Fame’s Wedding for Perfect Party and Other Events in Cebu

My sister wanted to have a perfect and hassle-free birthday party for her little boy and discovered Fame’s Wedding Concepts and Events via Internet. Since she was in Belgium still at the time, she asked me to make an arrangement with them. I’m not much for events so what I basically did is to print my sister’s instruction and gave it to Fames as well as pay the necessary dues which was 14,600 pesos to cover the Package B Kiddie Parties plus other additional services such as magician, chocolate fountain, face painting and balloon columns.

Grand Convention Function room Chrysanthemum turn out to be one magical place for a night with a Batman theme (Birthday boy is the batman of course) and it was quite painless on my part that I only have good things to say about this Party team.

I’ve yet to see their other events like weddings and debut but based from what I’ve witnessed with this one event alone, I can say that I would be happy to get their services again for any of our future events and would be proud to recommend Fame’s among friends.

Rizal Boulevard and Kamalig

Afternoon in Dumaguete is best spent strolling along Rizal Boulevard. I love this place so much that I thought, hmmm.. I could retire here. Could die here even. Cebu City in my opinion could need a clean promenade facing the Mactan channel with a park loaded with big trees and restaurants nearby. I once saw a huge billboard in the old bridge advertising Mayor Radaza’s grand plans of such promenade BEFORE the election but as what Bisayan would call it, “Char Char ra!” (Just Bullshit).

Anyway, one downside about Rizal Boulevard is that men tend to just stand at the side of the promenade, face the sea and PEE! That’s just gross.

After our walk, its dinnertime and for our last night in Dumaguete, we dined at Kamalig which is just a walking distance from Harold’s Mansion. I was craving for fish but Bangus (milkfish), Philippine’s National fish was just too big for me that I asked to share it with one of the girls and we split the cost of the fish of course. I also have acquired a new favorite dish when I ordered Itlog na maalat (Salted Egg) and this is served with tomatoes and onions.  I find it appetizingly delicious that I was able to finish all of my rice.

All in all, my dinner at Kamalig cost me 45 pesos on Salted egg, 49 pesos on half-priced Bangus, 50 pesos on mango shake and 20 pesos on plain rice for a grand total of 164 pesos.  A bit expensive for my normal budget but well, I’m on a holiday and I could afford it.

Applying for Schengen Visa at the Consulate of Netherlands in Cebu

As fate would have it, I found myself gathering documents for Schengen Visa again but this time it’s for the purpose of tourism where the expenses are fully paid by me and me alone.

My planned destination this time is Netherlands and Germany but since Netherlands is my main destination and first point of entry, I went to the Consulate of Netherlands located in Metaphil Building, Tipolo to submit my application. At least I save money because I’m so tired of going all the way to Manila just for visa processing.

NOTA BENE: Please wear proper attire with closed shoes when going to the consulate of Netherlands

So, based from the Embassy of Netherlands website, the list of documents for tourism were:

1. A passport, valid until at least three months after completion of the intended journey. CHECKED

2. One fully, correctly and clearly completed application form, duly dated and signed. CHECKED

3. Two recent* passport-size (3.5 by 4.5 cm) photograph, against light (e.g. white) background. CHECKED

4. All previous passports. CHECKED

5. For employees: An original letter from your employer or company, approving your leave of absence. Proof of employment: a recent employer’s’ statement that should mention salary, date of entry and duration of absence. CHECKED

6. A flight-reservation upon submission of your application. Do not purchase your ticket before your visa application has been approved! CHECKED

7. Confirmed hotel reservation for the whole travel period, including all other countries that you are going to visit, to be faxed by the hotel directly to the embassy (fax no +63 2 7866644). CHECKED

8. Travelinsurance for the whole duration of stay. CHECKED

9. Income of applicant: As available means an applicant should have €34,– per day to spent when he or she will provide own expenses for the trip. CHECKED with my bank certificate and bank statement of account as proof!

