From Phils to SG, January 2013

After celebrating Christmas & New Year's vacation, we've  fly back to Singapore on the 7th day of January. We've left Aleina back in the Philippines, with my father's care. She was taken care of my counsin - Irish. The next day was our regular working day for us, but this time without Aleina in our lovely home. It's been difficult to be away to your child, but I've prepared myself for this situation! Coz we planned to attend to our dear friend's wedding - Marvin & Marge on January 20th.

15th of January, we've celebrated Aleina's 6th months birthday both in Singapore and in the Philippines. Where I just bought a cake for both os us and my sister, Ate Baby prepared the food and bought a cake for Aleina for them to celebrate. Luckily, my dear Aleina got her guests in her super mini birthday - her Lolo and Lola. It's a far distant celebration, but still I reallyy appreciate their effort of holding Aleina's mini birthday celebration!

I count on every day without Aleina, I can't take it out of my mind about the thought of somehow I'm worrying about her. coz I left her there with a mild cough and sometimes runny nose. She was not fully ok when we left her. But she was taken good care of them I know, Irish had Tita Neneth and Ate Baby to help her during Aleina's check up.

After 11 days, we've fly back to Philippines; for 2 main reasons. First, to pick up Aleina and bring her back to SG and at the same time (2) attend to Marge's wedding. April 19 was a hectic schedule for Albert and myself.

- By 9pm (18 Jan), we stayed for few hours in Singapore airport waiting for our 1am flight

- 6am arrived in NAIA Terminal 3, we had breakfast at Jollibee with our friend Rio & TJ; we have the same time flight but different airlines.

- By 7:30am, took 20 minutes travel from airport to the bus station @ Buendia, Jac Terminal. Going to the trip to Lucena.

- By 12noon, almost exactly ar lunch time, we've arrived at our Lucena home where our precious baby Aleina is seems to be waiting for us!

- We've tried to take a nap in our living room though Albert managed to have some pretty rest, while for myself I didnt. I still have this enough energy to at least play with Aleina.

- By 4-5pm, we've left our house for Aleina's check up with Dra. Rubio. She is having a clinig in MMG (at Bayan) and was my pedia when I was a kid. Aleina doesn't have an follow up check with her but I insist for her appointment coz I want to talk with her personally about what happen with Aleina's check up while I was in Singapore. It has a long queue in her clinic, sooo hot, no aircon only got electric fan. We're still lucky that her secretary manage us to be their priority. It has only 30 minutes of waiting then we've talked with Dra. Rubio.

- After our check up, at around 7:30pm we've proceeded to SM City Lucena, to buy some stuffs and my dress for Marge wedding. Yes, it is a last minute buy! But still we've managed it. (Oops btw by 7:00pm I've managed to visit my high school friends!)

Marvin & Marge's Wedding

Again, we've left Aleina in Lucena so we could attend their wedding on 20th January. Woke up early as 3am, total of 3 hours of sleep!) But still got some energy, though feeling sleepy is striking me again. Met with Zerlan at Alabang and we're headed to Tagaytay to witness our friend's wedding. Everything was almost perfect, the venue, the weather, the table decorations and of course the lovely couple. It's a wedding that's one of a kind! Their wedding is also a feast in my barangay (Feast of Sto. Nino) and our dear friend - Myra's Birthday.

Flying Back to SG with Baby Aleina

The next morning, we've packed up everything - well, most of it are Aleina's clothes, bottles, foods, etc. By 10am we are already prepared to go and just waiting for our rented van to arrived. It's the time to say Aleina goodbye to her Tatay and Lola Neth. We've arrived in Manila at around 2pm, it's a bit early for our flight. By 4pm, we're already in the airport and waiting to board. But still, our Cebu Pacific counter is closed coz our flight is 8:30pm and it will be opened by 5:30.

While waiting, we've prepared the necessary documents for ourselves and mil. Yes, mil will go back to SG again to take care of Aleina while we dont get a permanent nanny yet; a temporary setup.

We've secured our OEC (exit clearance) in the airport itself; since we're OFW our baby is entitled with reduced travel tax. We only paid 250 pesos for Aleina's travel tax, which original price is P750.

We've paid the full/regular Travel Tax (750 pesos) and Terminal Fee (1,600) for my mil. Unfortunately, she was not entitled for the reduced tax as per their reason is that - Travel Tax is only applicable to the OFW's immediate family (Spouse and children) and NOT parent/s of an OFW.

After checking in in the counter, we've prepared (ourselves too!) for the Immigration Counter. We've brainstormed for this as we are expecting that immigration officer will surely question my mil due to her (third) visit to Singapore within 7 months. We've prepared all possible answers that the IO might question asks. With all prayers we had in mind, during our queue, we've asked my mil to carry Aleina instead of me. We did a group check in, but this time I was left in the queue - this is I think helped us for not questioning my mil by the IO. Luckily my mil passed with IO with no hassle, no questions!

All our prayers had answered! We've successfully board our flight with Aleina, mil and hubby. We arrived in Singapore by 22nd of January.