My CR1 Visa Journey

Marriage June 18, 2008
Vermont Service Center
11/05/2008--Sent I-130 to Chicago Lockbox through USPS
11/07/2008--I-130 packet received at Chicago Lockbox 6:57 AM
11/14/2008--NOA1
01/13/2009--Transfered to CSC (Case visible online)
02/02/2009-- APPROVED!!! 20 days after transfer, 80 days from NOA1
02/07/2009--NOA2 hard copy arrived in the mail.
NVC Journey (Not in a hurry)
02/10/2009--NVC Received our papers
02/16/2009--Emailed DS-3032 (a..k.a Choice of Agent)
02/21/2009--DS3032 accepted (email)
05/17/2009--Hubby paid the AOS and IV bills
05/20/2009--AOS and IV Bills shows PAID online
07/06/2009--DS230 sent to NVC via Fedex fr Phils by me
07/13/2009--DS230 entered into the system.
08/04/2009--Mailed AOS Package to NVC.
08/14/2009--RFE for the I-864A in my email.
08/21/2009--RFE corrections on I-864A sent backto NVC.
08/26/2009--RFE response now in the system.
09/01/2009--Sign in failed at NVC receipt page.
09/02/2009--CASE COMPLETE! Thank you Lord.

Medical @ St Lukes--Sept 23-24- PASSED
OCTOBER 6, 2009 8:30 AM- INTERVIEW - APPROVED
October 8, 2009 2:03 PM- Visa in hand.


NOVEMBER 12, 2009--- FLIGHT TO THE US


God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear. (Psalm 46:1-2)

 

Say Wowowee!!!

Today's undisputed program of ABS-CBN is Wowowee that millions of our fellow filipinos looks for their luck when they join this show. And it is also a show that a lot of us would like to watch not only in TV but also actually. It is being hosted by Willie Revillame also known as Papie, or Pappy with Co hosts Valerie Conception, Mariel Rodriguez, and Pokwang. Yesterday, April 3, 2009, Me together with my mom and sisters went to ABS-CBN to watch Wowowee. I called first week of January to get reservation and finally yesterday we were able to watch this show.

How to get reservation?

►First, you have to call them at Studio Tours 416-32-11/ext 3622. Call them 3 months before your intended date so you are sure you'll get slots. Tell them your the date you want to watch.

►Second, keep calling them once in a while to check if the intended date you want to watch is available and when you can possibly pay your studio tour fee of Php 120 per person (if the date is available). When they'll tell you can already pay the fee, you have to pay it at BDO bank. Fax the original deposit slip to 4163211 and call them to confirm they were able to received it.

►Third, just wait for you assigned date. Chill!

►Fourth, It's your day!!! go there as early as 8 o'clock to get early position.

STUDIO TOURS PROPER

After you arrived at the reception area, you will have to wait and be on queu to get your number. When your number is called, you will be given a sticker and a freebies. NEVER loss your sticker because if you do, you won't be able to join the tour and also enter the studio. After they've given me the stickers for my mom and sisters, we proceed to the briefing room. Our tour guide, Nel is very knowledgeable and funny so it wasn't a boredom. lol. After the briefing, we went to all of the studios that ABS-CBN shows are being taped.

►First one was SNN studio. - When you are watching the show in the television, you will think that it is a huge one, but to tell ya.. its a very small portion in the upper right of the whole studio. In this studio, Rated K of Korina Sanchez is being taped as well. Why you do you think its looks so huge when you're watching it in TV,? I'll tell you why later. lol

►Second is the ASAP Studio- When we arrived there, the studio was quite topsyturvy. The stage wasn't in order due to some renovations undergoing. The studio can accommodate 400 viewers and its just 800 sqm. But it looks so big when its on telly right?.... I'll tell you why later again. lol

►Third was the Game K nB studio- It was under renovations as well because Nel our tour guide told me that the Game k n b? will have a new segment.

►Forth was the Singing Bee- It was a small studio.. Im telling you. It was surrounded by black clothings as camera effects.

