Monthly Archives: August 2010

De Vossemeren Village, Centerparcs…

How time flies. Just a few weeks ago we were in Belgium then we had to come back to Germany for a few days to finish some business. Tomorrow, we are going back to Belgium. But not to Brussels this time. We will be driving straight to De Vossemeren village in Lommel, a town in the province of Limburg, situated Northwest of Belgium.

Centerparcs is a recreational Park for the whole family. There, one can have fun with the indoor wave pool which is equipped with several theme slides. Plus, go snorkeling or diving, wall climbing, bungee jumping, boating or cycling around the area. They have several lakes where one can also just laze about the shore and get some tan, if mr. Sunshine is generous enough to shine on the whole day or play beach ball, volleyball and lawn tennis. Otherwise, one can also enjoy the Indoor recreational sports like: table tennis, badminton, some rides for the kids, explore the Pirate Ship wreckage, etc. At the marketplace, they have also several activities programmed for the children. Courses like painting, cooking for kids, or parlor games are offered with their scheduled activities. For the adults, towards the evening they have live music or dancing. Bowling, pool and computer games can also be enjoyed inside the Village behind the Bar.

The Village itself is already at the border between Belgium and The Netherlands. I remember, the last time we were there, hubby woke up early one day and said he would go out to buy eggs… in Netherlands. I mean, talk about crossing border to the next country to have lunch, dinner or buy eggs!

The Centerparks is like one little vacation town. The cottages that they offer has a fully equipped kitchen. For parents who prefer a home-cooked meal during their stay at the park can do this. Or they can also eat out at the food court available in the market. Special services can also be arranged ahead. They also have hotel and business center available. I guess almost everything necessary in our everyday life. Oh, yes, everything is within walking distance. Or one can also take a bike tour around the whole village. Hubby used to cycle outside the Village. He went either towards The Netherlands or ride through Lommel and its neighboring towns.

Last time we were there was only for 3 days. This time we booked two cottages for one complete week. Hopefully all 4 kids would enjoy the stay. I know i will as I did last year.

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Bagong simula…. ulit!

Galing lang ako sa isang job interview kanina. Nakita ko sa internet ang job opening na ito at dahil sa mukhang maganda naman ang alok nila, nag desisyon akong magpadala ng aking resume. Isa pa, isang malaking kumpanya ito dito sa Frankfurt am Main, kaya sa palagay ko ay malabong mag sara ito. Nitong mga huling dalawang taon kasi, maraming maliliit na kumpanya ang nagsara o di naman kaya ay nabili ng mas malalaking kumpanya. Oo, mahalaga na din sa akin ang laki at katayuan ng isang kumpanya ngayon. Dati kasi, okay lang kahit anong kumpanya, basta gusto ko ang trabaho ko at ang mga ka-trabaho.

Kaso, karamihan sa mga kumpanya ay hindi na nag re regularize ng employees. Puro extensions lang ang binibigay nila. Yun namang na-tiyempohan ko na nag re regularize eh sobrang dadaan ka naman sa butas ng karayom… este, talagang masahol pa sa pang aalila ang ginagawa nila sa iyo. Talagang inaabuso nila ang employees since iniisip nila na takot mawalan ng trabaho ang mga ito.

Bakit kaya di naman sila maging fair sa empleyado?

Habang pina pa-kinggan ko ang  interviewer ko kanina sa kanyang pag e-eksplika paukol sa benepisyo na matatanggap ng isang empleyado, iniisip ko na rin ang mga kailangan kong ipaalam sa kanila at mga opinyon ko. Nagkasundo naman kami.

Sabi ko interesado ako sa isang alok nila. Kaya lang sa katapusan pa akong ng taon pwedeng mag simula. Okay tatawag o susulatan daw nila ako kung kelan mag sisimula ang training for the job. 3-4 weeks training daw ang kailangan kong gawin. Tapos dapat, maipasa ko ang exam pagtapos ng training. Kung pasado naman daw ako ay saka pa ako pipirma ng kontrata sa kanila. Habang nag te-training may suweldo na rin daw akong matatanggap. Not bad. Kaya pumayag na ako.

