April 14

posing while watching the airplanes

waiting to board

last picture before we hurry to a different gate

family picture

reviewing the instructions for a water landing

lining up to ride the shuttle bus for immigration and our luggage

with Mamita

one shot before we head out of the airport to catch the bus to the city

Travel Tips for Hong Kong

Our family recently visited Hong Kong and would like to share some tips for future travellers. I would not take credit for everything written here. Pinoy exchange is a great site to get tips.  Most, if not all the tips in this post, I got from this site http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=607496

1. Travel light. This will make you enjoy your trip much more especially in a fast paced city like Hong Kong.
2. Get an octopus card. Especially if you are a lone traveller, a cab would be an expensive means of transport while the train might be just as convenient. You may get your octopus card behind the door with "NOTHING TO DECLARE" sign, after getting your luggage from the baggage carousel. Please remember that there are special octopus cards for children and senior citizens. Children below 3 are free of charge. You may reload your card at 7 eleven stores which are conveniently located around Hong Kong. 
3. Stay at a hotel near the MTR station to minimize walking. 
4. You can get discounted tickets through China Travel Service or you may inquire at your hotel/hostel if they have discounted tickets.
5. Don't make your itinerary too tight. Provide allowances for delays especially if you are travelling with kids and elderly.
6. Try to make your trip longer to be able to enjoy Hong Kong better. A 3-day 2-night trip might be more costly since the airfare would be quite steep for such a short stay. There are some nice places to visit at a minimal fee or sometime no cost at all.
7. Be prepared for the weather. Hong Kong has four seasons. You may check the forecast for your trip to gear up for the weather accordingly.
8. For those who are going to Hong Kong for the sale, the best time to go is around July to August. If you are going there for the cool weather, November - early March would be the time to go.
9. Check for the holidays to avoid crowds in the park during peak season. The accommodation would also be a little higher during these periods. 
10. For those who need to change their Philippine peso to Hong Kong dollar, there are legitimate money changers in Manila. You may change some just so to be able to purchase your octopus cards and go to money changers in Hong Kong. If you are a BDO account holder, you may request to change it through the bank but pre-order is necessary. You would need photocopy of your passport and ticket.

Family Time at Hong Kong Disneyland

Maundy Thursday

Every year, we visit seven churches to join the journey of Jesus thousands of years ago in His passion. There is also a vigil which commemorates His agony in the garden when He asked for His apostles to keep vigil.

We did not plan our itinerary. We just thought of taking a different route. We ended up with 3 new churches (meaning, first time visits),3 first time Visita Iglesia churches (first time to visit for the stations of the cross) and our staple church, where our baby's remains rest.

Another new thing this year is that the reflections of the stations of the cross were from Mary's perspective. As a mother, I related to her feelings. I admire Mary's obedience. She is definitely full of grace. She is no ordinary lady.

Toby's Sports Garage Sale

Got these from the sale at 50% off. Yey!

firsts

We had some firsts for the boys. It was the first time for Andres to had buffet lunch at Heat. He had soup, bread, rice and panna cotta for dessert. Rafa on the otherhand never ate cotton candy until recently. He told me he wonder what it tastes like. He sees his classmate eat it after school. He does not bring money to school and he never asked how much it was. Finally, after almost 6 years of existence, he had his first blue cotton candy :) He passed up his takoyaki for this.

2012: Assessment

Here is the list of things to accomplish last year:
1. Safely deliver a healthy, normal, kind, happy, smart and loving baby boy - check
2. Top the real estate broker's exam this March 2012 - did not top it but passed; just like topping considering I gave birth during my review and took the exam a month postnatal
3. Weigh 120 pounds by Dec 2012 - I was a few pounds off but a lot noticed my weightloss
4. Bring down my cholesterol level to normal values - it improved by around 20 points
5. Start my own business - uhmm... that is why there is 2013

I need some serious planning time very soon, like NOW!

Some Christmas Pictures

Rafa's Account of Luc's Typical Day

I found this in my drafts. It was probably sometime last school year. It's always good to remember our Lucas.

This was narrated to me by my husband. This conversation happened between Rafa and his friend on their way home from school ...

Eats apple na hard (Lucas eats blended apple that is frozen)
Sleeps
Wakes up
Goes to therapy
Go home
Eats
Sleeps again

Magna Carta for Women - Republic Act 9710

As you know, I gave birth early this year. After I got back to work and had a bit of normalcy, I visited my OB-GYN for a papsmear.  What seemed to be a routine check resulted in an overnight stay at the hospital. 

It was nothing urgent though. The doctor found a polyp that needs to be removed and examined. According to her, if I were 20 years old, her advice would have been to observe first. Since I am my age, her suggestion was to remove it.

My doctor suggested to do it on a weekend. I was hoping to do it on a Saturday so I would not have to use my leaves but it got scheduled on a Friday. Good thing I was able to talk about this concern to a friend. She is familiar with labor laws and suggested that I use the Magna Carta for Women.

Here are some salient points of the law which were useful for my case:

What is special leave benefit for women

Special leave benefits for women refers to a female employee’s leave entitlement of two months with full pay based on her gross monthly compensation following surgery caused by gynecological disorders.

This benefit is in addition to leave privileges under existing law.

Who are qualified to avail of this benefit; Conditions

All women employees in the private sector, regardless of age and civil status, are entitled to special leave benefits, provided she has complied with the following conditions:

• She has rendered continuous aggregate employment service of at least 6 months for the last 12 months;
• She has filed an application for special leave;
• She has undergone surgery due to gynecological disorders as certified by competent physician.

Female employees who have taken a leave of absence following surgery for gynecological disorder or or after 15 September 2009 are entitled to avail of the benefit.

http://www.laborlaw.usc-law.org/2011/08/19/special-leave-benefits-for-women/

As always, hope you have no need for this but if you do, this would be good to know. God bless!