The Dreaded PSLE is Coming!!!

Yesterday I attended the Parents briefing on the forthcoming PSLE of my son at their school , De la Salle School.

PSLE stands for Primary School Leaving Exam which is much similar to NCEE . This exam is given to all Primary 6(grade 6) students in Singapore. What is important is that the results of this exam will determine which school ones child can enter in the secondary school level.

For most Singaporean parents this would determine the future of their children since graduates from the good secondary schools normally enter top universities after graduation from Secondary school.

It is very hard to explain the anxiety that parents go through just awaiting the results of their childrens PSLE exam.The PSLE results is something that the whole Singapore awaits yearly specially who tops the exams and which school produces the top passers.

For Nygel (my eldest son) , I am just hoping that he would produce good or better than average results to allow him to enter the school just outside our block.

Nygel has produced better than average results for his semestral exams which was released this week. He topped his Maths exam, 2nd in Science and 3rd in English.

Unfortunately this wont count in the PSLE rankings since his results will be compared to all the results for all Primary 6 Students in Singapore who will be taking the exams in October this year.

Till then, I will just hope and pray he passes the exams with good(not flying) results what with Chinese as one of the 4 subjects being rated(together with Maths,Science and English)

Bangkok Scenes Thru Viewty

Since my iPhone doesnt have video capabilities, I tried out my LG Viewty in my latest Bangkok trip. I think I need to familiarize myself more to the editing functions of Viewty. Its 5 megapixel camera is supposed to be better than my iPhone and Ericson.

Here are two videos I took

Video 1:Chatuchak on a Sunday(May 18)


Video 2: Suvarnabhumi Airport

GREAT SINGAPORE SALE STARTS TODAY!

The Great Singapore Sale kicks off today May 23 Friday and ends on July 20.

Into its 15th year, the sale will offer late—night shopping in Orchard Road and in selected heartland malls such as Causeway Point, Compass Point, Jurong Point and Northpoint.

There will be freebies, weekly lucky draws and competitions, with cash prizes of up to S$100,000 and hefty discounts of up to 70 percent

We will be in Boracay by Christmas

Yes, finally we have booked our holiday tickets for December 2008. Courtesy of hubbys United Mileage Card we will just pay about S$59 each for our return Singapore Airlines flight from Singapore to Manila from Dec 21-Jan 4.

I hope hubby doesnt read this, but I was so excited to book a flight to Boracay when I saw the offer at the Cebu Pacific Website.

This is how our fares all add up to for our Dec 21-23 trip to Boracay (Caticlan) via Cebu Pacific

1) Tony's Fare(I was able to get the zero fare for him)
Base Fare Php 288.00
Taxes and Fees 3,568.00 Php 3,856.00

2) Mine (I did my reservation after him)
Base Fare ....................Php1,176.00
Taxes and Fees................. 3,675.00 Php 4,851.00

3) Nygel and Niles tickets
Base Fare ....................Php3,552.00
Taxes and Fees................. 7,494.00 Php 11,046.00

TOTAL AIRLINE TICKETS (Manila-Caticlan-Manila) Dec 21-23,2008 Php 19,753.00

In comparison, PAL Express would charge us this amount (Php 21,288)if we fly Dec 21-24

AIR ITINERARY DETAILS
Manila, NAIA Centennial T2, Philippines (MNL)
Sun, 21 Dec 2008, 12:30
Caticlan, Malay, Philippines (MPH)
Sun, 21 Dec 2008, 13:30
PR061
Philippine Airlines Economy
Non stop
Caticlan, Malay, Philippines (MPH)
Wed, 24 Dec 2008, 07:15
Manila, NAIA Centennial T2, Philippines (MNL)
Wed, 24 Dec 2008, 08:15
PR036
Philippine Airlines Economy
Non stop

FARE BREAKDOWN
Passenger Type Base Fare
per person Taxes
per person Total Fare
per person Number of
passengers Total Fare
(PHP)
Adult 1,476.00 PHP 3,846.00 PHP 5,322.00 PHP x 2 10,644.00 PHP
Child 1,476.00 PHP 3,846.00 PHP 5,322.00 PHP x 2 10,644.00 PHP
TOTAL 21,288.00 PHP

Are SQ Stewardesses Deaf?

I was glad to take SQ(SIngapore Airlines) which is very well known for its service. But in our flight from Singapore to Bangkok and vice versa I noticed one thing....the Stewardesses are either deaf, absent minded, forgetful or simply lousy.

On our flight from Singapore to Bangkok , the stewardess asked me.."Mam do you want red wine or white wine". I answered" White, please".....SHE GAVE ME WATER.

My husband was asked ,"Sir do you want Coffee or Tea?" He said Coffee . Instead of Coffee he was given a Pepsi.

Today on our flight from Bangkok to Singapore, the Indian Stewardess asked me ,"Mam what drnk do you prefer?" I said " orange". She gave me water again. So I buzzed her and she said I am sorry.

