TG flight

Last week, I posted about my experiences with CX and SQ, or Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines respectively. Now, I will share short comments on TG or Thai Airways.

Unlike my experiences with CX and SQ, flying TG was a first for me. I flew Manila to Bangkok round-trip. It was a 3-hour flight and it was okay.

TG utilizes the Boeing 777-200 plane. It appears to be an older version. Even the entertainment system was similar to the one I had aboard SQ. The TV screen was old and still uses that remote control at the side of the seat. But the food was good and crew were nice.

An interesting experience was my flight back. There were just a few passengers, maybe 50 out of the possible 200+ seats. Even if I flew economy, I felt it was business class because of the space. There was no one beside me, in front of me or behind me. The next passenger was a few seats away. The crew even served snacks and 2 rounds of drinks even before the main meal.

Generally, it was a good experience flying with Thai Airways.

Where are the other passengers? :)

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CX vs SQ

I had the opportunity to travel from Manila to Hong Kong and Singapore just days apart. I took two of the world's best airlines- Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines. And of course, they did not disappoint. This post is sort of a review. Just a disclaimer: this post is just about my personal experience on those specific flights and do not reflect the entire airline. I traveled economy, by the way.

Aircraft
Both CX and SQ flew Boeing 777 on the Manila route. But CX felt newer, or at least the interiors felt upgraded and more modern. Just a day before my flight, CX made the inuagural A350 flight to Manila. That would have been cool to ride on a new plane.
Winner: CX

Food
SQ gave full meal with dessert and a choice of wine, juice, coffee, etc. CX only gave snacks. Probably because the Manila-Hong Kong flight was shorter than the Singapore flight.
Winner: SQ

Entertainment
This one CX is the clear winner because of its new TV system. It has bigger screen and it's a touchscreen. The SQ screen was small and it was a bit old, with the remote control still on the sides of the seat. Selection on the CX entertainment system was also newer and there were more content. But for earphones, I like SQ, because it's smaller.
Winner: CX

Service
Both crew were awesome and friendly. But for this round, I give my score to SQ, because they were more helpful.
Winner: SQ

Others
I can charge my phone on CX  even on economy. But SQ gave hot towel before the flight to freshen passengers up. There were also pillows and blankets already on the seats on SQ.

Both airlines are real winners.

SQ

CX

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Of Malls and Text Messages

I had interesting reports last week ranging from malls, text messages to Thai investments. Likewise, I interviewed SM President Hans Sy and Metro Pacific Chairman Manny Pangilinan.

Mall story: Interesting to note that malls have become a vital part of Filipinos' lives. Everything is inside a mall nowadays, from shops, restaurants, cinemas to clinics, chapels, gov't offices, sports venues and many more. But malls also highlight the inefficiencies of gov't, who's supposed to provide clean and secured areas.

Text messages story: Are you texting less today compared to years ago? Has messaging apps overtaken your normal SMS service? An expert says, many Filipinos are using chat apps now, but he clarifies, it's not yet the death of text messaging, at least not for now.

UP BGC story: SM handed over the new UP building at the Bonifacio Global City. It's worth P400-M and will house some post graduate classes.

Thai investments story: Products from Thailand were showcased at the 'Thai Top Brands 2016' expo at the SMX MOA. Many Thai businessmen want to invest in PH, but some of them want PH gov't to improve ease of doing business.

Video of reports below:

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30,000 jobs for Filipinos

Last January 28, 2016, my first report on TV Patrol aired. Technically, it was not the very first, since a few years ago, I had reports that aired on TV Patrol Weekend. But the January 28 report was the first for the weekday edition, with no less than Kabayan Noli de Castro giving the intro to the report. He even said 'Nagpapatrol si Jikki Pascual'. haha

The story was about the planned hiring of Royal Caribbean Cruises of about 30,000 Filipinos in the next 5 years. The cruise ship company also plans to build a direct hiring facility in Manila. This will be a big boost for employment opportunities for Filipinos, since most Pinoys are geared for the service sector.

Of course, my report also had an English version for ANC. Covering this story, I rode a chopper for the first time and truly a memorable coverage from start to the finished output. Watch report:

Ironically, I was on a chopper while covering the cruise ship story :)

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Never too late

This is my first post for 2016. It's been more than 4 months since I last posted an entry and I never thought I'll be able to post anything soon. I have been in the newsroom for 2 days already because of a lack of crew. In a way, that gave me time to do things I don't normally do, like opening this blog.

