Balikbayan Take-Home: Xtreme MagicSing

When you live abroad, it's a must na may sarili kang karaoke mic sa bahay lol. Aside from personal enjoyment, importante yan kapag may bisita ka sa bahay, pang-entertain kumbaga. Kaya naman ang isa sa agenda ko sa pag-uwi dito sa Pinas this year ay ang makabili ng Magic Sing hehe.

Most of our friends in Edmonton have this already, kaya siyempre nakikigaya kami. Ford and I are not bibo when it comes to karaoke singing, shy kami sa mga tao. Pero kapag kaming dalawa lang, kanta kami ng kanta haha!

Noon pa namin gustong bumili nito kaso nag-apartment lang kami the past 2 years. Sabi namin kapag nagkabahay na lang uli. At eto na nga, nakalipat na kami last November! =)

I knew that there are so many karaoke microphones now but I only wanted to buy in SM. Wala na akong energy na maghanap-hanap pa, saka mas credible for me ang nabibili sa mall kesa Lazada o Shopee.

While waiting for TanTan to finish his train ride in SM Marilao last May 1, ayun nakita ko ito. Yung presyo na lang talaga ang tiningnan ko haha. Less than Php15,000 so pwede na. Wala akong balak bumili ng mahal kasi nga hindi naman nga kami "pro" ng asawa ko sa kantahan.

When I asked the saleslady, parehas lang naman daw halos ang dalawang units na ito, wireless microphone lang yung mahal.  Lalo akong na-convince bilhin yung cheaper syempre. I asked the saleslady about their ongoing promo, less Php1,000 daw plus Php6,000-worth of hotel voucher (sa Ilocos at Baguio nga lang haha!). Then she suggested na sa May 23 daw, may 10% promo ang SM kaya malaking tipid din. Ayos, sabi ko babalik ako.

At syempre kelangan ko munang hingan ng pera ang asawa ko. My mother was volunteering to buy it for us kaso nahihiya na ako. Super dami na niyang gastos sa amin ni TanTan dito eh. Ford initially wanted me to get the cordless one, but I disagreed. Sobrang mahal na kako yun, doble ang halaga tapos "cord" lang ang difference. Ok na kako muna yung mura, we can always buy again next time kung magugustuhan namin.

A few days ago, a saleslady of another brand was convincing me to buy their product. Grand ang tatak (dating Wow daw). Their cheapest unit is more expensive than Magic Sing's so medyo turn-off ako (lol again). Pero medyo ginoogle ko pa rin kung ano ang mas ok. I also even asked a friend in Edmonton kung ano sa tingin niya ang ok based on their experience.

To cut the story short, Magic Sing won. So bumili na nga ako kahapon.

The salespersons were very happy with their sale hehe. Medyo madami nga raw bumibili nung Php14,900 unit lately, dinadala sa abroad. I think most nga ng bumibili ng karaoke microphones ay taga-abroad. Dito kasi Php500 lang ang rental ng videoke machine kapag may handaan so no need to buy your own.

This is the unit that I bought. Less Php500 lang pala ang summer promo nila. Yung Php1,000 discount is for the cordless one.

I only paid a total of Php12, 960. Not bad na rin. Sulit ang paga-antay ko ng May 23 kasi Php1,440 rin ang natipid ko.

And they were not kidding about the hotel vouchers! Meron talaga! The vouchers are valid for a year kaso kung kanino lang nakapangalan. I had the option to have it under a different name kaso sino naman. Kaloka, gusto ko tuloy mag-Baguio haha! Pero I wonder rin kung makakapag-book nga ba ako using these haha. Let's see.

Ayan, one item off my shopping list! Excited na akong gamitin ito kahit na na-info overload ako sa mga instructions na pinagsasabi nung saleslady. Oh well, bahala na ang asawa ko na magset-up nito. We don't have many friends yet in BC at hindi ko alam kung kelan kami magkakabisita sa bahay pero for sure masusulit pa rin ito. =)

Balikbayan Program: One Year Free Stay in Pinas

For those former Filipino citizens like me who would like to return/travel/stay in the Philippines, the government has this Balikbayan Program that allows us a one year "free" stay. Upon arrival, the Immigration officer will stamp (or write) a one year permitted duration of stay in the Philippines.

