I returned to the Philippines this past January (2nd-24th). It was quite an adventure this time though. In Philadelphia alot of flights going to Chicago were canceled because of snow and my flight was delayed until 9am. By the time I got to Chicago I only had 45 minutes to get to my next flight when I was supposed to have a 3 hour delay there!

When leaving Chicago the plane stopped on the runway because the air conditioning unit fell off the plane. They had to return to our gate to fix it. We were delayed nearly 3 hours just sitting on the plane before we took off. I was late getting to Hong Kong and I was supposed to have a 4 hour delay there but when I got to Hong Kong it was already 8:30pm and my next flight was boarding at 9:20pm. I had to rush throught the airport to make it to my flight!

During my flight to the Philippines the stewardess asked me if I would give up my seat for a mother and child so the child could sit next to her mother. She ugraded me to first class! That was an interesting experience I've never been in first class! The seats were like lounge chairs. They put a table cloth on your pull out food tray & they even had real dishes and utensils. I had salmon on the plane (yummy!) and they had this fancy cake for dessert and they would keep refilling your water glass!

I arrived in the Philippines around 11:40pm. I met F.B. & his Mom in the waiting area outside the airport. They were holding a red 'Sarah' banner this time, so I could find them. We hugged & I didn't say anything stupid this time around, lol! (See: You're not so short!) He had flowers for me in the car. We got back to F.B.'s house around 1am. When I arrived at his house his family had made me another welcome sign. F.B. had rose petals scattered all over the floor of his sister's room that I was staying in. So sweet! Hehe!

We spent a week in Makati City this time. We stayed at the Best Western Astor Hotel again. We got to spend time in Greenebelt again and Glorietta Mall. We also spent alot of time at Mall of Asia in Manila. We had our 1 year Engagement Anniversary on January 10th. We went to Saisaki Buffet for the occasion! Saisaki is our favorite Japanese buffet! I got a cute stuffed horse/donkey? with F.B.'s iced tea. Saisaki always does that. Last year I got a purple stuffed dog, hehe.

We also visited the Ayala musuem while in Makati City. Where we saw Philippine History Dioramas and Philippine Art. On January 9th I got to meet up with my friend Gayle whom I met on myspace. We got together at a Starbucks in Glorietta Mall. F.B. & got to see a play on the 11th in Greenbelt. We saw 'Tuesday's with Morrie.' (My first play!) And we went to see a 3D movie at the Imax Theater at Mall of Asia.

I caught the cold his family was passing around when we were in Makati City. I had it pretty much the whole trip. F.B. gave me some vitamin c pills to take and some medicine. The one afternoon at the hotel he let me sleep in. And I got to visit 7 Eleven in the Philippines and bought some Gatorade.

We visited alot of malls during my stay. Sta. Lucia and Big R. Trinoma Mall, Mega Mall, Market Market, Glorietta, Mall of Asia. And got to eat at all my favorite Filipino places, Gerry's Grill, Chow King, Tokyo Tokyo. I also got to try Jollibee this time. (Basically a Filipino Mc Donalds.) And Yellow Cab Pizza became one of our other favorite places to eat. I finally got to try Wendy's in the Philippines, that's my favorite fast food place at home. And Starbucks... we must have gone 9 times in 3 weeks! I'm addicted now! Help!

I got to try Goat for the first time when his family had a family reunion lunch. The dish was a bit spicy for me. My favorite Filipino dishes are Liempo, Pansit, Chicken or Pork Adobo & I love Corn & Crab soup with Quail Eggs. Yummy!!!!

I also got to go to my very first Basketball game in the Philippines. We went to the Cuneta Astrodome on January 20th. We were just behind the courtside row. There was a lady reporter there filming, I kept ducking because I didn't want to be on TV, haha! F.B.'s mom & Aunt said they saw F's hair on TV! We also took some amazing sunset pictures at Manila Bay outside of Mall of Asia. The year before it had been too cloudy for sunset pictures.

The one night the power went out at F.B.'s house around 11pm. He tried playing around with the fuse box but that wasn't the issue. So I had to take a shower by candle light that night. Then we sat outside on his porch talking and having s snack of dried mango and some pringles. I saw a lizard climbing up the porch wall. And we also saw a bat flying over one of the palm tree's. The power didn't come back on until about 9am. It was hot without the fan so F.B. fanned himself and me while we tried to get some sleep that night.

