My Medical Experience at St Lukes Extension Clinic.

All the Glory and Praise for Him!

I'm very happy to share my medical experience with everyone. My first day was very smooth. I arrived at St. Luke's at around 11:40ish AM and I was out the vicinity around 3:11 PM. yay! good 3 hours. I was asked to go back the next day for my vaccinations.

TIPS.
► I would suggest to those who will have their medical soon to go at St Luke's after lunch where people is less dense and crowded. Though the guard will give you the flowchart of the medical exam, it was not followed in my case since St. Luke people reshuffles the patients to go to a different department to squeezed you out of the waiting time.

►Never wear earrings on your 2x2 pics they will ask you to submit a picture with no earrings at the releasing counter on your 2nd day. ( I think I missed this info so I was wearing earrings. )

►Avoid the fixers outside St. Luke's ( These people are just trying to make a living out of your innocence! not ignorance, so please be smart.)


And on my 2nd day, I arrived at like 12:45 PM. The guard typed my PDS (patient data sheet) number at the computer to check if I ain't wasting his time telling him I am here for immunization and he stamped my receipt "for immunization" 2nd floor. (Needles, here I come!)

There, I gave my receipt of the medical fee at the immunization counter. I waited for like 2.5 hours for my  vaccines. Namely, MMR, Tdap, and Anti-Cervical Cancer.
Be very attentive, because you will be called via intercom speaker not the one who is calling names on the counter.
After I got my vaccines, Hey it was 3 shots! ( I was such in discomfort when I went out of immunization room because I'm seriously afraid of needles.. ) I was instructed to go at the ground floor and wait for my name to be called again.. After 30 minutes, I was called then I proceed to counter A, I signed some medical papers. Then I went back to my seat and I again waited for my name to be called for releasing. At the releasing, they gave me the Xray CD. The lady told me that they will just forward my medical results to the USEM. 

I walked home around 4:30ish PM with a big smile in my heart. Thank you Lord! I passed the tedious medical examination and I couldn't pray any harder for it.

TIPS
►Take breakfast or lunch before you proceed on your immunization since you will really wait for a long time before you get called.

►Bring jacket. It became so cold just seating for a couple of hours.


►Be attentive esp when you are at the releasing section . The mic was very muffled I hardly understood my name, and if your name got called and you missed it, they will put your papers aside and you have to follow it up dreadfully. One of my seatmates who were way ahead of my timetable missed the call and she was waiting and waiting for her name to be called and yet, I finished first before her.

So yeah, these are the info I can share to you. My arms are still painful from the 3 shots I received 
so I must let my hand rest for now.

I assume you will have your medical soon since you successfully reached the end of my argument, but let me tell you this, It wasn't that bad!

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.

-----

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.

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

The show was over at exactly 2:30 PM.



-Dixie Wife...Ü

How is it to be married to a foreigner?

We often hear from folks that the first 3 years of marriage are the most tough years for newly married couples since these are the years of adjustment, getting to know more with each other, stumbling from one mistake to another. There are certain situations where you think your marriage will be over due to some circumstances like frequent misunderstanding, almost everyday of arguments, little things that gets bigger. Circumstances like will really make you believe that let's cut the crap.This isn't going to work.

I'm going to talk here in this topic how is it to be married to a foreign national. Let's take it from my own situation. I am married to my wonderful husband who came from United States. We both get married in an early age. We can't deny that when you got married in your early 20's, there will be some immaturity that most of the time arises when your desire wasn't fulfill by your husband or wife. Here, misunderstanding and conflict begins.

In my 8 months of married life, separated by distance,I'm undergoing immigration process so I can join my husband in United States. It so hard to go on each day pretending that everything is OK that my husband is in his country while I'm here in my country. Long distance relationship measures how long is your patience, how much you trust your spouse, how much can you handle arguments and misunderstanding, and how strong are you to go through all these things and at the end of the day, both of you are happy and smiling. I hear you. I've been there.

There are times that I feel like giving up, but there's only one thing that's keeping me strong and holding on, that is the courage to have a happy family with the person I vowed that I will love forever.
My husband thinks I'm bitching to much, I complain a lot, I don't appreciate him, I'm stressing him to much, I don't understand him, he even thinks I don't love him anymore. I admit sometimes one of two of these things happens but stop loving him will never be. One thing that he doesn't understand is that I just need little affection.I'm lonesome. I missed him. I want him beside me.

In the verge of adjustment, I've been learning things more and more each day on how to better our relationship to avoid arguments and misunderstanding. And to those who are also married to a foreigner especially to American and who are also away from your spouse, I'll be sharing some key points to prevent it. I'm no good in advising, I just based this from on my own experience.


