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 I was busy preparing my last baggage when my family caught my attention in the news flashed in TV – PINAY STEWARDESS IN DUBAI DIES. TV Patrol didn’t mention the airlines name though we already had speculations that the girl is from EK. After watching the news I went back to my packing thing. My flight (together with Yoanna) for US is tomorrow morning. Since we’re coming from province, approximately 200 km from Manila, we’re leaving our house around 1am. I told the driver that we need to leave early for any possible delay in check-ins, considering the recent blast in Glorietta 2. At the same time, I checked the online reservations & it seems there’s a lot of passengers booked.

By 10pm, I’m done with my packing. I took shower & opened my laptop to get online. As soon as my YM opened, one of my F.A. friends (male & non-EK) dropped me a message. Just some sweet-take-care message for my next day’s flight & after exchanging our hi’s & hello’s he told me that he went to Dubai. He got a call from his former local airline colleague that one girl in their group died last Oct.19. She fell in the balcony of her flat. Then, I told him about the news earlier. He was somehow surprised that it was viewed in news. My friend told me that this incident usually happens among FAs. Five months earlier the same thing happened to one Korean girl.

I took the opportunity to ask more details with this incident of Joyda Aguinaldo. At first he told me that it’s a suicide since Joyda mentioned to some friends that she’s having problem with her current boyfriend. According to him, Joyda loves to go out in bars & hang out with friends. It’s pretty obvious in her friendster account. I checked the details in her friendster account & it seems that this Joyda girl is very emotional person – a typical Pisces. When I asked about Joyda’s boyfriend, my friend told me that he’s also a cabin crew though in Phil’s local airlines. In their circle there’s a speculation that this guy is having some more “girls” since Joyda is currently based in Dubai. Joyda’s family hard to accept its suicide because Joyda never mentioned any serious problem with her man. I tried to check Joyda’s boyfriend in that account, but my friend told me that he removed his account in Joyda’s list. My friend also mentioned to me that there’s a speculation of financial issues with Joyda. Either its accident or suicide, such news is quite disappointing, knowing that the person has potential in this world.

I was surprised when my friend told me that such incident is not very unusual to FAs. I was thinking that this maybe one bad side of this journey – aloneness/depression.

“In life, events occur that inexplicably feels like it must have played out somehow, somewhere before in our lives…Is it all in the mind or does it emerges from deeper reality? Why does it happen? What does it mean? Nobody knows..Maybe there is a next life after all..”

- Joyda Aguinaldo, Sept 30,2006

ABS-CBN News

Joyda’s Multiply Account

Joyda’s Friendster Account I

Joyda’s Friendster Account II

*check “cat.4: Annie in Serious Matter” for more related links

Yoanna made it! After a doctor visit last Oct 19, she had quite recovery the next day and got better just in time for her birthday party last Sunday.

She celebrated her 3^rd year by the fiesta theme. Banners were all over our garage. As well as the popular Filipino games during fiesta - “Pabitin” & “Hampas Palayok”. Colorful decorations were all over our garage too. It adds up the feeling for fiesta.

Kids & family joined us to celebrate this special day.

Fiesta is one of the very much awaited occasions here in the Phils. As far as I know, fiesta is an event to celebrate birthday of saints. I’m not really much familiar of the “serious” aspect of fiesta, though I know the “fun” side of it. That inspired me for this year’s big day of Yoanna. The spirit of fiesta was truly felt on our small garage because the kids participated in the games & activities. Even Yoanna was very cooperative with the program & in our once in a while pictorial session. At first I was kinda worried since she was just observing the guests, but my auntie told me that Yoanna likes what’s happening. Kids enjoyed the body make up thing too.

Yoanna patiently distributed these small bags of candies as the party favors. Kids were line up as Yoanna gives the bag one by one to them. I can see the excitement & joy in each kid’s face. It’s fun to see these kids having fun too.

I tried to take as many as pictures as I can but it’s just really hard to be an event organizer & photographer in one.

Here are some of the pictures taken in the party.

The cake where “Y” didn’t make it to the party.

It’s not red banana..its hotdogs!

Go Kids!

Time for Party Favors..

Happy, Yonna’s bestfriend, was present too. She arrived early & very colorful in her blouse. It seems that Happy’s stylist is very consistent in choosing for her outfits & accessories.

