3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS CEBU TOUR PACKAGE
PRIVATE TWIN CITY TOUR WITH BUFFET LUNCH
ROUNDTRIP AIRPORT TRANSFERS
DAILY BREAKFAST
TOUR GUIDE
ENTRANCE FEES INCLUDED
Lapu-lapu Monument | Magellan’s Shrine | Alegre Guitar Factory | Magellan’s Cross | Basilica Del Sto. Nino | The Heritage of Cebu Monument | Museo Sugbo | Colon Street | Fuente Osmena | Taoist Temple

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3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS CEBU TOUR PACKAGE
Group Joining 4PAX and below
RT Airport Transfers, Daily Breakfast, Tour Guide, All Fees, Lunch
One can avail of the package that includes sightseeing tour
in an air-conditioned transport with a Travel Buddy to Philippine Taoist Temple, Heritage
of Cebu Monument, Magellan’s Cross, Basilica Minore del Santo Nino, Heritage of Cebu Monument, Colon Street, Lapu-lapu’s  Monument, Magellan’s Shrine and Alegre Guitar Factory. And of course, a delicious buffet lunch, a souvenir item and entrance fees.

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4 DAYS 3 NIGHTS CEBU CITY PLUS OSLOB TOUR PACKAGE
Inclusions:
3 nights accommodation with daily breakfast
rt airport transfers
cebu & mactan twin city tour with lunch
oslob day tour with lunch and snacks
all ent

First and foremost, you will have to choose Western Union Quick Pay as your form of payment at your Google Adsense account. To do this, please follow the steps below.

To choose or change your form of payment, follow these steps.

• Sign in to your account.
• Visit the Account settings page.
• In the Payment settings section, click "edit payment method."
• Choose the radio button for your preferred form of payment and click Continue.
• Follow any additional instructions to choose your form of payment, and save your changes.

Please be aware that you won't be able to select a form of payment if your earnings haven't reached the payment method selection threshold. Your earnings will be released once you reached USD 100.

To cash out, just go to the nearest Western Union branch where they have Quick Pay service. To check if there's one near you, visit http://www.payment-solutions.com/agent.asp to find a Western Union Agent located in the country where your payments are sent.

Your Western Union Quick Cash payment will be made in US dollars. However, at most Western Union Agent locations, you may have the option to receive your payment in your local currency. Conversion rates will be calculated according to the rate used by the Western Union Agent on the day you pick up your payment.

Bring the a valid government-issued photo ID (Passport, Driver's license, etc) and the sender's information to pick up your payment, so please make sure that your AdSense account payee name exactly matches that of your ID. The senders information is also required. Just print your Statement of Earnings so you won't forget what to bring with you when you go to Western Union. It looks like this:

I've always preferred straight hair but when the digiperm craze came to life, I kind of wanna join the bandwagon.

So when Benefits Style Salon posted their Digiperm promo on their facebook page, I was like really considering if for almost 2 weeks. And just before the promo ended, I booked myself an appointment. 

The promo ran from July 11 until July 31st. I had my digiperm on the promo's last day. 

I've been going to their Eastwood and Libis branch for hair keratin treatment. But for my digiperm, I decided to try out their Tomas Morato branch. I forgot the name of the senior stylist who permed my friend's hair so when the staff asked if I have a preferred stylist, I just relied on feedbacks at facebook and instagram and booked myself with Orlan. 

Orlan was so serious and quiet. Not much chitchat except when he told me he'd cut and style my hair first before we proceed with the digiperm process. It has to be layered for some reason. I'm guessing he's having a bad day or he was not pleased with his assistant. The assistant wasn't much of a fun that night also. She was either new at her job cos she was more busy checking the other staff's work than checking if I was okay or she's also pissed. There came a point that I called for her cos the perm rods were almost burning my scalp to no avail. I just adjusted it myself. She's a bit old, almost in her 40-ish or 50's probably. I wasn't even offered magazine or water or tea. My sister who sat beside me and getting a hair keratin treatment was having her nice iced cold tea btw.

The process took only about 3 hours. We arrived around 6 and finished at around 9PM. I was wondering if that's the normal process. I always thought it was like with rebonding that takes around 5-6 hours. Was I satisfied? Not entirely. Customer service is still the key. And the curls are loosing in a span of 2 weeks.

