HEALTH IS WEALTH, TIME IS GOLD

Hi everyone!

Sharing with you a little thought I had for the day.

So yesterday and earlier this morning, I had a scheduled check-up. 

I just noticed that in all hospitals I've been to for a check-up, the doctors are always late.

Is it me or it's just really a thing?

I even noticed in the prescription I got (where you can also see the doctors clinic schedules), my doctor's schedule from the previous hospital she'll be in was 11:30-1:00 from Taguig.

After which, her next schedule in the hospital where I went to earlier was 1:00-3:00.

So as expected, she came in late as her clinical schedule from Taguig might not have ended on time and she has to travel from Taguig to Paranaque.

I came in an hour early to be the first in line but had to wait for two hours and missed my work to wait for her. Yes, I stayed and waited for her. Health is wealth.

I have high respects for doctors though, just that I wonder if this is normal and the logic behind it. 

Penny for your thoughts?

Love, A 

https://twitter.com/anamrieapl

HOW TO GET AN SSS NUMBER

"The Philippine Social Security System (SSS) is a social insurance program for employees in the Philippines. Founded in 1957, the SSS is a government agency that provides retirement and health benefits to all paid up employees in the Philippines. Members of the SSS can also make ‘salary’ or ‘calamity’ loans. Salary loans depend on the monthly salary of the employee. Calamity loans are for such times when there is a calamity that has been so declared by the government, in the area where the SSS member lives, such as flooding, earthquake and natural disasters."

- blog.payrollhero.com 

Another job requirement I needed to get was an SSS Number or the Social Security System.

I got mine using their online registration. Most of the government offices nowadays which needs a registration now goes by "online registration systems". 

Registering online was such an easy job. Here is the link for their online registration.

https://www.sss.gov.ph/sss/rcsmi/newApplication.html

You just have to fill-out the required fields and your good to go.

One thing to note is that even though you registered online, this does not mean that the given SSS number will be registered right away. It will only be registered under their system once you made an appearance in their SSS office. They have a lot of satellite offices.

After registering, you will be given a file that you need to print. The said file that you have to print must be shown to the officer in the SSS office. Then they will register your online number and that will be the only time that your SSS number will be activated.

When going to the SSS office, bring two (2) copies of the file you printed out. One copy is for you then the other one will be surrendered to them for their copy. You also need to bring an original and a photocopy of your NSO birth certificate. Take note, NSO BIRTH CERTIFICATE. If your birth certificate is not from NSO, what will be given to you is just a TEMPORARY SSS number.

Also, if it is your first time to get an SSS number, you will not be issued an ID yet for they only give IDs for members who has started paying already.

Online registration is just optional. SSS offices still entertain those who opt to manually go there and register. There are those who are thinking what is the difference of registering online if they would still require you to go to their office. The reason behind it is that the online registration speeds up the process. I personally think based on what I saw when I got mine that my application was processed faster than those who filled out their form there. You will queue in the same counter whether you register there or online. So upon going there, be sure to bring the necessary documents and have them photocopied for a speedy transaction.

Here on the other hand is the link you can use to search for an SSS office.

https://www.sss.gov.ph/?link=branchDirectory

PS: If you got your SSS number in their office in Macapagal Road and have not gotten your PAG-IBIG ID yet, the PAG-IBIG office in Pasay is just on the other side of the road. Hitting two birds with one stone. 

I hope this helps you. :)

Love, A 
https://twitter.com/anamrieapl

HOW TO GET TIN FRESH GRAD EDITION

"Any person, whether natural or juridical, required under the authority of the Internal Revenue Code to make, render or file a return, statement or other documents, shall be supplied with or assigned a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) to be indicated in the return, statement or document to be filed with the Bureau of Internal Revenue, for his proper identification for tax purposes (Sec. 236 (i) of the Tax Code)."

-quoted from the BIR wesite, www.bir.gov.ph

As you might have read from my previous blog post, twas my first time looking, applying and landing a job. :)

One of the first requirements for a job is a TIN or what we call the TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. Such can be obtained from the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Need not worry though because they have Revenue District Offices (it's like a branch of BIR in different places) so you don't have to go to their main office to get one.