*check “cat.2: Annie in Motherhood” for more links

HOMEPAGE

 The doctor’s new prescription for Yoanna was a paracetamol & 2 new antibiotics. Sadly, the other antibiotic is not available in our place, so I need to travel 45 minutes to Balanga just to buy for this one medicine. As I rushed myself to Balanga, I was updating my fiancé on the morning incident with Yoanna. We’re really worried in Yoanna’s condition since Yoanna & I will be traveling soon for US. It will be Yoanna’s first air travel & it will be totally hard for her if she’s still not going to have a full recovery from this sickness. When I arrived in Balanga, I also took the opportunity for some errands. I arrived in our house around 3:00pm. Yoanna was already sleeping. Then I was shocked seeing my brother, the youngest among us, watching TV in our living room. He arrived so early from his school & told me that he’s not feeling well too. It seems that the virus has finally spread in our house.

I sat beside my younger brother, trying to relax & catched my breath because I was roaming around as fast as I can in Balanga just to look for this antibiotic. I was talking to my brother when the TV flashed the latest incident in Makati.

Blast in Glorietta 2 Makati kills 8 civilians!

The blast happened in Luk Yuen stock room near Starbucks. Which I was there last week having a coffee with one of my gay friend. I focused on the newsbreak & felt sad for those victims, some are students.

As of this time (12:00MN PhTime), its confirmed 8 died, 120 injured & 10 are still missing in the blast happened around 1:30pm. The blast happened in the stock room of Luk Yuen Restaurant near Starbucks. At first PNP thought that it was from LPG but further investigation is happening now to check for a possibility that it’s a bomb.  Speculations for this incident are (1) another terrorist move or (2) – GMA administration to divert people’s attention of the current political issues. After such incident SOE   – State of Emergency was raised & men in uniform were placed on public areas – LRT/MRT station, Malls & Airport for further protection. 

It was quite depressing to hear that in a serious incident like this, people were thinking that it’s a tactic of the recent Phils Political Administration. In order to redirect people’s attention from the recent money issue in Malacanang & Governors.

Others said that this blast seems to bring Martial Law in the Phils. As the recent Phils situations are very similar to the situations during the time of former President Ferdinand Marcos as he declared Martial Law. Isn’t it GMA is desperate enough to hold on with that position in the government?

If in case GMA political party has nothing to do with this & it’s purely a terrorist move, well we better be prepared for more things that these people are capable with. It just felt bad that the future of our children wasn’t that much clear because of this Phils Political situation and even our economic situation. I haven’t seen any good improvement considering the fact that our current president is an economist.

With all of these things that are happening to our country, it keeps me wondering how our life would be after 15 years. Are we making a big difference among other countries by that year? Is Yoanna going to have a peaceful life when she’s in teen-age stage?

*check “cat.4: Annie in Serious Matters” for more links

I woke up this morning knowing that Yoanna has totally recover from sickness, since we already visited a doctor yesterday & followed the medicine instructions thoroughly.

I was on my morning session – checking mails, coffee & bread when Yoanna asked me to play the Pussy Cat Dolls London Concert in DVD player instead of Barney.

It seems that Barney session was then replaced with Pussy Cat Dolls session.

I truly enjoyed watching my little card seriously focused on those 6 dancing girls on screen. She was even singing along with Nicole during the song “Stick With You”. Then I realized how Yoanna grew up listening to RNB music.

During her first month, I wasn’t singing a lovely lullaby song to put her asleep. Instead it’s the song of Nelly ft. Cristina Aguilera that keeps me swaying Yoanna side-to-side. When I transferred in Bahrain to work, my younger brother MGA used to play sounds of his favorite singers such as Beyonce, Mariah Carey etc & Yoanna adored Mariah so much. Then now, it’s the Pussy Cat Dolls. It seems that my little girl aspires to be a diva too. The way she shakes her hips & play with microphone, there’s no doubt that I have an inspiring diva in the house.

Then, as the PCD concert near to end, Yoanna lay down in sofa. I thought she was just sleepy since she woke up 4:30am this morning. Then I observed that her neck & face were turning to red. I touched her legs it’s very cold, touched her forehead and its very hot. I immediately called my auntie & asked her to bring Yoanna to the nearest doctor. Before we left the house, I gave her a 5ml shot of Tempra Syrup (Paracetamol)

When we arrived in the doctor’s clinic, Yoanna’s temperature got down as we waited for the pediatrician. When the doctor checked her condition, he told me that her temperature was so high though she was healthy enough to fight for such high fever. I felt thankful & proud when I heard that. The doctor gave us a new set of antibiotics. As soon as we’re home, Yoanna took the new antibiotic & after a while she got improved & the temperature totally went down to a normal one.

That was my morning today – a discovery of how healthy Yoanna is & furtherly proven with her fight in the high fever.

