Biyaheng Balik-Pinas

(This post is taken from my Friendster's  Blog)

My time was very limited. I only had few days, including travel time from April 17- April 28, 2009

Before my kids and I left, I had so many things in mind to do when I get to the Philippines. I planned to see all my family members especially my grandpa Tatay Bering and my former officemates and my classmates in high school and of course my close friends. I planned to see a Dermatologist and a Dentist. I was really hoping to make these plans realized. These plans are excluded in my main purpose of coming back home: to enroll my kids in college and find a good place for them to stay in Davao City.

I had this very frightening experience in Las Vegas Airport when we entered the Security gate. The first man who check the plane tickets of each passenger told me that I have SSSS on my ticket, meaning, Secondary Security Screening Selection, a code used by airlines on boarding cards of passengers selected for secondary security screening. I felt like I was treated like I was a bomber or a drug dealer! After putting all my things in a plastic tray and passing thru an X-ray Machine like other passengers did, I was being scrutinized again with another lady and my heart was pounding fast when she put bright orange tag on my hand bag and on my arm. Waaah! Then I heard someone called for a VIP, something like that. One of the Security Officers asked me if I speak Spanish. I said, “No, I am a Filipino”. Then a lady came and said, “Do not touch your purse”. I was told to take a seat in a corner while watching the two ladies inspecting everything in my bag. I asked them, “What happened? I am scared.” The other lady said, “You will be fine, just relax”. Then I saw my stuff taken by the lady one by one using a tool which I couldn’t recall until now what it was. I felt safe when I heard of them said, “The purse is clear.. The shoes are clear.. Everything is clear. You may now take off that orange tag on the purse and on her arm”. I really wanted to scream “Thank you Lord!” afterwards. I saw hubby from afar looked too anxious. He waited there until we passed the Security gate. I gestured at him that everything went okay.

The plane took-off past 7pm, April 17 and it had lay-over in Vancouver, Canada for an hour. Transit passengers like us disembarked from the plane and stayed in a designated area in the airport.We were not allowed to wander around the entire airport, and we just sit there until its time for us to embark in the plane. The foods are great and the flight attendants were nice. I noticed that when we were back in the plane, new group of crew greeted us. I bet the plane will change crew in every destination. We arrived in Manila very early in the morning, April 19. When we got-off the plane, whew! The air that embraced us is warm enough for us to take off our jackets or sweaters.

We arrived in Davao International Airport at 8:30am, April 19 and we waited for 2 hours before my family members came to fetch us. Yep, we waited for 2 long hours. We were too tired of the long flight and of waiting. Anyways, we were happy to see all of them smiling wide when they saw us J. That made my anger cooled down. I was so happy to see my mom, all my nieces and nephews and my 4 beautiful sisters. My one and only brother and my youngest sister were the only ones missing.

Afterwards, we went to Times Beach Seafood Restaurant and had our sumptuous lunch there then we went to a nearby SM Shopping Mall afterwards to treat my nieces and nephews. They were all having great time at World of Fun. We stayed in a family friend’s house in Davao then we headed to Agusan. We got there at dawn then we took for a few hours rest then my Mom and my youngest sister headed to Agusan del Norte to visit my Lolo. We had lechon baboy but I enjoyed eating “igi”, a fresh water shell from Lake Mainit. We didn't stay there for the night and we left at dawn. Imagine how tired I was that time. From 18 hours of plane ride and 5 hours bus ride from davao to agusan then another 3 hours going to my lolo's place. That time I started to sneeze and I had already a runny nose. My head was so heavy and I felt I was having a fever inside my body. The next day we went to the cemetry to visit my dad's tomb. God, I really miss him a lot.

We needed to go back to Davao because my kids had to take Entrance Exams in their chosen field and school. I still had many things in mind.I wanted to invite Pastor Ricardo Solomon and family for a dinner but I just had no time. I really wanted to see my friends but I have very limited time and I was not feeling well. And I wanted to see my cousins too. When the entire family had dinner at one of my sister’s house, my brother came up with an idea to have an overnight stay in Dap-dap Beach. So I invited my cousins to come. We stayed in the beach overnight and we had great time there.