1.) Never keep what you really feel. Always communicate.
As a Filipino, we are some sort of modest to our actions. We are not that vocal on what we feel. Sometimes we keep it and tends to just forget about it and get over with it. But its this gesture will not help to better a relationship, instead it will create a gap which sooner or later will get bigger and bigger until you don't know your spouse anymore. You husband always wanted to know what you feel because he always wanted to be connected to you. It is important for him to know what might be bothering you so he would know what is the resolution to it.


2.) Always ask how was his day.
It sounds eccentric to you but this is one way how your husband will know that you care to know what happen to him the entire day. It shows you care. In this way, he wouldn't think being neglected.


3.) Never use the word, I paid for that.
Marriage is about OURS. Not mine and thats yours. When my husband asked me for a pre-nuptial agreement, I was totally broken. I felt so devastated and betrayed. I felt like there will always be a barrier for us while we are on our vows. I feel like he doesn't trust me at all that I'm just a part of a household.In the other hand, I made him understand that my love is far more than what he thinks about me so he is securing what ever he has. My love don't cost a thing. From that moment, I promised myself that whatever is mine is his, and I believed that whatever is his is mine. So he doesn't have to use the word I paid for that. To husbands, please don't make us wives feel as if we are useless and unable.


4.) Never be ashamed to tell your husband that you need money.
I have this attitude that I let my husband figure out that I need money. I get so hot headed when I don't have money. I feel that I'm the most unfortunate person in the world when I don't have a single penny in my pocket. To the extent of I get so mad easily. Girls, Its bad. I get used to my lifestyle that I am earning for myself but when I stopped working I had to be dependent to my husband. But when you ask money, never lie about the real purpose of it, because if your husband finds it out that you lied, It's the end of his trust to you.


5.) Appreciate him everyday.
I always tell my husband that his good looking because he really does. One thing that I just fail to always do is to give him thanks for all the wonderful, great things he did for me. When you are in a long distance relationship, sometimes you feel lonesome,when you feel such. Just ask your husband to relax and talk to you. Talk about all the fun things you did when were together.


6.) Never call your wife a bitch, whore. Never call your husband fucker/stupid.
It may sound pretty much basic, but these are the words that will always be resounding to ones ears. Just show some respect. He is your husband, and she is your wife. A loving spouse will never say it unless love is getting weaker. In Philippines, of which I came from, when you called a whore/bitch its as if someone spit on your face.


Last but not the least is, when your spouse is mad, never sway with it. Stay calm. Don't talk, let him/her talk when he/she is finished, Just talk in a mellow way, and tell your spouse you love him/her. Never let a day pass without telling your spouse that you love him/her. And never ever mention I don't love you anymore and let's get divorced.


I know its hard to be married to someone who came from the other side of the world. There will be cultural variation and differences. There will be conflicts on beliefs and traits. But all these things can be patch out when both of us are willing to learn new things about our spouse. Because for us to able to live, we need to learn how survive.


Some of us here just got married,and the marriage is just like a flower which is just starting to bloom. Most of us here will make mistake and will be exposed to some inevitable circumstances, but let it not be the reason to play a role in your marriage. Always discuss what both feel. And most of all, never fail to pray for your marriage, because only HIM can bring out the best in both of you.


Its a magic when man does little things for his woman. It keeps her love tank full and the score even. When the score is even, or almost even, a woman knows she is loved, which makes her more trusting and loving in return. When a woman knows she's loved, she can loved without resentment.
Doing little things for a woman is also healing for a man. In fact, those little things will tend to heal his resentments as well as hers. He begins to feel powerful and effective because she's getting the caring she needs. Both are then fulfilled.-John Gray(Men are from Mars, and Women are from Venus)


Q.How is it to be married to a foreigner?
A. It's hard. It's challenging. It's a quest. It's wonderful. It's a Blessing.


-Dixie_wife

Rising new Boracay & Palawan of the Philippines.

Boracay, Who wouldn't know about this beautiful pristine beach.  
However, as time passes due to demands of the tourism of the place, there were numerous of changes that has been alarming not only with the people but also with the ways on how to maintain a prime tourist spot of the country.In the other hand, I do believe that are only few of us even heard about the town of Caramoan, in Camarines Sur province of Bicol. This town has a hidden jewel that the government is working hand and hand on preserving the natural resources and natural scenic spots of this place. The town of Caramoan is now starting  make some noise to attract local and international tourists due to its flawless white beaches and combined similarity with the  Palawan and Boracay islands.
Right now, SURVIVOR FRANCE is currently shooting in Gota Beach,Caramoan. And, SURVIVOR ISRAEL is next,  that explains why Gota Beach is currently close for reservations due to the exclusive occupancy of these reality tv show.

Useful Links:
How to get to Caramoan
Gota Beach, Caramoan