Random Thoughts about staying AHEAD in Life: Schools and the Future

I am here at Bacolod - Silay International Airport waiting for my flight. If you are wondering where I am going, I am flying back to Cebu again to spend more time with my family.This is actually my 3rd trip to the Queen of the South within a month and I am very thankful that my current job allows me to travel anytime I want. 

For the past few weeks, Val and I are working on one of our passion projects. Since we have been very blessed, it's about time that we pay it forward. We want to help graduating students find their dream jobs. As we were discussing on how to address the gap that hinders them from having gainful employment, we found out that there are actually several factors affecting their success. 

Based on a study conducted by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), graduates of the top 3 educational institutions in the Philippines are hired faster and paid more by employers.

Most corporate recruiters and HR professionals will deny this but this is actually the hard truth. According to one of my favorite bloggers, Tina Perez of www.mrswise.tk, "We are living in a third-world country. And whether we like it or not, where our children graduated from matters a lot." (You can read more about her blog post, here.)

Luckily, I studied at Ateneo from kindergarten to college. So, based on my personal experience, finding a job was quite easy. I got invited to more interviews and got hired faster. Though HR professionals or recruiters won't really say it, I believe that my school has something to do with it and it was one of my advantages. I remember too when I applied to one of the biggest consumer brands here in the country, we were filling out an online application form and there was a dropdown of the list of schools. If you can't find your school on the list, you have no way to proceed with your application. We believed that was their discreet way of shortlisting applicants.When I was working as an online recruiter, I have clients who preferred and prioritized the graduates of the "big" schools for an interview. 

I realized that education is a huge investment but worth it. It is the best gift of a parent to his or her children. (So, Papa and Mama - if you are reading this, THANK YOU!) 

However, have you thought about what happens if one fails their college entrance exam? How will it affect a person's life? I had a friend who had the money but unfortunately, did not pass the exam in Ateneo. Thus, he was forced to enroll in another school. This detour has definitely changed the next 4 years or more of his life. 

Not getting in the "big" school does not necessarily mean doomsday. However, this means that at this crucial point of their lives, right before college, we should readily support our child's future by ensuring that they get accepted in a reputable school. Why take the risk when we can give them more? Enrolling them in a review center is one of the things that we can do for them.

Based on my research, one of the leading and most awarded tutorial and review center in the country is AHEAD TUTORIAL AND REVIEW. They are the first to offer Test-Based Reviews for the country’s most competitive admission exams, namely the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT), the Ateneo College Entrance Test (ACET), and the De La Salle University College Entrance Test (DLSUCET). They have been in the business since 1995 and have several branches in Metro Manila as well as in Baguio and Tuguegarao. 

AHEAD TUTORIAL AND REVIEW take pride in their learning programs where students not only prepare for academic excellence, they have also come to embrace their role as future leaders of the global community.

Their services include the following: 

• Review Programs - These are designed to help students get into the university of their dreams. Their programs help students focus on their lessons, guide them towards topics to be studied, provide them with the right reference materials, and motivate them to study harder.

• Tutorial Programs - These are one-on-one and small-group tutorial programs where students get undivided attention and care. Students are assigned tutors who match their personality and requirements. With the right support, children become all that they can possibly be.  

• Online Programs - AHEAD Tutorial & Review Center has developed an online learning platform designed to help learners work through their everyday academic concerns. Through AHEAD Online, students can review for their exams, finish their homework, and study their lessons in advance in the comfort of their own home. Students will have one-on-one reviews with expert tutors through video-conferencing platforms in a clear and seamless manner. This is actually my favorite among their offerings. 

What I like about this center is that they have very good feedback from their students plus, their online programs is one of a kind. Making you maximize the sessions without being affected by external factors like traffic which will either get you so tired or lazy.

Anyway, I will be boarding the plane in a bit. Just share your thoughts in the comments section below. If you have more questions, you may email AHEAD directly at info@ahead.edu.ph or call them at (02) 426-0034 to 36 or 0917-89 (AHEAD) 24323. 

HOME RELOCATION: How to transport your things efficiently and safely?

When we moved from Metro Manila to Bacolod in 2015, one of the major concerns that we had was transporting our things. It was during this time that I realized that I have too much stuff. Aside from our clothes, shoes, bags and other personal things, I had my Starbucks tumbler collection as well as my miniatures which I started collecting when I was young. We also had a home complete with furniture and fixtures made of hardwood like narra that we cannot simply discard because these are actually given to us by my parents as "pamana." 

Thus, we had no choice but to transport them all to Bacolod. Based on our experience, here are some tips on how to transport your things efficiently and safely:  

1. Mode of Transportation 

Use the right the mode of transport depending on the items' size, weight and nature. 

Air Cargo is recommended for smaller and not-so-heavy items. It is ideal for important items since it arrives at the destination faster or you can bring it with you as checked-in baggage during your flight. It is a bit expensive thus, it is recommended that you maximize the prepaid baggage allowance. In the Philippines, most domestic flights can allow up to 40 kilos of check-in baggage per passenger.

Sea Cargo, on the other hand, is recommended for bulky and really heavy items like furnitures and fixtures. Though it would be nice to get a full 20-footer container van to put all your stuff, it is also impractical if you cannot really fill the whole container. Thus, you can try to opt for loose cargo and just pay for its actual weight. Just keep in mind, that sea cargo can take a few days to arrive at the destination and may even have delays at the port so, make sure not to include items that you might need immediately in your new home. 

2.  Packaging

It is very important that we package our things properly prior to shipping. Use bubble wraps for breakables and plastics for items that should be kept dry. Make sure not to mix liquids, aerosol sprays with paper or documents since leaks might happen. Furniture, fixtures and appliances must be put into wooden crates. Boxes are also recommended to be cling-wrapped to avoid getting wet. 

