I was Tempted

In October, we will be here
Due to Jetstars Take a Friend promo I was tempted and I bought our tickets


Its scary and funny but this country has a traffic system like this

Ang Aabangan

One of the main reasons why we go home to Manila every year

2005...Wack Wack,Mandaluyong



2006, Antipolo



2007 Quezon City



2008 Imus Cavite




Tito Jojo, Tito Amboy...handa na ba kayo...malapit na kaming lumusob

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Whether its travelling by bus or by airlines seldom do you see people going the extra mile to provide good customer service.

Today, I happened to take SBS bus 36 and this driver really made my day. He greeted all the passengers who entered his bus and said "have a nice day" everytime the passengers got off.

I was even surprised when I went down he even smiled and waved bye bye to me as if he was my father.



Imagine this songwriter getting sweet revenge with United Airlines when UA finally after a year of hemming and hawing ng skirting through the issue of compensating him for his broken guitar finally paid up. This was after his song of protest became a Youtube hit.

The "Ion" of Orchard Road Opens

Imagine combining all the shopping malls in Singapore and putting it all together in one place....that is what best describes ION ORCHARD. THE ultimate Shopping destination in Singapore.

Although it doesnt have murals and pillars like the shopping malls of Wynn, Venetian and MGM Macau, it certainly gleams with the number of designer labels (both local and foreign brands).

My first blog about Ion was on January 2008, which means this mall was constructed in less than 2 years time(record breaking).

This area used to be called "Gulong Park" by Pinay maids since it is where they congregate and picnic every Sunday. So this coming Sunday, lets see whether the same maids who used to "Gulong"(roll) in the verdant grasses of this used to be park will dominate the Ion Orchard Mall.

Here are some of the unique features of the mall: (see other photos here)

UNIQUE SEATING AREAS AND CHAIRS


Is this a Voido Rocking Chair?


This looks like an Eero Aarnio ball chair



COCOON LIKE ENTRANCE TO THE FOOD COURT



DIFFERENT PILLAR TREATMENTS




CEILING TREATMENTS


This looks like an aquarium is inside the ceiling


This reminds me of the ceiling of Stanley Ho's Macau Casino Lisboa

The unique escalators

Christmas airline fares-who is the cheapest?

Last year around March we already had booked for our Xmas flights but this year its already July and we havent purchased our Annual Xmas flight yet.

I am now searching the rates of different airlines and here are the rates as of today July 14.

Guess who is the cheapest airline for our Xmas break (Dec 17-Jan 3,2010)?

Singapore Airline (for 3 adults and 1 child) $2,597.00
Philippine Airlines (for 3 adults /1 child) 3,340.00(Pal econolite)
Cebu Pacific Airlines (for 3 adults,1 child) 3,036.00(econolite)
Jetstar Airways (for 3 adults,1 child) 1,952.00(Jetsaver light)
Tigerairways (for 3 adults,1 child) 1,920.00 (travel lite)

Its Tiger Airways!!!

Anyway this year, we are again using our accumulated mileage and we will fly by Singapore Airlines.

Gone too Soon!!! SMILE

In memory of
MICHAEL JACKSON





I was one of millions who stayed up late to watch the MJ Memorial yesterday. May he rest in Peace!!

Canadian Immigration

Today we received our immigration documents asking us to undergoe medical examination ,submit our police clearances and pay our Right of Permanent Resident Fees within 60 days.

My immediate reaction was nonchalance.I was thinking about my lucrative "Semi retirement" business here in Singapore and our very good life in this small hot country which has been our residence for the last 9 years(15 years for my husband).

My immediate concern is that I might not be able to visit Manila every year because of the distance between Canada and Manila.

My husband also immediately thought about his work here and his business which is also earning him a handsome sideline income.

Of course there has been no doubt about our pursuing this plan since we were given 60 days to think about whether we plan to continue with our application sometime in March.

Our plans now is not to give up our ten year permanent residency in Singapore which means that we wont be selling our house here in Singapore. Our previous SIngapore neighbors who migrated to Canada a year ago has also not given up their permanent resident status in Singapore yet.

For one thing, our CPF(retirement funds)in Singapore are earning 4% per annum interest.WHere in the world can you get that kind of interest from any bank. ANother is that properties in SIngapore have risen by more than 60% in value. Our current property has already risen in value and would be very easy to dispose off if ever we plan to sell.

This is really the first time that I have doubts about any change in our lives. I never encountered this kind of uncertainty even when we got married and even when we relocated to Singapore about 10 years ago.

Hope everything will turn out well. We probably will survive. Sabi nga nila ang Pinoy is "pliant like a bamboo".

Louis Vuitton at Ion Orchard

The biggest Louis Vuitton store in Southeast Asia and the second LV store in the world that carries all LV productlines opened July 3 at Orchard Road's soon to be "IT" shopping mall ION ORCHARD.



There was a long queue of LV fanatics but the crowd was allowed to enter the shop only by batches.

It is the very first store that opened even before the official opening of ION which is scheduled on the 21st of July. Its neighbors include Dolce and Gabbana ,Dior and Cartier.

Despite the rumored very high rentals in Ion Orchard all up market brands have relocated to this mall and comprise majority of its tenants. This mall will soon be a destination mall in Singapore and South East Asia.

Michael Jackson and My Sons

Ever since Michael Jackson died, my two sons have been playing his songs endlessly on Youtube in their handphones. They even sleep with the MJ songs reverberating non stop. Last time it was the songs of Cold Play ,now Michael Jackson songs are their favorites.

I can say that MJ has affected my sons to that extent. They can even remember having their photos taken with MJ when they were still young