The blame for lack of posts here goes to administrative errands, travel, household duties, and motherhood apart from our adjustment to living in a new place.  I will be honest, many at times I thought of pulling the plug on Travel Gourmande, because finding 3 things that I like about the Philippines started becoming difficult.  To the point where my article cascades to a rant.  Such as, Don't get me started on the ridiculous Christmas decorations that I saw in August kind of example. 

Remember when I wrote about Which Food to Send in a Care Package some time ago?

I was at the airport waiting for my flight while I typed this. Bath & Body Works loomed to my left which brought me back to good old days when I hoarded products from this brand as presents for family and friends. I perused and felt nostalgic. I was tempted to purchase their liquid hand wash which was found scattered throughout our previous overseas home for many years, but its equivalent Philippine price is hefty for our current household budget, so I walked away. Which Items to Send in a box to the Philippines?

While I'm typing this, I am watching the coconut trees sway and dance in the wind from my window. 2018 pretty much taught me the same thing, how to acclimate.  I learned to stop fighting the current and went with the flow. I learned to accept things as they are. Thus, I finally found my home here in Cebu. Nope not a house (not yet, at least), but a state where I feel connected.  

We could just dream, can we?  Opening our cupboards and they would be loaded with items we have grown to love while living abroad. 

Living in a country raining with balikbayan boxes (care packages) sent by family and friends abroad, I have had my fair share of stuffing a super jumbo box while I was living in the Middle East with items I bought during pay day. I packed the box and made sure each space and cranny was meticulously occupied. Shipping it gives one a great feeling, once it is completely full. 

The greatest reward is to see their smiling faces once they receive the box, for the satisfaction that our hard earned money made our families happy back home.

Are you by any chance a foreigner married to a Filipino or Filipina and you are contemplating staying or living in the Philippines for a longer period?

For the first few years of erratic visits to the Philippines, Yohann and I have used the Balikbayan Visa that would allow him to stay in the country for 1 year.

All we needed to do is queue together and present ourselves to the officer at the Philippine Immigration Counter before entering the country along with our NSO Marriage Certificate. The assigned Immigration Officer has the right to approve or reject a Balikbayan Visa.

It's nothing extraordinary. It's merely a stamp on the foreign spouse's passport, but this would allow him to stay longer than the regular 30 days given to most Non-Filipino tourists. The drawback though, is he won't be able to get a Balikbayan Visa without me, if he exits and enters the country later.

13A Permanent Residence Visa...ah the sound of it already rings alarm bells of complex application process.  Fear not. Take a deep breath. 

If I were struggling to re-create my identity back in my home country after being absent for more than a decade, I can't imagine how it must be for my husband.  Every time he was asked for a second identification card apart from his passport, he had no choice but to give his UAE driver's license that is nearly expiring. 

"Are you ready to apply for your Philippine driver's license?" I asked him a few weeks ago. He nodded and started looking up how to start the process.  Remember when I wrote about my own experience obtaining my foreign driver's license conversion at the Land Transportation Office a while back?  He went  through the same process as I did. 

After obtaining much research and preparing the required documents and copies, (Check requirements here)  we went to Land Transportation Main Office in Quezon City.  For foreign nationals' application, we were advised by a friend of my brother's who works in one of the south branches of LTO to head over to Quezon City.  I'm not sure if other LTO offices do process foreign applications as well. To avoid making a mistake leading to a waste of time despite its distance, we just followed her advice. 

Where is it?

It was a long commute for us. LTO Quezon City is located along East Avenue.  If you're taking the MRT Northbound train headed towards North Avenue, take GMA Kamuning station.

We circled Manila via LRT 1 all the way to Roosevelt Station to avoid the massive queues at MRT Station in Taft Avenue that day. We took a cab at WalterMart and a detour for a quick lunch in Maginhawa Street near Teacher's Village, thinking LTO is closed for lunch. 

Guess what? They're not. LTO is open during Noon. 

When we got inside the premises, we entered the wrong building first. The one next to the Chowking building is for application of transport registration.  We were directed to a much bigger building with blue painted columns.  The guard at the entrance was very accommodating and helpful, he directed us straight to Window 14. There's a central hall  with rows of waiting chairs on either side and a chapel at the center. The main hall is open and airy. A complete contrast to the one where I applied mine.  I'm glad we came here instead. There is good ventilation and the environment is pleasant.

They seem more strict as well. We hardly spotted any "fixer."  If there were any lurking outside the gates, they were not as aggressive as the ones in Pasay City.


We approached the window and we spotted the LTO officer who was preoccupied encoding information. When we told him that we want to apply for my husband's foreign driver's license conversion, he checked his passport and entry date.  We informed him that he doesn't have ACR (Alien Certificate Registration) but he intends to apply for both an ACR and a permanent residence visa.