*check “cat.2: Annie in Motherhood” for more links

HOMEPAGE

We’re having a “like-mother-like-daughter” situation here. I’m nearly recovering from flu, cough & nasal congestion when, on the other day, Yoanna got the virus too. As you can see, it’s taking me sometime to update my blog. As much as I want to update this but the headache was killing me. Good thing that I feel a lot better now.

I was trying to protect Yoanna from this sickness but still she was infected with my virus. Tonight, I will be having an abnormal sleep since I need to watch her temperature & once in while give her medicine. This afternoon her temperature was a bit high. Thank God that it’s quite low now.

We need to recover soon since we will be in leaving less than a week. It will be Yoanna’s first air travel, so I want her to be healthy as possible. Otherwise this uncomfortable feeling will trigger her to get irritated and I don’t want a long drama while onboard. I know the feeling of a passenger when can’t do anything but to accept the child’s cry as music while on board.

For her to recover faster, she should take her medicine on time. Yoanna needs to take these 3 medicines. One is having a schedule of every 4 hours. Other is every 6 hours. The last one is every 8 hours. Imagine how many times I need to wake up tonight to give her these dosages. Second thing is that, I need to wake her up too for her to take this and I don’t think Yoanna will participate on that. So I tried to think of some other way that doesn’t require her to wake up in the middle of the night for the medicine.

Look what I got – the feeding bottle!

Yes! It’s the feeding bottle that will help me to deliver such 5ml of antibiotics in Yoanna’s body.

I observed today that when Yoanna drinks the 5ml of her medicine, she needs to drink 2 shots of water from that measuring cap too. So, what I did early tonight, I put the 5 ml medicine in her feeding bottle & add 2 caps (approx 30ml) water. Such water content will properly flow the medicine from the feeding bottle up to Yoanna’s mouth. It’s not messy, at the same time, Yoanna was able to get the right dosage of medicine.

Sometimes being a mother requires the spirit of Mac Gyver!

*check “cat.2: Annie in Motherhood” for more links.

HOMEPAGE

EK Cabin Crew girls are required to wear red lipstick on their work. Proper grooming that includes make-up application is included in the training and the very famous red lipstick is strictly mentioned there that it is A MUST  to wear that.

I know it’s too red to wear but its one of the sacrifices you need to take for this fabulous career.

I’ve been seeing/hearing a lot of disapproval for this red lipstick. Neither I, doesn’t wear red lipstick except for a situation that I need to be Marilyn Monroe’s costume. I know for sure the EK has a technical explanation for this not-so-famous red lipstick issue. Since I haven’t attended a formal EK training & for sure this thing was not included in men’s module where MGA was included, the reason behind this red lipstick is indeed a puzzle to me.

Correct me if I’m wrong girls but this is how I see it.

Red color highlights the shape of the lips, so in any instances that the girl will open her mouth, the people in front of her will easily recognized that she’s trying to say something. Other than that, listener also refers to the opening of the mouth to fully understand what has been said.

Considering EK’s multi-national passengers requires the effectiveness of cabin crew’s communication. It may be easy to speak English but adapting on its different accent gives more complication. It will take sometime for others to fully understand other people’s English language specially if they have different accent. Maybe the red lipstick will somehow contribute for the cabin crew to communicate effectively with the passengers.

On the other hand, red lipstick will not just contribute on uniformity among the girls rather it gives an elegant look too. We may not see it now since there’s a lot of colors created in the world of make-up but come to think of it, in any evening event red lipstick is always there.

*check “cat.5: Annie in Support: Dream to Fly” for more related links

HOMEPAGE

Upon deciding with my fiancé that we will go on with the fiancé visa procedure, in order for us to get married in the US, I immediately searched the net for the detailed information about this petition. We all know that when it comes to transacting certain applications to US Embassy it requires a lot of paper works. So it’s a lot better that applicant should be aware on the procedures like this Fiancé Visa Petition or better known as K1 Visa. Here’s what I found – the overview details of K1/K2 application process.

The K-1 Visa may be used by United States citizens who wish to bring their prospective husbands or wives to the United States with the intention of getting married. Unmarried children, under 21 years of a K1 applicant derive K2 visa status. This is from the K1 parent if the children’s names have been included in the K1 visa petition. A separate petition is not required if the children accompany or follow the K1 applicant within 1 year from the date the K1 applicant is issued his/her K1 visa. To be eligible for the K2 visa status, the child(ren) must be unmarried, eligible to be listed under the K1 applicant’s visa classification & under the age of 21 at the time the child(ren) enter the US. After the child enters the US, the stepparent/stepchild relationship for US Citizen petition & K2 child must be created before the child reaches the age of 18.

