It's A Wrap: August 2016

• Thank God for another year in my life. Thank you to those who remembered and greeted me. I do appreciate all of your well wishes.

• Even though my schedule has been very hectic, I’m happy that I was able to survive my first month at work. I thought I’ll be included in the fall outs but yeah, I’m still alive and kicking. Despite encountering some issues recently, I am really hoping that these are just part of what others may call as “birthing pains” as the account that I’m part of and the people I’m working with are relatively new.

• I received a birthday gift from my new “family” Yay! I appreciate that they gave out small tokens to their employees on their special day. One way or the other, it adds to my motivation knowing that they are interested in creating different ways to make the people working for them  do their best and enjoy their stay.

• I noticed that I haven’t written anything on my planer since I started working again. I guess it’s because my life currently is very predictable that I don’t have to plan ahead. Anyway, I still need to use it so that I can list down my upcoming blog posts.

• I realized that there are some people who are willing to do anything, even to the point of stepping onto someone’s foot just to move up the corporate ladder. Haven’t they heard of the saying “Be kind to people on your way up because they are the same people you’ll meet on your way down.”? I am flabbergasted with their sense of self entitlement as if we owe them anything. I myself doesn’t want to miss the opportunity presented to me that’s why I always try to do my best but I always take into consideration how others would feel if I reacted to or do certain things.

Oh well, this month might not end on a good note because of situations that are slowly unfolding. However, I still want to keep that positivity that I started and just pray that things will be better soon.

See you soon! :)

How to Get an NBI Clearance

Disclaimer: I am not in any way connected with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). I am just sharing my experience and the process that I went through in getting y clearance. All photos were screen captured from the NBI Clearance website.

I recently applied for an NBI Clearance because I need an additional government issued ID and decided to do it online. It is much easier and more convenient than doing manual application so I thought that I'll share with you the process on how to get it as it could be somewhat confusing for first time applicants.

 STEP 1: Create an account at www.nbi-clearance.com by clicking the SIGN UP NOW button.

STEP 2: Choose your application type. If you haven't had your fingerprints taken through their biometric system yet, then you have to choose "NEW" as the application type.

STEP 3: Key in the necessary information about yourself. The page will also ask for your email address so be sure that what you'll input is an active one because you will use it to be able to log-in on your account. Once you completely filled out the form, click the box for I ACCEPT TERMS OF SERVICE then click the SIGN IN Button.

STEP 4: You will be informed that your registration was completed and be redirected to the website's homepage. Click the SIGN IN option on the upper right hand corner of the homepage and sign in using your email address and the password that you nominated on the registration page.

 STEP 5: Fill out the necessary information to complete your profile. There's no need for you to upload a photo since it will be taken once you reported for your scheduled appearance for biometrics. Once you're done, just click the SAVE INFORMATION button.

 STEP 6: A notification will pop up on your screen stating that you have successfully completed your profile and by this time, you will have an option to either EDIT INFORMATION or APPLY FOR CLEARANCE. You will see the buttons for this options on the right hand side of your screen.

 STEP 7: Click the APPLY FOR CLEARANCE button and a prompt will appear asking you to input the identification card that you'll bring for verification on the day of your schedule appearance. Once you've already key in the type of ID, just click on I AGREE button. A prompt reminding you to take note of your reference number will appear. The reference number will be given to you after you selected the payment option and it will also be your gate pass when you go to an NBI Clearance Center. Just click the CLOSE button as seen on the prompt to go to the next step.

STEP 8: First, you need to choose the NBI Clearance Center from the drop down box where you want to process your NBI Clearance, then select from the available schedule on the calendar. It can either be an AM or PM appointment. For the PURPOSE, choose whether it's for LOCAL or ABROAD then select the PURPOSE DETAIL as well. In this case, I chose Local for the purpose and Local Employment for the purpose detail.

Once these has been selected, you will see the amount that you would need to pay. Please note that using this online service will cost you an additional fee of P25.00 pesos. So if the NBI Clearance for Local Employment is P115.00, you'll have  to add P25.00 and pay P140.00 all in all.

STEP 9: Still on the right side panel of the page, you will see your appointment details. Take note of the expiry date because this is the final date where you can process your NBI Clearance on site. If you weren't able to come to your appointment up until the expiry date, your payment will be forfeited.

To complete the transaction, you need to select which payment option is more convenient to you. Just hover your mouse on each button to see the details. Click on the payment option that you've chosen and pay the application fee. There's no need to print the application form and just take note of your reference number.

STEP 10: Go to you scheduled appointment and have your picture and fingerprints taken. If you don't have a "HIT" you'll immediately get your NBI Clearance but if you have, you'll be scheduled to claim it after 3 - 5 business days.