I started coughing a lot. Geez. I had fever and colds. In short, I had a flu. I exhaled hot air and I just wanted to lie down and sleep. Saturday night, we headed back to Davao. I was dead tired and sick. But I managed myself to go to SM to buy some stuff for pasalubong. My cousin Carol saw the Oro Derm Spa and she suggested getting facial spa and I did. I did enjoy the time lying down while the attendant from Diatagon was cleaning my face. I fell asleep but I emerged from sleep when I heard her voice, “Ma’am? Is this genuine?” And I asked with my eyes closed, “What is that?” She answered, “your nose… because I am afraid to touch it”. I giggled when I heard it, silly girl hehehe! Well, I can’t blame her because my nose is kinda wide and big hehehe! I don’t really like it but it’s my nose and its real, genuine, original, etc. Well, that somehow made me laughed out loud when I went out from the spa. My best friend’s sister Neneng went all the way to Davao from New Bataan to see me. I was too happy to see her and her gorgeous daughter. We went to David’s Salon for my new hairstyle. Jen had hers too.

The following day, Monday, I wanted to see my beautiful friend Vanessa to give her the flipflops I promised and to see my sister-in-law but I was not really feeling well. I just wanted to stay in bed to get allot of sleep and to get some rest.

The next day, Tuesday, around 9am I was on my way to the airport and my cousin Carol, my teeners and family friends were with me. My flight was 1:20pm. One of the PAL employees noticed that I was not feeling well. He asked me if I was alright. He said I don’t look okey. I said I was okay even if I was not. I was just afraid that he might think that I had swine flu and forbid me to get in the plane.

During my flight from Manila to Vancouver to Las Vegas, there were lots of Pinoys who were on the same flight. I heard they were coming to watch Pacquiao-Hatton fight. And I overheard that Pacquaio gave them free ticket, something like that. Lucky for them!

Anyways, the flight to and fro went smoothly. Mexican couple Adan and Josefina was with hubby in the airport to welcome me home. We stayed in Excalibur Hotel and headed back home the next day. While on our way home, hubby asked me, "Did you see Vanessa mahal?" I answered, "nope". Did you see Ate Inday? I answered the same. "Did you see Nathalie's mom?" Did you see Ronald and Leodilla?" "Did you see your former sister in law? Nope. Nope. Nope. Geez. I really wanted to see them but I just did not have time. Until now, I haven't communicated to any of them yet. I just don't know what to say especially to Vanessa. I hope they will forgive me.

April 17-April 28, whew! That was real quick! I swear, the next time I go back to my homeland, I would stay at least 3 weeks otherwise I won’t go at all.

My Little Girl Turned 19!

Time flies really fast.

It was like only last year when I brought her in this world thru my belly, hehehe, I mean, thru Caesarian Section. She got many firsts and "onlies". She is my first child. She is my parents’ first grandkid. She is my parents-in-law’s first legitimate grand daughter. She is her biological father’s only legitimate daughter. She got an older half sister and got 2 younger half sisters. She is Jun's only ligitimate sister. And she is her daddy’s first and only daughter.

It was like only last month when I sent her and her brother to school every weekday morning. Gone were the days when I took them across the highway to wait for a tricycle to get a ride. Gone were the days when I competed with other parents during the entrance tests for SPED Class during her elementary years. Gone were the days when I went to school sometimes to bring her food for lunch and literally feed her . She was and until now a slow eater.

It was like only last week when she went to high school. She belonged to a Special Science Class section. One thing that I couldn’t forget during her high school days is when she shared about the “cheating scandal” inside their classroom during Periodical Exams in Filipino Subject. It was the first time that she shared something that kind of “bad’ and I really sensed that she was really affected about it. I thought she was really involved in the truest sense of the word but I was happy that she was able to get herself out of the trouble. She said she felt guilty so she didn’t continue to cheat even if 98% of her classmates was doing the same. And she was able to justify it to her teacher and her teacher believed her, I guess, based on her score. I was too proud of her for doing it. She’s my girl!

It was like only the other day when she went to college in Bohol. She played basketball during the school’s Foundation Day and she was proud to tell me that she was able to get scores. During the Sinulog Festival in Cebu, she asked permission to go there. Of course I said NO for safety reason. I guess she hated me that time. I knew it. But my decision was final. When I say NO, that means NEVER. And she knew that.

