PAL’s exit row seats are now paid seats

I have an official business to Cebu City today. As usual, I’m taking the Asia’s first airline - the Philippine Airlines (PAL). And, as usual again, I’m at the airport early; so, I could take my favorite seat, which is any of the window side at any of the exit rows because of the wider legroom.

At the terminal, I went to the Cebu check-in counter and said “Good Morning” to the teller.  “Please give me an exit row window side seat”, I added.

He checked his computer.  Then, he told me that exit row seats are now paid seats.  I was surprised.  Since when and how much?  “Effective March 1 and P200″, he replied. “Passengers at the exit row seatshave given responsibilites and now they are being charged P200″, I quipped.

“Just give me any of the window seat preferably at the front”, I requested him.  Then, he gave me my boarding pass; And, I thanked him.

I renew my NBI Clearance

I just renewed my NBI Clearance.

On my way to Davao City

I’m here in the Pre-departure area of the Domestic Wing of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport 2 (NAIA 2) waiting for my flight to Davao City at 6:00 am.  And, I’m expected to arrive Davao City by 7:50 am.

I have some official businesses to do in the city.  But, my primary purpose is to meet with the City Hall officials.

I’ll be staying there overnight.  I’ll be flying back tomorrow at 8:50 am and arriving Manila by 10:40 am.

When I checked in, I noticed that PAL has reverted back the check-in queuing system to the one queue per counter.

My tooth is aching

My tooth had been aching since Friday.  I normally don’t take pain reliever until I couldn’t bear the pain anymore.  But, I have pain reliever ready, just in case.

Yesterday, the pain persisted. Then, I felt my left cheek’s swelling.  I looked at the mirror, and, it’s swelling all right.  Before I slept last night, the pain was unbearable and I took a capsule of pain reliever.

When I woke up this morning, the pain is already gone.  But, my left cheek is still swollen.

My music preference

I’m a fan of old and classical music since my teenage years.

When driving, I tune in either to DZRJ (100.3 khz) or DWBR (104.3 khz) only.  When I have riders, they couldn’t help but comment on my music preference. Some just listen and appreciate; but, most request for a change of station. I just politely tell the latter that the music preference is my prerogative, being the driver, and not theirs.

Somehow last Tuesday, i didn’t want to listen to my favorite music. I turned the radio off. But, after awhile, it’s so lonely driving without music.

I turned it on again. Old music still wasn’t appealing then. So, I searched for other stations. Then, I found one station playing disco music.  It made me beat to the music. I was dancing literally.

I took note of the station. It’s 103.5 khz and saved it in the stereo’s memory.

Depending on my driving mood, I switch among the three stations.

KarenPot’s 45,000 km. PMS

IAfter our trip to Balanga, Bataan, KarenPot’s (our Kia Carens) mileage was already nearing 46,000 kilometers. It time for her Periodic Maintenance Service (PMS).

It’s good yesterday was a Special Non-working Holiday. And, I brought KarenPot to Kia Fairview. Her 40,000 PMS was done just two months ago at Kia Fairview too. It’s the nearest Kia service center from our place - about 1.5 kilometers only. Being a holiday, Kia Fairview has no work too except for its service department.

I was just dismayed that its Customers’ Lounge was not operating then - no WiFi, no aircon, no TV, no coffee, no snacks. Nonetheless, I was allowed to use it. I just switched on the electric fan, put out my laptop and drafted my blogposts.

At around 11:00 AM, the service was completed and I paid the amount of more than P6,000.00.

Where’s my father’s grave?

Yesterday was All Saints Day. And, we went to visit our deads but deviated from our normal route - Holy Cross (for my parents-in-law) to Holy Redeemer (for my brother-in-law) and to Libingan ng mga Bayani (for my father).  This time, it’s Holy Redeemer to Libingan ng mga Bayani and to Holy Cross.

At the Libingan ng Bayani, we got confused as to exactly where’s my father’s grave.

When I visited his grave a day after his birthday last January, I noticed that his headstone was missing and thought it was stolen.  I looked around and noticed that all headstones are gone.  According to the administrator, head stones are prohibited in the graveyard as per the grave rules.  Hence, the new commanding officer, who found out about the prohibition, ordered the removal of all head stones. Only the crosses are left. However, most of these crosses, including my father’s, have no markings.

But, even without the headstone, I knew exactly where to find his grave. I have a landmark and a count of graves from this land mark. I just learned that this location is Section XII, Row 44, Plot F.

