Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Expensive LBC Padala

My beloved was furious the other day when she sent the ticket print-out for her parents’ flight from Iloilo to Davao. She said that LBC (touted as Hari ng Padala) ripped her of money. She went to a LBC branch in Laguna to have the two pages of ticket print-out be sent to Iloilo. My beloved was forced to send the print-out through LBC Padala because Cebu Pacific doesn’t allow its passengers to board the airplane if they don’t have a print-out of their ticket.

The LBC Padala clerk gave her the regular price for sending documents to the Visayas. According to the LBC Padala website, the regular price for the regular sized documents is just 95 pesos. The price suddenly went up to 165 pesos when the LBC clerk saw that she is sending a Cebu Pacific ticket print-out.  The clerk insisted that the ticket print-out is “very” important document that’s why the price for an LBC Padala was increased. My beloved insisted that the ticket is just simple print-out.
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LBC Padala rate calculator
LBC Padala Rate Calculator. It seems like the assessment of the LBC clerk
for the print-out is high.
I am a suki (regular customer) of LBC. I have been using LBC Padala whenever I am sending something to the provinces. I believe that 165 pesos price for a simple print-out is too much. This incident made me wonder if LBC Padala is the best and cheapest courier in the country today. I guess it is time to check the other courier companies like the JRS Express AND Air21.

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Monday, November 28, 2011

The Problem with AirPhilippines

“You need a credit card to avail of our promo fare.” - this is the explanation of the AirPhilippines call center representative when I asked them why I can't book for their 888-peso promo flight. This answer made me feel frustrated and caused me to book online at Cebu Pacific airline.

My beloved ask me to help her book a flight from Iloilo to Davao last month. She specifically told me that I book the cheapest flight that I could find because her budget is limited. The flight is for her parents (and my future in laws), who are now going home for their short vacation from Iloilo. Following her instructions strictly, I searched for cheap flights from all the budget airlines in the Philippines. I am fortunate to find an 888-peso promo fare from AirPhilippines, which prompted me to book through the AirPhilippines website. Everything is OK until I reached the “Payment Options” page where I discovered that the only available payment option is through credit card. The bad thing is that I don't have a credit card because I avoid having one.
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AirPhilippines logo

I called the AirPhilippines hotline to book the 888-peso promo flight. The call center representative told me that I am not allowed to reserve for 888-peso promo fare. Only the regular (and more expensive) fares are the only available ones available for those who doesn't have credit cards.

AirPhilippines promo fares are not open for the general public. I believe that this is the reason why AirPhilippines lags behind Cebu Pacific. AirPhilippines promo fares are only available to credit card users while Cebu Pacific promo fares can be availed by anyone. Cebu Pacific allows anyone to book their cheapest fares and still give them the chance to pay through credit card or payment centers like LBC and Banco de Oro.

It is understandable that AirPhilippines is reducing the risk of unpaid booking reservations for its promo fares. This is the possible reason why they only allow credit card users to avail the AirPhilippines promo fares. This is good protection for the airline but it causes frustrated clients like me to book flights in Cebu Pacific.

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Friday, November 25, 2011

Mother from Bulacan is the first PPUR Millionaire

It was blessed day for a mother of three when she received the news that she won 1 million pesos from the “Pera sa Kweba” text raffle. Marites Balagtas, who is the text raffle’s first millionaire, was awarded the facsimile of 1 million cheque by the Task Force PPUR at Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City. 

The “Pera sa Kweba” text raffle was initiated by the private sector to promote the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) in Palawan. The three telecom giants in the Philippines; namely Globe, Sun and Smart; gave 25 million pesos in prizes for the PPUR text raffle. PPUR was recently included in the provisional list of New7Wonders Foundation.

The 1 million-peso prize came at the right time for Marites as her son was stricken with dengue. Her husband, who is a pedicab driver, is ill for several days. Their house was also flooded during the onslaught of Typhoon Pedring. Marites said that she will invest her 1 million-pesos prize for the education of her children and for the building of a small house.
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PPUR text raffle poster

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje said that the text raffle for the PPUR is extended until December 30, 2011. The grand prize is 25 million pesos that is why he urged the public to continue texting. Aside from the grand prize, there are still five 1 million pesos consolation prizes that are at stake for the PPUR text raffle.