--break--

Ok, so I just taped a news advisory for 8:30pm. Lexi, who was supposed to do it, wasn't feeling well. They asked me to take over, got my coat at Ms. Nadia's office, but with no makeup, I anchored the news advisory.

This is my life. I rely mostly on sudden opportunities. I may not anchor regularly, but incidents like this are a welcome change in my daily routine. Sudden opportunities spice up my career, whether those opportunities are anchoring or reportorial in nature. But like anything, you just have to be prepared.

Opportunities come, but if you are not prepared, then you lose the chance at something that may not happen again. Luck plays a big role, but excellence will what sustain it. Be good in what you do everyday, so when those sudden incidents happen, you are more than ready to do it. It might just lead you to bigger and more permanent opportunities.

I'll just end this entry with my photo. Haha Just to remind myself of what I do now and what I'll do probably forever. This photo was my last coverage so far. Taken Feb. 19, 2016 at St. Mary's College in QC for the Pinoy Media Congress.

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LG, what happened?

So disappointed with my LG G3. It's just been around 13 months since I bought my phone, but now it's not working anymore. It didn't hit something or fell to the floor. The screen suddenly just fades to black. I can only use it for a few seconds before it fades again. Worse, warranty just ended.

LG service center says I need to shell out P12K for the repair. What? :-(

I bought my first smartphone, the iPhone 3GS in 2010, followed by the Samsung S3 in 2012. Both phones are still working right now and are still being used. But the newest phone, LG G3, bought in 2014, is the one that is broken.

My work (and life in general) has been very much affected by this. I can't text or reply my co-workers, my bosses. I can't use my phone for my coverage. And It's now harder to communicate with family and friends.It's so frustrating!

Of course, I can't and I won't pay P12K to repair it. It's also hard for me to just buy a cheaper phone. Sayang din naman kasi ang LG G3 if itatabi ko lang sa cabinet, considering it has been 1 year pa lang nagagamit.

It would have been easier to accept if I broke the phone myself or if I accidentally stepped on it or it fell from the table or something, kaya ko pa ma accept. But in this case, nothing happened.

I hope LG Philippines does something about it. I can pay for the repair, but hoping it won't be that much.

My LG G3. I took this photo when I first opened the box last year.

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Longest Hiatus

My longest blogging hiatus ever. 6 months or half a year without any post!

I won't be enumerating what I did the past months, but I will focus on my TV reports in the last 3 days. All my reports in the last 3 days were connected to the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Research Symposium in Quezon City. It was hosted by the University of the Philippines.

My first report is about the creation of a card game 'Resilience'. It is about the economy and the environment and it was developed by the University of the Philippines.

My second report is about building back better after every disaster. Experts say consultations with affected communities must done first and scientific data relied upon before doing reconstruction efforts. Watch the report at the bottom of this page.

My third report is about a Japanese scientist's prediction that the Philippines will be spared from super typhoons in the next 10 years. PAGASA of course is not convinced. He also said there was a long global warming hiatus (hence name of this entry). Click here for the third report.

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First time in a mosque

The closest I was to a mosque was when I visited Malaysia early this year. I took pictures of the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, but I wasn't able to enter the mosque itself since we had a limited time. But last March, I finally entered a mosque, this time it was in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

I visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. And it was a truly beautiful sight. White domes dominate the skyline and the place was really huge. It's one of the top tourist destinations in Abu Dhabi, because visitors, even non-Muslims, can enter the mosque. There is no entrance fee, but they have a dress code. Don't worry, even if you're not wearing the right attire, they can lend you a traditional clothing that you can wear over your clothes.

It was my first time to enter an Islamic religious site. I really didn't know what to see or expect inside. And I was truly amazed. There were huge chandeliers (I think the biggest in the world), intricate designs all over the interiors, a big carpet (I think also a world record) and a very wide space. In a Catholic Church, you will see pews and statues, here there are no chairs and no images. Despite the crowd, it was very peaceful.

