Medical Services Plan of British Columbia

We moved to Surrey, British Columbia last October 2, 2016. Unlike in Alberta where you are covered the moment you moved there, we had to wait for 3 months to be eligible for BC's health care.

Just a few weeks ago, my husband informed me that we are already "covered." (By the way, I had to write to Health BC to explain why my son and I will be 'away' from BC for five and a half months). I was grateful but 'disappointed' at the same time.

Why, we have to pay $150 per month as premium for our Medical Services Plan!

Waaah! Another reason why I want to go back to Edmonton.

Bigla talaga kasi akong nanghina. I mean, on top of additional 7% provincial tax on goods, eto at me additional monthly bill kami. We are now paying the maximum premium (for those with above $42,000 net income) of $75 per adult (hence, $150). We don't have to pay for Nathan as there are no premiums for children under the age of 19.

Ford argues na meron din namang "bayad" talaga ang health sa Alberta, naka-imbibe lang sa income tax. Mas mababa daw ang income tax sa British Columbia.

Oh well, we will find that out this April when we submit our income tax returns. Pero sa ngayon, hindi ko pa talaga masabing gusto ko na sa BC.

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NOTE: I consider $150 a 'big' amount already. When you are living in Canada (especially on a single income), every dollar counts.

Random Chika # 8

1. Kidzoona in SM Marilao. OMG! As in OMG! Magkaka-Kidzoona na pala sa SM Marilao! I only learned about it last January 28 (Chinese New Year) kasi hindi ako nagagawi sa parteng iyon ng SM. I am so happy! Imagine, hindi ko na dadalhin si Nathan sa Robinson's Malolos para maglaro.

Akala ko exclusive lang sa Robinson Malls ang Kidzoona. Ini-invade na rin pala nila ang SM.

Too bad sa March 4 pa ang opening. Kung kelan malapit na kaming umalis. Grrr.

2.  Happy Chinese New Year! I urged my mother to buy this. Mahilig siya sa mga ganyan eh.

CES -- Mamoosh, kain naman tayo sa labas to celebrate Chinese New Year.

MAMOOSH -- Bakit, Chinese ka ba?

CES -- Hindi po. Pero lagi akong napagkakamalang Intsik! (Which is true!)

We ended up eating dinner at Chowking (plus Master Siomai!).

3. Jollibee Supermeal. I am glad Jollibee came up with this. Para sa mga katulad kong matakaw haha! Php125 only!

4.  Kiddie Meal Toy Set. I've completed this set in 3 days. Pero mas natuwa pa yata ako kaysa sa anak ko haha!

There was a time in my life when I collected ALL happy and kiddie meal toys that were released in the market. Hoarder lang ang peg. But I am happier now kasi may anak na akong makikinabang haha!

5. My cousin's funeral. Another first cousin of mine died last January 25. The last time I came home, may namatay din akong pinsan (November 2015). Both were in their 50s. Hay, maikli lang yata talaga ang buhay ng mga miyembro ng pamilya namin.

We had to drive to Hagonoy for the funeral. Konti lang ang nakipaglibing because it was too far.

We were all hungry after the libing so we dropped by Pat's Palabok House in Guiguinto before going home. There were 15 of us.

We had palabok and lugaw.

6.  Miss Universe in Pinas. Sa wakas, natapos na rin last January 30 ang Miss Universe. Umay na umay na rin kasi ako talaga. Miss France won.

Naalala ko pa nung unang ginanap sa Pinas ang Miss Universe (1994). Grabe ang hype, Parang sobrang big deal talaga. Parang sa event na yun umikot ang mundo ng mga Pinoy for several weeks. Ngayon parang ordinaryong pageant lang ang dating sakin nito. Baka sa akin lang naman, kasi nga KJ ako.

7.  Balatski's visit. Balatski and her two kids came over to our house for a few hours to visit me and Nathan. They were just here in the Philippines for a week kasi may kailangan silang lakarin.

Balat is like a sister to me and I've missed her so much! The last time we saw each other was in January 2013 pa.

Too bad we weren't able to make chika talaga because of our kids! Ang gugulo nila haha! Sana makapagkwentuhan na kami nang maayos next time.

Pic courtesy of Balatski (It was so hot that day kaya hulas na hulas ako huhu!)