It has been almost a month now and I am still not sure if I like my curly hair or not. Or I'm just missing my long straight hair. I also noticed that the curls on the left and right side is uneven. Right side showing more defined curls and left side loosing it's curl (in just a month). I'm scheduled to come back to have my hair condition check. One thing I like about Benefit is that they have a very responsive staff handling their facebook account so booking an appointment is smooth and easy. 

I have an online travel agency and though I prefer to be paid in cash, there are a lot of clients who wants to pay using their credit card. It's too risky to be accepting credit card payments through bank terminals due to rampant fraudulent transactions so Paypal for me is the best and secure way.

Signing Up

It is very easy to sign up. Just go to Paypal's website. Choose any of the 3 category. As for us, business account of course.

The next page after will ask for your information so kindly fill it up accordingly, and the very important thing you should be mindful of is linking your credit card.

VISA REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES

Visa application requirements depends on the purpose of Entry and the applicants qualifications. Please refer to the guidelines below:

Tourist Visa Requirements for Filipino Employees

1. Application Form
2. 1piece of Passport size colored picture
3. Original Passport (should be valid for more than 6months)
4. Photocopy of Passport Bio-page (page 2)
5. Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (If applicable, and Korean Visas will not be counted)
6. Original Certificate of Employment (with contact number/s & address of company and date of issue)
7. Original Personal Bank Certificate (NOT Bank Statement)
8. Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316

•If personally invited by Korean : Invitation Letter & Copy of invitor’s Passport•If invited by Company in Korea: Invitation Letter & Copy of Korean Company Business Permit

■ Processing Time: 3 working days (for those who have visas of OECD member countries)
5 working days (for those who do not have visas of OECD member
countries)
■ Visa Fee: 59 days (or less) stay in Korea -- GRATIS
60 to 90 days stay in Korea -- PHP1,350.00

Tourist Visa Requirements for Filipino Businessmen

1. Application Form
2. 1piece of Passport size colored picture
3. Original Passport (should be valid for more than 6months)
4. Photocopy of Passport Bio-page (page 2)
5. Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (If applicable, and Korean Visas will not be counted)
6. Photocopy of Business Registration from SEC or DTI
7. Photocopy of Business Permit or Mayor's Permit8. Original Personal Bank Certificate (NOT Bank Statement)
9. Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316
•If personally invited by Korean : Invitation Letter & Copy of invitor’s Passport•If invited by Company in Korea: Invitation Letter & Copy of Korean Company Business Permit

■ Processing Time: 3 working days (for those who have visas of OECD member countries)
5 working days (for those who do not have visas of OECD member
countries)
■ Visa Fee: 59 days (or less) stay in Korea -- GRATIS
60 to 90 days stay in Korea -- PHP1,350.00

Notes

–For applicants who are not capable to submit the indicated requirements above, the applicants could have an alternative such as Real-estate registration or Country Club Membership or Pension Certificate from official agencies.

–For applicants with valid visa or who have been to any OECD Nations(Except Korea) within the last 5years, applicants are only required to submit only an Employment Certificate or Business Registration issued by SEC or DTI.

–If applicants are students, applicants are required to submit their School Certificate, Birth Certificate and Parents’ Documents (employment certificate, bank certificate and ITR)

–If the travel is an incentive tour supported by one of the top listed corporations in the Philippine Stock Exchange Market , applicants could submit only a guarantee letter from the company

Double Visa

Qualified Applicants: Visitors who plan to visit in Korea more than 2times within 6months.
Visa Requirements: Same requirements with Single Entry Visa

Issuance Details: Status(C-3), Term of Validity (6Mons.), 2 Visitations for a Multiple Visa.
Short-term Visa(C-3) for Tourists: Multiple Entry
•Contents: Short-term Visas (C-3), Term of Validity (3Yrs)