My husband asked for Coffee and he got Water.

I understand that the flight from Bangkok to Singapore is merely two hours which is probably too short for them to serve all their passengers. But I have noticed that the stewardesses dont pay attention to their passengers...they just hand out drinks without thinking.

They dont concentrate on one passenger at a time. They tend to attend to so many passengers going back and forth from one row to the other...the outcome wrong drinks given.

Next time they might totally forget to give passengers the correct meals.

I hope its not the start of shoddy service from SQ.

Im Now in Bangkok

Im blogging at Fortune City in Bangkok making use of a 10 Baht coin machine.

We will be back in Singapore tomorrow.

Ive done most of my shopping. Next is massage.

Its cheap ,BHT140!!!

Im a Sucker for Bargains

I had been online till 1 am for two days now. The good thing with late night surfing is that most budget airlines launch their cheap rates on midnight.

Tuesday, I was tempted to buy tickets from KL to Gold Coast Australia for next years holiday at less than S$400 each. But I was about to click on the buy button I thought about the visa applications payments we have to make for an Australian visa and the trip to Kuala Lumpur.

But yesterday I finally went ahead with my purchase of Air Asia tickets (at zero,yes zero rates) so all in all the taxes for each one of us going from Johor Bahru to Macau is S$132 which is about P3960 per person. I timed the trip for next years March school holiday.

I guess its a good purchase considering Macau and HK trips from Singapore now range from $320 over per person.

Now,I just have to pay ahead by 9 months.

We have taken AirAsia 2x , we flew to Macau on one of its first flights and also to Bangkok. I can assure you its not like this funny video about Budget Airlines



If you want to see other bargains go to

Flying United

I am not completely biased. Flying United Airlines is a good experience for the best reason: punctuality and on time arrival and departure. I have flown Northwest Airlines before to the US and I cannot say the same for their ontime arrivals.

The worst thing with United is their food.Imagine being served cup noodles in an airline.

Second thing was the cleanliness of the lavatories or toilets. I imagine since most of the stewards and stewardesses were old enough to be my aunts or grandmas they hate cleaning things up for the passengers. Its not like the young stewardesses of Asian airlines who are always smiling and ready to assist you.....the UA crew was certainly not the cheery type.

Maybe thats the reason why hubby flew Thai airways on his last trip a month ago to the US. He would rather fly an extra 2 hours (from 18 hours to 20 hours via Thai since it flies direct to Bangkok from LA)just to be surrounded by what he said were gorgeous ladies.

This Saturday we are flying via Singapore Airlines to Bangkok. I am hubbys baby sitter for his business trip. Next Mondays Vesak day holiday was a good enough chance to fly via SQ since its cheaper to fly SQ than the budget airlines during long week end holidays (starting May 16-19) in Singapore.

You will certainly see me at Chatuchak on May 18.

please vote!

My son Niles posted this graph without my knowledge.But anyway, these are the family blogs:

http://nygelnniles.i.ph
http://nygel-kachow.blogspot.com
http://tonylopez.i.ph
http://febeth.blogspot.com (this blog)
http://bettytlopez.i.ph



Get your own Poll!

Some Incredible Bargains at Ross

Everytime I am in the US I never forget to drop by at Ross. Its my favorite store.

Here are some of my best buys at Ross. They are good pasalubong and Xmas gifts

Note the difference in price:


Xoxo Angie Multi II wallet
Suggested retail price at xoxo.com US$24
Ebay price:US$12
Ross Price:less than US$6


Fancy SHoes threefold wallet
fluffshop.com price-US$20
Ebay price-US$18
Ross Price- less than US$6

Xoxo Baby Affection Wristlets
Ebay price-US$17
Xoxo suggested retail price-US$20
Ross price-US$6.99




Mundi Incredible Bulk Wallet
Ebay price-US$15
Ross Price-US$9

And here's one bargain from the Gap Shop in the Carlsbad Factory store


Pink Cami(small)
Gap Store price- $10
Price reduced at factory outlet to -US$2.99

Discoveries about Carlsbad

Three things that I found new in Carlsbad the second time around:

The Flower Fields- Since flowers bloom in these fields across my hotel(Holiday Inn Carlsbad by the Sea) for only 3 months in the entire year...the remaining nine months its just a pile of dirt, empty land. ...but see how beautiful it is now...the flowers are ready for picking just in time for Mothers Day.






Another discovery...the best pies in Carlsbad is just two stops away from my hotel. a small quaint restaurant whose pies are well known in this area...its called Marie Callenders...just check out their Cherry pie and cheese cakes.









And lastly, simple pleasures in Holiday Inn Carlsbad by the Sea

Its near Carlsbad beach great for sunset gazing


and the spa, a great place to unwind after a long day of walking. My friend already dipped her feet in after our whole day trip to downtown San Diego