8. Fruit and Nut Chocolate. I am a very boring chocolate-eater. I only eat those plain ones. Yung secretary na lang namin ang nag-enjoy hehe. Balatski never fails to bring me some pasalubong whenever she comes home (they're based in UAE).

9.  Jollibee at 12:30am. I am so thankful that we have a 24-Hour Jollibee and McDonald's nearby. May nakakainan ako kapag tulog na si TanTan hehe.

Sakto one night that I was so hungry, pauwi from work ang pinsan ko. Nalibre tuloy!

Thanks, MackyMacMac!

10. Ten-Peso Ride. I was so happy when I discovered this "ride" in SM Marilao (near the foodcourt). Imagine, two 5-peso coins lang ang kelangan para umandar. At matagal siya ha, around 3 minutes yata.

My little boy was so happy the first time. Naka-two rides siya. Nung bumalik kami after a few days, di na siya ganun ka-happy. Saglit pa lang siya sa second ride niya eh umayaw na.

Nung huling punta namin, nakita nya yung rides pero dedma na. Nahilo yata siya noon kaya ganun.

Sayang. Akala ko nakatagpo na ako ng cheap entertainment for my son. Tsk.

Love affair with Master Siomai

My addiction with siomai started when we ate at Jumbo Dim Sum Dining (in Edmonton) on Christmas day 2015. Noon ko lang talaga na-appreciate ang siomai as in. Sobrang sarap naman kasi.

And since then, di ko na siya makalimutan. Palagi akong nagke-crave. But a cheapskate that I am, namamahalan naman akong bumili. Around $5 kasi ang 4 pieces, imagine that! Buti na lang meron daw ok na frozen siomai sa T&T Supermarket kaya yun na lang ang ini-steam namin sa bahay.

So isa sa mga plano ko sa pag-uwi ko dito sa Pinas ay ang magpakasawa sa siomai. At dahil hindi nga ako kumakain ng siomai dati kaya hindi ko talaga alam kung saan masarap.

I learned na uso na pala dito ang cheap siomai. As in 3 pieces for Php10.00! But of course, you get what you pay for. Hindi kasarapan syempre.

Then one time, when we were at Trinoma, I noticed in the foodcourt that a lot were eating siomai. Ayun hinanap ko, Master Siomai pala. I asked Ford to buy from there at ayun nasarapan ako.

One time we went to Robinson's Place Malolos (to bring Nathan to Kidzoona), me kiosk ng Master Siomai. Lafang galore kami ni Lani (our ex-househelp who also likes siomai a lot).

Akala ko sa "malayo" lang ako makakakain ng Master Siomai, yun pala meron din sa SM Marilao (which happens to be just an extension of my house haha!)! Kaloka, no more reason para ma-deprive! Gusto kong magtatalon nang makita ko siya as in! Sorry, mababaw lang talaga ang kaligayahan ko.

Master Siomai in SM Marilao

Four pieces for Php35.00 -- not bad at all! Sa ibang  branches (like the one in Marquee Mall), 4/Php30.00 lang. Sarap na sarap talaga ako. I even influenced my mother, favorite nya na rin haha.

I super like Master Siomai to the point na kino-consider kong mag-franchise haha! Sobrang lakas naman kasi. Ang dami palaging bumibili. Naa-out-of-stock pa nga sa SM. Kung dito lang talaga ako based sa Pinas, kakaririn ko talaga ito.

Hay, I will surely miss this when I go back to Canada. Ba't nga ba kasi we can't have everything noh?

BBQ King Delight (Surrey)

I actually feel bad because now that Nathan and I are here in the Philippines, the husband is left alone to feed himself. My husband may be very good at all house chores but he doesn't like to cook. He's lived alone for so many years and he would eat out most of the time.

Thankfully, we discovered BBQ King Delight last October 17, 2016 through Yelp. We just moved to Surrey last October 2 so we were still clueless on where the good restaurants around the area are. BBQ King Delight has very good reviews in Yelp so I asked Ford to take us there. Favorite din kasi namin ang roasted pork.

We live in Guildford and this small Chinese restaurant specializing in BBQ is near our place. It also has ample parking at the back so it's convenient.

The restaurant is small, only around 4-5 tables (?). Displayed just across the door are their roasted items which can be bought per pound. Super nakakatakam!

We chose to dine in and ordered plated 2-item BBQ meat with steamed rice. It comes with soup and tea.