As for me, I was able to finish the whole process after 35 minutes but since I have a "HIT", they scheduled me to claim it after 4 business days. I hope this blog post could help those who are still not familiar with the online process in applying for an NBI clearance.


See you soon! :)

25 Random Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Me

Hello everyone! I just feel like I haven’t introduced myself properly to you my dear readers so I decided to write this post. I also noticed that almost everybody who has a blog creates some random list and yes, you got it right, I also joined the bandwagon! A warning though, this post might bore you to death! If so, just click the “X” button on the upper right hand corner of your screen, but to those who are interested, get to know me better with these 25 whatevs facts about me.

1. I AM AN INTROVERT. Most often than not, I function properly when I am alone. So yeah, I’m not a snob or whatever.

2. I never had a best friend. I don’t know. I guess I’m not really good at maintaining relationships. 

3. I love reading. I have a collection of books from different Filipino authors, Paulo Coelho, Sophie Kinsella, etc., you’ll be able to find tons of eBooks on my phone as well.

4. I have a very poor eyesight that sometimes I wouldn’t notice you even if you’re already in front of me. Unless of course if you nudge me or say “uy”!

5. When I was younger, my parents thought that I will be a nun. We’re not Catholics though.

6. I am a pluviophile. I love the sound of the rain trickling on the roof. I find it very relaxing.

7. I used to be a heroine when I was a kid. Pink 5 from Bioman, pink mask from Maskman, and pink power ranger. Yes, I love pink back then.

8. I used to be a huge fan of “Ginebra”, a popular basketball team in the Philippines.

9. I only eat fish when it’s fried.

10. I’ve watched It Started with a Kiss and They Kiss Again (Taiwanese RomCom series) for more than 30 times each. Can you blame me? I’m a big ArJoe fanatic.

11. My all-time favorite Japanese Anime is Fushigi Yuugi and Sailor Moon. I’ve watched both of it dubbed in Filipino, English, and of course in Japanese but with English subtitles.

12. I listen to a wide array of music genres from all over the world which sealed my belief that Music is a universal language, you can enjoy it even if you don’t understand one bit of the lyrics.

13. I like tea more than coffee.

14. I love talking to kids. They’d tell you the truth even if it hurts you.

15. I took up Bachelor of Science in Biology in college because in my mind, I want to be a Marine Biologist but later on realized that the specialization is not being offered in the Philippines at that time.

16. I thought of never getting married. I should’ve hold on to that thought.

17. I was never a party addict, I prefer to be at the comforts of my home on a weekend.

18. I am a hopeless romantic, it just doesn’t look like it.

19. Most people would say that I’m pessimistic. Oh well, I beg to disagree. I’m just more into the realistic side of every situation.

20. I used to cry every time my mother wouldn’t allow me to watch Lois and Clark. Haha. Don’t judge me okay?!

21. I have a secret blog where I write my thoughts that I don’t want others to know. It was supposed to be a secret but whenever I post something on it, it will show my name as the author. Geez… I have yet to figure out a way to fix it.

22. My two biggest pet peeves are when I hear someone chewing on their food and when I encounter someone who doesn’t know the correct telephone conversation etiquette.

23. I am not adventurous when it comes to food. I will only eat it if I know what is it, what’s in it, or where it came from. Don’t get me wrong, that’s just the way I am.

24. I love listening to Electronic Dance Music (EDM) but I don’t know how to dance.

25. Finally, I don’t like chocolate flavored caked and ice cream.

So there you have it folks. I did have a hard time listing these items because I never really found myself interesting at all. Anyway, I hope you had fun reading this post.

See you soon!

It's a Wrap: July 2016

This blog idea came up to me because number one, I can’t sleep. Yes, that’s what happens when insomnia attacks. Two, I couldn’t access the internet at this hour so I’m saving the drafts for my blog on a .doc file format. I already finished four blog entries so far with a couple of product reviews which can cover me ‘til September. And lastly, I just thought of documenting important details (and some not so important too) in my life every month.

•     Change has come! Lol! Nah… it’s just because I’ve finally decided to get back to the grind and move forward. I’ve been a bum for so long that it only makes me feel sick even more. I’m excited and scared at the same time but I’m keeping my fingers crossed and hope that everything will work out fine.

•      I’m trying to adapt that “positive outlook in life” mantra. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not pessimistic. I’d say I’m a realist and I just have a different perspective in some things and situations.

•      I received a gift from the Korean Tourism Organization which I am very much thankful for. It is this beautifully hand painted passport holder. The thing was I have to pay Php 112.00 for customs tax before I could claim it. Yup, Php 112 for a passport holder! Annoying right? That’s why I didn’t dare do online shopping from overseas sites because I’m afraid of customs taxes. Anyway, I hope that the new administration will address several issues within the Philippine Customs the soonest.   