Here is a link for the list of the different Revenue District Offices:

http://www.bir.gov.ph/index.php/contact-us/directory/revenue-district-offices.html

I specifically got mine from their RDO (52) here in Paranaque situated just a few steps from the gate of Villanueva Village.

When I was in college, I had to get a TIN for I was one of the incorporators for the SEC registration of our organization, PSCAS. I then went to the said RDO and inquired how and if I can get a TIN even if I am not yet a taxpayer and I am unemployed. They said that YES I can but I will be under the "non-taxable" bracket. I filled out BIR form 1904 for it. The said form is used to apply for a Tax Identification Number.

So now that I am applying for a job, I was wondering if I should obtain another TIN or just update from being under "non-taxable" to be under "withholding" for that should be the type if you are under a private company. I then went to the same BIR office to inquire. I do not need to get a new TIN for a TIN must only be issued once for every person. I just have to update my tax type (if one person obtains more than one TIN, you can be charged with multiple TINs, pay a fine and have a record in BIR for such case). To my surprise, I myself cannot update my taxpayer type for the officers said that RMO 20-2015 implicates that THE EMPLOYER SHOULD BE THE ONE TO OBTAIN A TIN FOR THEIR EMPLOYEE (non-verbatim). The ones who also went there who were first-time applicants were not able to obtain a TIN for the officers there were strictly implementing the said RMO. I then told my employer about it and I gave them my filled-out form 2305 which is the form used for updates. 

I am not an expert on the said matter. What is stated above was just my experience in the above mentioned RDO and how I was able to obtain and update my TIN. For better information about it, I suggest you visit the nearest RDO in your place. I hope this helps you though. :)


Love, A
https://twitter.com/anamrieapl

JOB HUNTING FOR FRESH GRADS

When I was still in college and experiencing some difficulties in my studies, I keep on telling myself to just go on and graduate eventually. And then I took and passed the board exam. So what happens next? I keep on asking myself that question. The answer was obvious though. It is to FIND A JOB. My usual path for the last 16 years of my life was to STUDY, then suddenly I had to change paths. No one gives you a tour to the new path. It is up to you to explore it.

So come Monday after New Year 2016, I started passing my resumes to different companies. To be honest, I didn't expect that that is how it would go. That I would just get in and either the receptionist or the security guard will get my resume and they'd tell me that I would just wait for the HR's call. Bummer right? I was thinking that they'd at least entertain me. HAHA! It was a HI-HELLO-GOODBYE situation. Having graduted and passed the board, I of course think highly of myself. :)) Haha! Passing the board was not a smooth sail! So I thought, they'd come calling me soon enough. But weeks passed and I did not get a single phone call or an email or text. I was losing hope to be honest. Crying on the inside..

GRADUATION WAS THE EASY PART. GETTING A JOB IS HARDER! :))

I once heard someone saying "marami namang trabaho eh. tao lang talaga ang maarte". Which is true. Lol! Not that I immediately wanted a high paying job but at least give me a little credit for my degree and license. Right? Haha! But NO! I am a graduate and a board passer without experience so that makes me as good as everybody else.

So after weeks of waiting, job offers started coming in. Day after day. I gladly attended every interview. I even got sick of answering those written exams. And so I already chose one company. They handed me a piece of paper with details about my job, the salary and the benefits. I was actually hesitant to sign it at first. It would be my first legal responsibility since I'd put my signature on it. But reality kicks in and I have to move on and earn my own money.

Tips? 

-be patient. They will eventually call you.

-do not expect a high salary right away. even if you graduated from prestigious college or university, a cum laude or a board passer or top notcher. Being your first job, you are as good as everybody else.

-do not be choosy as it is your first job. consider it as a stepping stone into advancing in your future career. 

-do not stress yourself too much! I'm probably sure that your parents are more than proud of you for getting a degree. It would not be a big of a deal if you become a "pabigat" while finding a job. 

HAHAHAHA!

As for choosing a company to work in, I suggest that you do a research about them. Read reviews. Weigh your options. Do not say YES immediately once one company offered a job. Check the other offers as well. Compare the benefits. LOCATION is also a major factor for me. If one company offers a higher salary than the other but the difference would just be spent for commuting, then I'd rather pick the other one with a nearer location.

