Lunes, Hulyo 11, 2011

My Singapore Budget Trip

My very first internatuional BLOG ENTRY ala budget social climbing!!!!

Here in Singapore....BUDGET TERMINAL, on free internet terminals, time limit 15min per user. need to rush baby! Good and bad, the flight was delayed dfor 2 hours giving me a chance to to this blog!

For a social climber like me, he he he, I believe this one is a classic example of how to do it with a tight budget! What happens right now is the sudden influx of cheap flights to local and international destinations that can be booked online. Everyone is empowered by this service and the choices based on thier purchasing power are really given the chance to do what rich people can do. Only that we will boarding the same plane but only seating on different sections. It is basically the same, the same pilot, same crew, same cabin pressure but the only difference is the price tag! Flying on business class is just economy with class and priority. Take note that when in budget, it is a non-issue. Just use the toilet nearest to the business class passengers and let them have a scent of your meal whenever you feel like loosing your digested food mile high. Sorry for that.


There was a slight problem when the booking was made cutting thru 3 days from my workweek. Huh! Anyway, without batting an eyelash, I gave in to the challenge. 5days and 4nights was booked using Tiger Airways SEAIR boarding at DMIA Clark Airport. To do that, we had to stay at SOGO Hotel and witness how the world works at night back there in DAU and how people eagerly check in there. Smiley na lang ako. Now, I am in love with SOGO, So Good So Clean.

The departure was set at 6AM so we had to be there 2 hours early and from our best calculation, we had the taxi service to pick us up at 2:30AM. We arrived in the airport by 3AM, an hour before the whole airport opens and 3 hours before our flight departure. Loosing an hour of sleep is not so good.

Next Blog....will be about the preparations for the Singapore Trip.

Lunes, Hulyo 4, 2011

While in denial, go travel!

While in denial, go travel!

Back when I was a child, I will just close my eyes and dream that I can go places I only see in books and in our black and white Hitachi cabinet television. We do not have books in our home besides Doctors to the Barrios and the Bible. As for the television, it allowed me to see places in black and white. I had no choice and it felt like we are not that rich. I went to a public school, we do not have our own house, we do not have a car, so on and so forth. Still, my childhood is something I am proud of with the little travel luxuries life offered me.

I grew up in Concepcion, Marikina, left by my parents in Santolan, Pasig and San Mateo, Rizal while they were working, at times we went to Cubao for shopping and strolling and trips around Metro, Manila. The farthest maybe Antipolo for church, Victoria, Laguna to visit my father's relatives, Batangas for family outing and Matnog, Sorsogon to visit my mother's relatives. Uhmmm, not bad at all but not quite travelled. It was only in college and up to now that I got the privilege of exploring the Philippines and the World.

As a student of UPLB and member of a cultural theater organization, it allowed me to spend time and perform in
1) Mayao, Lucena, 2) Tumaini, Isabela 3) Binan, Laguna 4) San Pedro, Laguna5) Alabang, Muntinlupa6) Sucat, Paranaque7) Balayan, Batangas8) Tagaytay, Cavite9) Naga, Camarines Sur10) Legazpi, Albay11) Puerto Galera, Mindoro12) San Pablo, Laguna13) Sta. Cruz, Laguna14) Majayjay, Laguna15) Famy, Laguna16) Liliw, Laguna17) Vigan, Ilocos Norte18) Baguio
After college, already working and with money to splurge...he he he!
Seoul, South KoreaHong KongSingaporeJohor Bahru, MalaysiaBangkok, ThailandSchenzen, ChinaMacauKuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Bolinao, PangasinanSan Juan, La UnionBay, LagunaPunta Fuego, BatangasPagsanjan, LagunaKalayaan, LagunaPakil, LagunaPaete, LagunaPila, LagunaSariaya, QuezonPagbilao, QuezonSubic, OlangapoSan Fernando, PampangaPundaquit, ZambalesLaiya, BatangasCamiguinCagayan de OroCaramoan, Camarines SurBoracay, AklanBacolod, Negros OccidentalPuerto Princesa, Palawan
and counting.........on foot, by bike, tricycle, pedicab, jeepney, taxi, bus, train, trolley, boat, ship, plane....

Social Climbing with a Twist by Anne Applebaum

Found this article in the net, written by Ms. Anne Applebaum and posted in the Washington Post last November 30, 2009, citing historical reference to the social climbing act. She described social climbing as an ancient art, as for me, it is a skill. Funny but I can say that social climbing can be compared with the world's oldest profession, prostitution. :). Every era has one high-society impostor who swindles and are considered phonies known according to Ms. Anne. What motivates them? Wealth and fame!!! The strategy employed by them to enter the society besides leveling with their clothes and appearance, they follow these basic steps: 1) simply act as you belong, 2) do not stare hard on celebrities, 3) do not eat or drink too much, and 4) do engage in little chit-chats.
Stick with all four and you will be able to blend. :) Just be sure not to break rules.