When an OFW Comes Home for a Visit.. (and a Perfect Gift for OFWs)

My Kuya, who is working in Taiwan , and his family just visited me for the first time in three years or so. It was my first time to meet his wife in person and it was my first time to meet two of his three sons. 

Being an ex-OFW myself, I know how expensive it is to come home because everyone expects the balikbayan to pay for everything. The timing of my kuya's homecoming was such a bad one because I am saving for my South American trip, so hindi ako nakaka gastos ng bonggang-bongga masyado. I told him about that. 

He also told me that he wants to pay for all the debts little by little. Modesty aside, ako ang nagpa anak sa tatlong anak nia. When I was working in America, I gave monetary support... lots of it. He considers it an "utang" but I don't consider it that way at all. So hindi ko alam how much I gave him in total. 


My kuya gave me a pasalubong for my South American trip, a Nike shoes! It feels damn good to receive something from abroad pala, but nahiya ako masyado. 

Though, I told my brother point-blank that I won't be able to spend because of my upcoming trip abroad, he understood naman but I made it to a point to also spend because I know how it feels like to get depended on one hundred percent. I told him that the next time he visits, I will be more lenient with my spending. In fact, I already promised him a lechon for our island hopping plans when he visits me a year or two years from now. 


By the way, we went to SM and it was my first time for me to see how my Kuya interacted with his kids. They played at SM Cebu Amusement Center and I could see how proud my Kuya was. As in. It was kind of a magic to see him that way. I guess that's how parenting feels like? I told him about my observation and I'm so proud of him for being a good provider. My mama told me that growing up, we didn't experience those kinds of things. I told her that that's why kuya is working hard to take his kids to those kinds of places. 

At SM Cebu

We went to a quick beach trip.
I haven't been to this place, but it looks gorgeous!

Before my Kuya left, I gave him gifts... My old finance book and My Papa's old jacket:

I've made a post about this book. This book has always been my favorite local personal finance book. I've already done reading it several times, so it was the right time for me to hand it over to someone else. The jacket was my Papa's old swimming coach jacket. My Papa gave it to her sister when she went abroad and her sister (my aunt) gave it to me when I went abroad (In fact, I have a picture where I wore this jacket, which I posted on this blog). Now, it's with my brother. My brother was utterly surprised and it made me feel good. 

Few days after he visited, we talked on the phone. He was moved with the message of the book. He said that tinamaan daw sia sa Step 1 so how much more sa other steps. 

I think those gifts I gave were perfect. I could tell how delighted he is.  

Random Updates

I haven't blogged for a long time, but here are random updates about my life:

• I still can't get over Pepp's death. I still can't accept it. Guilt is still eating me alive. The funny thing is that  depression made me work so hard that  my salary hits close to Php 40k a month.As I said in one of my previous updates, my usual target is Php 22k a month working 5 to 6 hours a day,five days a week. Imagine how much I've worked just to hit that amount. But then few months of just going and going and I crashed. I suddenly felt lost.I hated my job. I suddenly felt discontented. Floodgates of anxiety opened up. I felt less confident, less sure of my choices in life. The trigger point? Pepper's passing. Don't you dare tell me "it's just a dog", I'd punch you in the face. You don't know how it feels like. 
• I adopted a puppy. Her name is Vers. Guess where I got her name from? 
• I felt like Vers is Pepper reincarnated. I found her exactly two months after Pepper's passing. She came to me after I took Stark for a walk just outside my house. I looked for the owner, but walang nag claim so I adopted her. She acts like Pepper. She sleeps like Pepper. Her mannerism is like Pepper. Maybe I just missed Pepper so much that pinipilit ko ang mga personalities nya with Vers. 

Vers at first few days after I adopted her. 

Vers the Fierce

Vers, at present time

Vers and Stark

I purposely put some little bars for my gate after I got Vers kasi lumolusot sia.

• I adopted kittens,too. I have long been feeding animals outside but it's my first that I adopted kittens and keep them at the third floor of my house. Now I'm worried about them. I will be leaving for six weeks so I don't know sino ang mag take care sa kanila. I'll figure it out. 

I don't know why they like sleeping in my empty pot

The whole gang

Do you see them? 

• My friend gave me a pair of hamster. I have dogs, cats and hamsters. Imagine that!

I will be rehousing them into a bigger glass container once I arrived from South America

• One time, I went to the vet to get Vers vaccinated and I overheard a conversation about the price of the American bully. I rolled my eyes several times because there are sooooo many animals that needed home, and people are buying dogs and cats. It just doesn't make sense!
• On the other hand, I shouldn't blame them. I bought Pepp and Stark. Through them, I became an animal lover. I still would like to get a Golden Retriever in the future, but I would pick someone that needed my help. I miss Pepp so much,it's killing me.
• Stark is okay. He loves Vers. They play together. They go on walks together. Stark seemed to enjoy the company of Vers, but he goes crazy over the kittens. 
• I'm going to South America. This has been my plan since two years ago. I even bought a ticket six months before Pepp's passing. I'm going to four countries: Colombia (Pablo Escobar. Narcos fan here!), Peru (a 4-day trek to Machu Picchu), Bolivia (Salt Flat and Biking the Death Road) and Brazil (Rock 'n Rio- Red Hot Chilli Pepper and Bon Jovi's concerts). I'm also going to Amazon jungle, swim with Sea Lions among many activities that are lined up. 
• To prepare for my South American trip, which is coming up very very very soon. I have been walking around Mactan area. If you see  a dork who is wearing a hiking boots, that's probably me.I also have been going up and down the stairs everyday. Well, I'm going to do a lot of hiking (4 days going to Machu Picchu) and biking (Bolivia's Death Road) so I need to build my endurance up. 

That's it for now, folks! I will tell you how I got over my "I-hate-my-job" phase. Next time. :) 

UMID: Detailed Timeline from Application to Delivery

What is UMID?

The Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) is a four-in-one identification card that Filipinos can use to transact with government agencies such as the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG Fund. The UMID is also accepted as a valid ID in all other transactions


I applied for my UMID card at SM Cebu on March 27, 2019 via the SSS counter. I arrived there at 10:00 AM and was able to do everything within 40 minutes. 

1. Get a priority number. 
2. Wait for your turn. You will be asked to fill up a form. They will ask for an ID. 
3. Submit the form and wait for your turn to be called for your picture to be taken. 
4.You will be given a stub of paper: 

Note: The staff told me that if my UMID won't arrive within two months, I should go to my nearest postal office and claim it there.

Timeline:

1. Application: March 27, 2019 

2. I received a text from SSS on  June 12, 2019 

3. The UMID card was delivered to me on June 19, 2019. 

It took approximately 3 months from application to delivery.