F.B. & I had such a nice time together. It was sad when we had to part after the 3 weeks again. Got to the airport in Manila around 6am on January 24th. F.B. and I said our goodbyes. We were both crying outside the airport. Luckily I was at the smaller airport again just for Philippine Airlines so he was able to watch me through the windows. We waved to each other until I had to go past customs.

I arrived back in the USA on January 24th after a 24+ hour grueling travel day. The lines were really long for customs in the Philippines and I almost missed my flight. The airport tax changed from $12 up to $18 now! You have to pay the airport tax to leave the country.

I got to Hong Kong for my 15 hour flight, but got stuck next to this crazy Asian lady. The guy on the aisle seat was going to Philly also, and we kept giving each other these 'looks' when the crazy lady did stuff. She was like hanging over the guys food tray talking to people in the aisle, she accidentlly split beer on me. Thanks and when I was sleeping she kept taking snacks and stuff from the stewardess for me- poke me when I was sleeping and I'd have to say, "I don't want it. I just want to sleep."

Got to Chicago and had a 1 hour delay which was not enough time to go through customs- wait for my baggage hand my baggage back, take the tram car, go through more security and get to my gate- the entire waiting area was empty everyone was on the plane, I barely made it. I got back to Philly and guess what? No baggage! My luggage was missing! 5 people including me that were on the Hong Kong flight to Chicago and then back to Philly lost their luggage because our flight left. Luckily United Airlines returned my baggage later that same night.

F.B. kept a journal the entire 3 weeks. At night he would briefly write down everything we had done that day. When I got home he mailed me the original and made himself a copy. That was really nice, because now we can look back on our trip and read about what we did on each day.

Please check out all the photos from my Philippines Trip in January by clicking here!

From Myspace Blog:

March 12, 2007 - Monday
Updates....only 8 more months....
Current mood: excited

Ohhhh... just 8 more months until I'm on that plane to go back to the Philippines. I booked my hotel about a week ago! Orbtiz.com was having a very nice sale and I saved $100! F.B. & I will be staying in Makati City for a full week this time. January 7th-12th. We really enjoyed staying at the Best Western Astor Hotel there and it's right in the city so plenty of places to drive or walk too.

We will get to spend our engagement anniversary on January 10th in Makati City. I think we are going to go out to dinner somewhere. Maybe Gerry's Grill, hehe, we love that place. And F.B. is going to get me a proper engagement ring and propose properly as well.

Been having issues with the ring I have now. F.B. gave it to me on Christmas day when we were together. I love my ring, it happened to be a size too big, so I had it resized, then a month ago the stone fell out when I was at the store, my Mom, Brother & I went back to look for it and my Brother found the stone in the doormat to the store. So I took it back to the jeweler and they had to replace the head on it. I just got it back this week. F.B. & I have both put alot of money into the ring... which is why I wanted it to be my engagement ring, but it was never really intended for that, and F.B. wants to get me a proper sturdier engagement ring, and propose to me on our engagement anniversary.

F.B. graduated on Friday!!! He's all finished college now! You can see a few pictures in his profile from his graduation. He's first on my friends list. I'm so proud of him... I wish I could have been there for his graduation though... I feel sad that I missed that.... I called him at work this morning at 8:30am- it was 8:30pm in the Philippines and he was out to dinner with his Mom & Aunt.

Tomorrow I am having an early mother's day with Mom, we will be going out to lunch and to the mall, so I'll be off to bed now.

*~Sarah~*

March 12th, 2007: I am off to the Philippines in about 10 more months! The ticket prices are too expensive for Christmas this year, but they were very cheap for January. So I will be going back to the Philippines in January 2008!!!

I just booked my ticket! Orbitz will be mailing my ticket to me. I'll be leaving from Philadelphia on January 2nd, 2008. And arriving in the Philippines on the 3rd. I'll be coming home on January 24th, 2008!

It will be nicer anyhow, since I can spend the holiday's with my family this year at home. And F & I will get to spend more time with each other after the holidays, when it won't be chaotic & crowded every where.