My son Nathan, who's a Canadian citizen at birth, was also given a free one year stay because he's traveling with a "Balikbayan" parent (this also applies to the spouse). If he's traveling to  the Philippines alone, he will only be given 30 days.
=(
The one year free stay can be extended daw for another 1, 2 or 6 months but the Balikbayan and/or immediate family of a Balikbayan would have to go to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to apply for such extension.

According to BI's website, a balikbayan may be required to provide proof/s that he/she was born in the Philippines (like birth certificate, old Philippines passport). But in our case, hindi na hinanap kasi nakalagay na Canadian passport ang "place of birth." Hindi ko lang alam sa ibang foreign passports.

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Side Thought -- Ang lungkot din pala na may "limit" lang ang (free) stay mo sa bayang sinilangan mo. Basta, iba sa pakiramdam. #SentiCessie

I am now a Canadian.

For my first kwento, I have to tell you guys that as of January 16, 2019, I am already a Canadian citizen. Time flies talaga, parang kelan lang nang mag-migrate ako dito (November 5, 2013). Nakaka-five years na pala ako.

I took my oath of allegiance to Canada in Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Surrey. The invitation letter stated that the ceremony will start at 8:30am and that I should be there 30 minutes prior to the appointment time. Ford took a leave from work. Ang sabi ko pumasok siya after the ceremony kasi saglit lang naman yun pero ayaw niya. Bubuuin niya na raw na one day.

I knew that I will have a problem with this schedule. Ang aga! Nathan and I usually wake up at 11am so I sleep at around 2-4am. I knew na hindi ako makakatulog at nagkatotoo nga. I had to prepare na kasi by 5:30am so we could leave at 7am. Ayaw naming ma-late syempre. Mukha akong zombie sa ceremony tuloy, ang sagwa talaga ng mukha kapag walang tulog.

I was the second to get inside the ceremony room (that was where I also took my citizenship test). Maraming nauna sa aking dumating sa CIC (past 8am na kami dumating) pero nang magtawag na for the registration, nauna ako sa pila. Kasi nga nasa bungad ako.

Seat number 42.

"This is it," ang sabi ko sa sarili ko.

My audience.

The ceremony started at around 9am. An officer of court explained to us the flow of the ceremony and gave some instructions. She said we can freely take pictures of the event.

Then she introduced Judge Carol-Ann Hart who will preside over the ceremony and administer our oath of citizenship.

My first reaction upon seeing her: "Ang pretty naman niya!" I want to be like her when I grow up lol. Ang lambing din ng boses niya.

She spoke in both English and French. I wondered tuloy kung mandatory ba sa citizenship judges na nakakasalita ng French.

According to Judge Hart, there were 58 of us who took the oath that day. Fifty-eight new Canadians hailing from sixteen different countries.

After her speech, that's the time we recited our oath (both in English and in French). Akala ko noon tatayo ang balahibo ko, hindi pala.

It was when we sang the national anthem of  Canada that I felt a bit emotional. There's a part of me na nakaramdam ng 'guilt' at 'lungkot', kasi nga hindi na Lupang Hinirang ang kinakanta ko. When I told my husband about this, I was surprised na ganun din pala siya. Sa singing of national anthem daw siya naka-experience ng goosebumps.

And finally, they handed to us na our Certificates of Citizenship. Graduation feels talaga hehe.

The ceremony was very short. It was finished na at around 9:20am.  I had a picture with Judge Hart after.

I didn't have any nice picture on my oathtaking. Ang palpak kasi kumuha ng asawa ko. Ewan ko ba, lalo akong pumapangit kapag siya ang kumukuha ng picture. Look at Judge Hart, hindi rin siya maganda sa picture eh super pretty talaga siya sa personal. She reminded me of Lorelai Gilmore of Gilmore Girls.

Oh well, don't sweat over small stuff na nga lang. Ang mahalaga, Canadian na ako. My husband and son were so happy, pare-parehas na raw kaming blue passport. But there's a part of me that's sad syempre (mixed emotions talaga). Hindi na ako Pinoy sa papel eh. I consoled myself na lang with the thought na sa papel lang naman yun. I will always be a Filipino. Saka magdu-dual citizen din naman ako eventually.