It was like only yesterday when we celebrated her 18th birthday together with her high school friends and classmates in the Philippines. I wanted to hold a debut party for her because I believed that it is usually every girl’s dream but she declined. She just wanted a simple celebration. I guess she just didn’t want to wear gown, that’s all. She invited all her classmates and friends and we held it in the neighboring resort. There were many guests came and that made her special day, indeed, very special.

On her 19th birthday, it was a real different from last year‘s celebration. Daddy just bought a triple chocolate mousse birthday cake. Nathalie and Jaka came over. She got a cp with walkman, Twilight DVD and a box of Hot Cars. We watched WATCHMEN movie together as mom and daughter bonding. And it was a funny experience because when we got inside the movie house, there were only 3 people in there. And the movie took so long, like 2 and a half hours but there were only seven of us all in all. When we left the movie house, I was laughing out loud! I remember hubby shared his experience in that movie house. He said that he was alone. As in alone. No one was there except him. He said its okey if they wont play it for him but the movie house staff was persistent, they said they will play it for him because he paid for it. Geez!

Anyway, inside the movie house, there was a daring scene and as usual, I told Jen to close her eyes, and I even blocked her sight with my right hand. She said, “I am not a girl anymore Ma”. Hahaha! I forgot that she is already more than 18! But I still want her to be my little girl!

When we got home, hubby told something to Jen but I didn’t really hear the detail but I heard her said “ I am already 19 years old dad, and I can marry without your permission” then she hugged him and grinned. Her dad just reacted funny. Waaah! I am already an old gal!

My Hotel Job

I have two major functions in this job: Front Desk Clerk and Hotel Desk Auditor. Front Desk Clerk is kinda interesting. I got to meet different kinds of people every night. Some are naughty some are nice .

As front desk clerk, I will check-in and check-out guests, answers phone calls for reservation or forward calls to different department of the hotel or it might be a complaint call from the guests. I also coordinate with the Housekeeping and Maintenance for the guest's needs and complaints. When I answer the phone, I would listen very carefully to the other end of the line to understand what the other person is saying. It sooo hard to understand the words. Sometimes I would wish that I could expand my ears like the elephant's just for me to catch up every single word that the other line is spoken. Imagine, I have to listen the words and interpret them in my own language then think of english words to respond. Whew!

I have this experience about this Russian guy who checked-in very late. He got a reservation though. When I ask him his last name, I couldn't find his name in the arrival list. The reason was, the front desk who reserved him had mis-spelled his last name. He showed me a sour face. He maybe thought that I murdered his last name, hehehe! He wrote his unique last name in a piece of paper for me to correct it. As I browsed his profile, he wanted a 2-bed non-smoking room for 2 nights, then I asked him, "how are you gonna pay for this Sir?" I could sense that he started to really get mad. He said, "I already gave my Credit Card number when I had my reservation!" I replied " Well, there is no Credit Card numbers here in the file, it says here GTDC, meaning Guaranteed Credit Card, and I need to swipe the card anyway before I will check you in." He gave his Credit Card with a bad stare at me. We had hotel rooms that under renovation and we don't have available rooms inside the hotel premises but we have another building across the parking area of the hotel and I ask him if its okey with him. I know it would not be okey with him. We only had two available two beds non-smoking room for the night. He said he doesnt care if it is a smoking room as long as it is located within the main building. But when I checked the computer, no available for a smoking room as well. I told him about it, then this time, he crumpled the registration card that I gave him for his signature. He was sooo mad. "You cannot do this to me! I will tell the hotel owner about this matter! It's 3:00 o'clock in the morning and you want me to go out! I am not staying in this hotel" Actually, he was exaggerating because it was only 1:29 in the morning. But It was snowing that time. And he had two big luggages. Then I replied, "I am sorry about the inconvenience Sir but I will call the Manager on Duty to help you carry your luggage if you want". During graveyard shift, the MOD will help the desk if needed. He just stared at me sharply and I feel like he wanted to eat me alive. And I asked him, "Are you gonna stay here Sir or you want to look for another hotel?" You are making me crazy and I dont know what I am gonna do now!" Whoa, my patience started to get loose and I was staring at him at the same time . After I said it, he answered that he will stay for the night but he would look for another hotel the next morning. When I looked at him, I thought he is the ugliest man I have ever encountered in the hotel. I said, "okey I will change the number of days that you stay and I will tell the hotel owner tommorow about what happened." Every single night, I would say, "Enjoy your stay Sir or Maam and have a good night!" but I didn't give a care to that man when he left. Afterwards, he called me up for a wake-up call. The next morning, he came to the desk with a smile on his face and he ask me which way going to the Restaurant, I gestured the way but I didn't smile back. When I went back to work that night, his name was still in the In-house guest list, meaning, he didn't move to the other hotel. When he checked-out early the next morning, he asked me "Did you still remember me?" And I smiled with a sarcastic reply, "of course Sir! My meeting with you is unforgettable!". Hehehehe! Well, when he left, I told him, "Have a good day and drive safely!". I always say these words to all people who check-out every single morning. When I looked at him, well, I realized that he is not that ugly as I thought the first night I encountered with him, ahahaha! maybe he was just tired that time which made him grumpy and irritable.