Anyone can join the PPUR text raffle by typing the word PPUR then send to 2861 for all network. Each text costs 2.50 pesos.

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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Latest PUPCET Schedules

The day for PUPCET is getting nearer and those who will be taking this entrance are now studying or processing their PUPCET application. Previously, I placed the PUPCET schedules for the Santa Mesa, Manila campus of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). The PUP Admin uploaded new PUPCET schedules and campuses that already have schedules include PUP Santa Mesa, PUP San Juan City, PUP Taguig City, PUP Commonwealth Avenue campus in Quezon City, PUP Santa Maria campus in Bulacan, PUP Santo Tomas in Batangas, and PUP Lopez in Quezon.

Here are the PUPCET schedules for each campus:

1. PUP Santa Mesa, Manila

Date of Online Application: September 1 to December 4, 2011
Start of Issuance of PUPCET permit: September 12, 2011
Deadline of Payment: December 5, 2011 3:00 PM
Last Day of Issuance of PUPCET permit: December 8, 2011
Test Schedule: January 29, 2012

2. PUP San Juan City

Date of Online Application: September 2011 to February 8, 2012
Start of Issuance of PUPCET permit: September 2011
Deadline of Payment: February 8, 2012
Last Day of Issuance of PUPCET permit: February 10, 2012
Test Schedule: February 12, 2012

3. PUP Taguig City

Date of Online Application: September 1, 2011 to February 24, 2012
Start of Issuance of PUPCET permit: October 10, 2011
Deadline of Payment: February 24, 2012
Last Day of Issuance of PUPCET permit: February 29, 2012
Test Schedule: March 4, 2012

4. PUP Commonwealth, Quezon City

Date of Online Application: September 1, 2011 to March 25, 2012
Start of Issuance of PUPCET permit: September 1, 2011
Deadline of Payment: March 25, 2012
Last Day of Issuance of PUPCET permit: March 30, 2012
Test Schedule: April 8, 2012

5. PUP Santa Maria, Bulacan

Date of Online Application: October 10, 2011 to March 7, 2012
Start of Issuance of PUPCET permit: November 10, 2011
Deadline of Payment: March 7, 2012
Last Day of Issuance of PUPCET permit: March 12, 2012
Test Schedule: March 17, 2012

6. PUP Santo Tomas, Batangas

Date of Online Application: October 10 to December 9, 2011
Start of Issuance of PUPCET permit: October 10, 2011
Deadline of Payment: December 14, 2011
Last Day of Issuance of PUPCET permit: December 15, 2011
Test Schedule: March 18, 2011

7. PUP Lopez, Quezon

Date of Online Application: October 10, 2011 to April 11, 2012
Start of Issuance of PUPCET permit: October 10, 2011
Deadline of Payment: April 9, 2012
Last Day of Issuance of PUPCET permit: April 11, 2012
Test Schedule: April 15, 2012

PUPCET schedules for other campus is yet to be uploaded. So stay tuned. Are you applying for PUPCET? Visit my post about the requirements for PUPCET application.

Taking the PUPCET? Read my tips when taking the PUPCET.

Visit the PUP website for more information.

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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

50% Off Cebu Pacific Promo Fares

Cebu Pacific just announced its latest promo fares. Avail of the Cebu Pacific promo fares for selected destinations. Routes that are included in this Cebu Pacific promo fares are Zamboanga to Tawi-Tawi route, Cagayan de Oro to Davao route, Manila to Butuan route, Manila to Cotabato route, Cebu to Clark route, Cebu to Ozamiz route, and Davao to Iloilo route. The latest Cebu Pacific promo fares cover travel period from January 1, 2012 to March 21, 2012. Sale period is until November 24, 2011 or until available seats last.

Cebu Pacific also offers promo fares for its international routes. Fly from Manila to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh for 888 pesos. Go to Guangzhou or Taipei from Manila for 1,688 pesos. Flight from Manila to Jakarta is 1,988 pesos. Cebu Pacific promo fares for flights from Manila to Beijing and Manila to Shanghai is 2,488 pesos. Travel period for the international Cebu Pacific promo fares cover travel periods from February 1, 2012 to May 31, 2012.