Sana, maipasa ko ang lahat ng pagsubok nila. Sana maging masaya ako sa kumpanyang ito. Sana, okay rin ang mga maka ka-trabaho ko. Kung hindi man, basta, sana maka tagpo ako doon ng mga matitinong ka trabaho. Sana din, magustuhan nila ang performance ko. At ang pinaka malaking sana, pareho SANA kaming (ako at ang aking magiging amo) maging masaya sa isa’t-isa.

Ang daming “sana”. Pero ganito talaga. Kasi, bagong simula na naman ito para sa akin.

Sana….

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Martin Nieverra concert in Stuttgart

I just found out that he is coming in October for a concert. Friends of friends of friends are inviting if I want to join them watch Martin Nieverra. Thing is, if it was the Martin Nieverra-Gary Valenciano tandem like their “AS 1” concert in Manila, then I would have immediately said YES!!!!. It was such a big hit that they also went on a concert tour to the USA. Then, they made a repeat of the concert this time entitled “AS 1 Repeat” last July 16, 2010. Bakit hindi nila gawin dito sa Europe yun?

Anyway, sabi ko nalang pag iisipan ko pa. Medyo matagal pa naman yung concert mismo. At para naman doon sa mga interesado at nandito lang sa malapit sa Alemanya, ang concert po ay gaganapin sa Kultur-undKongresszentrum Liederhalle-Saal, Stuttgart.

The concert will start at 19:00 Uhr (7:00 PM). For more info please contact Ms. Jermina Lepke, of JEL Internatinal telephone numbers: 07156/31976   and   0171/4479859.

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Si Ms. Regine Velasquez

I am a fan of a lot of Filipino artists. Pero admittedly, I’m a die hard fan of Ms. Sharon Cuneta and Regine Velasquez. I never miss any film of these two. I keep track of their television shows, love life and concerts.

Tapos dumating na rin sila Juday, Kristine Hermosa, Sarah Geronimo, Bea Alonzo at Angelica Panganiban. I like these ladies. Sa buhay ko dito sa Alemanya, sila ang nagpapaalala sa akin ng mga kilig, iyakan at gimikan days ko sa Pinas. Yung kahit walang pera at puro problema ako, masaya pa rin ako. Isang tawag lang ng kaibigan ko okay na ulit. Kahit tuma-tambay lang kami sa Malls at nagpapalamig, masaya na. Kahit lumuluwa na ang mga mata namin sa mga nakikita naming magagandang bagay sa Malls na di naman namin kayang bilhin, ay okay pa rin.

Don’t get me wrong. Masaya ang buhay ko dito sa Alemanya. Pero, komo nga Alemanya ito at hindi Pilipinas, pakiramdam ko may kulang pa rin talaga. Kaya, even si hubby ay very supportive sa pagta tangkilik ko sa mga telenovelas at Filipino movies. Minsan nga siya pa mismo ang nakakahanap ng mga bagong palabas online at siya na rin ang gumagawa ng paraan para mapanood ko rin ang mga ito.

Madalas, ino-order niya sa mga ka trabaho niya sa Pinas o di naman kaya hinahanap nalang namin online. Pero may time din talaga na mahirap maghanap ng mga kathang Pilipino na ginagampanan ng mga nabanggit kong artista. Sa pagkakataong ito, binabalaikan ko nalang ang mga luma nilang pelikula, telenobela at walang kamatayang mga Filipino love songs nna kinanta nila.

Malaki din ang pasasalamat ko sa You Tube kasi madami akong napapanood dito na mga nakakaligtaan ko sa ibang sources ko.

Tulad nalang nito. Promise, winner si Ms. Regine Velasquez dito.

At dito naman… in fairness kahit medyo may sakit yata si Ms. Regine V. powerful pa rin siya!

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I’m going to be a Ninang…

Again! I’m fine with that actually. I have no problems being a Ninang to kids. But this time, Ninang daw ako sa Kasal! Nyekk, does that mean matanda na talaga ako? Huwaaaaaaaaahhhh !!! 🙁 :worry: 🙁 :worry: 🙁

Had a message from my cousin a few weeks ago. Asking if I would be in the Philippines sometime around September. Said no, since I just got back from there January of this year. He wants me to be one of the Major sponsors to his wedding, he said. He asked me if I could come home for the event.

