US VISA NEW APPLICATION FEES

Geez, a not so good news for Pinoys who will be traveling to the US of A. The US Embassy raised US Visa fees yesterday (Friday the 13th of April 2012) for non-immigrant visas, including visas for tourists, business travelers and students.

That means starting yesterday, Filipinos applying for tourist, business, crew member, student and journalist visas will now have to pay an additional $20, from the old visa fee of $140. For a new US Visa Application Fee of $160.

Fees that increase (only non-immigrant fees) if you paid your visa fee before April 13, 2012, you do not have to pay the difference between the new and old fee amounts as long as your visa interview is on or before July 12, 2012. Starting July 13, 2012, you will be required to pay the difference between the old and new fee amounts – no exceptions. 

According to a statement posted on the embassy’s website the US embassies must collect higher fees for tourist and other types of non-immigrant visas because US law requires the Department of State to recover the costs of processing those types of visas. 

A US government study completed last December, determined the new fees that more accurately reflect the costs of visa processing services.

On the other hand, the US Embassy lowered the fees for all immigrant visas, as well as those for fiancé/ fiancée visas and trader/investor visas. 

Fees that will decrease are not refundable - If you paid a visa fee before April 13, 2012 and that fee decreased, the US Embasy cannot give you a refund.

For visa categories that have lower fees starting April 13, applicants who have already paid will get no refunds. Unfair it may seem but that's their call. 

The reduction in immigrant visa fees has become possible because a new US law allows the Department of State to seek reimbursement from other federal agencies such as the US Citizenship and Immigration Service.

Spyder Philippines Assist Program Charge Your Summer

Hola, mi amigos y amigas! Buenos Dias! Good news to all biking and motorcycle enthusiasts!  Spyder Philippines has launched Spyder Assist Program at Festival Mall in Alabang last March 30, 2012. 

 

Spyder is a top brand known for its high performance multi-sport motorcycle and bicycle helmets and gears in the Philippines and abroad.

 

Spyder-Charge Your Summer is a mall-based activity where Spyder displayed its impressive line of products.

Sports enthusiasts and hobbyists like Uncle Sam,Danny Boy and the rest of Davao City's on any Sunday Rider Club and those who were introduced to the discipline of multi-sport like Ralph will all love Spyder offering of high quality products such as helmets, shades, eye wear and other protective gears and accessories.

Not only that! Spyder Assist,  in cooperation with Standard Insurance, gives motorcycle enthusiasts and hobbyists an adventure beyond limits.

 Spyder Assist gives not just one but two main benefits.

 

For every purchase of any Spyder motorcycle helmet, customers will now have the chance to enroll themselves under Spyder Assist Program. They only have to pay 150 pesos to enjoy full insurance protection under the program. The coverage is good for one year starting with the purchase date indicated on the official receipt.

Spyder Assist offers a Personal Accident insurance coverage of up to P100,000 that protects its policy holder against injuries, including those arising from motor-related incidents, disability and even loss of life.

 

It entitles the policy holder a medical reimbursement benefit of up to 5,000 pesos for accident related injuries, and other motor-related accidents. 

 

Aside from these benefits, Spyder Assist assures motorcyle owners an automatic 30% discount as crash replacement benefit on the purchase of their next helmet in the event of an accident or crash.

 

 

Customers who avail of the Spyder Assist Card are encouraged to register their Spyder Assist card online right away for easy facilitation of insurance-related claims and concerns. To register the coverage, one has to simply scratch the code on the Spyder Assist card that will be given upon purchase. Log on to www.teamspyder.com/spyderassist and complete the registration details there. A copy of the policy will be sent via email.

With Spyder Assist, Spyder has proven that it has its clients’ best interests at heart. If you are a motorcycle rider who values your own safety and protection, all you have to do is pay Php150 pesos for a full coverage and for your own peace of mind. Spyder Assist is something that you wouldn’t think twice of grabbing. With the many road hazards that you are exposed to everyday, it is wise to equip yourself not only with the right gears and accessories but with an insurance policy that can take care of all your needs in the event of an accident, injury, or disablement.

Spyder Philippines is clearly changing the landscape of how sports houses extend after sales service to its customers, expect more high quality products and road safety innovations and protection such as the Spyder Assist Program from this company who promises to do nothing but provide you peace of mind as you travel the off-beaten path. 

It was a well attended event. Congrats Jeman of OrangeTVmagazine.

When I attended the event they gave me a pouch made by Spyder.

The pouch is durable and has an excellent design.  I wish to have a spyder eye wear in the near future.

How to get your PhilHealth number

                              
Individuals who had worked in the Philippines either in a public or private company and whose employer has deducted PhilHealth contribution from their salary, is possibly already a PhilHealth member and have their own membership number.

This Philhealth number will be your lifetime number even if your membership category has changed.

This Philhealth number shall be permanent and must be used in all your transactions with Philhealth.

For you to know your PhilHealth number, you need to inform Philhealth of your complete name as in your first name, middle name, last name and date of birth through telephone number (632) 6373754 or text to 0918-9635396 or e-mail to owp@philhealth.gov.ph for proper verification of your record.

Another method is for you to visit any PhilHealth offices nationwide and ask them directly what your PhilHealth number is. 

Good luck! Happy day everyone!