Qualified Applicants

• Applicants who have obtained a permanent residency in any OECD member countries (except Korea) or people who visited OECD member countries more than 2times within the last 4years, or people who visited Korea more than 4 times within the last 2years.
•Group Tour Guides who has travelled to Korea more than once for the last 2 years
•Philippine Government Officials
•High Rank Officials/employees of International Airline Companies to Korea.
•Applicants who earn more than $10,000 annually or has Platinum international credit card
•Applicants who are invited for contract and consultation by Korean public agencies in connection to resources and energy development
•Applicants who are invited by the Korean Government to attend international forums, international conferences, international conventions.
•Executive or high ranking staff of a company that is listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange market
•Reporters,PD, journalists, news editors etc. people who works in major media company for more than one year
•Professionals : i.e lawyers, doctors, accountants, professors( PRC or IBP card holders)
•Popular Celebrities ; Artist/Athlete/writers who can be searched or viewed in Philippine major media websites
•Retired workers aged 55 years above who are receiving pensions of more than P20,000 monthly
•People who obtained a two year college degree or bachelor’s degree, master’s and doctorate degree from Universities in Korea.
•Spouse, minor aged children and Parent’s in law of a Korean national
•Dependent(Spouse, Children etc) of Multiple visa holders

•For the list of OECD member countries , please refer to this site: http://www.oecd.org/document/58/0,3343,en_2649_201185_1889402_1_1_1_1,00.html

Notes
• Applicants could be asked to submit additional documents as per consul’s evaluation.
•All visa applications are subject for approval

Procedures and Visa Fees :

•Application procedure. After completing the required documents, applicants or their representative may file their applications at the Consular Office from 9-11 am only. This is on a first come, first serve basis. No appointment needed.
•Processing takes 5 working days for first time travelers and 3 working days for frequent travelers. This may be extended though, depending on the Consul’s decision. Releasing time is only from 2-4 pm.
•Applicants, especially First Time travelers, are advised to personally claim their visas. An interview with the Consul may be required before the result of the application is given. E-6 Applicants/Entertainers, must personally appear for an interview before the visa can be issued.

•VISA FEES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

•59 DAYS OR LESS STAY IN KOREA - GRATIS
•90 DAYS STAY IN KOREA - PHP 1350.00
•MOre than 90 days stay in Korea
Singe Entry -PHP2250.00
Multiple entry -PHP3600.00
•US PASSPORT holders -PHP2025.00

Foreign nationals in the Philippines applying for a tourist visa –PHP1350.00

IMPORTANT REMINDERS TO ALL VISA APPLICANTS

Please read the instructions below, before you present your documents to the window

•Please register and get a number from the guard, if your number doesn’t appear on the screen yet, please sit down & wait for you number to be called.

•Please refrain from using your mobile phone and other electronic device while inside the embassy.

•Please make sure that you have filled out the correct visa application form, check the correct application form with the guard on duty, fill it out completely, and write “not applicable” if appropriate. Do not leave any blanks.
•Paste your passport size photo on the application form.
•Remove covers or jacket of your passport. Staple old & new passport together.
•Remove paperclips, rubber bands, envelopes and folders.
•Please arrange your documents accordingly: Visa application form on top, then photocopy of passport & visas issued from other countries, then supporting documents
•Contact number in Korea is very important, please don’t forget to fill out the contact number of your guarantor or your hotel in Korea.
•The embassy will return your original passport on the releasing date assigned to your application, we do not return any documents, so please make sure that you have submitted only a photocopy of ITR, Business permit , contract , marriage contract, birth certificate, etc.
•Bank Certificates should indicate the amount of money you have in the bank and the date it was opened.
•Employment Certificate should indicate compensation and length of stay in the company. It should also have a valid landline number.
•Do not forget to get your releasing slip / claim stub upon submission of documents.

Visa exemptions are as follows:

Frequent visitors who made more than 4 visits to Korea in the past two years, or more than 10 visits overall may enter Korea without a Korean visa as long as they have no Immigration offense or other criminal records. (Except for Chinese, Cuban & Macedonian)•Travellers with a valid visa or a re-entry permit to U.S., Japan, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand (5 countries) and travelling to any one of those countries through Korea. They must have a confirmed onward flight ticket for departure within 30 days after entering Korea to any of the mentioned countries, in addition to having no record of criminal offense in the five countries mentioned above.

Travellers who will arrive directly to Jeju island by flights or ships. Except for nationals of the following 11 countries (Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Cuba, Syria, Macedonia, Palestine, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Ghana). 30 days stay only.

A staff of the United Nations or special organization who have a travel document, namely, LAISSEZ-PASSER issued by U.N. office is allowed to enter Korea without a visa and is granted to stay for 30 days.

