difference is only distance. I can't wait till I finish my contract and rush home.

Weird night times in America

JUST SHARING - I just find it weird that the sun sets longer in America than in the Philippines. On my first day in US, I was just shocked to find out that there's still sun at 7 PM! I remember that in the Philippines, 7 PM is already dark and people already gathered in their homes to eat supper. Honestly, this is one of the reasons why I still can't adjust my body clock. Usually the sun sets in America by 9 PM and starts to get dark at 10PM. So strange! When I was in the Philippines, I am asleep by 10 PM but now my bedtime is 12 in the midnight. What I need to improve is my bedtime schedule. I hope I could adapt here immediately..

Cindy the MT's Timeline to American Dream

Hello Guys, I'm gonna put my timeline of experience here from the time I worked as a medical technologist in the Philippines up until I got hired in the US. The journey towards fulfilling my American dream was very difficult but with God, it was made possible.

Here started my journey as a medical laboratory scientist:

• May 2015 - graduated with Bachelor's degree in Medical Technology at Southwestern University
• September 2015 - passed Medical Technology Licensure exam 
• October 2015 to April 2016 - worked at THCDC (freestanding laboratory) 
• February 2016 - Certified Drug Analyst 
• April 18, 2016 - got hired by CDUH (300 bed capacity tertiary hospital) 
• Whole 2017 - WARDING (phlebotomy department) days, review for ASCPi and work, work, work to earn for my certification exams 
• Whole 2018 - Rotated in Hematology, Clinical Microscopy, Blood Banking 
• April 26, 2018 - passed MLS ASCPi exam 
• June 2018- sent my Transcript of Records to be evaluated by JSILNY 
• February 23, 2019 - passed IELTS exam 
• March - June 2019- Visascreen processing period until certified 
• May 2019 - Got hired as a Part time drug analyst at an LTO accredited drug testing facility 
• June- August 2019 - Job searching for MT positions in the US thru Internet 
• August 2019 - Rotated in Special and Routine Chemistry 
• September 2019 - employer called me for an interview
• October 2019 - got hired and accepted their job offer (direct-hired) 
• November 2019 - commencement of H-1B processing including approval of LCA 
• December 2019 - approval of H-1B petition 
• January 2020 - US embassy interview and approval of my H-1B visa 
• February 2020 - POLO contract processing 
• March 2020 - POEA processing, OEC issuance 
• March 2020 to June 2020 - Deployment delayed due to COVID pandemic. 
• July 7, 2020 - finally arrived at Sioux City, Iowa, USA!

Although, there was a delay in my US employment but it didn't make me feel disappointed and instead I put my firm trust to God that everything's gonna be alright. Because of the COVID outbreak I also understand the company's concern to halt the deployment since it's also risky to put our lives in danger. Much more the number of cases are still up and there's no vaccine yet as of this writing. During the lockdown period, I spent my time doing the things that I love and enjoying the remaining my time with my family. I believe that everything has a reason. 

Well, the primary formula of my timeline is patience. I learned to be patient because I need to work for my family. God is my provider. I also took part time for reliever jobs to augment for my certification exams. I realized that nothing's good with rushing things because it will just produce bad outcomes. 

I hope that this blog will inspire you to never stop dreaming! Keep working on your dreams and put your strong faith in God. He is a good companion. He will never leave you in the process. Believe in yourself as well!

A DREAM THAT COMES WITH A COST

Everything God is preparing for you is worth the wait. 

Finally my dream has started to realize. July 1, when I found out that our employer had already rebooked our ticket, mixed emotions felt. A feeling of happiness and at the same time anxiety took over. When I told my family that I already had a flight scheduled, my mother was grateful and she told me to get hurry in complying the travel requirements.

Although Papa was not feeling well but I can feel the immense support he has given me as he drove me to the places I needed to go just for my medical certificate and travel pass. I should say that getting these travel documents were a hassle because of the retained ECQ status in Cebu City. 

As I look at my itinerary, I couldn't help feeling nervous. Five flights were not a joke, The Cebu-Manila-Incheon-San Francisco-Chicago-Sioux City route was bothersome but I need to survive them all. Although it was very hard to leave my family but I needed to do it in order to support my sister's education.  