Every night I always expect calls from the guests for wake up calls or weird calls. We have switch board system to program wake up calls. One night, I got a call from a lady guest, "Hello, please send someone to help me find my dog, I went to the lounge for a drink and when I returned to my room, my dog is missing. He is my baby!" Here is another one, "I want a companion, can you send me prostitute in my room? or "Do you have connection with the brothels here? I want someone with me tonight" or "Do you have prostitutes here"? The first time I heard it, I was kinda shocked but later on I get used to such call. I would just answer "I am sorry Sir but we do not offer prostitutes here".

Last December I got this call, "Hello, where can I buy real Christmas Tree here? I am heading to Salt Lake City and I do not know any store here". I didn't know that there is so called "real" Christmas Tree here but when I asked the former auditor who trained me, she said there is. I found out later that there is indeed a real one. A real pine tree. You put it in a huge pot with soil and you have to put water everyday to keep it alive.

Here is another one, "Hello, how much is the room rate for tonight"? After I answered him, he asked again "can you describe the room for me"? And then my mind would be wandering to think the adjectives that best describe the rooms before I gave my answer. Whew!

Here is another one, "May I know the road conditions going to Reno?" When it is snowing, the travelers would make sure that the road condition is passable. Or this, "How many miles from here to Las Vegas? or to Idaho? or to Bakersfield, California?

Another situation, "Will you please call me a cab?" or, "I need shuttle at 7:00am, will you please contact your shuttle driver and call me back if I would get it or not".

Here is more, "Hi, could you please page this person? I think he is in the Casino right now". I would put the caller on hold then page the person but I expect that no one will come to the front desk though. That happens all the time. Maybe the caller is the wife looking for her husband :).

One morning, a lady came to the front desk and looked so sad and she looked like she is in grief. She wanted to extend her stay for one night. I asked her, "Are you okey Ma'am?' She answered, "No, not really.. My dog died last night and I feel so alone and lonely without him". I thought she neeeded comfort but I dont know how. I told her, "I am sorry to hear that Maam" and I looked at her with a sad face. She smiled sadly and said "thank you". I just hoped she was feeling better after she heard my "condolences".

Many times, someone will come to the front desk and say "There is a car that has lights turn on, kindly page the owner of that person., it might drain the battery." So I would call the MOD to check the said car, what type of car, state plate number, etc. then I will page the owner describing the vehicle.

There was one time that a car's alarm was bleeping continuously that everyone is annoyed and disturbed in the middle of the night and we couldn't contact the owner. We call the Police Dispatch for him to check the car and to know the name of the owner and in a few minutes he came and then it turned out that the owner of the car is not in the casino but in one of the hotel rooms sleeping. Even if the car is coming from other State, the Police has an access to get the owner's name in a few minutes only. High Tech, as we say. I really salute the Police here because they will come as soon as they could after you call.

I started to like this job although I have a problem dealing with the Housekeeping staff because all of them are Mexicans. They only have few English words and if you talk to them you should have the ability to understand their gestures and what they want from you. Every morning a housekeeping staff will come to the desk to get the number of rooms to be cleaned for the day, for the check-outs and stay-overs and to get the Laundry and lobby keys. For example the numbers of rooms rented last night is 65, I will tell them "Saysientay-singko" for them to understand me. He or She will have a big smile on his/her face. Communication with them is really an issue but I like them all because they are hardworking people like us, Filipinos.

Well, until here only. I don't want you to get bored reading this novel-like post.

Talk to you later.

God bless Us All!