The mosque was just built recently as a tribute to the former ruler of the United Arab Emirates. It is one of the biggest mosques in the world and it can accommodate thousands of worshippers. This is a must-see for anyone visiting Abu Dhabi. Other major mosques in the Middle East do not allow the entry of non-Muslims, but this mosque welcomes tourists and thus it becomes an avenue for understanding, awareness and appreciation of various cultures, religions and even the arts.


I went to the mosque at noon so it was kinda hot. The next time I'll visit the city, going at night would be a great idea because of the nice lights illuminating this grand mosque.

Below are some photos of the mosque. You can click on the photos for a larger view.

Rules for visitors

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Review: Philippine Airlines MNL-AUH

This is a short review of my flight from Manila to Abu Dhabi via Philippine Airlines. It also includes the return flight since I had very similar experience on both trips.

I went to Abu Dhabi last March 2015 to attend a conference. I returned to Manila a few days later. My overall experience with both flights was just "ok". It was not super good, but it was not super bad either. I will rate my own experience with 5 being the highest and 1 the lowest.

Just to add context, I'm in the economy section, at the back part of the aircraft.

On Time Performance: 3/5
     -We boarded the plane on time, but for different reasons the flights still got delayed. The Manila to Abu Dhabi flight was delayed for an hour because one passenger needs medical attention. The return flight was delayed by 2 hours because there was a restriction in the airspace in Oman, so we just stayed inside the plane for 2 hours.

Entertainment: 1/5
     -There was no inflight TV for a flight of about 10 hours. PAL has the InAir service which allows passengers to watch some movies on their phones or tablets. PAL also has wifi for a fee. But for the first flight, there was NO InAir. Cabin crew said it wasn't working. For the return flight, I was able to watch a few clips and listen to music, but the choices were very limited. I also tried the free 15 minutes wifi, but it was very slow. And there was no plug to charge the phone, so this service won't last the entire flight.

Food: 4/5
     -Actually the food was the saving grace of the flight. It wasn't super delicious, but I guess I wasn't just expecting anything. So lo and behold when they served a full meal on board with rice, viand, side dish, dessert and a choice of juice, wine or coke. After the meal, they offered coffee or tea. Then after that, they offered again some snacks like KitKat or crackers. Then before the flight ends, there's another round of snacks. This time, it was a hot big pandesal with filling, plus the usual drinks or coffee.

Seat/ Amenities: 3/5
    -I was in the economy seat, so it wasn't really a large space. I got lucky on the first flight since I had no seatmate. On the return flight, I was in the aisle. There was a blanket and a pillow in every seat. The crew also offered a hot small towel before landing to freshen up.

Flight crew: 3/5
     -They were ok. But I think they were just a bit disorganized in giving out the food, especially the snacks part. I was looking at the other aisle and all of them already had snacks, but in our aisle, no one was giving snacks. Then one flight crew gave out some snacks and stop in the middle, then leave and never came back to give out the snacks. So basically, some passengers didn't get their share of Kitkat or crackers or coffee. But overall, staff were courteous and nice.

Overall: 3/5
    -I think this is already a generous score. But considering the price of the airfare, which is lower than Etihad, then I guess one gets what one pays for. However, given the chance, I'll probably not take PAL anymore for long haul flights again. Depending of course if there is no other choice or if PAL gives me a free flight. :)

Chiffon cake and hot pandesal with filling

Two-aisle A330 plane

Sleeping time

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Review: Abu Dhabi International Airport

I was in Abu Dhabi a few weeks ago via Philippine Airlines. This is a mini review from the point of view of an ordinary tourist.

PAL uses Terminal 1, the old terminal of Abu Dhabi. It's actually just small. Well, I didn't really roam around, but it's definitely not the usual massive airport like the ones in Dubai, Hong Kong or Singapore. In terms of size, it could be compared to Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal 1.

But despite the small size, it's not crowded. There were many vacant seats when I was there and many shops and restaurants were also operational. Arriving and departing passengers share the same area, similar to the one in Singapore. And there were many Filipino staff. I bought something at Mcdonald's and the Duty Free shop and I was speaking in Filipino.

The Abu Dhabi International Airport also has money exchange booths, pharmacy and a spa. And the airport is expanding. Construction of a bigger terminal was ongoing when we landed. And if you need transportation going to the city proper, there are taxis and buses right outside the arrival hall. Like in other cities, airport taxis are more expensive. I took the A1 bus while I was there. It only costs AED4, compared to the taxi which I heard costs AED75 to our hotel.