Only 10 more months until I'm with my boy again! I'm so excited! I put the ticket on my credit card this time though, so now I have to repay $1,167.00 back... but my laptop will be paid off at the end of this month- only two more payments. And then I can work on paying off my plane ticket. It should take less than a year to pay that money off, so it's not a problem. And I can still continue to save for getting married. The money in my savings is for my future with F. So I can't touch that at all.

I will probably be booking the Best Western Hotel in Makati City sometime soon. We are thinking of staying a week in the city this time. Either from, January 7th-12th. Or January 7th-11th. We'll see. I have to save up a little money first and then book that, because it will probably cost $300.00-400.00 dollars for 5 nights.... oh well... just about 10 more months!!!

Time for bed now, if I can sleep! I'm so amped up! But I have to wake up at 5;15am... blech.... so goodnight!!!

*~Sarah~*

P.S. This is quite ironic... I'll be arriving in the Philippines on January 3rd, the day I left this past year, hehe.

F.B. & I decided to get engaged yesterday. After talking & discussing things. Of course there is no set date of when we will be marrying. Only that we decided to get engaged & start planning for our future. It could be 2-3 years more before we get married. F.B. will be finishing college in May. He's starting his OJT this semester. He is in college getting his bachelor degree in computer science. If all goes well- the company he does his job training with may hire him after graduation. Then he can also begin saving for our future. We need to get our finances in order before we plan to marry.

I need to look into all the legal procedures for the Philippines. If we get married, it will be at Justice of the Peace in the Philippines. Not really a wedding. We don't really want that. Just some family & friends & maybe a dinner after wards.

I would be moving to the Philippines. That would be a big adjustment for my life. Yes it is a big step & a big change. But it's something I want to do. I've been back here in the US a little over a week & I'm going crazy. I miss the Philippines... I want to go back. I would like to visit again in the late summer this year if it's possible & works out.

I need to find out all the legal procedures for me to stay over there & work legally- without giving up my us citizenship. We need to save money- so that when I moved over there we would be okay financially while I secured a job. I would like to work in a call center and be a customer service rep. I understand the US is better off economically & I might only be making half of what my US paychecks were over there, but I'm not looking to get rich or have a career. That's not what I want. What I want is to be with my boy, and for us to have a little house somewhere and start our own life.

*~Sarah~*

I arrived back home in Philadelphia around 6pm last night. It has been quite an adventure these past 3 weeks in the Philippines. It is good to be home again, in America, but I feel like I've truly lost something. I miss F.B. so much, to be so close with someone for 3 weeks, someone you love & then to just come home... to the other side of the world... is sort of heart breaking... I keep crying... when I think about my whole trip... I just miss him so much.

The night before we went to sleep, I asked him to stay in his sisters room with me. It was after 10pm by then and we had to get up at 4am. He was writing me a letter while I was falling asleep. And I was trying to wait up for him to finish so I could talk to him before we went to sleep. But I fell asleep. We woke up at 4am and got ready to prepare to leave for the airport. There was hardly any traffic that early in the morning, which surprised me.

When we got to the airport, it was busy. We pulled curbside to get my luggage out, and I was leaning on the car door, and F's mom was getting out of the back and she didn't see my hand there and accidently slammed the car door on my last 3 fingers. My pinkie finger was really quite swollen for awhile. But thank god I didn't break anything. His mom was like, "I'm so sorry! Oh! I'm so sorry!" F & his aunt went to park the car, so we could say goodbye properly. F's mom stayed with me in front of the airport. It was taking forever for F.B. to get back to us, and I was afraid I'd have to leave without saying goodbye to him. But they finally showed up. It was so hard to say goodbye... I was crying.... we got to hug & kiss... and then I had to go into the airport... when I was in line checking my luggage, I got a text message that said, "Look behind you. I'm right here outside." There were windows in the airport, and he was standing outside the window, and F would move from window to window as I walked down the airport, until finally we had our last wave as I went through security. I called him when I sat down at my gate to say goodbye again. Left the Philippines around 8am on the 3rd.