So to all fresh graduates who just also landed their first job, a bog GOOD LUCK to all of us. May we survive this new path in our life.

Love, A
https://twitter.com/anamrieapl

MICRO BLOCKS

Sharing with you guys this micro-blocks video on how to make Captain America! :)
The maker of the micro-block and the said video is my boyfriend, Mark. <3

You can check out his youtube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbKP7cF0qHXRszbfO9dXKDA

Love, A
https://twitter.com/anamrieapl

SUMMER IN DECEMBER

Merry Christmas everyone! 

I hope you had a good one as I did. May it be with family, friends or whoever.

My family spent the Christmas 2015 in Pagudpod.

We stayed in Hannah's Beach Resort which is really famous in Pagudpod.

The travel was really long but totally worth it.

They say that it usually takes 10-12 hours but boy, we reached 17 hours! (considering we left at December 24, 3AM, the traffic was bad) but maybe when you go on a normal basis it wont be that long.

Enough of the words.. let me show you pictures of our trip.

Enjoy! :)

Above pictures can't suffice as to how wonderful the place was. Even if we were there for Christmas and they were fully booked (104 rooms to be exact), none of the places or amenities became too crowded! You can really relax and recreate. They also offer a lot of activities you can enjoy but different payment though. Activities such as ATV, beach volleyball, frisbee, hanging bridge and theme park, shooting range, surfing and of course their zip line. It was said that their zip line is the longest one above sea in Asia. How cool right?

Before going there, I read the reviews in their facebook page. Some says that the bad thing about it is that their staff are not well mannered. I can say that that is not true at all. They were all welcoming. Maybe it just depends on how you treat them. The rest of the reviews says that it really is a nice and relaxing place.

My own personal review is that it really is nice. But it is kind of pricey. Also, their room service kind of takes long to be served. Ours was always late for like 15-20 minutes so they should improve on that. The rest I might say is a thumbs up! Paradise on Earth :)

You can search them in facebook at: Hannah's Beach Resort and Convention Center

or thru 0928 520 6255 and they are located at Brgy. Balaoi, Sitio Malingay, Pagudpod.

On the other hand, since we are in the North part of the Philippines already, we also went to Ilocos Norte, in Paoay specifically. We've been there a lot of times already so we did not see much. We just really went there to try the Philippine version of Sand Dune which is slowly becoming famous in Ilocos already.

It was an extreme 4x4 ride. Trust me when I say extreme! But tolerable though. Like riding a roller coaster but on a 4x4 and on sand. Lol! 

Facts about their sand dune:

It was 2,500 per hour which included sand boarding.

It is under a cooperative which is nice knowing you'll enjoy and be able to help them

A part in the ride, you'll see a big "HIMALA" sign. I was wondering what it is for. Is it the name of the place or what. Then when we were on our way back, I was told that it is because it is where Nora Aunor's movie with the famous line "Walang Himala.." was shot. Then I remember the scene on the movie and realized that it really is. Cool part is that they were able to preserve even the arches used in the movie. Also, shot there was FPJ's "Ang Panday". They also have there a memorabilia from the movie. 

----------------

Since I love food, I also took picture of some of our food during the trip. Mehehehe!

Some pics from my snapchat as well;

@anamrieapl

There goes my photobook from our Christmas trip. Thus explains the caption "SUMMER IN DECEMBER" hahaha!

Merry Christmas again. From my family, to yours :)

Happy birthday to Jesus! We are of course celebrating him. 

Love, A. 

 

Summer Sundays '15

Since I graduated the course Customs Administration last March, I have an upcoming board exam on November called the Customs Brokers Licensure Exam (CBLE). Review proper shall start on June but I took up tutorial classes so I have a somewhat class. I got into this in-demand review center wherein I ran out of weekdays schedule and ended up taking the Sunday one. It runs from 8AM to 5PM for the Sundays this summer. We tackle practical computations.

At the end of every meeting, it is seriously draining. Imagine having to sit, listen and compute the entire day? Brain damaging! Lol. We are only allowed to go out during an hour lunch break as they are also training us not to go to the comfort room because you cannot do that during the CBLE itself.

