To my relief, one of the remittance centers in Lucky Plaza on Orchard opened early at 8.30am last 29 July 2010. Although I have never used BTI Money Transfer before, it’s one of the accredited centers of BPI so I felt it was alright to try it.

To my surprise, not only do they open early, but, they also remit the money within the day so that it gets credited to one’s Philippine bank account on the same day for a fee of S$5.

On the other hand, Metro Remittance, the center that I previously used, takes around a couple of days for the remittance fee of S$4, so I gladly paid the extra S$1 for the faster transaction.

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Video Courtesy of unilabph

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Living with an Australian has highlighted, for me, that I’m a city bred Filipino.

Did You Throw the Plastic Bags Once, I received a SMS from my housemate asking whether I had thrown away the grocery plastic bags.

Inwardly, I was aghast at such a ridiculous question. From childhood, plastic bags have always been kept for a second use. It was unthinkable for plastic bags to be thrown summarily away after one usage.

Nevertheless, I replied to my housemate ‘No’ and suggested a theory that the cleaning lady may have used them while fulfilling her duties.

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The Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) is vital for the smooth departure of OFWs from the NAIA Airport in Manila, especially since it’s now being scrutinized by more than the immigration officials.

Last 04 July 2010, I had to present my OEC to the Cebu Pacific personnel as well upon check in. Aside from proving that one is an OFW, the added benefit of the OEC is that all airport fees are waived.

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For my past four Cebu Pacific flights during the period of November 2009 to May 2010 from Manila to Singapore, the usual routine is to present one’s ticket and passport to the airport personnel upon check in. And that’s it.

However, there were out of the blue additional questions on 04 July 2010.

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Metro Remittance Singapore, which I regularly use to transfer money into my BPI Philippines account, would intermittently run a promo wherein upon presentation of three original receipts, one may have a S$1 discount from the S$4 remittance fee.

On 04 May 2010, I presented my January, February and March 2010 receipts to avail of the S$1 discount. However, I was informed that I have to give up the original receipts and be given copies instead.

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A part of me had hoped that I could vote for the 2010 presidential elections in Singapore. However, Universal Studios Singapore performer and GMA News reporter Marvin Tomandao disabused me any such notions. Straight from the Philippine Embassy officials themselves, he confirmed that I cannot vote in Singapore since it’s too late for me to register.

Thus, the question is raised, should I go home to vote for the 2010 presidential elections?

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Calls & SMS Rates
For Calls to Globe & TM Subscribers S$0.16/min and
For Calls to Other Networks: S$0.34/1st min then S$0.22/min onwards
FREE 10 minutes for every 8 minute call

For Global SMS to Globe & TM Subscribers S$0.05/SMS
For Global SMS to Other Networks: S$0.15/SMS
FREE 75 Global SMS for every 5 Global SMS sent

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