Visa Application Overview: Schengen, Canada and US.

To know the list of countries that you can visit with Schengen visa please go to http://www.schengenvisainfo.com you may also click the country for specific requirements and application procedure. You will also find some helpful information with different types of Visa. Please take note that you should apply to the country of your entry point or where you will stay the longest. For example when I went to Europe my entry Point was France, and I stayed in Paris the longest as compared to any other Schengen country so I applied for my SCHENGEN visa through FRENCH EMBASSY in Makati.

Application fee is 60 Euro and is not refundable. You will pay them in peso based on their conversion rate. While Schengen has standard visa application process, booking for an Interview/appointment process may vary per country. Please check the Schengen site for specific instruction for the country that you wish to apply with. Once approved, you will receive a VISA for the country that you have applied for which will be honored by all Schengen member countries. Application processing time would be 1-2 weeks. I received my visa 7 days after I submitted my application and interview.

If you are applying for Canadian Visa you may check your eligibility through their web site. For more information please visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/ you will need to create an account at http://www.cic.gc.ca/ctc-vac/getting-started.asp and pay the application fee through their website. Application fee is 100 CAD and is not refundable. Once you have submitted your online application, you will receive an update via email to login to your GCKEY account. GCKey is an electronic credential (a username and password) that allows you to securely access the Government of Canada’s online services. You can submit your passport when requested to their Makati Visa processing center. Approved visa can be delivered to your home address for a fee.

If you are applying for a US visa please remember th

7 #WhoGoat Quotes for Valentine’s Day!

 

1.    Totoo ang FOREVER. Hindi lang talaga ‘to para sa IYO.

2.     Hindi siya MANHID. Di ka lang talaga niya type.

3.     Wag ka ng UMASA. Kasi siya din sa iba UMAASA.

4.     kung ang unang nagustuhan mo sa kanya ay ang MUKHA niya, darating ang araw iiwan mo din siya dahil sa MUKHA niya.

5.     Hindi porket Valentines day today, hindi mo na siya IIWAN. Mas okay maging MAG-ISA kesa patuloy na MAGPALOKO sa kanya.

6.     Hindi lahat ng TAO maiintindihan ka. Mas marami din ang I-judge ka kasi SINGLE ka. Pero mas marami ang magiging MASAYA kasi hindi sila NAG-IISA.

7.     Hindi ka na sasaya BUKAS sa VALENTIONES DAY. Dahil mas PINILI mo maging MALUNGKOT na MAG-ISA kesa ang Maging MAG-ISA na MASAYA.

 

10 things to do on February 14.

1. Clean your house and finish all your chores.
2. Pay your bills.
3. Attend Mass and pray for a better Feb 14 next year.
4. Cook food for your family.
5. Volunteer for some OT at work.
6. Watch DVD while eating ice cream, cake and chips till you double your weight.
7. Do your laundry.
8. Cancel all your appoinments with friends.
9 . Post this on your FB wall in Caps. “WALANG FOREVER, HINDI TOTOO ANG HAPPY ENDING. MAGHIHIWALAY DIN KAYO.”
10. Ask for forgiveness of sins.

SAAN NGA NAPUPUNTA ANG TAX NI JUAN?

Malapit na naman ang sahod. Isang pay slip na naman ang madaragdag sa collection ko. Madalas halos ayaw ko ng tingnan ang pay slip ko dahil baka madismaya na naman ako.

Saan nga ba napupunta ang TAX ni Juan?

Matagal ko ng tanong sa isip ko yan. Gaano nga ba kalaki ang TAX collection sa Pilipinas? I tried na i-google ang information na yan pero wala naman akong makitang sagot. Ilang porsiyento nga ba ng TAX natin ang bumabalik sa serbisyo para sa publiko?

Suriin natin ang Makati bilang isang example at isipin natin kung saan nga ba napunpunta ang TAX ni Juan.

Ilang gusali ba ang itinatayo ngayon sa Makati na pakikinabangan ng publiko? Mukhang wala namang bagong munisipyo.