Control tower of ADIA



Check-in lobby



Departure area/ Arrival area as well

 

Shops: both in the first and second floors

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2 months absence

I only have one blog entry this year so far. It's been very difficult posting a blog, because of a busy schedule and just a lack of enthusiasm to post something longer than a tweet. It's easier to update via Twitter or Facebook since it only requires just a few words or sentences. But with a blog entry, you need to have paragraphs and have photos or video too.

In 2 months that I have been absent in Blogger, so many things happened. The highlights perhaps are my trips. I have been to two countries, both of which were places I haven't been to. They are Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates. I also had a local trip in the last 2 months: Ilocos Norte.

Here's one of my reports:

Here are links to my other reports:
- Tuberculosis survivor's story
- DOST: Science is sexy
- Intramuros redevelopment
- Overseas Filipinos contributions
- Turkish Airlines opens Manila route

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January 2015

I haven't posted a blog entry this year and I wouldn't want to end January without a single post. The first month of this year has been a generally busy and emotional month. Two key stories that made headlines for many days and even weeks happened this month: 1) the visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines; 2) the death of 44 SAF commandos in Maguindanao.

The first was a joyful occasion filled with tears of joy and inspiration; the second one was a sorrowful news filled with tears of anger and frustration. Hopefully, February will offer glorious and luminous stories.

January also marked the official change of my work. I am now out of the office almost every day, covering various stories from House hearings to press briefings.

Here are links to some my stories this January:
World Bank on lower oil prices 
Importance of the geohazard map of your area
Coffee culture in PH
IATA: NAIA has safety issues
Job opportunities for persons with developmental conditions

New The World Tonight set

PopeFrancisPH coverage

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Applying for SSS ID

I have been working for a few years already, but I didn't have an SSS ID. So last October 9, I applied for an SSS ID for the first time. I thought it would be a long and difficult process, but it was not.

Why do we need an SSS ID? So that we can transact with SSS easily (loans etc.) And since it is already a Unified Multi-Purpose Identification card (UMID), we can also use it to transact with PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG and GSIS. And since it is a government ID, we can use it to apply for visa, bank accounts, identification in schools, airports, companies, etc.

I went to the Government Center in Ali Mall in Cubao. There are several government agencies there such as SSS, PhilHealth, GSIS, Pag-IBIG, PhilPost, DFA and many more. I went to the SSS area and asked for an application form for the ID. I filled it out and went to next step. A person will then input your information into a computer and see if you have an account with SSS. He/she will check if you are paying your dues regularly. Obviously, you should already have an SSS number and has already paid at least a month, I think.

After, you will be asked to sit down and wait for the next step. After a few minutes, a person called my name and it was my time for picture taking and signature/thumb mark documentation. The person then told me my ID will be delivered straight to my home in 3 months.


SSS (right side)

And that's it. In total, I think I just spent about 30 minutes in the area. Of course that will vary from time to time, depending on the number of applicants. For first time applicants, the card is absolutely FREE. Even the delivery is free.

I was shocked that it will take 3 months to deliver. But I didn't think of it anymore, since I won't be needing the card in the near future anyway. I was expecting my card to be delivered to me on January 9, 2015 (3 months after I applied).

But on December 4, 2014, I received my card via mail. One month earlier, impressive. In fact, the letter was dated November 5. So basically I already have an ID by November 5, but the delivery took about a month.

Neverthless, I'm happy I got my SSS ID earlier and I can now use it.

my SSS ID

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Confession: I just watched Toy Story

I've always thought I have watched one of the most famous animated films of all time, Toy Story. I know the names of the characters and I know their faces. But when I recently watched the movie online, I realized that I haven't seen the film ever. Where did my childhood go?

So after watching Toy Story, I then watched Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3 all within 24 hours. It's a shame that I haven't seen the movies before and it has been almost 20 years since the first movie was shown. Now, I will surely watch the planned Toy Story 4 in the cinema.

And I just had to say this, I really like the films. They bring back memories of my childhood when I too would be playing with my toys and create scenes in my mind. Wonder if my toys also come alive when no ones around. :-)

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