Cheesecake, etc review

Last Monday, I was really excited to go home and celebrate our baby's 6th month.  Yes, Peycie is 6 months already!  How time flies!

Cake takes a big role in any celebration.  We bought one for our little darling at Cheesecake etc.  What makes me decide to buy in their shop? Well, there are only 2 known bakeshops along Banawe, Cake 2 Go or Cheesecake etc.  Since I want to try their "famous Choco Dome" which is unfortunately not available when we dropped by in their store, we ended up buying their Black Top Cookie (I'm not sure of the name though). 

I asked the lady if she could put greetings on top of the cake and said yes.  It took us 15-20 minutes to wait (too long, I know).  Out of nowhere, when we were about to pay, this lady said "ma'am, umabot pa pala po kayo sa discount namin sabi po ng kasamahan ko, 30% po, pero ngayon lang po yun ma'am"  She's alone in the store, by the way.  So I replied "oh, ok!", but then I feel something different, there's something happened that's why she extended the discount.  I didn't bother checking the cake while we were still at the store.  Inside the car, I asked my husband to open it as I am having a bad feeling.  And to our surprise, here how it looks:

Can you read Peycie's name?!

I was really, really, really disappointed!  She should have told me that she cannot do it and I would probably understand!  I am so upset because I want a nice cake for our baby!  Well, damage has been done and that will be my FIRST AND LAST purchase from them. 

Canada Immigrant Visa application process and timeline

If you noticed in my previous post, my Letter of Approval from Manitoba states that my visa application must arrive the CIC on or before my LOA's expiration which is on May 25, 2014.  I only started gathering the requirements for my visa application in March 2014 and submitted to them my application via courier on April 16, 2014.  Here is my list of documents forwarded to their office:

1.  Filled-out Generic Application Form to Canada (IMM0008)
2.  Filled-out Schedule A (IMM 5669)
3.  Filled-out Supplementary Information - Your Travels (IMM 5562)
4. Schedule 4: Economic Classes-Provincial Nominees
5.  Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
6.  Copies of Passport/s, visa/s, arrival and departure stamps (mine and my husband's)
7.  Copy of Certificate of Nomination
8.  Copy of IELTS result
9.  Copy of Birth  Certificate (mine and husband's) and Marriage Certificate from NSO
10.  Original NBI Clearance (Travel to Canada/Visa Canada)
11.  Original photos, 6 pcs. for each member of the family and myself  (Note if the marital status is single, you only need to provide your photos)  The family that we are talking about here is your spouse and child/children
12.  Fee Payment Form - Application for Permanent Residence (IMM 5620)
13.  Visa fee payment (I can't remember if I paid through credit card or by cheque, forgive me)

I did not receive an email confirming that they received my application, I only track it using my airway bill number.  By the way, I used DHL as my courier. 

On May 13, 2014, my application was returned and true to what is written in their checklist, they will return all your documents if it's incomplete. *sigh*  Anyway, there are lacking forms from my husband that I didn't expect that he needs to submit.  I submitted again my complete application on May 14, 2014 and they received it on May 20, 2014. 

I received an email from CIC acknowledging receipt of my documents and started processing my application on July 16, 2014.  On last day of July, I received as well our medical request, take note "our", I never though that my husband is included because I put in my application that he is my non-accompanying dependent.  The following day, an email received from the Canadian embassy requesting to pay the RPRF (Right of Permanent Residence Fee).  In August, I paid the RPRF by Manager's Cheque and have it delivered via courier to the Canadian embassy Manila.

September 2014, my husband and I undergo the required medical exam.  Since I was pregnant that time, I deferred my chest x-ray and had it done in December 2014.  I report that I just gave birth in November and received a request for my daughter to undergo as well the physical exam.  Whether your dependant (s) are accompanying or not, they are required to take the medical examination. 

February 2015, I received my passport request and after 2 weeks, passport arrived with visa.  Yey!☺ 

MPNP Application Process and Timeline *2013 PROCEDURE*

I've been working in a travel industry for quite some time particularly in handling visa process.  I never thought that I'll process my own.  It was my aunt who was eager to have me applied to Canada.  How did my application start?

I applied for an immigrant visa through MPNP (Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program)  How does it work?

An applicant must meet the required points in each criteria: Age, Work Experience, Language, Education and Adaptability.  If you will apply under the General Stream (no close relatives in Manitoba or no employer), you have to have at least 2 sponsors (permanent resident or Canadian citizen) who are willing to support or endorse your application.  Support means they will fill-out the settlement plan for sponsors and provide their proof of immigration status in Canada.  The settlement plan form consists of questions such as "how is the sponsor related to the applicant, how will they accommodate the applicant and how will they assist the applicant in finding a house and on his daily needs?"  Your sponsors can be a family member, distant relative or a friend.  In my case, I have a distant relative and a friend who helped me with my application.