The petitioner will send the application in USCIS. Upon the approval of this petition, USCIS will transfer the case to National Visa Center (NVC) for further processing of such case & then transfers it to the consulate office of the beneficiary’s home country. Upon reaching the US Embassy, the alien fiancé/e & the children below 21 yrs of age go through the consulate interview process.

The marriage must take place within the 90 days upon entering the US. If the marriage does not take place within 90 days or your fiancée marries someone other than the petitioner, the fiancée will be required to leave the US. It is not possible to extend the fiancé visa beyond original 90 days duration. It is ideal to get married as soon as possible after entering the US as getting marriage certificate takes time & it is required to apply for the “Adjustment of Status”.

After marriage, the alien beneficiary can apply now for the “Adjustment of Status” to be able to live & work permanently in the US. If the alien beneficiary does not want to become a permanent resident after marriage, he/she must leave the US within the original 90 days duration.

The alien fiancé(e) can apply for the social security number as he/she enters the US. It is ideal to send the application, two weeks after the arrival date so that the Social Security Administration (SSA) can verify the information in the SAVE-ASVI database. If you apply too soon, they may have to do manual verification. Also, do not wait too long as many SSA offices will not allow to file for a SSN if your 1-94 is about to expire within the 14 days.

K1/K2 visa holder can also file the “Application for Employment Authorization”. If the filling of this application is done immediately after arrival but before the filling of Adjustment of Status (AOS), this EAD will expire as the K1 visa expires within 90 days. That’s why we didn’t look for this option since it is a waste of time & money to apply before applying to AOS.

In reference of US Embassy (Manila, Phils), generally it takes 8-12 months from the date the petition is approved for the K1 visa to be issued. If a field investigation is required & if the applicant does not satisfy all the application requirements, visa issuance may take even longer. Because of the time involved in processing the application, it is ideal that the petitioner & beneficiary gather the required documentation for such visa application.

You can check complete details of K1/K2 Visa from the US State Department’s Bureau of Consular website.

For our case, we finished the K1 visa application in 8 months. It was quite a long journey out there though it was fun since you’ll be meeting a lot of people along the way. One more important thing is that, you’ll see how you guys (as a couple) will go thru on the highs & lows of this application.

*check “cat. 1: Annie in Phils to USA” for more related links

Sounds weird, huh? Indeed, my Yoanna asked me this question. I was combing her hair when she asked me this.

“Mommy, ano mo ba ako? Anak mo ba ako?”(”Mommy, are we related? Am I your child?”)

I almost laughed out loud when I heard this. Good thing I was able to control myself because I realized that my daughter was serious on throwing such question. So, I smiled & answered her;

“Anak kita. Ako ang nanay mo.” (You’re my daughter. I am your mother)

Then I asked her;

“Bakit mo tinatanong? Naguguluhan ka ba?” (Why you’re asking that? Are you confused?)

She replied: “Yes”

I knew Yoanna will get confused on whose her REAL mother is, because in our house everybody is calling our grandmother NANAY (mother). Then, my mother doesn’t want to be addressed as “Grandmother” & trained Yoanna to call her “Mama“. For sure, from what Yoanna have seen in most of TV series, children call their mother as “Mama” or “Mommy“. That’s why she got confused

I explained to Yoanna the REAL chronological order of these Mommy, Mama, Nanay (mother), by showing her the family tree. Not the entire family but from the part of my grandmother up to her existence. I also showed her the scrapbook I made from the period she was still in my tummy ‘til she reached the age of 1. Yoanna got interested on those old “ultra sound” films. It took some time before she accepted that fact that the tiny little thing in those films was her.

I’m not excluding the fact that being away with her for 2 years has something to do with this confusion too.

I am not sure if she fully understands what I was trying to say. Although I feel glad that Yoanna was trying to figure out things now & she knows how to ask questions. At first it’s totally weird but as I realize how she see or accept things, I feel quit proud for my child. She’s only 2 yrs old & turning 3 on the 21^st of Oct but it already reflects on her that she wants to learn.

Here are some pages of the scrapbook.

*check “cat.2: Annie in Motherhood” for more links

HOMEPAGE

A friend forwarded me an email of the latest headline in Daily Mail – THE BABY BORN AT 30,000FT ON HOLIDAY FLIGHT WHO WEIGHED JUST 1LB.

We knew that this kind of incident is not that much unusual now a days. Just this year, same thing happened on one Filipina who gave birth to a child with a help of Filipino doctor on board. My friend Riz was so lucky to witness such extraordinary experience. She was on the business class trip & seated near to the Filipino doctor.