Although cover letter, photocopy of credit card and its statement of account, 3 months worth of payslip and NSO birth certificate were not listed in the website but I submitted them anyway and the woman at the consulate checked all of them. She even calculated the number of days of my trip multiplied by 34 Euro because that’s supposed to be the money I have since I’ll be financing this trip myself.

How did the interview went? These were the questions thrown at me:

1. What’s your job, how long have you been working and how much is your salary? I’m an Engineer since January 3, 2005 at so and so with a salary of so and so.

2. How many siblings you have, what are your parents’ job and are you living with your parents? I have 2 siblings and I’m the eldest. My parents worked for St Peter Memorial Plans and I live with my parents.

3. Have you travelled before and where? I’ve been to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, HongKong, Macau and Belgium.

4. Do you have any friends or acquaintances in Europe and how did you get to Belgium? I only have a sister in Belgium and she was my host last year.

5. Why didn’t you do the same thing again today and have your sister as your host? My sister and her family will be travelling this August and will not be able to accommodate me. Also, I’ve already seen Belgium and for this trip, I want to see Netherlands and Germany.

6. The woman then checked my hotel accommodations and asked: You are staying in Amsterdam, travel to Berlin and stay again in Amsterdam for 1 night before coming back to Philippines? YES.

And that’s it. She asked money for visa fee and gave me a slip of paper which is to be my claim stub for my passport and told me to wait for the embassy in Manila or consulate in Cebu to contact me. 

{UPDATE: May 17, 2012}

I submitted  my visa application and had my interview on May 4, 2012.  I was expecting some 20 working days before I hear any news but on May 17, 2012, I received an sms that my passport WITH VISA is now ready for pick up at consulate Cebu anytime.  Yipppee!

NOTA BENE: It is important to have a photocopy of all the documents you submitted to the Consulate because the immigration officers at Philippine airport can be a pain in the ass sometimes.

P.S.
I have EasyTravel & Tours to thank for number 6 – 8 requirement.

EASYTRAVEL & TOURS, INC.
2nd Flr GMC Alpha Arcade
ML Quezon National Highway, Pajo
Lapu-Lapu City, 6015 Cebu
PHILIPPINES
***
Phone : ++63 (32) 340.1424
Tel/Fax: ++63 (32) 495.4722
E: info@easytravelcebu.com, easytravelreservation@yahoo.com
W: http://www.easytravelcebu.com/

Dumaluan Beach, Bohol

When I heard that people are going for a swim at Dumaluan Beach, I was a bit hesitant at first. I knew that Dumaluan is a private place with entrance fee per head but since it was Sunday and packed with mad people, I was able to get inside “undetected” because I didn’t pay a single cent. Yippee.

I love Dumaluan’s white sandy beaches located in Panglao, Bohol. It felt nice to be walking along the shore playing with the sands while enjoying the sea breeze. I would have loved to witness either sunrise or sunset but alas, it wasn’t possible at that time.

Eat All You Can at Grand Majestic Restaurant Cebu

In advance celebration of our friend’s birthday, we got a FREE LUNCH treat at Grand Majestic Restaurant which is located in Grand Convention Center, a walking distance from Ayala Center Cebu. Eating at an Eat All You Can Restaurant is one of these girls’ favorite activity so please don’t be deceived by the fact that their gender is FEMALE.  They will probably bankrupt their date with their huge appetite for food.

After a few minutes of eating, I was already full but these girls just kept going to the buffet table for more.

In spite of the warning sign being placed on all the tables about being charged double for left overs or food sharing, the women weren’t afraid of filling up their plate at all. And yes, these girls did have some left overs but we weren’t charged at all contrary to the restaurant’s promise .

Grand Majestic usually boast serving Peking Duck but we had a Lechon Kawali feast at that time and the rest are mostly Chinese foods. All the foods served were very delicious that friends made plans to come back again.

Eat all You Can LUNCH buffet cost 375 pesos per head excluding drinks. Dinner cost 475 pesos per head if I’m not mistaken.