BBQ pork and roasted crispy skin pork

Soy sauce chicken and roasted crispy skin pork

Beef brisket with noodle in soup

Grabe, ang sarap ng food! The best roasted pork I've tasted here in Canada so far. The "nice plating" adds up to the nice gastronomic experience. Ang sarap kumain using a real ceramic plate at maayos ang pagkalagay sa pagkain. We usually eat roasted pork sa T&T or Food Court kaya patong-patong lang talaga.

Their food is reasonably priced and their staff (I think it's family-owned) are efficient and nice kaya ok talaga. I find their service fast.

Aside from their roasted crispy skin pork (the Chinese-style), they also have this "Pinoy lechon" that they proudly boast about. While we were dining, a Filipino couple picked this up. Ito nga raw ang version nila ng Pinoy lechon. It costs around $200, if I remember correctly.

Hmm, medyo malayo naman ang lasa sa traditional lechon natin. I ordered it the next time we dined there (they also serve it on plated meals) and I honestly couldn't distinguish it from their Chinese-style roasted pork haha!

Anyway, now that Ford's living alone, he always buy ulam from there na lang kasi nga mura at masarap. Aside from BBQ, they also sell other to-go Chinese dishes.

Oh, I am craving for some Chinese food right now! Can't wait to eat at BBQ King Delight again!

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

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Here's their complete dine-in menu (as of October 2016). So many dishes to try soon!

BBQ King Delight
8973 152 Street
Surrey, BC V3R 4E5
(604) 581-4069
Mon-Sun (except Tue) from 11:00am to 8:30pm

One year ago today

I can't believe it, it's exactly one year ago (January 26, 2016, Edmonton time) when we received a very bad news that majorly changed our family life.

What we went through wasn't easy. I'll write about it soon. But looking back, we are grateful. Nalampasan namin. Nakayanan namin. We came out stronger.

I truly admire my husband for all his courage, patience, and perseverance. Bukod sa IQ, mataas din talaga ang EQ niya.

I know this won't be the last challenge that our little family will encounter. Pero sige lang, ganun lang naman ang buhay. Kung walang conflict, walang story. =)

I miss Edmonton.

Tama sila, mas maaappreciate mo ang isang tao o bagay pag wala na siya sa iyo.

Picture taken by my friend Bonivie and posted in her FB account)

Oh how I badly miss Edmonton and all its winter beauty! Kung makakabalik lang sana talaga kami. =(

#CessieEats 1

This is one of my favorite chocolates in the whole wide world. But too bad, wala akong nakikitang ganito sa Canada. Puro yung creamy milk chocolate with almonds lang. Nakakapagtaka lang talaga considering na made in USA naman ito.

I craved for mocha frappucino a couple of days ago kaya gumora ako sa Starbucks SM Marilao at past 9am (kahit na I have sore eyes and cold). Kilala pa ako nung isang barista doon (halos araw-araw ba naman akong bumibili dati).

Grabe, ang sarap talaga ng frapp sa Pinas! Ternuhan pa ng Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream (na wala rin sa Canada!). Wala na, wala na akong pag-asa talaga pumayat!

What I like most about my life here in Pinas -- I have a scooter and I can drive around at night (when Nathan's asleep) to find some food!

I've read about this McCormick Palabok in one of the mommy blogs here in Pinas. Eh syempre madali akong ma-sway kaya sinubukan ko. Medyo pricey siya at Php127+ per pack ha.

I honestly wanted "us" to work. I planned on bringing a lot sa Canada pagbalik ko kasi mahilig talaga kami sa palabok ng asawa ko. Kaso FAIL! Hindi masarap. Pero marami siya ha, good for 4 servings talaga.

Ahh! This sisig is heaven! Medyo pricey nga lang. Php100 for such a small serving. Presyong pang-resto na.

They actually have a restaurant here in Marilao (that I have yet to visit) but it's good that they put up a small stall across SM Marilao for take-out orders.

I'll try their other dishes too soon!

Just a few minutes ago, my cousins dropped by to bring me mocha frappucino. They went to the wake of Ate Merly (also our cousin), tapos nag-Starbucks sila. I wasn't able to go with them (and the rest of the family) because of TanTan. Gabi na rin kasi, baka makakuha pa ng sakit.

Salamat sa frapp!