So far, these are the things that I can share with you my dear readers. July 2016 is an uneventful month for me but since I'm starting something new this August 2016, it will rather be different. I know I'll have a lot of stories to tell you so please look forward to it. Thank you so much for keeping up with me.

 See you soon! :)      

 

   

My Top 10 Favorite Korean TV Series of All Time

The Korean Wave or Hallyu brought us not just their food and music but also many interesting and well-made Korean series and movies. Today, I would like to share with you My Top 10 Favorite Korean TV Series of All Time. These are the series that I watched a couple of times already and I feel like I will never get tired of watching it again and again.

10. You're Beautiful (2009)

Main Casts:

Park Shin Hye - Go Mi Nam / Go Mi Nyeo

Jang Geun Suk - Hwang Tae Kyung

Jung Yong Hwa - Kang Shin Woo

Lee Hong Ki - Jeremy

I like this drama because of Park Shin Hye and Jang Geun Suk. Their on-screen chemistry is just superb. You're Beautiful is a musical romantic comedy which tells the story of a popular band A.N.Jell. The plot gets interesting when Go Mi Nyeo was forced to posed as her twin brother Go Mi Nam after he left to go back to the US because of a botched plastic surgery procedure. She then joined A.N. Jell as a new member but Hwang Tae Kyung, the grumpy band leader, later on found out her secret and was about to tell the truth to the company president but due to her insistent pleadings, he was swayed to hold it and gave her time until her brother comes back. A series of complications followed as both slowly come to realize that they like each other. However, Kang Shin Woo and Jeremy, the other band members, also like Go Mi Nam despite of her disguising as a man. You should watch this drama if you want to know what transpired after. Due to this drama's popularity, a remake has been made in Taiwan (Fabulous Boys) and in Japan (Ikemen desu ne). 

9. My Girl (2006)

Main Casts:

Lee Da Hae - Joo Yoo Rin

Lee Dong Wook - Seol Gong Chan

Lee Joon Ki - Seo Jung Woo

Park Si Yeon - Kim Sae Hyun

Lee Da Hae and Lee Dong Wook is another Korean pairing oozing with chemistry even  just by staring at each other's eyes. This hilarious romantic comedy series is another big hit not just in Korea but in other parts of the globe. A remake of this drama has been made in the Philippines as well. It tells the story of Joo Yoo Rin, an ordinary girl that works as a tourist guide in Jeju island to help her gambling addicted father in paying his debts. Seol Gong Chan, a chaebol, who was tasked to fulfill his grandfather's dying wish, asked her to pretend as his grandfather's long lost granddaughter in exchange for a huge amount of money. Desperately in need, Joo Rin acted out what was expected of her but being together with Gong Chan under the same roof since they pretended to be cousins is getting harder because of their growing attraction to each other. 

8. My Princess (2011)

Main Casts:

Kim Tae Hee - Lee Seol

Song Seung Heon - Park Hae Young

Park Ye Jin - Oh Yoon Joo

Ryu Soo Young - Nam Jung woo

I think I watched this thrice already. Hey! I'm just in love with how beautiful Kim Tae Hee is plus I love her outfits in this drama. She played the role of an ordinary college student who later found out that she was a princess and the long lost granddaughter of the Joseon Dynasty's last Emperor, Sunjong. The chairman of Daehan Group would like to find the princess so that the monarchy can be restored. He then asked his grandson Park Hae Young, the heir of Daehan Group to do the task. Hae Young found Lee Seol and was again put in charge of the princess's education which made him unsure of what he really wants because aside from falling in love for the princess, he is also torn if he is ready to give up his inheritance once the monarchy has been restored.  

7. Hwang Jini (2006)

Main Casts:

Ha Ji Won - Hwang Jini
Kim Young Ae - Im Baek Moo
Wang Bit Na - Bu Yong
Kim Jae Won - Kim Jung Han
Ryu Tae Joon - Byuk Kye Soo
Jang Geun Suk - Kim Eun Ho

This is one of the two saeguk dramas that I was able to watch from start to finish. I was fascinated by the life of Hwang Jini and how she overcame the hardships that was thrown her way.  She was a popular gisaeng in her time. A gisaeng is someone  who is trained in singing, dancing, and hosting. They serve the aristocrats in the Korean Dynasties by entertaining them. 

6. Jewel in the Palace / Dae Jang Geum (2004)

Main Casts:

Lee Young Ae - Seo Jang Geum

Ji Jin Hee - Min Jung Ho

Park Eun Hye - Lee Yeon Saeng

Hong Ri Na - Choi Geum Young
Im Ho - Jungjonf of Joseon
Yang Mi Kyeong - Han Baek Young
Choi mi Ri - Choi Sang Geum

Another saeguk drama which tells the story of Jang Geum who was the first female physician in the Joseon Dynasty. She started out as an apprentice cook in the palace kitchen and eventually trained to become a nurse and then a doctor. She uses natural medicine and in this case, food to alleviate the king's many illnesses.  

5. That Winter, The Wind Blows (2013)

Main Casts:

Song Hye Kyo - Oh Young

Jo In Sung - Oh Soo

Kim Beom - Park Jin Sung

Jung Eun Ji - Moon Hee Sun
Bae Jong Ok - Wang Ye Ji
Kim Tae Woo - Jo Moo Cheol

This is the first Jo In Sung starring drama that I watched and oh boy he's so handsome. This is a melodrama which is a genre that I don't usually watch but I like the plot of this one. It is a story about Oh Soo, who grew up as an orphan and became a carefree happy go lucky kinda guy after his first love die. He was into a high class gambling when he met Oh Young who was an heiress of a large conglomerate but was legally blind. Their path crossed when Oh Soo decided to disguised himself as Oh Young's long lost older brother to get some money to bail him out of his perilous situation.

4. My Lovely Kim Sam Soon (2005)

Main Casts:

Kim Sun Ah - Kim Sam Soon
Hyun Bin - Hyun Jin Heon
Jung Ryeo Won -  Yoo Hee Jin
Daniel Henney - Dr. Henry Kim 

This is another feel good romantic comedy series with just the right amount of drama. Kim Sam Soon is a patissier who ended up jobless and brokenhearted after she found out that her boyfriend was cheating on her. She accidentally met Hyun Jin Heon in a men's restroom and that's where their love-hate relationship began. 

3. Princess Hours / Goong (2006)

Main Casts:

Yoon Eun Hye - Shin Chae Kyeong
Joo Ji Hoon - Lee Shin
Kim Jeong Hoon -  Yul
Song Ji Hyo - Min Hyo Rin 

Yoon Eun Hye and Joo Ji Hoon is one of those OTPs you wished were dating in real life. They are just bursting with chemistry on and off cam. Goong or Princess Hours is a popular romantic comedy series based on a mahnwa series written by author Park So Hee. It is a story set in a modern day monarchy where the Royal Family's public popularity is decreasing while the current king  is plagued with illness and in order to resolve the issues at hand, the royals decided to marry off the crown prince Lee Shin to Shin Chae Kyeong. Both have been betrothed by their grandfathers in the past but Lee Shin is in love with Min Hyo Rin who declined his marriage proposal, that's when all the complications follow. I watched this drama for several times already and I will never get tired of watching it. 

2. Full House (2004)

Main Casts:

Song Hye Kyo - Han Ji Eun
Rain - Lee Young Jae
Han Eun Jung - Kang Hye Won
Kim Sung Soo - Yoo Min Hyuk

I got addicted to this drama when it was shown here in the Philippines. I would usually rush home just to catch its airing on time. It tells the story of an aspiring script writer Han Ji Eun who lives in a house called "Full House" which was built by her late father. She was tricked by her friends believing that she won a free vacation so that she'll leave the house and they could sell it. On the plane, she met Lee Young Jae, a popular actor whom she got acquainted with. When she returned home, she found out what her friends did and was shocked to know that Young Jae was the new house owner. I find the characters' banters very hilarious. This is the series that introduced me to a whole lot of other Korean romantic comedy series and their interesting plots.

1. The First Shop of Coffee Prince (2007)

Main Casts:

Yoon Eun-hye - Go Eun Chan
Gong Yoo - Choi Han Kyul
Lee Sun Kyun - Choi Han Sung
Chae Jung An - Han Yoo Joo
Lee Eon - Hwang Min Yeop
Kim Dong Wook - Jin Ha Rim
Kim JaeWook - Noh Sun Ki

This is another Korean series that has a unique story to tell. It became very popular that a remake has been made, again in the Philippines. Yoon Eun Hye plays the role of Go Eun Chan, a girl who does several jobs to help pay off their family's debt and because of this, she was forced to give up her femininity. She then meet Choi Han Kyul played by Gong Yoo who is a chaebol in their food business. Han Kyul is a happy go lucky kinda a guy so her grandmother wants to marry him off and set him up for blind dates. Han Kyul doesn't like it so when he crossed path with Eun Chan, he asked her to pretend as his "boyfriend" thinking he was a guy, to ward off his dates. He then hired Eun Chan at his coffee shop where the servers are all boys. He developed an attraction with Eun Chan which became his dilemma because all the while he thought Eun Chan was a boy. More complications arise when he found out the truth about her sexuality.

And there you have it folks. I hope you enjoyed my list as much as I enjoyed writing about it. How about you? What are your favorite Korean dramas? Tell me on the comment section below.

See you soon! :)