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Expectation versus Reality.

I envisioned a special meal to celebrate my new Canadian citizenship. Naghanap-hanap pa nga ako ng restaurant na hindi pa namin nakakainan. Kaso ayun, sa McDonald's kami bumagsak. It was too early pa kasi, wala pang 10am. Eh gutom na talaga kami tapos pupunta pa kaming Ikea. Saka kakakain lang namin ng espesyal sa labas four days before that (January 12) kasi wedding anniversary namin kaya parang parang umay pa kami.

Buti na lang din nagpunta kami sa Ikea because I was able to take a nice picture of my oathtaking-OOTD. I actually gained so much weight the past weeks kaya tinamad akong bumili ng bagong damit. Luma lang talaga ang sinuot ko lol. Coat -- Forever21 / Blouse -- H&M / Pants -- Walmart. My shoes and bag were new though. Bag -- Aldo / Shoes -- H&M.

They specified na business attire daw ang isuot kaya ganyan. Pero I noticed na hindi naman sila strict sa outfit, kahit smart casual ay ok na.

Christmas Fiesta Ham

November 14, 2017. Before going home to Vancouver (from our California trip), we stopped by at Seafood City in Tukwila, Washington to eat dinner at Jollibee and do a bit of grocery shopping. If you are curious, we flew in Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport because plane tickets are so much cheaper if you take a domestic flight. Relatively expensive ang Canadian flights as compared to American flights kaya malaki talaga ang natipid namin, considering na tatlo kaming nagbiyahe. The drawback though is that you need to drive 2 1/2 to 3 hours going there. Pero keri lang, parang from Bulacan to NAIA drive lang.

Anyway, mataas ang conversion ng Canadian to US dollars kaya mas ok magshopping ngayon sa Canada. Halos lahat naman ng tinda sa Seafood City ay mayroon sa Canada, except for San Miguel Beer (na binili rin ng asawa ko) at Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdog (na made in USA).

After grabbing a few packs of hotdogs and longganisa, my eyes suddenly noticed a somewhat familiar logo in a somewhat familiar shape. Wow, Argentina Fiesta Ham?!?! Just like Purefoods, may Argentina licensed products din sa Seafood City. Nakabili na rin ako ng hotdogs nila noon at ok naman ang lasa.

Medyo nagpalpitate talaga ako. Biglang naisip ko na magiging masaya ang pasko ko lol.

When I was living in Pinas kasi, talagang hindi kumpleto ang pasko ko kapag walang Fiesta Ham. Hindi naman ako ganun kahilig talaga sa ham pero talagang every Christmas, dapat meron kami nun. I remember na sobrang lungkot ko nga noong December 2013 (unang Christmas ko dito sa Canada) kasi nga walang Pinoy ham.

I excitedly showed the ham to Ford, pero as usual no effect haha. Wala siyang kasenti-senti sa katawan talaga haha! Unlike me, Christmas = Fiesta Ham talaga.

There wasn't any price tag on the freezer so I wasn't sure how much was it. I got one and told myself, bahala na kung mahal. Lately kasi may nakikita akong mga Pinoy ham sa mga Asian supermarkets dito (at sa Edmonton) pero super mahal. Pero yun yata yung mga bone-in ham.

While paying, there was a confusion as to how much this Argentina ham really cost. Upon further verification, ayun 2 for $9.99 daw! Parang di ko pa nga na-gets nung una na dalawa for $9.99 eh. I had to rush to the frozen meat section to get another one. Ang mura lang pala kaloka.

Now I wonder, magkakaroon din kaya ng Purefoods Fiesta Ham sa Seafood City? Haha, asa pa.

O siya, basta happy na ako dito. May pang-noche buena na kami. Soup (o hotpot) at chocolate cake na lang ang kailangan. And since I got two hams, I might share the other one sa Christmas get-together namin nina Juris and Tess with our families.