I had mixed emotions.

Malungkot – ibig sabihin matanda na talaga ako. Akala ko kasi Ninang sa anak ng cousin ko. Okay lang sana yun. Yun pala Ninang sa kasal niya, bhuhuhuhuh!

Natutuwa – ibig sabihin, i must have done something that makes my cousin think I am a good role model and someone he can turn to for advices. Ahemmmm!

Anyway, I said I would have to see what I can do about it. You see, I love to go back home to the Philippines as often as I can. But, due to the very high plane ticket prices, my pockets/wallet only allow me to go home every two years or so. Since I just got back mid January this year, this means my next scheduled homecoming should not be later than end of 2012.

I checked for tickets anyway. I searched and looked at the websites that i often visit and even those that I haven’t visited as well. The cheapest I could find is with Etihad Airlines for 480€ roundtrip inclusive of all taxes. Hmmm… a bit expensive, still. Maybe I should wait for last minute offers. I heard that it is also good to wait at the last minute to get good deals. Maybe I get lucky. The wedding is on September 4, 2010, this means I still have almost 4 weeks to look around. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

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Amerika…

Ah, hindi Amerika dito sa Alemanya ha. Kundi yung totoong USA ni Uncle Sam.

Noong katapusan ng Mayo, lumipad kami ng kaibigan ko papunta Merika. Pumunta kami sa San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, Wisconsin, New York, New Jersey at Atlantic City. Teka, may nakalimutan pa ba ako? Feeling ko kasi meron eh. But it will come back to me pag nasilip ko na ulit ang aming photos na ginawa namin sa bawat lugar na aming nabisita doon.

Nakarating nga kami sa Chicago ng kaibigan ko. Nakaka-tawa kasi, di namin akalain na talaga palang magkalapit lang ang housing galore ng sisterets ni prendo ko sa flat ni madir ko. Sinundo kami ni sister Bheng at kanyang janakis an boylet kasam din siyempre si hubby niya.

Paglabas namin sa airport, ang innniiiiiit!!! Susme, parang nasa Pinas kami. Tulak-tulak namin ang aming mga push carts habang hanap sa car rental stations. Kasi, nag reserve kasi kami ng sasakyan from Alemanya pa sa isang rental agency via the net.

After a few minutes of asking, going back and forth and finally talking to someone on the car rental service hotline doon sa airport, napag alaman namin na ang kotse pala ay dapat naming kunin sa Chicago Midway Airport. Eh, ang problema nasa Chicago O’Hare kami!

Sinagest agad ni hubby ng sisteret ni prendo na ipa transfer nalang ang car rental order na yon para sa San Francisco. Tutal may extra car naman silang ni reserve para sa amin din. Di na daw kailangan. Kaya ayun, nag decide kami na umuwi nalang muna at doon na lahat i organize sa bahay nila ang pagpapa transfer.

Pagdating namin sa bahay ng prends, naka ready na ang lafang. Afternoon na kasi at may plano pala silang mag grill party para sa aming pagdating. Ang daming fud. May problem, ang aking no carb diet regime for dinner. PATAY! Nasira ang diet ko sa unang pagdating palang sa Merika. Pero, okay lang… kasi bakasyon naman diba?!

Maya-maya lang ay pinag uusapan na ang aming IT while there in the Chicago area. May mga suggested places na silang pu-puntahan namin. So, off we went to the Botanical Garden, Old Orchard at Chicago City by night. Wisconsin area, Holy Hill at ang paboritong puntahan ng mga Pinoy tourists doon: Kenosha at Guerney outlet shopping areas.

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Summer…

Yes, it’s here. When I got back from the great US of A., the weather was again a bit chilly as opposed to the time before I left. But come late June till early July, I felt it already when the temperature reached up to 38 degrees celcius. That was awesome. Hot but fun!!!

I am now in Belgium visiting. It’s not as hot as in the beginning of July. Still, I feel like its summer vacation for me too, since I am now with my sisters, nieces and nephew. Cool!

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