Arrived in Hong Kong, called F.B. again. Left Hong Kong around 12 or so. For my long 14 hour flight... during the flight my co-worker Christie turned out to have the seat directly behind mine. We hadn't been speaking since May... when we had a fall out... and stopped speaking to eachother. It was weird... during the flight Christie said, "Sarah... Sarah.." And I was thinking... "Ohhhh what's she want?" haha. But she said, "Do you want to end this?" And I said, "Yes... I do... I don't know what happened it was all so stupid." And we talked about everything. Then we talked about our very different experiences we had had in the Philippines. And we had a drink later in Chicago after our 14 hour flight. I won't lie... those 14-15 hour flights are killers, you want to go crazy sometimes, and it's very difficult to sleep. I slept much longer on the way back, than I had on the way there though.

Christie & I landed in Philly 30 minutes earlier than expected, picked up out luggage. Christie was having issues waiting for her luggage and I hope she finally got it, my parents called and were waiting outside so I had to go. It was so strange being in such cold weather, after being in the Philippines, which is most always in the 80, 90, 100's. But the weather didn't bother me at all there. The heat was not so intense. It was nice... I miss the weather.

I miss F... I want to go back sometime soon, and get a visa to stay longer- maybe later this year in the summer/fall. And I know he wants to visit here too. Which we talked about our relationship- and I thought it would be better for him to also visit the US, before we decided how we want to proceed with our future, getting engaged or married someday soon, deciding whether I will go there, or if he will come here- or if we will just move somewhere different in the US... things will work out somehow... they have worked out so amazing as it is... F.B. is more than all the things I thought he was. He is everything to me, my best friend & I love him so much. And I know now that we were meant to be and we will be together again someday soon. I love him so much & I know he loves me. It was awkward the first night being in person together, but after that things fell into place and we were such best friends...it was amazing. I love him... I miss him so much...I kept waking up tonight thinking he was sleeping next to me, I'd reach out and touch the pillows, trying to find his hand... but then I'd realize I was at home......I wish I could stop crying... it was harder to leave than I thought it would be. I miss him... I love him. He's my best friend. We had so much fun together.

I have a few days to rest & then I go back to work on Monday the 8th. Hoping to see my cousins this Saturday as well. I uploaded all my trip pictures to Walgreens, I have to pick them up this evening around 9pm or so. 500 some photo's but that's because I got doubles to send to F.B. It cost about $100 for all those pictures... but definitely worth every penny. So was this trip. I'll leave off with a few more pictures from my trip



















P.S. Mahal kita baby... I miss you. I'm thinking about you...

New Years in the Philippines: 2007

This was my first New Years in the Philippines. F.B. & I went to church on New Years Eve. It's an open church, and there were so many people we sat on a bench outside the church. It was so noisy outside though, with people setting off firecrackers & fireworks in the air. F said it would sound like a war zone around 12am. There was a doggy in the church, he would lay down and listen, and then scratch himself and walk around, and he came to the outside part where we were, that was my entertainment, haha. Cuz most of the church stuff & music was in Tagalog.

After that we went back to F's house and played a few games of scrabble before it was midnight, the power went out for a few seconds though & I was like, "Oh no! We're gonna have to celebrate new years in the dark? We'll have dinner by candle light?" haha. Also when we were playing scrabble someone set off a big firecracker out back somewhere, and it sounded like it was coming into the room.

There was a countdown thing on tv & F's mom had horns to blow and I took some silly pictures of F.B. teehee. At 12, it did sound a bit like a war zone- with all the fire crackers going off. It was LOUD. After the countdown we had 'Medya Noche' we had dinner and dessert. The noise died down around 1am.

New Years Day, we got together with all of F.B.'s relatives, a family reunion. And his relatives from Virginia were visiting. We had lunch at Max's this chicken place. And then later in the evening went to his aunts house for dinner and Christmas/New Years celebration. I called home around 12pm Philippine time. It was only 11pm 2006 at home when I called. I'm 13 hour ahead of home.

Tomorrow is my last full day in the Philippines. In the morning F.B. & I will be stopping at the mall, to go to the supermarket & bookstore get some stuff for my flight home. And then we're stopping back at his house to pick up his mom. And we are going out for lunch.

Finished packing most of my stuff tonight and just have to pack last minute stuff tomorrow & the morning of my flight. Probably getting up around 3:30-4am on the 3rd here. Going to get to the airport around 5:30am. And then my first flight is to Hong Kong at 8:10am on Philippine Airlines. Then I take United Airlines from Hong Kong to Chicago- 14 hour flight. And then United from Chicago to Philadelphia. I'll arrive home around 7:22pm on January 3rd. So please pray for a safe trip & good weather. This is my last entry for now, until I'm home. So Happy New Year Everyone! Here's some new pictures!

