crazy week.  Have been neglecting to update my blogs and also have not been abreast on what has been happening with my blog friends. Sorry as I am EXTREMELY BUSY!  It is even an understatement.  Business matters were just tremendous.  Well, this means that 2009 has a good start on me.  I just need to manage time wisely.  And dreamhouse construction has been on its high gear.  Weekends are occupied in canvassing around for furnishings and finishing materials so as meeting with the aunt, who happens to be an interior designer.  This week, we would need to decide already on wood flooring for the second floor. A number of things have been revised from the original architectural plan.  But we enjoy every bit of the house planning.  Sketches from the interior designer are being finalized.  Would love to share those here soon.  For the meantime, I just need to get a quick nap as I have been sleeping for like 5 hours only maximum every night since I always work late nights for pending paperworks.  Oh, been thinking to get a personal assistant already!  Let’s see…

My holidays are finally over. I have to admit that I had an extended holiday “feel” since my cousin and her family from Canada were here. But not now anymore, they left this morning on their way back to Toronto. We had our final get togethers last friday night and last night which ended at almost 330am on both mornings. Reason why I look like a walking zombie! Tomorrow is the official start of me getting back to the groove. Well, I hope so. I am also hoping to get back in shape, otherwise, I would seriously consider taking Fenterdren.

Gee, we suddenly felt we are missing Jen and her family, especially the kids Julie and Allen. My kids adore them. Margaux doesn’t even want to be away from her “ate julie.” And with the tragic thing that happened to my cousins exactly a week back then, our families became even closer. This is one thing I am very proud of with my family and relatives. We are a very close-knit family especially for us cousins. We are like brothers and sisters.

For the meantime, I hope to post more pics and stories about all the things that kept me/us busy a couple of weeks back. I plan to do it one at a time. Do go back for more updates!

A break from a traumatic event that happened to my cousins, would just like to share the latest updates with the dreamhouse.

1.  Staircase is complete.  They would just need to polish it.

2.  Trusses for the roof.  They were putting it last week.  We hope to see it completed this weekend.  

Tomorrow, after getting some Christian books for Margaux’s assignment on Monday, we will again go check the dreamhouse. So expect more updates from the ever-excited me!

What happened in Crash Landing of Zest Air and some details:

1.  They were moved back to Manila from Caticlan airport via Cebu Pacific.

2.  No representative of Zest Air came to their rescue until after lunch of that dreadful Sunday.  Only the porters, and some locals of Caticlan helped them to ride the van so they could be brought to the hospital. They were all by themselves in the hospital after the van dropped them.  

3.  The representative that they sent was just a cashier of their airline who can’t even decide on what to do to them. 

4.  They were supposed to be flown back via Kalibo but we were demanding that they airlift them since my other cousin can’t travel by land for 2 hours from Caticlan because of trauma on her ribs.  But they said they cannot do that since they don’t have a chopper.  Good thing, Caticlan airport opened up again in the afternoon. 

5.  From the hospital in Caticlan, they were just asked to ride a van to go the airport.  No personnel from Zest Air accompanied them.  From the airport, it was personnel of Cebu Pacific who took care of them.  

6.  They were almost palpitating on board Cebu Pacific going back to Manila because of the trauma it has caused them.

7.  From the airport, no Zest Air personnel came in the picture to receive them from the plane.  They were all pushed through wheel chairs then shuttled directly to an ambulance that brought them to Medical City.  

8.  It was so annoying that when they got to Medical City, Zest Air personnel endorsed only 1 of my cousins who they believe suffered the most.  The two others were requested to be discharged.  Of course, our family complained and insisted that the three of them should all be tested and confined to ensure safety and health.  Apparently, the two others realized that they also have more bruises than expected.  

9.  They were confined in Medical City since sunday and has been doing physical rehabilitation since Monday.  They are scheduled to be out today.  Thank God!

10.  No manager from Zest Air came in the hospital to show themselves to the victims (my cousins) and to us relatives until Monday afternoon.  The only personnel they sent last Sunday was just like a staff who cannot even decide.  

11.  My cousins felt that it was a pilot error.  They had a first attempt to land already, almost touching the ground when they zoomed in the air again.  The first attempt, they almost hit the Cebu Pacific plane parked in the tarmac.  The second attempt, it was quick according to them.  Landed to the ground and they swayed to the left until they stopped and realized that they bumped a wall.  Passengers were in panic inside, all rushing to go out of the plane.  

12.  Seats were strangled from its position, baggages fell.

13.  The cabin crew (flight attendants) were the first one to unboard the plane where in they were the ones supposed to be assisting the passengers and the last one to leave the plane.  They were already on the ground when they were shouting to the passengers “Labas na kayong lahat, iwanan nyo na ang mga gamit nyo!”  (nakakagigil ang part na ito!)

14.  It was crazy inside and there were lots of debris already according to my cousins, probably the reason also why they had lots of wounds and bruises on the legs.  Passengers all jumped to get off the plane as the stairs were not put on. 