APEC Business Travel Card Holders ( to qualify for this, please check if Korea is written at the back of your APEC card )

If Nationality is among the list of those exempted from securing a visa. For information, or list of these nationalities, you may visit the website. http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/en/info/popup/icis/VisaWaiver_pop.htm

for other visa information , you may also refer to this site: http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/main_kr.pt

Credits to Ms. Analyn Perez of GMA News.
You may read the infographic completely at http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/377626/pinoyabroad/ofwguide/infographic-how-to-apply-for-a-korean-visa

I was again invited to visit the second TTM Travel Mart this September at Dusit Thani Manila. The biggest B2B Event in The Philippines. The TTM B2B Event 2013 is expected to be the largest gathering of leading tour operators, resorts, hotels, attractions and travel agencies and other related businesses all over the world  with the support of Malaysian Tourism Board, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Sabah Tourism Board, Singapore Tourism Board , Hong Kong Tourism Board and  our airlines partners.

The event is a must-to-attend for all tourism industry professionals to increase their business networks  and to be adept with hottest and most-in-demand holiday destinations around the world.

I am very much looking forward to this event. Last year, I was able to find a reliable and very kind tour operator in Bali, Indonesia. I sure hope I get to meet direct tour operators in other destinations this time.

Me and my friends came up with our August monthly date to have a foodie trip in Marikina last Sunday. It was a gloomy Sunday afternoon but our craving didn't let us cancel our plan.

Our first stop was to try nachos and burritos at Burrito Brothers. 

Photo Credits to www.chadsenga.com

I didn't know there was a foodie haven in Marikina called Lilac Street. I've passed this street a couple of times whenever we have a site tripping at Rancho Estate for the townhouses we sell. (I'm a real estate broker too aside from having my travel agency)

The resto can house only up to 20 people I guess. It was only 4PM when we arrived so the place was not packed yet. 

Verdict: Yummy Nachos filled with lots of beef and cheese and tasty Beef Burritos mixed with tomatoes, beef and rice is perfect for my taste. I can't wait to bring my other friends to eat again here.

They have very affordable price too.

Photo Credit: http://melissacuya.wordpress.com

Our planned 2nd stop was to try Chocolate Ala Mode at Forget Me Not. Unfortunately, it was sold out so we went to our 3rd stop at Pink Chiffon. After being featured at KrisTV, a lot of foodies flocked at this small resto in Marikina so their cupcakes and lasagna were also sold out that day. Both restos didn't have what we came for so we just went on to our final stop which was Cafe Lidia.

We arrived around 6PM at Cafe Lidia and the place was already packed. We were 8th in line so we waited for about 10 minutes before we got seated. The wait was all worth it.

Here's what we ordered for our winner dinner.

Seafood Marinara

Creamy Mushroom Pasta

Chicken buffalo wings

House Pizza

Marshmallow Cake and Mocha Sansrival

My favorite and my top picks were Seafood Marinara, Buffalo wings and the Sans Rival. But all of the food choices we made were all winner for me. I am no foodie expert. But I tell you, the pictures are not deceiving. They are all very tasty. And for the price we only paid. All I can say, winner!!!

Good friends celebrating good food at Cafe Lidia.

This hidden resto in Marikina is a real gem. Bring your friends and family here. You'll surely enjoy chit chatting and enjoying the good food this restaurant has to offer.

For directions, you can check the map below.

CAFE LIDIA

#64 Calderon Street, Calumpang, Marikina City

Tel. No.: (632) 6477606

My spoiled hand and feet were already screaming for pamper time. It has been almost 3 weeks so a visit at a nail salon is a must.

Great that I was able to take advantage of Deal Grocer's online offer with "The Nail Room". I was glad that they're not full on a Friday weekend. 

The salon is located on the 2nd floor of a 2-storey building just above Alied bank and RCBC.It's right beside Nuat Thai just in case you need some body pampering afterwards.

The online offer at Deal Grocer. Sweet deal actually. I only paid Php 285 instead of Php 580 for this wonderful package.

I was 30 minutes early for my 6PM appointment but was very happy there were 2 attendants ready to be of service for me. One attendant took care of my feet and the other took care of my hand. 

Here's how they prettify my nails.

My feet were soaked in warm water first. 