HOW TO COMMUTE FROM LEGAZPI AIRPORT TO LEGAZPI CITY PROPER

Upon arrival @ Legazpi Airport, you have three options to reach Legazpi City proper:

• Hire a Van- This is quite expensive because they tend to overprice both the tourists and locals alike but sometimes if they don't get passengers you could ask them to bring you to the central bus terminal in Legazpi for only twenty pesos (Php20).
• Tricycle- Inside the compound of the airport they charge Php50.00 per trike (regardless of number of passengers). I suggest that you walk just outside the gate of the airport (which is very near) and you could get it as low as Php 25.00 depending on your bargaining skills. One tricycle is good up to 5 persons.
• Walk towards the main road (Washington Drive) and ride a jeepney bound to Legazpi City proper. A good ten minutes walk (around 500 meters). So if you have a lot of luggage, just take the trike. But if you want some exercise after sitting inside the plane for almost an hour then take a walk.  Turn left when you reach the gate of the airport compound then walk straight ahead then turn right towards Washington Drive where you can hail a jeepney going to Legazpi City proper. Its on your left side if you are facing the road. Fare = Php 8.00 per passenger.

SALUBONG AT CAGSAWA RUINS

  

Bicol, Philippines - Since I was a child, I always look forward to the "Salubong" tradition every Easter Sunday. But my kuya and I were surprised to see the practice for the "Salubong" @ Cagsawa Ruins. As everybody knows, what is left of the church at Cagsawa is only the bell tower when Mayon Volcano erupted in 1814 and spewed lava that covered Cagsawa church and the surrounding areas.

The traditional Salubong is a popular event on Easter Sunday. It is a pre-dawn ritual that re-enacts the Risen Christ's meeting with His mother. It is performed within the churchyard under a specially prepared arch where the veiled image of the Virgin Mary is placed. As soon as the procession nears the church, the bells rang deliriously with joy, announcing the glorious resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ!   

       

Then the encounter of the Risen Lord and His Blessed Mother will take place. This is dramatized by the SALUBONG. Little children dressed as angels are slowly lowered by ropes from a high platform and they lift the mourning veil from the grieving Mother Dolorosa and announced to her the resurrection of her dearly beloved Son. The Virgin Mary would then be "Ang Birheng Nagagalak". In other parishes, the angel releases trained doves to snatch away the veil of the Virgin while in others, the angel attaches the veil of the Virgin to balloons to take it far up into the air.

           

While the Regina Coeli is being sung, the little angels scatter flowers and petals to the images of the Mother and Son. The people would then scramble to get the petals as a memento of the event. Farmers would often place these petals in their farm bed for good harvest.

             

The participants in the procession are segregated by gender. The men and boys follow the image of Jesus Christ, while women and girls follow the image of the Virgin Mary. The procession ends with the two groups meeting in the church, where Mass is said.

             

The "Salubong" is an authentic manifestation of Filipino piety and religiosity. Do you know of any counterpart or similar practice in other countries of the "Salubong"?

After every spectacular Easter Sunday Salubong and the solemn Mass, my cousins and I would proceed to our lola's house for an early breakfast of Cacao hot chocolate, suman ( rice cake wrapped in banana leaves and steamed to a sticky consistency) and bihon. Then, we would go to our respective rooms for a much deserved sleep.

EASY SOLUTION TO MAKE THE MISSING WIDGETS APPEAR

As bloggers, we do blog walking once in a while. Sometimes we even exchange G+, FB Likes, Tweets etc. but some of the blogs that we visited have templates that don't show the G+, FB like, twitter widgets. Worry no more! There's a very easy solution on how to make them appear.

If the blog has heavy images, or does not show the widgets you can simply do this:

• Press Control  -  ( Ctrl -) to make the blog smaller 

What I do if the blog has heavy images and doesn't load fast: I keep on pressing ctfl - until everything appears, I then press

• Press Control +  ( Ctrl+) to make the blog bigger

When you zoom out the blog post the widgets load more easily.  No need for you to refresh the page over and over again.


After the widget appears you can now zoom in the blog post so you can click on the widget.


Try this! Happy Blogging! I hope I was able to help.

FREE CALL

Free Call on your Vodafone from 12 midnight up to 6 a.m. for only QR 15 good for thirty (30) days with Swalif Al-Lay.  Just dial *200*215# Offer is good for the first fifty thousand (50 k) customers only:-)

LIBRENG tawag sa Vodafone mula hating gabi hanggang sais ng umaga sa halagang QR15 sa loob ng tatlumpong araw (30 days) with Swalif Al-Layl, I-dial ang *200*215# sa unang 50,000 customers lamang!

Para sa ibang inpormasyon magsadya lamang sa http://www.vodafone.qa/

Source:Makatang Kiko

Zest Air Sale Period from April 8 to 10, 2012

Zest Air

Sale Period: April 8 to 10, 2012

Purchase online or call their hotline at 855-3333 (7:00am to 11:00pm) or beyond 11:00pm at 852-4313 or 851-3302.

Details

• Inclusive of Fare and Taxes.
• Exclusive of ASF and Fuel Surcharge and 12% VAT.
• Limited seats only.
• FREE Baggage Allowance of 10 Kilos for MA60 Flights.
• FREE Baggage Allowance of 15 Kilos for A320 and A319 Flights.
• For phone booking and more information, please call 855-3333 or visit your favorite travel agent.

Domestic Destinations	One-Way Fare
Manila to Kalibo, Busuanga, Legazpi, Marinduque, Masbate, Virac or Iloilo	P300
Manila to Bacolod, Catarman, Virac, Iloilo, Calbayog, San Jose, Mindoro, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban or Tagbilaran	P300
Manila to Davao or Cagayan De Oro	P500
Travel Period: June 1 to October 15, 2012

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