Padala from Pinas

I got so lucky! Last week, I saw in Facebook that Ate Lody was in Pinas and will be coming back here in a couple of days. Ate Lody was our neighbor Lolomboy (my mother's home barangay) and she used to sell lutong-ulam at suki niya si Mamoosh. I was actually surprised because their family just went home last June for her mother-in-law's funeral. Their son got married pala this time and they really kept their return a secret because many would expect (or rather, demand) that they'd be invited to the wedding lol.

Anyway, I messaged her quickly and asked if they could carry a tarpaulin for me. She willingly agreed and I was so happy. Nagre-regret kasi ako na hindi ako nakipadala sa kanya ng tarpaulin last June for Nathan's birthday. I never expected that I'll have a chance again! Unlike in the Philippines, hindi uso ang tarpaulin dito for birthday parties. Kung meron mang gumagawa, sobrang mahal for sure. Mataas ang labor costs dito kaya pricey magpa-personalize.

I excitedly called Mamoosh about the tarpaulin. Joanne (our very reliable secretary / Mamoosh's assistant) and I made the design. It's very simple actually because it was rush na. Saka ayaw ko din ng tarpaulin na nagsusumigaw ang mukha ni Nathan lol.

I asked them to bring the tarpaulin to Ate Lody's house immediately after printing, para maka-secure na ng baggage space haha.

Picture sent by Joanne

About two days after that, Joanne messaged me and asked what else I want because Mamoosh saw Ate Lody pala in the market and she (Ate Lody) asked her kung bakit tarpaulin lang daw ang ipapadala. Pwede pa raw magdagdag.  Mamoosh knew that I am running out of conditioner so she asked Ate Lody kung pwede raw yun. Ok daw!

So here's what I requested:

The four bottles of conditioner should last me until January (kasi ng uuwi kami uli sa January 9), kasi meron pa naman akong konti dito. The hot oil treatment cream (in orange tub) is so good, pinabaunan ako noon ng BFF ko eh. Tamang-tama kasi ang dry na ng hair ko dahil na rin sa hot water. The small bottles of shampoo and body wash are for our California trip this November. Para hindi mabigat (I still have a small bottle of conditioner here).

One friend in Australia asked me kung wala raw bang Filipino store dito (she saw my post of the picture above in Instagram). Well, marami. Meron namang nabibili ditong mga Sunsilk at Creamsilk (and other Pinoy toiletries) pero masyadong mahal. Around $10 (plus tax pa) ang isang 200ml bottle. Hindi siya sustainable bilhin, especially kung malakas kang gumamit. Tayong mga Pinoy pa naman ay naliligo araw-araw lol. That's why palagi akong nagdadala ng supplies pagbalik ko rito (including facial wash, feminine wash, Safeguard soap, etc). Yun nga lang, syempre mauubos din. And by that time, no choice na but to use "local" products here that are way way cheaper and come in uber big bottles.

Now why am I still using Pinoy toiletries? Kasi talagang ibang gamitin ang Filipino products, Asian nga kasi tayo. The first time I showered in Pinas after living here in Canada, ay grabe ang sarap sa pakiramdam! Kaya every chance I get, I will really use the products na nakasanayan ko na. Natatapangan nga kasi ako talaga sa mga shampoo nila dito.

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Aside from an aunt (and her family), si Ate Lody lang ang talagang kilala ko rito sa Metro Vancouver before we moved. That is why I am grateful kasi iba pa rin ang feeling na may kababayan ka na nandito. At ako lang naman din daw ang kilala niya rito na taga-samin. Most of our barangay-mates are in Saskatchewan kasi.

Ay she gave me these three red ribbon slice cakes nga pala.

A taste of home

Thanks so muchie, Ate Lody and family!

Sorry, veggies!

We recently attended a children's party in an indoor playground. Only the kids had snacks while we adults were to head at the nearby buffet restaurant after the party.

It was almost 7pm and we were naturally starving. There was this one platter (priced at $35, I think) that we oldies feasted on as pamatid-gutom.

Here's the BEFORE picture.

And the AFTER:

Haha, poor veggies! We Filipinos really are not into this raw vegetable thing! Akala ko ako lang ang may ayaw nito, marami rin pala.

Lesson learned. Next time, if you have Filipino guests, just order a meat platter.