Planning To Get A Korean Visa?

Annyeonghaseyo chingu!  😃

Let me tell you about my experience in applying for a Korean visa but it's different from usual. Because my sister is sponsoring our trip. She will be going with us and will pay for everything.

Five of us planned on traveling this year and we started planning it last January or February. We thought we only needed to fill out the application form and submit our photo and passport. We thought since my sister is the sponsor, she will only need to present documents. However, after submitting all of our requirements to a travel agency that's connected to their company, the said agency asked for supporting documents because I mentioned that I have a work. My other sister also needed to submit the same documents because she's a real estate broker.

There were 3 documents needed from me : bank starement, bank certificate and ITR. My sister told them that I don't have an ITR because I am working at home. So the agency wanted me to create an explanation letter instead.

I didnt have a hard time getting a bank certificate and bank statements from my bank. I had to pay P100 each though.

The travel agency informed my sister that the money in the bank doesn't need to be high because we're being sponsored by her. So I guess, if you're the sponsor, then you need to have a large amout of money in the bank so your visas will be approved.

Yesterday, I created the explanation letter and signed it electronically. I converted the file into PDF. I have read a blog that it's better to write it manually. But I also read another blog that she did it on her computer.

I am praying we will get multiple entry visas so I can visit Korea next time by myself. 🙏 I will update this blog once we knew the results.

Why Don't Some Marriages Work?

I just heard that a friend of mine was already separated from her husband. They got married 2 years ago and don't have kids yet. They were in a relationship of more than a decade, before marriage. I have heard a lot of stories that are so similar with this. Wherein a man and a woman who are in a long term relationship suddenly went separate ways after a few months/years of being husband/wife. For some, they separated after being engaged.

It also happened to me in 2008. I almost got married after almost 7 years of being bf/gf. Though it was for the better because we're much happier now with our partners.

With this thought, it makes me think why do couples suddenly changed after marriage? It gives me a phobia and I sometimes feel like I don't want to get married for it may happen to me as well. Though IM NOT afraid because I can easily move on, of course with my age I want to stay with the person I am with, forever. If we're not meant to be, I will understand God. Right now, I just want to understand why there are lots of similar cases like this one so I can avoid the unnecessary things.

What are the factors? Hmmm maybe the first time of living together is one? Because it's really different when you're NOT living together and just bf/gf for many years. When you start living together, you get to see each other's flaws more often for you will be together 24/7. When you lived separate houses, you still get a chance to miss each other. You can still hide some of your flaws.

Hmmm what else? Budget issues? In-laws issues?

In my case 9 years ago, it could be because of fate. Do you believe in fate? I do.

No matter what's the reason, I believe that love is not enough to make a marriage work. There should be trust, respect, commitment, time, compromise, sweetness, and physical contact from time to time.

Cebuanos Do Not Use 'Po' and 'Opo'

This is a fun fact not all Filipinos know about. Cebuanos don't make use of the words 'po' and 'opo' even when talking to elderlies.

So before we judge someone of disrespecting a granny or a grandpa, we should know first the story behind it.

I grew up in a household of Tagalog speaking family but there were times Daddy was speaking in Cebuano whenever he calls our relatives in Cebu.

Every summer, we go to Cebu to visit Bogo. It is where Dad was born along with his parents and siblings. His father was, for us, the First Generation of the clan.

We also stay in Cebu City because it is where our closest relatives live. We usually stay one week in Cebu every May but it was always not enough. Bitin! Ika nga 😃

We have lots of relatives in Cebu. Aside from Cebu City and Bogo, we also have relatives in San Remegio, Lapu-lapu, Medellin, and a lot more places that's at the back of my mind.😃

So it's never a problem where we will stay. We also don't need to think of the transportation going to and from.

Anyway, I noticed whenever we go to Cebu, children don't make use of those 2 words that make us polite to the person we are talking to. So I asked Daddy when I was younger about it. And that's when I found out about this fact.

As far as I remember, I was used in using those words because I studied in Catholic schools from Elementary, High School, and until College. It was always taught to us to use those words.

I also know that we also taught my nephews and nieces to use it. But as we become adults, we don't use it anymore at home. My nephews and nieces didn't use it to my Mom and Dad. They don't use it to their parents and my other sister. But, it's okay. We are used to it. It was not prohibited at home. We were taught about it but I think it was not really forgotten, but because it's part of the culture and tradition of the Cebuanos.

Whenever our cousins visit Dad and Mom, I also don't hear them use it. So, it was never an issue for the Pacifico clan.

We don't forget to use it outside our home though. I hear my pamangkins use it and I use it as much as I am aware about it.

There were times that I forget to use it and just use 'oo' or just nodding my head but it doesn't mean I am already disrespecting an elderly. I know in my heart how respectful I am to old people. I sometimes use it at work when I am talking to supervisors or managers.

Lesson? Hmmmm, maybe, when we hear adults or even kids reply to elderlies with 'oo', don't make it an issue. Life is too short to make an issue out of everything we notice. 😝

Calling Digong's Attention to Help ADB Employees

Had a convo with my one of my sisters last night. Umaapila na naman ang BIR para tax-an silang ADB employees. OMG, BIR! Mula 2012 ang sisingilin nyo sa kanilang taxes? Nanalo na sila sa 2 Regional Trial Courts and nasa Supreme Court na ang case. Bakit gustung-gusto nyo sila tax-an? Para millions ang makuha nyo sa BAWAT employee? Sabay pasok sa bulsa 😄😆 TAX-EXEMPTED nga mga employees don eh.

Merong 2k na Filipinos and 1k na expats ngayon. Nung 2012 andami nag resigned because of that. Ngayon, madami na naman mag-re-resign dahil sa ginagawa nyo. Kahit nga Starbucks sa loob ng office nila walang tax kaya mas mura ung mga food and drinks.

So, why are you doing this? 😕 Just wondering lang kung insecure kayo 😅 Dahil ba lagi silang spoiled? Like every week meron LTO van na pumupunta don para makapag renew sila ng license? Like pag nahuli sila ng pulis and nakuha ang license nila when driving, meron mag aasikaso for them? Like may diplomatic plates ung iba sa kanila? (Just like my sister)

I'm just wondering lang naman 😁 Pakisagot po.

Hope our beloved #Duterte can help ADB to get the justice they deserved. 🙏

#ADB #AsianDevelopmentBank #BIR #BureauOfInternalRevenue #Tax #TaxExemption