The Manila to Hanoi route is the newest route of Cebu Pacific. Flights on this route start on March 17, 2012.

So, what are you waiting for? Visit Cebu Pacific website now and avail of their promo fares. Read some tips on how to avail Cebu Pacific promo fares.

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Thursday, November 17, 2011

Jollibee Menu: Grilled Pork Tenders

My stomach grumbled while I was waiting for the start of the movie, There be Dragons. So, I decided to have a dinner just to silence my tummy. I was in Trinoma and I decided to visit the Jollibee branch located on the ground floor of the mall. 

I have visited Jollibee a lot of times and I already tasted the regular items on the Jollibee menu. I already tasted their chicken (two-piece or one-piece), burger yum, Jollibee spaghetti, and that macaroni soup. I even tried a breakfast item on Jollibee menu, which is the Chicken Sausage with Pancake.

That night, I saw a meal item on the Jollibee menu that I haven’t tasted yet. That item is Jollibee’s Grilled Pork Tenders.
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Jollibee menu - Grilled Pork Tenders
Grilled Pork Tenders of Jollibee.

I chose Grilled Pork Tenders as my dinner. It costs almost the same as the other regular meal item on the Jollibee menu.

Grilled Pork Tenders lived up to its name. It is tender, which is perfect for senior citizens who already have weak set of teeth. Grilled Pork Tenders tastes sweet and peppery. Grilled Pork Tenders has a toyomansi (soy sauce with calamansi) dip but you can opt not to use the dip because the pork tastes well even without it.

Grille Pork Tenders is another good addition to the Jollibee menu. I believe, however, that its taste is just a notch higher than your home-cooked grilled pork.

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Saturday, November 12, 2011

Good News: PPUR Among the 7 New Wonders

The online and TV campaigns done by the Philippine government paid off as the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) was included in the provisional list of the New7Wonders Foundation. Other nature spots included in the New7Wonders provisional list are the Amazon Rainforest, Halong Bay (Vietnam), Iguazu Falls (Argentina), Jeju Island (South Korea), Table Mountain (South Africa).

New7Wonders foundation cited that the given list is provisional. Voting calculation is still being checked and the final list will be announced in 2012 during the Official Inauguration ceremonies. This announcement made by the New7Wonders foundation still places the PPUR and other nature spots in uncertain position because it is not known how the voting calculation will affect the results.

The New7Wonders Foundation is a Swiss foundation founded in 2001 by the filmmaker Bernard Zurich. New7Wonders was inspired by the “7 Wonders of the Ancient World” attributed to Philon of Byzantium.
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PPUR - Puerto Princesa Underground River
Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR).

The New7Wonders list started with 440 nature spots located in about 220 countries. The list was trimmed to 77 then to 28 by a panel of experts. Worldwide poll was then opened for the shortlist of 28 nature spots.  Anyone in the world was allowed to vote via telephone, text messaging and online social networks.

The Philippine government and the City Government of Puerto Princesa had been campaigning vigorously for PPUR in the past months. The aim is to boost the tourism industry in Palawan and give more exposure to PPUR.

The Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other national government agencies participated in promoting the PPUR for the New7Wonders list. Three telecommunication companies; Globe, Smart, and Sun; showed their support by offering 25 million pesos prize in the grand raffle draw for those who will vote PPUR via text.

Puerto Princesa mayor Ed Hagedorn is confident that PPUR will be included in the New7Wonders list days before the provisional was revealed. He said that other contenders doesn't have text messaging campaigns unlike the one in PPUR. He believes that this is the advantage of PPUR over other contenders in the New7Wonders.

Well, it seems like being the texting capital of the world has an advantage after all.

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Image of PPUR came from Puerto Princesa government website.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Confirmed! Lolong is the World's Longest Croc

BREAKING NEWS: Guiness Book of World Record declared Lolong as the largest crocodile in captivity. Read more about this news here.

The people of Bunawan had finally received the good news. Lolong is now considered as the longest saltwater crocodile in the whole world. He dethroned the Australian crocodile, Cassius, from the top 1 of the “longest crocodile” list.

The confirmation was made last week when the Australian zoologist and croc expert Dr. Adam Britton measured Lolong inside his pen in the town of Bunawan, Agusan del Sur. Dr. Britton lead the team from National Geographic that are shooting a documentary about Lolong.

The measurement of Lolong is 21 feet and one inch, while Cassius measures just 18 feet long. Lolong weighs 1,075 kilograms according to Dr. Britton.

Lolong was captured last September after it was suspected that a crocodile ate a fisherman and a schoolgirl. The saltwater crocodile was named after Ernesto “Lolong” CoƱate, who died before his the saltwater crocodile was captured in the Agusan Marsh.
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Lolong the giant buwaya (crocodile).
Lolong as he was captured last September.

Lolong to be Published in Guinness

The National Geographic team will send their official measurements to the Guinness Book of World records. However, Lolong has to wait for six months before he can be published in Guinness. That is the Guinness rules according to Britton.

The mayor of Bunawan is expecting that Lolong’s publication in Guinness Book of World Records will boost the tourism industry in the municipality. According to the mayor, Lolong already earned around 500 million pesos from donations and entrance and parking fees at the Bunawan Eco-Park and Research Center.

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Thursday, November 10, 2011

Pacquiao vs Marques Boxing Stats

Many people say the Manny Pacquiao will emerge as the victor in the upcoming Pacquiao vs Marques fight in November 12. Few people, however, are still rooting for Juan Miguel “Dinamita” Marques and they claim that Pacquiao will be stunned by the punches coming from the Mexican boxer.

So what is the real deal? I believe that we should look at the stats of Pacquiao and Marques to see who is at the advantage. Here is their “stats” or their “Tale of the Tape.”
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Pacquiao vs Marques boxing stats
(Source: Fight Saga)

As we can see, the stats between the boxers almost matched. However, Manny Pacquiao is younger than Marques. The Mexican boxer, on the other hand, is taller by an inch than Pacquiao. Manny Pacquiao is faster and can throw a flurry of punches. Marques, on the other hand, is said to be more experienced than the two.

So, who will win this fight this time? Well, I guess must wait for the conclusion of the Pacquiao vs Marques fight this weekend to know who is greater between the boxers.

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Pacquiao vs Marques

The excitement is increasing exponentially as the most awaited day of Pacquiao vs Marques fight gets nearer and nearer. The Filipinos, Mexicans and all the boxing fans around the world are all prepared to see how Manny Pacquiao and Juan Miguel Marquez will slug it all out this Saturday, November 12 at Las Vegas.

This Pacquiao vs Marques fight is now the third encounter between “Pacman” and “Dinamita.” Many people are hoping that this third fight will reveal the true winner once and for all. The first two fights is somewhat “inconclusive” for some boxing fans and some say that Marques actually defeated Pacquiao.

The first Pacquiao vs Marques fight in 2004 ended into a draw. The second fight in 2008 ended by split decision in favor of Manny Pacquiao. Juan Marques had been yapping ever since the second fight and he keep on claiming that he is the true winner. Pacquiao’s coach, Freddie Roach, is irritated with Marques and hope that the Filipino boxers will emerge victorious by knocking Marques out. Roach believes that knock-out victory is necessary to remove the doubts about Pacquiao’s victory.
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Pacquiao vs Marques poster 2

So, who will emerge victorious in the third Pacquiao vs Marques fight? Opinions vary but majority of boxing fans, sports writers and boxing analysts are saying that Manny Pacquiao will win. The number of celebrities visiting Manny Pacquiao shows that opinion is in favor of a Pacquiao victory.

I, for one, is hoping for Manny Pacquiao to win against Marques. But the truth is we can never be sure until the third Pacquiao vs Marques fight is over and see by our own eyes who is the last person standing.
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Pacquiao vs Marques poster
(Source: Pacquiao vs Marquez)

Watch the Pacquiao vs Marques fight and let us see Las Vegas shake with their heavy punches. The fight is this Saturday (November 12 at 9 PM ET). They will be fighting in Welterweight Division for 12 rounds.

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