Word of the Year: Intentional

2019 was neither the best nor a bad year for me. Technically, it was okay but I was just so surprised that it has ended so fast. Before I knew it, it was already the holidays and I realized I was not really able to accomplish something major for the entire year. I felt that I either slacked off or I had a lot of distractions.

Though I had no regrets about how the year went, I promised myself that I will try to achieve more of my goals this year. I promised that I'd be more INTENTIONAL this 2020. 

So, what do I mean by being intentional? 

According to liveandlovework.com, being intentional means you are purposeful in word and action. It means you make thoughtful choices in life. It also means that you live a life that is meaningful and fulfilling. 

In this sense, this is how I want to spend my year. I want to start making choices that are aligned with my goals and dreams. I want to make conscious decisions and here's how I plan to do it: 

1. Choose the projects to work on - As a freelancer, I am lucky to have the luxury to choose my projects and clients. This time, I want to do the tasks that I love and those that are aligned with my skills. If it would require some training, I want to make sure that it's one of the skills that I really want to learn and not spend time studying for the sake of the clients' needs. 

Just like what Leanne Jacobs of Beautiful Money said, “If an opportunity is not aligned with what matters most to you (your core values), let it pass. The opportunities that don't make your soul sing, or that you can't be excited about, just end up taking space where a better opportunity could be. Don't settle for something fine―wait for something great!”

2. Manage Smaller and Active Groups - Building and managing a community entails a lot of time and hard work. The bigger the group, the more effort you have to put in organizing events, addressing the needs of the members and keeping everyone engaged. If it's an online community, content moderation takes up a lot of time and effort to filter posts. 

Thus for this year, we, together with the other group admins, decided to clean up the groups that we manage. We started removing inactive members and will try to update certain group rules especially in online communities. We believe that it's better to have a small group with active and truly engaged members. In that way, we do not have to waste any effort on members who are no longer interested in the group's advocacy. 

3. Blogging - Though, I haven't really blog consistently for the past years. This 2020, I would love to write more posts. I am aiming to create at least 3-4 blog posts every week. I want to write my posts with my readers in mind, " How will this post benefit them?" 

This also means that we might be skipping some PR or sponsored posts that may not be aligned with our target audience. 

4. Minimize Shopping - Lastly, I want to try to lessen shopping. I usually go crazy whenever there's a sale or a huge discount is offered. Thus, I plan to minimize the things that I purchase. I have to make sure that it is something that we actually need. No more hoarding. (LOL!) 

Anyway, there are a lot more ways on how we can be more intentional which I plan to share on my future posts. However, let me end this post for now with my favorite quote from Richie Norton, “Intentional living is the art of making our own choices before others' choices make us.”

How to Refund Your Airport Terminal Fee?

Are you someone who gets excited during seat sales from Cebu Pacific, books a flight immediately but finds out later on that you cannot make the trip or flight because of an emergency or a sudden change of plans? 

Well, I am guilty. In fact, it happened twice already. 

Just like last December 2018, I was able to book roundtrip tickets from Bacolod to Davao for only Php 600+ for July 2018 (7 months in advance) but later on canceled due to workload. (boo!) 

I know that it's just a small amount but getting it refunded is very much welcome. Unfortunately, the cancellation fee or the rebooking fee (if allowed) is much higher compared to the purchase price, which means it is more practical if you just forfeit the ticket and let it go. 

If you are lucky, there are instances that Cebu Pacific also has sudden changes in their flight schedule or cancellations. If these cancellations are initiated from their end, this makes you eligible for a full refund of the ticket price, however, if you're the one who canceled, then technically there will be no refund.  

But wait....  not everything is lost. :)  

Many of us forget that our airline tickets for domestic flights already include terminal fees in the amount that we paid during booking. Terminal fees are collected by Cebu Pacific at the time of booking and payment of flights on behalf of the airport authorities for the use of the terminal facilities. This means that since we did not take the flight, we are actually NOT required to pay the terminal fee. 

According to Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), passengers with unused Cebu Pacific (CEB) and CebGo tickets from Feb. 1, 2015, to the present may refund their terminal fees.