Ilang tawiran ba ang ginagawa ngaun sa buong Makati? Mukhang wala din akong makitang bagong over pass.

Ilang school ba ang tinatayo ngaun sa Makati? Mukhang wala din ata.

Kung walang gusali, over pass, bagong infrastructure, bagong kalsada at mga proyekto pam-publiko saan nga ba napupunta ang TAX ni Juan?

Marahil sa mga empleyado ng local government. Gaano nga ba karami ang pinpasahod ng Makati government para duon lahat maubos ang TAX? Gaano karaming lansangan ba ang iniilawan ng Makati? Maliban sa Osmak na hindi naman state of the art ang facilities saan at ano pang pinagkaka-gastusan ng Makati?

Marahil ang ibang gastusin ay napupunta sa mga students ng Makati. Gaano mga ba karami ang mga mag-aaral sa Makati? Ano nga ba ang mas malaki? Ang TAX ng taong bayan or ang Gastusin ng Makati?

Kung sa Opisina namin ay may 7,000 employees at ang average na TAX ay nasa 3,000 sa isang buwan 21 million na kagad. Kung may sampung call center sa Makati, 210 Million na kagad ang TAX na malilikom ng Makati mula kay Juan. Kung may 100 call center sa Makati nasa 2.1 Billion na ang Tax sa loob lamang ng isang buwan. Idagdag pa natin ang TAX ng mga naglalakihang companies sa Makati. Isama pa natin ang mga nagttrabaho sa Banko, Opisina, Insurance, Nurses at ang ilang daang propesyon na nagbabayad din ng Buwis. Sa Bilyon-bilyong kinita ng Makati at ng budong pilipinas, SAAN NGA BA NAPUPUNTA ANG TAX NI JUAN?

10 things you don’t know about Call Centers.

1. Fluent mag-english – hindi lahat ng nasa call center perfect ang English. Parang mga English and Americans hindi rin perfect ang english nila. Hindi naman kawalan na hindi ka perfect sa wikang ingles ang mahalaga nagkaka-iintindihan kayo ng kausap mo. Hindi rin porket may accent magaling na, ‘yong iba umaarte lang tapos binibilisan para hindi halata. Hindi lang sa englisan yan e, nasa diskarte, sipag at tiyage din.

2. Walang Choice kaya nag-call center – Hindi totoong walang choice ang mga nasa Call Center. Sabihin na lang natin na they are more practical and able than others. Hindi porket magaling mag-english pasok ka na. Dapat maayos ang comprehension mo. Hindi porket marunong mag FB and mag-computer dapat pasok ka na. Dapat magaling ka mag-navigate ng tools and system. This profession is not an easy thing to do. It takes a lot of courage and discipline to stay in the Industry. We are competent too. In other words, magagaling kami at may choice. Mas may pera lang talaga sa Avaya.

If I know nag-try ka din dito. Hindi ka lang pumasa kaya medyo bitter ka. 🙂

3. Agent position. Maraming tao na kapag naisip ang salitang Call Center agent agad ang kasunod na salitang maiisip nila. Hindi po umiikot ang mundo ng Call Center sa agents. May tinatawag din tayong Team Leads na gumagabay sa mga ahente. May QA din na siyang nagpapa-husay pa lalo sa mga ahente. May supervisors at Managers din, may workforce, may reports analyst, Account Manager, at marami pang iba. Agents are the front liners but all positions in Operations and support groups are equally important to make the company work and to make the business successful. Parang mga organs yan sa katawan ng tao. Hindi mag-function ng maayos kung wala ang isa. Pero kung ang TL mo ay kupal at tamad, sila ung mga tonsils. Kahit tanggalin mo sa katawan mo, maayos ka pa din.