15. My cousin saw the pilot walking before them, they saw him only having a wound on his hands and can even walk properly.  So I don’t know why they were saying reports that their pilot were also rushed to the hospital and was unconscious the entire time.  Zest Air personnel said he only came back to his consciousness when he was in the hospital.  What hospital did they bring the pilot?  They were only 5 passengers in the hospital nearest the Caticlan airport, 3 of which were my cousins.  (sabi nila, sa makati med daw naging conscious, bakit sya nadala agad sa makati med?  bakit my cousins were left in that small hospital until late afternoon without anybody from Zest Air attending to them?)

16.  When my cousins were asking the cashier of Zest Air who showed up in the Caticlan hospital if there are personnel of the airline who came from Manila for their rescue, the cashier said, the Manager went to the Boracay Island to assist the other passengers.  They never saw a decent person to face them to decide on what to do for them.  And what the hell is that personnel doing in Boracay Island when the ones badly hurt are in the hospital.  What kind of damage control are they doing for those passengers who still went to enjoy the island?   My cousins were the ones who need assistance.

Zest Air crisis management sucks!  Their customer service manager can’t even handle the victims and the relatives of the victims.  They cannot take it away from us, we are so mad.  The lives of our family members were at stake at that time.  And their freaking planes are not maintained at all.  Ban Zest Air (formerly Asian Spirit).  With a lot of history already of crashing planes, their flying permits should be lifted!  We wont ever, ever ride this airline anymore!  

Three of my cousins were included in Zest Air, formerly Asian Spirit crash landing in Caticlan, Boracay this morning.  Its a tragic event that awaken all of us at 7am, when one of my cousins who was on board the said plane called us to inform us that they were hurt when the plane landed in the runway of the airport. Apparently, this Boracay trip is the honeymoon trip of my cousin, who got married last Friday. They were supposed to travel in group of 10pax but since they cannot get a booking for all of them for the same flight, three of my cousins took the first flight. The rest of them, including the newlyweds and some friends from Canada was supposed to take the 8am flight.

Apparently, ground crew of Zest Air were not informing the rest of the passengers who were waiting in the airport why the next flight was delayed and claiming that they didn’t know what happened in Caticlan airport. Flights in the morning were cancelled and re routed to Kalibo Aklan. At first Zest Air management doesnt want to refund the airfare tickets of my cousins who are taking the next flight and instead offering that they would just take another plane. But all of us didnt agree because we cannot allow them to take any chances in risking the safety of their lives. My cousin, Jen who was complaining then was escorted to the VIP room in the airport so she wont create commosion to the other passengers. In fact, their statement up to this time was it was all because of the strong wind.

Those three cousins were rushed to the nearby hospital. 2 had stitches and 1 had a big bump on her head when the luggage in the compartment fell on her.

As of this time, we are all waiting for them to be airlifted from Caticlan back to Manila. We are demanding the management of Zest Air to compensate my cousins. We still cannot talk much to our 3 cousins as all of them are still in pain and shock on what happened. Its a trauma for them so as for all of us here who are waiting for their safe way back home.

Aside from giving him an advance christmas gift of the DSLR, i really believe that he deserves something big this year for all the effort to provide for the family.  He has really been a very good husband and a good father to the kids.  With the career movement he did for the family, I just want to thank him for all his kindness.  I was thinking to give him a nice gift which I know he really likes. I had an option to get Suunto watches but I settled for the classic.

He was smiling from ear to ear when I gave it last Christmas eve.  It is my joy to see him happy.  

As to what he gave me last christmas, I will post it soon.  

I took this test and it’s so funny but yet so true for me!

As we were looking for some sports gifts to give for some male cousins in Powerplant last December 31, we found ourselves buying nama chocolates from Royce. I was so excited when I learned that our lunch with Dicky’s family will be in Crustacia in Powerplant, where I bumped to Gracie as well. Been really meaning to go to this mall just for Royce Chocolates.

Finally, got hold of these heavenly chocolates. Got 4 nama chocolates.  We ate the milk chocolate while in Crustacia, can’t wait to open it till we got back to the house. So we just brought home 3.   Super yummy. I  immediately  munched the whole “bitter” or the dark chocolates by myself!!!  I gained 3 lbs after!  lol!

before christmas, exactly December 23 when we received the best christmas ever!  The landtitle of the lot next to the dreamhouse was cleared and transferred already to our names.  

2008 is indeed a great year!  God is so good to us.  We are grateful everyday for all His blessings.  

We welcome 2009 with great faith and belief in Him!  

God Bless us all!

Here’s the latest update with the dreamhouse. Workers were there until mid afternoon of 31st. They had a simple christmas party last 24th and we gave them something to bring home to their families last 24th and 31st.  We look forward to the everyday progress.  

I think we eventually need to cut off those Fig trees infront of the house.  Next week, they are going to work on the trusses of the roof already.  If you look closely, they are starting to work on “palitada” of the walls of the second floor.