Then the attendant went on with the foot spa procedure. Sloughing off dead skin with foot scrub, moisturizing it then with foot lotion and gave me foot massage.

The other attendant took very good care of my hands. I opted to rest my nails from polish so I just went for basic cleaning. The process involved soak, moisturize and hand massage.

For the price I paid and with the awesome service I got, I can't describe more how I was so pleased and satisfied.

I am so sure I will be a regular at this nail salon. Their regular prices are reasonable. They even have Chanel nail polish already, aside from Orly.

A former co-employee at IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) is a regular at The Nail Room. We unexpectedly met and she testified the awesome service of this nail salon.

The Nail Room

2nd floor #90 E. Rodriguez Jr. (across Shopwise Libis, above Allied and RCBC banks)

For appointment call: 09020 451-2325 and 0922-7002337

I booked a flight at Air Asia last year for only Php 400 one way Clark to Hong Kong flight. Since it was an early morning flight, and traveling to Clark is a bit tedious as we were merely 3 hours away from the airport, we decided to let go of our ticket. Luckily, there was also a seat sale at Cebu Pacific and we got our roundtrip tickets Manila - Hong Kong - Manila for just around Php 2,500.

And call it grace, just before our July 2013 flight. We got an email from Air Asia that our supposed flight got cancelled and we have 3 options; rebook it at no extra cost, credit to Air Asia account or have it refunded. Of course we want it refunded.

So here's the process on how to get a refund in case you have flight cancellations (Airline's fault)

If you received a flight cancellation notice via email, you will just click the link, then select your preferred options. (Rebook, Credit to Account and Refund).

Or you may fill up an E-Form. You may click this link! According to Air Asia, Effective 9th August 2013, all refund requests must be submitted via an online e-form. Walk-in requests will not be processed. To know more about this process, visit here.

This is my second time to process a refund with Air Asia. Last time, it only took 1 month for them to refund the money back to my credit card. Since I paid via Dragonpay (debit card option), it took longer than I expected and more process.

After following up our refund at Air Asia, I was informed that they already requested Dragonpay to refund the money back to our savings account. 

Dragonpay Direct Debit is one of Air Asia's payment channels when you book online. I find it cost effective and convenient since you don't have to pay credit card surcharges. The payment will be debited directly to your savings/current account. It works of course if you have online banking. In my case, I have a lot to choose from - I have BDO, RCBC and Chinabank Online.

 Just 2 days ago, I got an email from Dragonpay. I have to fill up another form to get my refund process going. To know more about Dragonpay's refund process, please visit this link.

They have 3 steps that I need to make, but I only filled up step 2. For Step 1, I was not able to locate the email instruction anymore but as you can see in their email, the payment confirmation last September 2012 was already there so I don't have to locate the email anymore. I carefully filled up Step 2. For Step 3, it does not apply to me since I paid through bank transfer. Also, the email confirmation says it all.

How do I request for a refund?

1. Locate your Dragonpay email instruction and click your email reply button.
2. Provide the following details:
   • Dragonpay Reference No.
   • Bank
   • Branch
   • Account Number
   • Account Type (Savings or Checking Account only.  We cannot refund to Cash Card or company payroll accounts.)
   • Account Name
   • Amount to be refunded
   • Reason for refund (1 to 2 sentences only)
   • Contact nos. (landline or mobile)
3. Attach an image of your deposit slip (if you do not have a scanner or digital camera, please type as much details as you can find in your deposit slip — branch code/name, date/time, amount)

I forwarded this to Dragonpay and they confirmed it with another email.

So I have yet to wait for 1 more week to check the refund if it is successful or not. As per their regulatins, there will be a minimal service fee of Php 15 per refund and refunds are only released every Friday.

There is a Php 15.00 service fee per refund.  Furthermore, refunds are only released every Friday.  We do not guarantee any specific time within the day.  Should we miss depositing to your account due to unavoidable circumstances (ex. long queues at the bank, maintenance on the bank’s computer system) on that day, refund will be made on the next banking day.  Should Friday happen to fall on a non-working holiday, refunds will be automatically scheduled on the next banking day.

Will update this blog next week to let you know how it goes.

Yesterday, August 16 as promised, I received my Air Asia/ Dragonpay flight refund already. So there you go folks, just follow the process and you'll have your refund in no time. Just be patient.

xoxo,

Ms. Jhessy