Anyway, the food places surrounding the building of my review center seriously sucks! Haha. There's one that serves really loooong, then the other one wont suffice for lunch, the one is really expensive and the other one is just a convenience store.

And so, ta-da! We just bring baons because food places are too mainstream. :))

Yes! We eat lunch inside the car since it's the only choice we have. 

But in fairness, to make bawi of the place, I was amazed with the mode of paying the parking. Of all places here in Metro Manila, aside SM Malls of course, this is the only place I know that gives out reloadable cards you use to pay the parking. Although you can only use it in parking places in Escolta.

Then I want to share with you this place we call "Estero". We call it such because it is situated beside a stream. But it is totally clean! Hihi. To go there, go straight on the right side of Binondo church and it is on the right side of the second bridge.

Stress-eating after tutorial classes! It may seem a lot but the two of us finished it.

Would you believe we only paid 500 pesos for those?

Medium size shanghai fried rice, buttered chicken, camaron rebusado and calamares. Oh and Royal too. Hihi. 

Of course, to top it all of, we try as much as possible to make time to visit Him if we still can. 

How do you spend your summer Sundays? :)

(I don't find this a bad this during Sundays because I get to be with my boyfriend as he is in the same tutorial class.)

Hi hon! <3

xx, Ana A.

Dreamplay: Play. Create. Learn.

Out of curiosity, we visited the Dreamworks, Dreamplay in City of Dreams.

You know how you always have that kid at heart deep inside you? :)

Anyway, dreamplay is located in the upper ground of City of Dreams

located in Aseana Blvd. cor. Macapagal Avenue.

As soon as the elevator door opens, I was able to see the front part of dreamplay and got that goosebumps inside of me. Lol.

But upon going near, I saw some kids running and a long line to purchase tickets to get in.

I don't want to spoil much of it so just enjoy the photos.

There are two types of wrist band. The red one and the green one.

The red one is for the kids and the green on is for the adults.

If you pay for the green one, you are considered as a "non-participating adult" meaning you cannot play some of the games but you can watch the kids play and you can enjoy the dream tales library and the dream theatre.

If you want to play with the other attractions, you have to be a participating adult. To be a participating adult, you must pay the same corresponding price as the kid's price.

Weekday Rate:

No. of hours                  Children                                   Adult

4 hours                          680                                             380  

2 hours                              380                                             210

 Hourly Ext.                       200                                             110

Day Rate                             1500                                          830

Weekend/Holiday Rate

 No. of hours                             Children                                    Adult    

   4 hours                                               880                                             490

2 hours                                               480                                              270

Hourly Ext.                                        250                                             130

Day Rate                                              2000                                         1100   

We got the 2hours one. Surprisingly, we were able to finish the entire attractions in an hour.

I'm not saying you do the same. It depends on how you or the kids would take time in enjoying every attraction. :)

The staff in here said that this room was suppose to be for storytelling and a puppet show but is not yet operational.

And then they also have the dream theatre. A 4D theatre.

Show lasts for 5 mins but twas really awesome. 

(non-participating adults can enter the dream theatre)

There are also some food stalls inside for the waiting parents or guardians or the hungry kids.

Food price I might say is a little too much.

Then they also have the Dream Shop where you can buy souvenirs.

 

Come visit the dream play sometime.

Oh! And I heard you can celebrate kiddie parties in there too.

You can contact 8008080 or 8080909 for more information. :) 

Operating hours:

Park hours: 10AM-10PM; Counter Closes at 9PM

Dream Shop Hours: 10AM-10PM

Restaurant Hours: 10AM-10PM

Some few reminders:

Dress Code: No wearing of slippers, open toed shoes, sleeveless shirts.

Outside food and beverage are not permitted inside the facility.

Pets are not permitted.

No smoking.

Adult visitor without children is NOT ALLOWED to enter DreamPlay.

ALL participating guests are required to wear shoes and socks.

PS: Parking in City of Dreams is for free! :)

There you have it. 

DreamPlay: PLAY. CREATE. LEARN.

xx. Ana A.