We were told by the officer that it is mandated that the applicant's visa should be valid at least more than a year from the date of license application and he showed us their memo dated October 2015 of such rule.  We then explained to him that my husband's visa is currently under "Balikbayan Visa",  a free one year stay visa, this is an entry stamp valid for a year to foreign nationals married to a Filipina granted by an immigration officer under their own discretion at the airport on the condition that the couple present their marriage certificate and his Filipina wife be present with him upon entering the country.

My husband's  Balikbayan visa is expiring in September which gives him less than 6 months stay. He intends to start his permanent visa process very soon before his Balikbayan visa expires. We showed the officer our company's SEC certificate and documents showing his name as a stockholder  to convince him of my husband's long stay intentions.

We also mentioned that even if we start the residence visa application, my husband will only be granted a temporary one-year visa, not more, during his first year of application.  He will only be granted a longer one during his second application process  and he needs to drive soon.

The kind LTO Officer verified it with his colleagues after which, he returned with the good news. Yay, it's possible! :)

He was immediately given an application form to fill.  We were directed to get a medical certificate complying with tests such as eye and physical test.  This medical exam and certificate costs Php 200. The medical clinic is located on the first floor above Chowking.

After completing the form with his medical documents and requirements, we submitted them all back to the officer at Window 14 where he was given a number.  His photograph was later taken as well as his signature.  His name was then called at the cashier after 20-30 minutes of waiting. At the adjacent window, his name was finally called where he was handed his fresh and new driver's license.

The whole process took 1 and a half hours. The commute was longer  but it was all worth the wait. Victory dance. Yay!

"Kabayan ako..," my husband, Yohann proudly exclaims. 

"Oh yeah? Have you tried balut?" I answered back.  

"Hmmm..."

Balut or boiled duck embryo is a popular Filipino snack that most find strange, sometimes disgusting or even terrifying. According to CNN, "it's a Filipino delicacy that makes the world squirm." I ate lots of those when I was a kid. We have a saying back home, they're good for strengthening the knees. Each country from every part of the world has something exotic to offer anyway, so it's not that bad. This reminds me of the time we ate tarantulas in Phnom Penh.

Immersing oneself in the culinary scene of every place we visit is a good way to experience and understand one's culture. With that, my sister and I convinced our partners to finally try this challenge together. Though it's Fergus', my brother-in-law's second attempt to enjoy this popular Filipino snack, it ended up to be a memorable experience, especially when you have San Miguel Pale Pilsen next to you. 

Dare to try?

Bon Appetit!

Love & light,

Arni

Expats and Re-pats will inevitably encounter this experience one way or another. While scanning the grocery aisles while settling down and nesting in your new home, you experience a wave of homesickness, longing for the products that you have grown accustomed to from your home country or from the place you've stayed in for a long time. 

When I came back to the Philippines, having lived abroad for more than a decade, I've realised my palate has changed as well.  Everything that I was used to growing up suddenly tasted too sweet. I never really fancied mayonnaise before leaving my home country, so when I tried the French mayo for the first time, I saw mayonnaise in a new light and fell in love with it. 

Though it took a long time for my husband to convince me which mustard is better since I have been an advocate of the American yellow mustard, while he proudly defended his authentic Dijon,  I eventually caved in and developed the taste buds for Moutarde de Dijon. (Though I still like my yellow mustard in a hotdog sandwich - yum!)

While we are stranded indoors as it poured continuously outside for the last two days,  I'll write about our first short walk along the coast.   Our week started sunny and to our hearts' content we enjoyed the seaside under the cold afternoon sun . Here are images of what we will be seeing during our daily walks for the next several months. Click on the link and read more about Les Sables d'Olonne , France.

Is it just me or the days seem to be running like enthusiastic athletes in a triathlon?  We're in the second quarter of 2015 already.  This brings me to evaluate where I am in my goals for this year. 

"Purge the unncessary and decrease clutter."

Yes and yes to that! Evaluating and letting go of things we have to part ways with before leaving Dubai was such a therapeutic experience. It feels so light! So many things can be accumulated without us realising it. We are presently in Manila for a temporary stay at my Mom's while we wait for the shipment of our stuff to be cleared and stored.  The sorted items have been painstakingly thought through which we will need, once we find a permanent base.

Today, I'll try to hit two birds with one croissant.  I'll share a story about what I really do and why I do it. After that, I will show a fun apartment we did.

Two days in Manila catching up with family left me feeling happy. I am content as I am sitting at the boarding area waiting for our delayed flight to visit the island where our future home will be built. For the first time in many many years, I have finally felt that I am home. In this country, the Philippines.

Moving can be stressful. Trust me, the day after New Year when reality hit me, I had no idea where to begin.  So  I drafted a checklist and I hope it would help you somehow, especially to my dear friends leaving Dubai this year.

"Let your dreams be bigger than your fears, your actions louder than your words, and faith stronger than your feelings. " Dreams of the future keep us going.