Based on my experience, I was able to refund the terminal fee for my canceled July 2018 Cebu Pacific trip in full and with no administrative charges. I have yet to check if we can also do this with PAL. 

Anyway, here's how you can request/ process the refund of your terminal fee: 

Option # 1: Go to the Cebu Pacific website and fill out the Guest Feedback Form. 

Under the Type of Feedback, select "Request" 

Under Category, select " Refund of Taxes for Unused Tickets" 

After submitting all the information, you will receive an email confirmation with a reference number that you can use to follow up. 

Option # 2: Contact the Cebu Pacific hotline at +632 702 0888 for Manila or +6332 230-8888 for Cebu) This is not really advisable due to the long wait time. If you are not based in Manila or Cebu, calling these numbers would also entail long-distance charges.  

Tip: If you have an internet connection, you may also call their US toll-free number via Skype at +1-8555-232722. It is available from 7am-10pm (PH local time), daily. No long-distance charges. :) 

Option #3: Through the Travel Agent where the ticket was purchased. 

To manage your expectations, the processing of refunds usually takes 4-8 weeks. The refund will be made directly to the passenger's credit card, Paypal account, via the travel agent, or in form of cash, depending on the form of payment that was used to purchase the ticket. I was able to get mine after a month while Val's refund is still in the process even though we sent it the same day. 

Please keep in mind that they will only refund this upon request. It would be ideal to request a refund of your terminal fees as soon as you can. 

If you have any experience refunding your terminal fees, feel free to comment below. 

Could this solve our EDSA traffic problems?

They say that with progress comes heavy traffic. Though we welcome progress in our lives, my recent trip to Manila last November may say that it's worth it. After living in the province for 4 years where there's minimal to zero traffic, the experience of being stuck in EDSA during the holiday season was overwhelming. I just couldn't imagine the everyday life of an ordinary Filipino who had to go through it on a daily basis. 

Thus, suggestions and potential solutions to the problem are very much welcome as this has been a recurring issue for the longest time. 

Proposed Centralized and Synchronized Bus Dispatch System

House Transportation Committee Chair and Samar 1st District Representative Edgar Mary Sarmiento unveiled the blueprint of his proposed centralized and synchronized bus dispatch system which would turn the EDSA's rowdy and chaotic city buses into a fast, efficient and predictable mass transport system.

Sarmiento, a civil engineer, disclosed the full details of his proposal after announcing that his panel is closely working with the Department of Transportation (DoTr) to craft a roadmap that would solve EDSA's traffic problem.

In his proposal, Sarmiento said that the innermost lane of EDSA will serve as an "express bus lane" which can be accessed through stations used by the MRT. Like a carousel, the "express bus lane" will just circle around EDSA, duplicating the route of the MRT.

"People who use the MRT can now have the option to ride the bus which will be also operated like a carousel. The buses will only load and unload passengers in a synchronized manner at the MRT stations so they are basically an extension of the MRT. Walang magiging traffic dyan because the entire inner lane from Taft Avenue to North Avenue and vice-versa will be enclosed and exclusive to the express bus lane," Sarmiento said.

Sarmiento said that the three lanes in the middle of EDSA will be dedicated to all types of private vehicles subject to the existing vehicle reduction programs like the number coding scheme. Private cars will be only allowed to use the outer lane when turning into an intersection.

The outer lane of EDSA or the yellow lane will be used as a dedicated city bus lane which will also adopt a centralized and synchronized dispatch system. Dedicated bus stops will be established one kilometer apart. Loading and unloading of passengers will be strictly implemented on these bus stops.

Sarmiento said that while the express bus lane will cater to passengers who also use the MRT, the city bus lane operation will extend up to the Parañaque Integrated Bus Terminal (PITX) in the south and the Valenzuela Integrated Bus Terminal (VIBT) in the north and vice-versa.

"City buses will now be using the outermost lane in EDSA or the yellow lane. They will be traversing EDSA in a carousel-type system until they reach the proposed north terminal which is the Valenzuela Integrated Bus Terminal. From there, the city buses will now traverse to the south still using the outermost lane until it reaches the proposed south terminal which is the Paranaque Integrated Bus Terminal," Sarmiento added.