It was Sunday, 1 o'clock in the afternoon. I was finalizing the things in my luggage. Then came the painful moment that I need to go. As I hugged my crying Mum, I couldn't hold back my tears. I let the tears flowed down on my cheeks. It will be long until I can smell her fragrant smell again. I hugged Kenneth and Cherry as well. I was really emotional and I immediately went inside the car for I couldn't take the bitter reality of leaving home. Leaving home was painstaking but it is about time.

During the travel to the airport, I was so silent to father. I don't know what else to say although I know Pup was also holding back his emotions. We arrived at the airport and unloaded my baggage from the back. How I wanted to hug him but he seemed to be in a haste. He was making the quick drop off an excuse. The last time I remembered was I gave a kiss on his cheek and he drove away after that.

Now I know that there's no turning back anymore and I went on pushing my cart loaded with my baggage inside the airport.

To someone who has never flown overseas, to me, this is a new experience. This is a new adventure to unravel. 

Our first stop was Manila and our flight to Korea was on the next day so we spent a night at Gatchalian Guesthouse which was a comfortable stay. The guesthouse served us a delicious beef tapa for breakfast.

I just kept myself strong and kept on praying to God for a safe flight every time the plane takes off. Honestly, I was feeling dizzy during those flights and there were times that the delicious food that flight attendants were serving lost its appeal. 

I thank God that Maymay was my traveling buddy. She knows everything and for that, I am very proud of her! With all the connecting flights and boarding gates that we need to catch, I just couldn't imagine myself walking around the big airports of Incheon and asking airport authorities for directions. She's so impressive. I was thankful she was so patient to me because as I said, this is my first international flight. 

Flying with Asiana Airlines was very satisfying. Honestly, I was so anxious with our 12-hour flight from South Korea to San Francisco. At this time, I was dizzy. Good thing there were few passengers so we had the chance to have have the whole row by ourselves so we can lie to sleep. The lights were turned off so I had a wonderful rest.

July 6, 2020, when I landed the American soil. I couldn't hide the excitement and I cried in silence as I thought that what was once a dream came into reality. As the plane landed, I said to myself that this is it! It is time to live with my dream! Suddenly I got homesick remembering my family but then they are the reason why I'm working hard to reach my goal.

I was able to witness two of the biggest airports in the United States: the San Francisco International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport. These airports have different architectural designs but I like the latter because it is easier to navigate. While we were spending our layovers, I also fed my eyes with the amazing view of the airports: lots of signature stores and I wish that someday I'm gonna buy some of the designer items for myself. 

Right now, it's still unbelievable how this small girl was blessed with a wonderful opportunity. Imagine, I have flown all the way from the Philippines to Sioux City! I thank God countless times for my answered prayers. He is my refuge and my strength. To him, I cling to His promises. I can feel his love for me. He has guided me in everything that I do and provided things that I need and even more. Even though I'm million miles away from my family but my faith is firm. Distance doesn't matter. Technology has made distance a thing of the past as I am constantly checking them everyday.

Having said that, being an OFW is not always 'the good times'. Each one has to undergo hardships. Not only you have to fight homesickness but also the possibility of discrimination against other races. That's why I am fervently praying that I can easily adapt in here and will make friends with the people.

Indeed, this is a dream that comes with a cost. Still, I need to work for it. I hope I will achieve success in the land of the free.

i AM MULAN

Ever since I was a kid, I always admired the Disney movie, Mulan. Although she is not a princess, she is my favorite Disney heroine because she is a brave and selfless daughter. 

I remember the time my father bought it for us and he played it in our VHS player for the first time. Since then, I want to be like her because I love her courage to prove herself that she is strong like a man.

Mulan is more focused on what she could do for the family. She's independent and courageous. She did what is best and that is to keep her father safe and to give honor for her family. 

The greatest gift and honor is having you for a daughter. 

This line melted my heart. What a moving scene, it hits me hard. I cried a bucketful of tears when Mulan's father hugged her in the ending. The love for our family will always be greater. That's why I love Mulan.

Like her, I took the courage to be away from the family leaving from my comfort zone to further help in sustaining the needs of our family. While being away from home, I always think of them.. I'm literally crying here. and I can't wait to go home, hug my parents and dine with my family once again.

Now, I understand the song, Reflection by Christina Aguilera.