4. Lugar ng mga malalandi. – Hindi po totoong malalandi kami. Kahit saang company ka man mag-work, sa Military, Ospital o kahit sa Gobyerno pa, hindi po mawawala ang salitang Kabit, pok-pok, bakla, mang-aagaw at ahas. Hindi lang po sila sa call center nag-lulungga, minsan sa group of friends mo, sa compound niyo, minsan nga sa loob pa ng apartnment mo. Kaya wag niyo po kaming husgahan, kahit saan andun po sila, discreet lang. Promise!

5. Mayayaman o social climber – Sana talaga totoo ang ang bagay na ito. Sana totoong mayayaman ang mga nasa Call Center. Hindi naman lahat social climber, ‘yong iba lang.

Mataas naman talaga ang sahod sa Call Center as compared to other regular day job, kaso depende pa rin sa Company. 14k to 35k ang sahod ng mga agents pero depende yan sa account at experience nila. Kung malaki man ang sahod, ibig sabihin Queing sa account. Sulit ang bawat letra na lalabas sa bibig ng mga Immortal, bawal din kami magka-sakit, bawal umabsent kahit may lindol, baha, giyera o kahit pa may patayan na sa harapan mo. Lalo na kung wala kang medical certificate kasi hindi naman ikaw ang nasaksak, audience ka lang.

To be continued… bukas naman ‘yong lima, utang muna. bawal mag-cp sa floor tapos sumisigaw na si TL ng auto-in. 🙂

Only in Europe!

Only in Europe!

When it comes to travelling, for most people particularly in the Philippines (especially me) Europe would be the ultimate continent to Visit. Europe offers diverse collection of stunning landscape, world class architecture from medieval to their modern edifice, Basilicas and museums, home of the paramount portraitists like Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo, scientists, novelists, and great inventors of all time. Their work-of-art bursting with details was preserved and still being enjoyed by Millions of visitors from different nations globally.

 

(Photo credits to: Europeandyonder.wordpress.com)

 

Travel back to the future, in Europe.

 Travel in Old-fashioned way with Modern Technology via Train that connects most of the illustrious cities and Countries in Europe with ease. 26 of European countries have entered into an agreement in 1995 to the gradual abolition of boarder checks at the signatories’ common boarders that will allow their residents to cross any European country without passing through the hassle of check points that are now being enjoyed by tourists all over the world. This treaty was called Schengen named after the small town in Luxembourg.

 

(Photo credits to: splendorsofeurope.com)

 Europe offers a first-rate Train System that connects most of the prominent cities and countries that makes it manageable to country hop where you enjoy breath taking sights and landscapes like the photo above as you move to your next destination.

 

Eiffel Tower – The Tower of Love in Paris, France.

Most of the blogs and articles that I’ve read describes Eiffel tower as enchanted and brilliant. Their experience was almost unexplainable; imagine that you’re standing on Top of the tower overlooking the remarkable scenery of Paris while holding hands with your one true love. I can’t wait to experience that myself the magic and enchanting powers of the 1,063 ft tall Eiffel Tower.

(photo credits to: johngoodbrad.com)

The tower attracts 6 Million visitors per year according to Travelers Digest and has contributed to place France to be the Top most visited country in Europe and in the World with 81,411,000 foreign visitors each year over by 21 Million against the United States of America with roughly 61 Million foreign visitors per year.

Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany

Definitely I am not a beer fan but I am more than excited to experience Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. The most celebrated festival in the world with nearly 7 Million attendees’ world-wide. Oktoberfest or some calls it Wiesn is an important part of Bavarian culture that started in 1810 as a celebration of Royal Wedding. Look how happy they are with their massive mugs of beer. Cheers!

 

(photo credits to: hottrip.net)

Munich, celebrated this old tradition in 1994, and was held in an area named The Theresienwiese field or meadow of Therese. This is a 16 days celebration that starts in September and ends in the first Monday of October where beer is overflowing with 7 million of liters served during the 16 days event in 2007. Whether you are a Beer fanatic or just a curious individual, the festival guarantees to satisfy your thirst in beer, the real definition of PARTY!

See you soon Europa!