"We propose this to eradicate the kanya-kanya system of the buses wherein they compete with each other creating chaos through overtaking, overspeeding, and overstaying. Puno man o hindi, lalarga po ang mga city buses dahil may schedule na po ang biyahe nila at hindi na sila makikipag-agawan ng pasahero dahil hindi na commission-based ang kita kundi sahod na ang matatanggap ng mga drivers at konduktors," Sarmiento added.

Sarmiento said that also part of the proposal is to modernize the fare system using tap or beep card.

"Once everything has been set in theory and generated through a computer by the MMDA, it will be presented to the public through a dry run, which will be implemented on a day with the least number of vehicles in the road. We are going to have a computer-generated simulation of this proposal to be led by the MMDA," Sarmiento said to dispel fears that this could end up just like the other failed "experiments" of the MMDA.

Sarmiento clarified however that his proposal can still be subject to improvements and adjustments by the DoTr and the MMDA which is will the frontline implementing agencies.

"Lastly, this proposal is a work in progress. Details will be discussed by the Executives. Ang inyong lingkod, bilang Chairman ng House Committee on Transportation ay willing na magbigay ng suporta sa DOTr kung may mga kailangang polisiya upang maipatupad natin kaagad ang mga planong ito," Sarmiento said.

Sarmiento said that if and when the plan is set into motion, the private vehicles that continue to clog EDSA middle lanes would be reduced eventually "because people would now start riding the bus rather than drive their car in what is described as one of the world's biggest parking lot."

According to Rep. Sarmiento "With this system, if the trains and buses will be fully operational, and the commuting public is now effectively and efficiently being moved, that’s the time that we can reduce the volume of private vehicles in EDSA and the major thoroughfares in Metro Manila," 

"Once the volume of vehicles is reduced, that’s the time that we can introduce major infrastructures in EDSA and other major thoroughfares," he added.

Missing SMAC points and what you can do about it?

I have been an SM Advantage cardholder for more than 5 years and I love the idea of earning rewards from my purchases. It's one of the paid loyalty cards that I find "sulit" or one that I use frequently. If I remember correctly, I paid Php 150 for a 3-year membership but now I think it's already Php 200 for a 5-year membership (needs to confirm this) 

One of the recent changes with our SMAC membership is their insurance provider which is now Pioneer Insurance. They added more accredited stores such as Uniqlo and Miniso. Plus, just a few months ago, they have also updated the design of their card to a modern look. 

Source: https://www.facebook.com/SMAC

Sadly, despite the changes and recent developments, the problem of missing SMAC points is still happening. I discovered that the majority of my November and December 2019 purchases are still not credited as of today (January 10, 2020). This is the same thing that happened when I checked my May and June 2019 purchases and I found out that there are four (4) transactions not posted. I also had the same experience way back in 2016. 

Honestly, I find this disappointing since the issue has been happening for more than 4 years. I really hope that SM can address this problem once and for all. I understand they're doing a lot of system enhancements right now. I also believe that this is something that they can fix because other rewards cards are able to credit receipts in real-time and do not have this problem. If they can do it, so is SM. :) 

Right now, I can just imagine how many shoppers do not really check their points. They might be unaware they don't receive the rewards/ points due to them. 

So, if you are one of the many members who do not keep a copy of their receipts or do not check their points - it's about time that you start doing it. After all, 1 point equivalent to 1 peso. 

So, what exactly do you need to do to get your missing SMAC points credited to your account? 

1. Scan your receipts. 

2. Send an email to mbr.care1@sm-mci.com or smacassist@sm-mci.com 

3. Provide the following information: 

• Name of Store
• Date and Time of Transaction
• Amount
• Sales Invoice Number
• Your SMAC Account Name
• Your SMAC Number
• Scanned copy of the receipt

4. Wait for a reply in 24-72 hours. Their customer support is usually helpful though there are times that they no longer credit the points in case the receipts are already erased and unreadable. 

How about you? Have you checked your SMAC points? Please feel free to share it below.