Below is the list of documents forwarded to Manitoba Immigration and Multiculturalism:

1.  Passport copy (including old passport/s, visa and departure/arrival stamps)
2.  Filled-out MPNP form, Settlement Plan (applicant and sponsors), Generic Application Form for Canada IMM0008, Schedule A, Additional Family Information, Schedule 4 (don't leave any blank)
3.  Birth Certificate of the applicant
4.  Proof of relationship with distant relatives (this can be birth certificates of the applicant and sponsor, marriage contract etc)
5.  Notarized copy of IELTS result (As far as I remember, they only require an overall band score of 5) *I took my IELTS examination in December 2012, this expires in 2 years.
6.  Notarized copy of diploma and transcript of records
7.  Notarized certificate from university that English is the medium of communication
8.  Notarized certificate of Employment from your present and previous employers for the past 10 years
9.  Bank Certificate with bank statements with minimum deposit of CAD10,000
10. NBI Clearance (this is not included in the checklist but I still submitted it)

My cousin (who's based in Manitoba) submitted my application last July 31, 2013.  On December 13, 2013 (a day before our wedding), I received my Letter of Approval or the Nomination by snail mail.

I believe that there's a new procedure in applying for MPNP.  They now require applicants to submit their application online which is faster compare to paper application.  You may refer to this link for the new requirements and procedure: http://www.immigratemanitoba.com/mpnp-for-skilled-workers/apply/

If in case during the process there are changes in your marital status or you have a child, it is important to inform them especially during the visa process (which will take place after receiving the nomination), because you might not be able to sponsor your dependants in the future.  In my case, I informed them via email when I got married and when I got pregnant. 

By the way, there's no fee in applying for MPNP. ☺

Safety First

How important it is traveling with your baby using the car seat?  First, it is really advisable to use a car seat for your baby's safety inside the car.  Second, it is more convenient to you and your baby.  In our country, we are not obliged to buy and use a car seat, but in other countries it is mandatory.  We love road trips and long drive and this is one of my baby's must haves.

The moment Peycie is buckled up and her dad start driving, in less than 2 minutes her eyes are already droopy.  ☺  I'm just lucky that our little one also loves traveling and she only vomited once.  Here are some of her photos in her car seat:

 

 

Take note that car seats have expiration, who would have thought that they expire? They can only be used 6 to 10 years.  If you have or you'll buy one, check the bottom of the car seat to check the expiration (applies for Graco).

So moms, if you have a car and loves traveling with your baby, don't take any chances and buy one.  Safety first!

P.S. Don't forget to read the instructions carefully. ☺

Staycation!

Recently, I just noticed that most people preferred to have their short vacay in the city than going out of town.  I agree with them because you can save a lot compare to traveling to provinces.  Last week, my sister-in-law attended the Induction of Diplomates of the Philippine Pediatric Society at Sofitel and my MIL decided to have an overnight stay in a hotel nearby.  She decided to book at Manila Hotel and I must say that we had an awesome stay!

Let me share with you our experience.  When we checked-in, we were given 4 stubs for the welcome drinks to claim in the lobby.  There were 2 choices, and we chose mango puree over the orange juice.  We booked 2 rooms, one is the Grand Deluxe room which is facing the hotel entrance and the other one is Superior Deluxe with bay view.  I can say that their rooms are well maintained, but you can definitely notice that the rooms located near the entrance (first 4 floors of the building) are kinda old compared to the modern rooms on the other side of the building. 


Bed in the Grand Deluxe Room

Mango Puree

Pool Bar 

The breakfast was the best part of our stay! There are 2 free breakfast for each room (which also applies to other hotels).  We had it at the Café Ilang-Ilang and we really enjoyed the food!  If only we could stay there from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., but seeing those food makes me feel full! I wasn't able to taste each of them but I was satisfied with my continental breakfast.  Oh! also the TAHO, I sooo loved it!  Sofitel has one as well, but I enjoyed what Manila Hotel has! 

To sum it up, we had a great staycation in the city and will definitely go back before I fly to Canada! ☺

Tip:  Book with your favorite travel agent, they offer cheaper rates than booking online.  Php4,000 is a big difference! 

Have you ever been thankful for having your husband?

This was the question I asked myself when I heard my bestfriend 's life story.   She's currently in a situation that only her and her partner can solve.  Going back, have I been thankful for having my husband?  Of course YES!  As I always say to him, I might not be the typical woman who usually do the PDA-thing, but that does not mean that I don't love him! 

Way before I met him, he's known for being a happy-go-lucky man.  A man who spends nights in a bar instead of sleeping, plays basketball like a teenager, plays playstation like a kid.  He is still the same except from having night-out with friends.

When I was still single, I always pray to God to give me a partner who will understand and accept me for who I am.  And yes, He gave me Edward.  The man who loves everything in me including my imperfections.  I am very thankful for having him in my life!  There's no word to perfectly describe how great he is for being my husband and a father to our daughter.

To you my dearest Daddy, thank you for loving me and Peycie unconditionally.  I know it will be hard for both of us to live separately, but I believe that we can make it work!  Thank you for your support. I love you very very very much!

Beat the Heat!

I am sooo excited to share my baby wearing her bathing suit I bought online.  It fits her perfectly!    We will be having an out-of-town trip with friends this coming weekend, but decided to leave our little one with her lolo and lola.  So what we did, we inflate her bath tub, wear her bathing suit and dip her into the water.

My baby loves water and I can tell that because everytime we finish bathing her, she cries.  This morning, she stayed in the water longer than usual and I can see in her that she really enjoyed it!  Who said baby can't enjoy summer? :)