New Years Eve:

F's "Horny"... lol!

Our Crazy Photo Shoot:

This is Mr. Bernerdork. He's F's alter ego! lol!

New Years Day:

F.B. & I had our Tagaytay Trip on Wednesday (12-31-06). The way up to Tagaytay is about 2 hours, it's up in the mountains. Saw tonnnns of palm trees, and tons of pineapple fields, they are so neat looking, spikey plants growing out of the ground, with little baby pineapples growing off the plants. We were up in Tagaytay from the 27th-29th.

We stayed at the Taal Vista Hotel. It wasn't quite at nice as the Best Western in Makati City, even though it was more expensive. The hotel in Tagaytay was more like a campus. The check in and reception halls weren't even attached to the rest of the hotel. The room part was kinda across the parking lot. F.B. & I had trouble finding our room at first, he asked someone and they were like, "I don't know." Our room was a little smaller than the Best Western, but still nice. The bathroom was bigger, but the shower was more narrow and slippery, bruised my leg up good, haha. And when we left the 'Make up room' sign on the door, and we came back later I said, "Hey we got clean towels!" But it turned out they just folded up the wet towels we had already used?!

We took lot's of pretty pictures of Lake Taal & the Taal Volcano. It was quite windy up in the mountains and much colder at night time. F & I drove around Tagaytay, up into the mountains... wayyyy up into the mountains. It looked foggy, but it was only because we were so high up it was like we were in the clouds. We were on this little narrow winding road, where there were no buildings or anything, and you could see down the mountain side. There's this sky park, where you can take a shuttle up into the mountains, but the road was really steep... and I was scared, hah, so we just drove around instead. Not so much to do up around in Tagaytay though. It's a smaller city. Lot's of places to eat around there though. We had lunch & dinner out in Tagaytay.

I came down with a sipon (cold) while we were there though. My throat was a bit scratchy before we left for Tagaytay but the next morning my throat was all sore & swollen and my nose was stuffy and runny.F.B. & I found a drugstore and got me some medicine. I'm still a bit sick, so we'll have to pick up some more at the drugstore tomorrow. We just kinda hung around at the hotel.

Tomorrow is F.B's mom's wedding anniversary, so I am taking, his mom, sister & him out to this Japanese Buffet place at one of the malls. And if we have time we may stop at a mall close to his house, so I can visit this clothing store & souvenir shop I like.

Here's some photo's from our Tagaytay trip. On the way up to Tagaytay & The hotel:

F.B. & I out back of the hotel where you can see Lake Taal & the Volcano:

F could have pushed me over the wall... but he didn't... aren't I lucky? Tee hee...

More of us:

It was kinda sunny out and we were squinting, haha:

Lake Taal & Taal Volcano:

At the hotel:

In the car (F says I looks Lasing... (drunk...) lol! It's the sun I swear!) & out to eat... and look... they have Banana Ketchup... it's pretty good, they just color it red, haha:

12-31-2006: Today F & I stopped at the mall earlier today & then later in the evening, we took his family out for dinner. It was his mom's wedding anniversary. We went Saisaki, a Japanese Buffet at one of the malls. I had some sushi there, haha. My favorite kind without raw fish, but then some with raw salmon. And other food..I tried quail eggs too... haha. They were like tiny hard boiled eggs. F & I only had two plates each though, and we were full, haha. I only have two pictures. One was at F's house. And the other his sister took of us at the buffet place. They gave away these goofy little stuffed dogs when someone ordered iced tea, so I got F's, haha. He was a purple dog.



F.B. got me a pair of jeans at my favorite store 'Kamiseta' at the mall here in the Philippines. They have rhinestones on the back pockets. I love that store, I'm a small in jeans there, hehe. Tomorrow (Er... today, it's 1am.) is New Years Eve. We're going to church around 9pm, and then having a little dinner thing back at the house here for New Years. F said it's going to sound like a war zone, with all the firecrackers and stuff. It will be 2007 here at 12am- when it's only 11am on New Years Eve Day at home.... and still 2006... weird... haha.

F.B. got a sign on his door now and we took a picture, heehee: