POEA Card turned Receipt

I was even excited to get a new ID I can now keep in my wallet. All I got was paper receipt in two duplicates.

I have finally completed my requirements for the POEA today, after getting my medical results yesterday. I would’ve finished everything the same day I went out to pick up those results, I just wasn’t able to make to the 3.30pm cut-off in the processing of payments for the overseas employment certificate (it’s a certificate after all, not an e-card! Isa lang ang sagot nilang lahat sa akin kung bakit wala nang card: nagtitipid ang gobyerno!).


Once a name-hire has secured his medical examination results and PDOS certificate (and I already did), photocopy them and forward the original and xeroxed copies, along with the original and photo copy of the employment contract, plus passport and visa photocopies (which I have neatly kept in a folder for several days since I first submitted them for compliance last week) to Window 9 of the DIRECT HIRE UNIT found at the second floor. They receive documents from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. They will ask you to fill up an OFW Information Sheet, and that you wait for your name to be called. That gives you enough time to fill up the form. Once your name echoes through their microphone, you will have to go to the same window, submit the info sheet, and do a number of signing on some other forms-- some proof that the office has received the photocopies of the documents that you submitted to them. Because after that, they will return to you the original copies of the employment contract, medical examination results, and PDOS certificate. You will then have to go to Window H for the assessment of fees, and Window I for payment of the actual fees. Both windows are found at the ground floor, the lobby where the bus station-like seats are located. All fees should be paid in pesos (POEA processing fee as per their official website is $100, so my mom gave me that exact bill not knowing that the office has pegged its payment in peso! So anyway, I ended up exchanging the currency at a local bank found inside the office. When my mom knew about it, she obviously got furious because banks generally exchanges at a lower rate. The dollar is worth P45.10 today in that bank)

All in all, a name-hire employee registering himself with the POEA/OWWA/Philhealth will have to pay the following:

POEA Processing Fee- P 4,425.60
OWWA Membership- P 1,106.40
Philhealth/Medicare- P 900.00

The cashier hands you a receipt with two duplicates, and you can now go home. The receipt is already the overseas employment certificate that needs to be presented along with the employment contract, passport and visa at the airport.

Finally, it has ended. Whew!

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Search for the New Short Hairstyle

I am seriously thinking of cutting my hair short again since after just a couple of months of officially having my nape exposed with that simple bob that I had last summer, it has gone longer that fast already.

I basically have an oval-shaped face, which they say is the most versatile face shape to style, and with it I am actually considering to be a little bolder this time around with a pixie cut. I’ve always wanted to sport a short, boyish cut, but still posing that very feminine spunk.

A pixie cut is a quite brave venture into hairstyling because one’s face will be emphasized with the cut, so one should really feel good about one’s skin and one’s features. The cut’s main feature is close-cropped layers that frame the face, short and close around the ears and back of the neck. One thing with this cut though is it works best with thin hair.

That gives me a slight problem now, given that I naturally have thick strands. Anyway, I’m taking a pick at some of these styles, some of which include bob cut styles for a much safer look on me.


1.)2.)3.)4.)

Haha, ang ambisyosa ba?
The Michelle Williams cut would have to be the bravest shot at the short hair experiment on my face, while Katie Holmes' bob cut is something that I've had before, only that I didn't have the full bangs. Photos 1 and 2 seems to look the same in terms of the cut, only difference is that the one on the right has more volume compared to the thinner hair on the left.

I'll update as soon as I've come up with the look. I'd need a professional advice too, of course. I'm pretty excited though. I badly want to cut my hair short before I leave.

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Med Exam

I woke up at around 8am today in preparation for my morning poop so I could scoop a sample stool that I will have to submit for medical examination today. After the seminar that we attended yesterday, my colleague and I passed by BioMedix, found at the 3rd floor of Robinson’s Galleria, which is just across the POEA office. We inquired about the basic charge (it’s 850php for a Phase 1 med exam), and in return were advised to bring stool from home that is 2 hours fresh at most.


I ate breakfast, rested a little, then took a bath. I pooped while taking a bath at 9.30 am, yet got to the clinic in Ortigas at 1.30 pm already. So technically, it was rotten stool that I handed to the laboratory, but I didn’t tell anyway. Haha. I didn’t mean to have it expired for long. For one thing, I left at 10.30am. But much to my dismay, I got a text message from my mom along my travel telling that I forgot to bring my wallet. So I had to wait for my mother, who ran after me and arrived at the exact place where I already was when I found out I have no wallet, at forty-five past twelve. (You might think how I got to wherever I was without my wallet, I had a separate purse for my coins and smaller bills).

So I arrived at the clinic and paid my fee, then filled up some forms. I was then led to the clinic’s comfort room and was asked to pee for urine testing.

The Phase 1 medical examination actually consists of the following tests:

1.) Fecal Analysis- examination of the stool
2.) Urine Analysis- examination of the urine
3.) Complete Blood Count (CBC)
4.) Blood Typing
5.) Chest X-ray
6.) Physical Examination- examination of mouth, ears, and eyes using that tool with an orange light. Women’s breasts are examined for any lumps, as well as the rectum for haemorrhoids.
7.) Psychological test- a usually two-hour written examination. It includes a personality test, an analogy test, and some personal information.
8.) Pregnancy Test (for women) - where one’s blood pressure is taken
9.) Dental Exam

Highlight of today’s medical examination would definitely have to be the 3,400php that I had to shell out for my dental fillings. I didn’t really expect that to be able to get a dental clearance, the dentist had to sort of force me into filling up eight tooth holes all at once. Well yeah, I felt like I was threatened. The dentist knows I needed his clearance to complete medical examination. For goodness sake, each tooth-filling costs 400php!!!! I thought the dental exam would do plain check-up and just advise on which teeth need attention the soonest. I remember that gay dentist saying to me, “Para makuha mo na clearance mo ngayon, pagawa mo na kahit yung walong fillings.” Coz according to his check-up, I have 11. It sounded so scary to me that I have that many to fill, I could even have you thinking if I have any oral hygiene left in me. Thing is, I just don’t think it was that many, and if they really were, all 11 of them don’t really need immediate action. I really hated it when I had to give in simply because I am pressed with time already. That gay dentist by the way holds his clinic just in front of BioMedix at Robinson’s Galleria. Hmpf, moneygrubber!

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Early Day at the POEA

At 6pm through FedEx yesterday, the employment contracts finally arrived-- the long, missing requirement that we have been waiting for since we got our visa back in May. And look where we have just been today-- to the POEA office. The most dreaded time has passed.

Anyway, I think we survived the day. Thank heavens.


My colleague and I were able to secure ourselves of inclusion to this morning's limited 40 slots for processing the documents, in obtaining the oversease employment certificate/e-card that every aspiring, legal OFW needs to have--- having fallen in line outside the premises as early as 5.30 a.m. (POEA processes only 40 applications in the morning and another 40 in the afternoon for name-hire or directly-employed individuals). Gates finally opened at 6am, and when all of us who stood in line outside got in, we sat in those chairs at the lobby that resembled the ones found in bus stations on provincial trips. Fifteen minutes before 8am, we were then sent to the second floor of the building where we took the same order in the seating arrangement the 'elite' forty of us had back at the lobby. The guard in charge then asked us to each write our names in a short folder that was passed around. By 8am, names were already called one by one for the submission of requirements.

LESSON 1: Be early. It’s not ‘OA’ to arrive even as early as 5 am.
(for the processing of the OFW e-card that is. You see, when I arrived at 5.30 am, it was such a long line already.)

Our names were then called and so we submitted our employment contracts and showed our passport and visa (while submitting photocopies of each) to the evaluating officer on Window 6, who was by the way a very lively woman. After checking on our papers, she tried to get amusingly nosey on us with comments on Koreans being ill-natured and unhygienic. She of course caught on our employers being Korean. She even made fun of the TONG-YANG name (name of employer) by saying it in a kiddie tune that would’ve pissed me had she not been someone with authority. She also joked about the idea that we seem a bit young to go abroad (which is honestly very flattering for me). We just gave it to her anyway, understanding the kind of everyday, mundane work of receiving, compiling, quick-checking, and stamping on papers that she does. People like her need some spicing up with that kind of work, since the difference is only found in the kind of papers that they evaluate everyday.

LESSON 2: Photocopy all documents to be submitted (at least 2 copies). Be friendly and know how to ride with the window personnel’s instant comments on the documents that you hand to them.

Having arranged and stapled the papers (original and xeroxed copies of employment contract plus photocopies of visa and passport) in a folder, the evaluating officer handed a medical examination referral form (with my picture on), which she inserted in that same folder that she gave back to us, and told us to select a clinic of our choice from their accredited establishments for the Phase 1 medical examination. It is one of the two main requirements in getting an overseas employment certificate/e-card. Workers in countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are exempt from this (and I don’t know why), but almost everybody should undergo the medical examination. We were also instructed to proceed to the PDOS (pre-departure orientation seminar) desk to set our own schedule for the pre-departure seminar, because all OFW’s should also secure themselves with a PDOS certificate by attending that 2-hour lecture. This is the second main requirement. Schedules for the seminar are set per continent of destination. For Asia and the Pacific countries, seminars are done at 1pm everyday, so in this same day after lunch time, we were already able to comply with that requirement and got our certificates by 3pm today.

So in recap, direct-hired employees would need the following to obtain an exit clearance from the POEA:

1.) Employment contract duly authenticated by the Philippine embassy of country of destination and verified by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office of that same country.
2.) Valid passport
3.) Valid VISA
4.) 2x2 or passport size picture for the medical examination referral form

We will perform the medical examination tomorrow. The visit to the POEA still does not end here, for we shall come back. Boooh.

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Hangeul

In the days and weeks that I have been bumming around with life, I’ve sporadically gone online for tutorials on speaking and writing the Korean language, in what I foresee as one of the most basic preparations that I have to do before I venture to Kimchi-land.

It didn’t really turn out hard to learn, compared to how I initially thought it would be. Any foreign language can be really intimidating at first, and with how seemingly complicated the strokes of the Korean letters go, anyone may have second thoughts of pursuing the language.

But hey, if I want to confidently strut my stuff in the streets of Seoul and not end up doing some Charlie Chaplin moves, I better force myself with it.

The Hangeul (Korean Alphabet) has 24 letters-- 14 consonants and 10 vowels. It is considered to be one of the most efficient alphabets in the world and has garnered unanimous praise from language experts for its scientific design and excellence. At first quick glance, it may resemble the Chinese language, but the Hangeul actually has simpler lines and curves used.

I can practically read and write the 24 letters now, though when they all get jumbled up in the Korean rules of writing, I still get a little confused. I'm taking everything easy though with practice and eventually through exposure when I submerge myself with the everyday Korean life. Goodluck!

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The Juday-Ryan Engagement

Some women just naturally come out as winners. They may even have experienced major backstage stabbing at the beginning, but steals the limelight all pretty and glamorous after all.


JUDY ANN SANTOS IS NOW ENGAGED TO RYAN AGONCILLO.

Okay, okay. So I may have very much referred Juday to the famous Mara television character back in those days when children like me were overly exposed to the typical drama series ordeal of an inaapi to put such a big deal about it-- like such feat was something everybody thought life won’t ever allow her to have. Haha.

Oo na, inggit ako. Haaaaaaaaaaay. Pambihirang estado kasing kinalalagyan ko ngayon eh. Gusto ko na rin yatang mag-asawa? Weh. *mumbles*


I’m no Sprite-guy official admirer, though I have always thought that Ryan is quite a catch as a boyfriend (face-wise), but ever since Juday and Ryan got together, I’ve always thought they won’t last because they didn’t look good together. Something about the fact that Juday started out not-so-pretty-looking and even chubby, while Ryan smoked into show business as the suave elevator guy. Fine, so I’m being so high school. Anyway, what’s worse is when Juday did that Krysala role, I was even making all fun of that purplish costume that she wore, swearing on how she didn’t look good in those flying stunts that she fakes. You see, I’m your resident local TV show laitera. Haha. Krystala was the TV series where I think the two got the sparks going, if I am not mistaken.

Then Juday suddenly comes out in numerous commercials after the other, and finally had me reacting with surprise (and slight envy) in that Fitrum stint. Wahaha.

And now I am to concede: Judy Ann Santos has definitely reached the icon status—thank heavens for the green capsules and the boxing gloves— she can now sport the seemingly high status a face like that of Ryan Agoncillo could project. Hehehe. Ryan now even looks a bit shabby alongside Juday, talk about the real celebrity (and well, financial) status that Juday is reaping.

Fine, fine. Insecure lang nga talaga ako. You really can transform yourself 360 when you have the money. Then get your honey. Yuck, hahaha. That was corny, I know.

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On E-L-L-A, the name

GMA-7 is airing a new Korean comedy series this Monday (July 7) on its afternoon watching streak entitled HELLO! MY LADY, and they are calling the lead character ELLA. I’d like to think it’s a good advertising for such a nice name (eherm), until I caught on the lead’s basic profile as per the TV station’s initial teasers.

Baduy. Probinsyana. Jologs.

Aba, aba!


Anyway, here's additional information on the character:
Lee Su-ha (the Korean name given to the lead character in the original series-- I prefer using this first until I am able to give justice to my name) is the grandniece of the Je-an Lee clan and the owner of the clan’s historical home Hwa Ahn Dang. Su-ha lost her mother to stomach cancer last year, while her father left for Seoul with another woman many years ago. Refusing to lead a reclusive life in the Hwa Ahn Dang, Su-ha decides to explore her life. She falls in love with a guy named Hwang Dong-kyu, who urges her to sell the Hwa Ahn Dang to him...

Hmmm... so it must be the province to city transition. Pretty much like the bourgeoisie (middle-class) to royalty transtition of Ella in the movie, Ella Enchanted. That's it. That must be it. They must've found resemblance to the movie.

And with that I'd like to think that we, ELLA's, are simply the adventurous and independent women that anyone should not underestimate for that initial personal feel of naivety towards us. We sure can kick ass and strutt our stuff real hard. We're not exactly street smarts, but we sure have the makings of one. Because we're bold to changes. (Yeah!)

I am definitely watching this. The lead guy looks like Bae Yoong Jun, who is my ultimate Korean star by the way. Teehee.

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On Ellen

I am going to end this week as a couchpotato. Again.

I caught on the Ellen DeGeneres Show today, and only Ellen could do this. She’s amusingly crazy at times. Hitting the head with a bottle? The beauty queen sure looked scared when she caught on Ellen with the bottle at hand. Haha. That’s far worse than a peppermint spray on the Puerto Rican title holder, who was allegedly sabotaged in the beauty contest, but nevertheless got the crown despite the itching brought about by the peppermint put in her evening gown.



I sure have become an Ellen DeGeneres fan since I caught on her on cable television as the funny and laid-back lesbian host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, occasionally doing that famous center table stunt, as part of her dance routine in the daytime show. I admire the fact that she’s already in her fifties yet she looks so young and happy in those dance moves of her. She’s not really the makes-your-tummy-ache kind of comedienne, but her relaxed demeanour in that couch she sits on everyday makes you drag your own chair for some easy time with her-- without ever thinking that it’s going to be some heavy sex-oriented talk. Well, ever since she came out in 1997 to talk about her sexuality, there have been both praises and backlashes. She sure is gay, but is making it look like it’s so normal and fine. Talk about the stars that she gets to have chit-chats with— JT, Mariah, Obama, and Beckham. Come on. But what’s also nice is she gets to talk to even the most normal of people— from the regular guy who returned a $2M dollar check that is not his, to a toddler who can recite the presidents of the United States in their right order. The show has showcased the most adorable and talented kids on earth, and you know how I love children! Charice Pempengco owes the show her first exposure to the US audience, if I may add. Oh, and the game shows and product endorsements that she does. All funny.

Ellen dresses well too, if I may say. I love her sweaters and blazers.

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