►Fifth was the News Studio- This is where the TV Patrol is being aired live every night. I happen to bumped Sheryl Cosim. She was the one who will give the flash report and kinda in a rush and I was busy taking pics. On the way to this Studio, Jing Castañeda was walking in the aisle. She smiled at me. lol
Passing through the hallway, you will see the pictures of the ABS-CBN talents.

After we went to the News Studio, our tour guide declared 1 hour break. So we took our lunch. Geez, the cost of the food is nerve racking. If I'm a celebrity earning millions, I dont mind at all, but as a normal person I'd rather be dead of hunger. lol.. But anyhow, we have to eat lunch because food and drinks are not allowed inside the studio of Wowowee.

WOWOWEE PROPER

Alright, after we took our lunch, we were advised to fall in line because we'll be entering the studio of Wowowee. It was like 11:00 am. We were under the TFC (The Filipino Channel) line.
Before you enter the the studio, they will inspect your bags and they will confiscate any food or drinks.

When the audiences are finally settled in their areas, Owen, the floor director together with the guy who looks like Gary Lising, (if you are familiar with him) oriented us again what we'll be doing inside. They are throwing random jokes to fill in the airing time of GAME KN B?. The ASF dancers went out to taught us how to dance the giling giling. 6 secs before Wowowee aired, we are already prepared, standing and clapping.

Then we are now watching this Funny Show.


TRIVIAS:

Q:Why on TV, the Wowowee, SNN, Singing Bee studio and all of their other shows looks like so big?
A: Because their cameras are are using ultra magnifying lenses up to 10-20 times that's why it looks so big, yet some studios are small. You gained 6-8 lbs when you come out on the TV.
Celebs are required to loss weight so they won't appear voluptuous on TV.

So you think the hosts are like those sizes? No! Valerie,Mariel, and Pokie are small faced people. They look so young in personal. Pokie is very baby face when you see her in person.

Q: What happens in the studio when it's commercial break?
A: There are comedians who ad-libs and makes you laugh as if you are in a comedy bar. And they also have small games for the audiences.

Q:What are the shows that are always live on air?
A: TV Patrol, Wowowee, SNN. (Sometimes, they have to taped it if the host/s is/are not available.)

Q:About Game KnB, does the audiences and players there really come everyday for taping?
A: NO! Edu Manzano tapes the whole Game KnB episode for the whole week, in just one day! Yes! one day only, since he is busy doing his work as chairman. They changes their clothes and position so that it feels like they come everyday. Most of the audiences are paid audiences. Regular audiences that just sleeps in the audience entrance for living.

Q: Which is better? watching wowowee on TV, or Live?
A: For me, I'd rather watch it on TV bcos it feels so alive,when you are at the studio, it doesn't feel like it. I'm not trying to disrupt your desire to go there, I'm just telling the truth.

Q:What is the best time to go at ABS-CBN if I'd like to see more celebs?
A: At night. The Celeb life is just like call center. The day is their night, and their night is their day.

What is not so good when your inside of the studio?

-Food and drinks are not allowed.

- Ages 6 years old and below is not allowed to go inside. If you are with your kids classified in this age, You don't have any choice than to just go out.

-Video Cam is prohibited as well. The event marshals will confiscate 'em. . DiCam is allowed.

-You can hardly be near with the hosts, the event marshals are too strict. That's the reason why I don't have any pics with the hosts. Grrrr. And they go immediately in their dressing rooms on commercial breaks and after the show was over.

-Only commercial break is the time you can go and use the rest room. When you're not yet back and the show is back on air, you can only proceed to your seat after the next commercial break.

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Tips:

►Bring your own snacks if possible.

►You will encounter people who thinks they are a a lot better than you, NEVER let them intimidate you. ANSWER BACK!.

►Make friends with the event personnels, they are the key to good position. lol

►Luckily, Linda Backlaund (PBB teen edition housemate) is my distant relative, when I happen to mention her, the fellows who were at the lounge gave me some more key chains. (thanks Linda! ) lol.

►Wear your comfy clothes if possible. Because you will be walking around ABS-CBN. I was wearing heels luckily I had my comfy shoes with me.

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The show was over at exactly 2:30 PM.



-Dixie Wife...Ü