My grandmother who is based in California is already a retired corporate employee last year. She is now in control of what she want’s do to in life. She basically went home last year to have her grand vacation in Manila. Just last week, I learned that they are making some improvements in their home. Apparently, she got already her Lump Sum Pensions. She told us that she availed of something like Pension Loan, which allowed her to turn her retirement asset into a working cash so she can already do the things that she wants in life now that she is no longer working. It actually makes sense rather than just waiting for your monthly allowance where in you cannot do much because of the limited resources. She is now enjoying life most. She’s happy and healthy. So instead of waiting for a longer period to save up for her dream vacation or improving their home, she can better do things already currently while she still has the capacity to do so. In fact, she actually sold only a specific portion of her lump sum pension and still retained a majority for her needs later in life. I heard there are some who are doing it also here in the country. But the privileges they have in the US makes one individual ask the question: Can I Cash In My Pension Early? It is definitely possible. I’m happy for my grandmother.

Two weeks ago, our family together with our relatives had a simple get-together in a nearby resort from our place. It is so nearby, that it is just about two lots away from our house. It was so convenient and my cousins and aunts love the place too. It’s a huge venue for parties as well with lots of mango trees, they have a small pond that uses a pressurized pond filter. Of course there is a pool and a resting area too. It was potluck so we had a lot of food. It’s been a while since we had this kind of a gathering since we always find it hard to book a resort with our number of heads. Besides, we are always last minute in planning. Glad the venue was available when I inquired. The place is called The Orchard. Here are some pictures of the venue…

We rented the place for a day.  From 10am-7pm.  My cousins prepared a little something for our dear Margaux.  It turned out to be her birthday celebration too.  They got her a birthday cake and ice cream too!  But it was Bianca who blew the candle on the cake, lol! More pictures…

that there would be a new addition to our clan since my SIL announced her pregnancy last month. But God knows what’s best for her and the baby. So even she was taking prenatal vitamins and she was asked to take bed rest, still the growth of the baby inside her didn’t progress But God has been faithful to have prepared my SIL and my brother for this fate. It is God’s plan and will. We are happy that my SIL is safe now after undergoing her D & C procedure. I love how much she’s keeping the faith.

My sister-in-law is asking for my help to assist her to come out with first communion invitations for my nephew. Wonder as to where we could get one. Or I might just ask a friend to design one for me. I am planning to give it out as a gift for him already. My sister-in-law and I are even planning to throw him a special dinner as well. It’s one milestone on his life that has to be celebrated as well. It’s another sacrament to affirm his christianity so it’s worth celebrating.

are graduating on March next year and they are hoping to be interviewed for some IT Jobs. One is graduating as Cum Laude from a prestigious university. In fact, he has been getting some invitation letters as early as now. Well, that’s good enough for a start. Both of them are actually not planning to leave the country to explore greener pasture. They said they both want to contribute to Philippine Society first more than bringing their talents abroad. I’m proud of their ideals! I hope it won’t change too soon And I also hope that there would be good opportunities for them here so they won’t even regret for the decision they would make to stay in the country.

This is my cousin Stephanie based in LA, who recently came home for a quick vacation with her husband. It’s been 15years since I last saw her.  Didn’t get a chance to actually meet her when we were in LA in 2006.  We had great memories together when she went home in Manila way back when she was 7 and 15 years old. Now, we are both married.  It was so good to reunite with her.  Wishing we could spend more time together but their stay was way too short.  

Can you see the resemblance?  We are like long lost sisters…

I’m doing some backtracking so please pardon me.  Would just like to share my cousin, Jenny’s wedding last January 9, 2009.  You see, I was like the bride for this wedding, making all the preparations from the start.  But my cousin and her husband Howell was so easy to please.  The only thing that matters to them was that we would be allowed to bring in to the venue a number of drinks (hard, wine, beer) for the guests to enjoy the party.  Of course, I gave them the best-valued suppliers who are not skimping on their quality of service.  They had a great time and so as their kids.  And for us the guests, we enjoyed every moment of it.  

It has been a while since I have been part of a wedding entourage so I was pretty excited to dress up.  I’m the candle secondary sponsor and Margaux was one of the flowergirls.  

Preparations were made in Astoria Plaza.  I love the 2-bedroom suite which we got.  It was so spacious.  Look, we even had our manicures in the huge living room of the suite.  And we were there when Jenny got her suprise wedding gift from Howell.  The husband gave her a “tag heuer” watch. 

All entourage (all my cousins) dressed up in the hotel so we had a grand time in our picture-taking with the bride. We also love the color of our gowns…it was so radiant and cheerful…pomelo orange!

And my little girl, Margaux was so pretty then…

We started on time with the ceremony in Christ The King Church.  And reception followed in The Mango Farm in Antipolo.  Guests were treated first for cocktails and souvenir photos from Bai Capture.  Then we all proceeded to the main hall for a night of partying!  Literally, we had a great, great time dancing with Sound Salad band and even after the last set of the band.  Drinks were overflowing so you can imagine how drunk the guests were.  Here are some more photos:

And from a wedding planner’s view…it was a beautiful union not only of the newlyweds but of two families.  It was indeed a great wedding!