Well, what catches me this time is that the baby weighed only 1lb. It’s the flight supervisor Carol Miller who helped the 25 weeks pregnant Nicola Delemere. The flight supervisor described as “Alfie’s Angel” used a drinking straw to clear the boy’s lungs, before carrying out mouth-to-mouth resuscitation & heart massage for half an hour. She relied on her basic medical training, a retired nurse & ambulance driver were also there to offer advice. As the airplane arrived in Gatwick Airport, Alfie was taken straight to hospital. Yesterday, four months after the extraordinary mid-air drama, he was at home with his parents in Scunthorpe. Although still requiring oxygen & weighing only 5lb 5oz, his parents expect him to grow up to a normal, healthy boy.

We all knew that during a period of giving birth to a child, two lives are on stake – the child & the mother. Considering how delicate such situation & will happen in mid-air adds more complication. Kudos! To Ms. Carol who took her basic medical training seriously & was able to save the lives of Baby Alfie & Mother Nicola.

Situation like this should enlighten those people who doesn’t consider Cabin Crew/Flight Attendant as a serious job nor a career path. There are still people who believes that being a cabin crew is such an easy job & doesn’t require knowledge or serious trainings other than to push carts of meals & juices.

Just an insight, EK itself conducts an average of 5 weeks training for newly hired cabin crew members. For an instance, during that training period a certain applicant fails a module, he/she entitles to repeat the training again. He/She needs to wait for the new batch. There’s also times that one applicant will send back home because he/she wasn’t able to pass on those exams.

I have a friend, currently a flight attendant in one airline in the Middle East. He finished a bachelor degree. His mother was very disappointed when she was informed of this job. Until now, his mother is still pushing him to try some other jobs that may in-line with his degree. But my friend is very persistant with this dream job. He knew that its more than just being a good looking host on air.

On my previous flights as well, there was never an instance that 100% passengers follow on what the cabin crew’s direction. It’s just quit disappointing on how others treat these people & not realizing that they’re taking responsibilities on the lives of the passengers.

We should at least be responsible enough to fasten our own seat belt when the red light is on!

*check “cat.5: Annie in Support: Dream to Fly” for more related links

HOMEPAGE

Being engaged to a person whom you love is truly a blessing from God. The feeling is different & can’t easily describe by words. At first, I thought people who are engaged were just exaggerating their feelings until I, myself, experienced it. It took time before it totally registered in my mind that this time it’s for real!

When you finally reach this stage of life, it’s like your mind rolls up in a higher speed. It’s a different excitement, since you knew that it’s a wonderful thing that requires love, commitment & responsibility. Planning from wedding details to starting life together, demands a deeper understanding for both sides. I had a previous post here, entitles “About Our Future”, that will help other engaged couples out there to fully understand their life being together.

Additional thing to consider is that, what if you’re engaged to an Alien? I don’t mean an extraordinary creature that came from the outer space. Alien is an individual who have a different citizenship like yours. For an instance your a Canadian & your partner is a US citizen. The US government considers the Canadian as an alien individual. What if it’s the Filipino citizen who consider as an alien, how this couple will start their togetherness?

In the Phils, having a partner of a US Citizen is very rampant. It’s a fact that a lot of Filipinos dream of a wonderful life in America. Not knowing that life there corresponds to high taxes & massive credit card responsibilities. For others who have knowledge of real life out there, still wouldn’t mind moving in another country since USA is also known on its economic stability.

So, what if cupid accidentally gave you an alien partner and you both decided to start your life in America. How to start things now? This is what I always hear from others – “if you’re married to an American citizen, it’s easier for you to get visa.” Reality, NO!

You need to understand that once you’re engaged to an American citizen, you have two options to start your life together in US. It will all depends on how you are going to take your time table. These options are K1 visa which is the fiancé/fiancée visa. Second is the K3 visa which is the spousal visa.

In general, fiancé (K1) visa is that the U.S. citizen petitions to the USCIS Service Center by submitting form I-129F, for the visa approval. Then the approval is forwarded to the foreign U.S. consulate where the foreign fiancée lives. The foreign fiancée completes the paperwork, attends an interview & (hopefully) gets the fiancé visa. Then travels to US, marries in the US and applies to adjust the status during the first 90 days.

While in spouse (K3) visa, the US citizen will file petition in the USCIS Service Center after the marriage in another country. As soon as the US citizen receives the notice of receipt from the service center for the I-130 petition, the US citizen files an I-129F for a K3- visa. Once the petition is approved, it is forwarded to the foreign US consulate. Then the remainder steps are similar to the fiancé (K1) visa application.

You can check this site for more detailed comparison between the K1 & K3 visa application.

*check “cat.1: Annie in Phils to USA” for more related links