Yesterday, however, wifey argued with me the exact location of his grave. She thought it’s two graves away (or in Row 44, Plot H) from the grave I pinpointed . I asserted but she insisted. Admittedly, she got me confused. To settle the matter, I went to the Bulwagan ng mga Bayani (Heroes Hall) and checked with the grave locator. OMG! The locator said that it’s not just two but seven graves away (or in Row 44, Plot M). Whew! I couldn’t believe it. We’ve visiting his grave for 15 years already. I really believe it’s Plot F; but, the records show otherwise. Also, the surname in the record was misspelled.

I tried to explain my side about the error with the personnel manning the locator; but, they couldn’t be of help.

So, I went to the admin office and checked the index card. It just confirmed the data in the locator. I went back to the locator and verified who should be in Plot F, if it wasn’t my father? The answer: Plot F is not in the locator.  But, we noted that Plot M has two names assigned to it. I copied the other name.

Then, I went to Plot M and noted that the cross has a named engraved on it.  But, it’s different from name in the locator. I copied it too.  He he he . . . I was getting crazy.

This morning, I checked my blogs about my father’s grave.  And, I found a picture taken two years ago showing exactly the location of his grave.

His grave’s where the lady’s cleaning.

I’ll just visit the admin office again to rectify the mistakes.

Outing with Typhoon "Santi"

We’re supposed to have an outing last October 24 in Bagac, Bataan. But, this was cancelled because of typhoon Ondoy. We had already left home; but, the bad weather forced us to go back.

We had another outing in Bataan again. My sister-in-law invited us for an overnight stay in La Vista Inland Resort in Balanga, Bataan on October 30 - 31. This time, another typhoon (Santi) was impending. And, based on the latest forecast, it would hit Bataan by Saturday (October 31). And, this could foil our outing. Again!

There’s another bad news! I couldn’t take a leave on Friday (October 30). I just asked wifey to go ahead and drive the car. I’d just follow after office hours. She didn’t want to drive but chose to commute instead.

On Friday morning, I drove them to the bus station; then, I proceeded to my office. And, after concluding my business, I left at about 10:00 PM. It’s already windy and raining in Metro Manila and all the way to Balanga. I arrived at the resort by 2:00 PM. I just decided to sleep in the car.

I woke up at about 6:00 AM. The weather was already worsening. I went to the cottages, and saw wifey and sis-in-law already awake.

I surveyed the resort first and was very much impressed with it. It’s a nature resort, all right. It has plenty of trees and plants, with the adjoining mango orchard.  And, it’s lying beside the Talisay River. There are several cottages overlooking the river. The cross at the Mount Samat is very visible. It has several swimming pools including a wave pool.

Then, we felt the fury of typhoon. The wind got stronger but not the rains. The trees and plants were swaying and some uprooted or broke their branches.

After a few hours, the weather calmed. Thanks heaven!  And, the fun and enjoyment continued.  Please click here for wifey’s blogpost and photos.  Please click here for my biking experience in the resort.

We left for Manila late in the afternoon.

I’m early and so is the traffic

This morning, I woke up and left one hour earlier again to avoid the traffic. It’s Monday and the traffic’s worst. Those coming from the provinces are just arriving back to the metropolis.

I was early all right! But, lo and behold!  The traffic was early too. And, it’s only 5:30 AM. The first traffic was from the foof of the EDSA - Kamias flyover. Fortunately, it’s up to Cubao before the underpass only. A bus being apprehended outside of the bus lane was blocking one lane. That wasted about 10 minutes of my time.

The second one was before the EDSA - Estrella intersection in Makati. A bus stalled on the middle of the road. And, it took me about 5 minutes.

Nonetheless, I arrived at our office building at around 6:05 AM. I still had plenty of time to sleep.

One hour earlier

Since this Tuesday, I’ve woken up and left our home one hour earlier to avoid the worsening traffic on my way to work. Before, I usually woke up and left at 5:30 AM and 6:00 AM, respectively, except on my coding day. And, my travel time ranged from one hour and a half to more than three hours for a 30-kilometer distance.

I thought I had lots of patience in wading through the traffic even if it’s for 3 hours. While in traffic, I do some exercises, listen to the music and sing along to while away the time.

But, last Monday, I got fed up. I didn’t know what got into my nerve. While at a full stop along EDSA for sometime, suddenly, I didn’t want to drive anymore. I thought of leaving the car then bring out my bike and pedal away. I’d been on the road for more than two hours; and, it’d been very taxing. Fortunately, I was able to control myself. I took a deep breath then sang along. And, my sanity came back.

Thus, since Tuesday, I avoided the morning traffic. My travel time was less than one hour. After parking my car, I slept for an hour and half to two hours.  And, it’s a nice feeling reporting to the office fresh.