3. Insurance

Make sure that you declare the correct value of your belongings and get appropriate insurance. We must accept the fact that despite all the safety precautions, accidents or natural calamities may occur that can pose significant damage or loss to our belongings. Thus, the least that we can do is minimize these risks since our things are exposed during shipping. 

Marine Insurance can protect your items shipped via sea cargo against the possible damage and loss because of bad weather, sinking, fire, typhoon, collision even piracy and jettison. Since most of our stuff is shipped via sea cargo, we got our Marine Insurance from Malayan Insurance. The small payment we made gave me the peace of mind that in case something happens to our things while on the voyage, at least we could afford to get new ones.  

How about you? Are you planning to relocate soon? Feel free to send us a message if you have any questions. 

7 Secrets and Tips You Should Know When Visiting Hongkong Disneyland

We just got home from Hong Kong and spent 2 days in Disneyland to celebrate my mom's birthday. There is no doubt that it is the happiest place on earth. I was crying while watching Mickey and the Wondrous Book show (tears of joy!) However, visiting Hongkong Disneyland is also one of the most tiring experiences I had in my whole life. Seriously, my feet are so tired that I could barely walk once we're back at the hotel. 

Anyway, for those who are planning to visit, let me share some tips on how you can make the most out of your Disneyland experience. 

1. Visit the City Hall

Don't forget to drop by the City Hall. It is located in Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A., close to the Main Entrance to the park. They handle customer service concerns as well as provide assistance in dining reservations, currency exchange, and park information. There is also an ATM in case you need one. 

For first time visitors, you can ask them for a First Time Visitor Badge. If it's your birthday, you can also get a special Birthday Badge from Disneyland. 

2. Fastpass Service

Fastpass Service is a ticketing system that virtually “saves” your place in the queue for some of your favorite attractions. This allows you to enjoy the park and then come back to the attraction during the return time printed on your FASTPASS Ticket. This is absolutely free though not all attractions have it. 

Currently, it is available for Hyperspace Mountain, The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh and Iron Man Experience. 

3. Use Coupons for Discounted Meals
Don't forget to get a free copy of the Hong Kong 20th Anniversary Coupon Booklet to enjoy deals around the city. This is available at the Hong Kong International Airport Visitor Centre and in selected hotels and inns in the city. Use the Disneyland coupon and get 20% off from meals. These are accepted in all dining outlets at the park.

4. Prepare Your Rain Gear

It was raining during our 2-day visit but that did not stop us from enjoying the park. Though there are rain ponchos for sale (approximately HK$ 55), it would be cheaper and more practical to bring your own rain poncho which is cheaper if bought outside. 

5. Shop at Professor Porter's Trading Posts

Most shops sell identical items but one should not miss the chance to shop at Professor Porter's where you can score great deals and sale items. Can you imagine getting discounts from 50-70% off when you buy 2 or 4 items? 

I was able to get Mickey Mouse shoes for only HK$50 (regular price of HK$ 298) and shirts at 70% off. I got a couple of Star Wars shirts for Val at HK$60 each instead of the regular price of HK$ 198.

6. Skip the line at the Disneyland Railroad

One should not miss taking the Disneyland Railroad to get a complete tour around the park. This is the first attraction you will see when entering the park making it really crowded in the morning. Thus, it is suggested that you take the ride in the afternoon or instead, board from the Fantasyland station rather at the Main Street. 

7. Purchase Discounted Disneyland Tickets

Get your Disneyland tickets at a discounted rate from Klook. One day pass is available for only HK$ 540 (Original Price is HK$ 589) Plus, Klook coupons also allow you to proceed directly to the entrance and skip the long queue.

How about you? Do you have something to share about your Hongkong Disneyland experience? Feel free to comment below.

Be Insured Against Dengue Fever!

Here is a follow-up post about insurance for dengue since I got quite a number of inquiries after writing about my personal experience about Dengue Fever. 

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post and I am not in any way connected with Pioneer Life. 

To give you a background, Pioneer MediCash, from Pioneer Life is a brand of health insurance products that provide medical cash assistance in the event the insured is diagnosed with the specifically covered disease –Dengue even if the insured is not hospitalized.

Once the insured is diagnosed with the covered disease – Dengue even without hospital confinement, the insured can claim medical cash assistance of P10,000 lump sum. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1.Who can be insured? 

Anyone between 1 – 70 years old 

2. What is the coverage period and effective date? 

Coverage is one year from the Effective Date or from Effective Date up to Claim. Once a claim is paid coverage terminates. This means that you can only use this once, As there are no medical tests required, a 15 day waiting period from Effective Date is in effect. This means that no signs or symptoms of the disease should be observed and that the initial doctor's consultation should not have occurred during the waiting period.

3, How to file a claim? 

Claims can be processed online via email or Viber. I submitted 3 easy requirements: 

• Valid ID
• A claim form to be signed by your attending physician
• My dengue NS1 lab result. 

I believe that if you did not take the Dengue NS1 test.You may opt to submit your CBC lab results. 

4. How long does it take to process a claim? Processing of claims is at 3-5 working days but based on my experience, it was deposited to my bank account after 6 days. 

5. What is the mode of payment of the claim? 

Claims will be deposited on your preferred bank account (BPI, BDO, Metrobank, etc) for faster processing. It can also be in a form of a check by request.

6. Is it transferable? 

No, it is not transferable. The registered name on the card is the only person who files a claim. The price is Php 350 good for 1-year coverage. 

So, if you are interested to purchase the Medicash for dengue. You may visit any local Pioneer Insurance office in your area or you may order online via this link.