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!

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.

I posted some snapshots here and it details already what happened to our entire 4-day stay.

My cousins Mary and Frannie picked me up at home at 5am as our flight was at 8am via Cebu Pacific.  First time to use the NAIA Terminal 3.  It was a breeze during check-in and the new airport was so clean and big.  Although we noticed that some parts are not open yet.  Hope the authorities can keep up the cleanliness of the new airport. 

We took the airport express to the city.  Since we were 3, got a 40% discount in the train fare.  Got our tickets for KH$65 only each instead of HK$100.  Also, we got our Octopus Card so we can have unlimited train. bus and tram rides.  Cost of which is HK$150, which can be refunded in case you can’t use up completely less their HK$7 handling fee.  

Went straight to City Econo Hotel where we would be staying for 2 nights.  It was what we expected.  It was really a budget hotel.  What can you expect for something worth HK$500/night only for triple sharing?  Anyway, we entirely did not mind as we really planned to be out the whole day.  We arrived in our hotel almost 1130am already since we had to transfer train from Central Station.  We were able to check-in early and lodged our suitcases.  We headed off outside immediately to quickly grabbed our lunch.  We ate in a nearby chinese restaurant along Austin Road.  Afterwhich, we walked our way to the China-HK Ferry Teminal in Kowloon side to go to Macau. Ferry fare was at HK$130+, it was an hour ferry ride to Macau.  First stop in Macau, Senado Square and St. Paul’s Ruins.  How to get there:  From the Terminal, ride Bus No.  3 or 10 or 10A.  Fare was only HK$2.50.  You can use your HK dollars in Macau. Of course, we didn’t miss trying Macau’s famous eggtarts.  

We stayed pretty long here with lots of picture taking…

Then at 6pm, we dropped by in Wynn then headed to Venetian Hotel.  You can ride the free shuttles from the terminal to get to these hotels.

We finished strolling around almost 9pm already.  We went back to the China-HK Ferry Terminal in time for boarding the turbo jet at HK$176.  We got off from HongKong side since the ferry to Kowloon is until 830pm only.  From the HongKong terminal we just took the cab back to the hotel.  Wow, it was a whooping HK$134 from the terminal to our hotel.  But we were just too tired to look for the bus stop.  First day was entirely tiring.  But we were ready to hit the roads early on our 2nd day for shopping!

I am considering to check out some condo hotel in HK because of this. Will be travelling with two of my cousins in October for a business matter with side trip of shopping. I have rested my case with Dicky as he doesn’t really want to join anymore. Now, I don’t know if I would love to passby Disneyland HK since I won’t be with the kids. But my two cousins are saying that it should be part of our itineraries.   Since our flights are now booked, I am assigned to look for our accommodation.  I’m pretty familiar with the hotels in HK since I have been there a lot of times already.  My cousins would just like us to book a hotel which would be right at the center of shopping area.  Might stay in Kowloon side this time.  

When planning for any vacation, I am always very particular about the hotel we are staying in. And knowing how much effort I put into it, my aunt who stays in Australia plans to tour the US this year is asking for my help. She called me this morning requesting for my assistance to help her check some United States Hotels for their upcoming trip this august.  I actually told her to check cheaperthanhotels.com.au since it’s a site that offers the lowest rate guaranteed.  They have been providing online reservation services for more than 10 years already and have been a premier site that completed about 300 million travel transactions per year.  

She knows that when we travelled 2 years ago, I painstakingly researched on San Francisco Hotels since the bridal fair I joined in was in the city. We actually had no regret that we stayed in Marriot Hotel that time.

My aunt doesn’t want to bother so much of our relatives in California so she said that I should also check for them some Los Angeles Hotels. She plans to travel with her husband for a good of just 3 weeks stay and if they can still manage to squeeze in their schedule, I would definitely tell her to also stay in one of the New York Hotels.

My cousin in New York said she is also considering checking out roomster.net for a possible accommodation while she hasn’t found the right property for her. It takes some documents processing to actually purchase a new house but she can’t afford not to move right away near the office where she would become an apprentice. She actually found a nice apartment right at the heart of the city. It was a walk away to Central Park and the elegant Madison Avenue shops. She sent me the picture and it really looks beautiful. But the rental rate is also soaring high. Well, nevertheless, she is still set to check the place. I wish I can own something like this…

My cousin who is studying for her masteral in California is moving to New York to become an apprentice to one of the prestigous companies in New York. With it, she is looking to move of course to a new place closer to work so she has been in lookout for a best deal she could get from a Manhattan real estate property. I bet the price would be a soaring high as the city is so prestigous with the number of multinational corporations located there. Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate is helping her out look for the right property for her. Good thing her parents are going to support her in this venture. I’m sure she would be a great entrepreneur someday. I’m happy for her.  We have someone to go to already in New York once she moved there.