Peter & Maricel update

[Peter Lee]

Not much to say but thought I would give an update for the few who follow these things.   Maricel arrived in Ozamis Mindanao by ferry coz mama didn't want to fly back.  The ferry was 3 days and seems mama liked the trip.  No mention of paying at the window in the Embassy for Fed Exing the passport & visa so we were concerned.   Later we found out that they don't do that anymore, now you pay on delivery just like the K3 package.  I called the Embassy on about the 7th and they said it was sent to the new address on the 5th and to expect it to be late coz of holy week.  On the 13th still no passport so I called up Fed Ex who put me on hold and told me to call back in 30min.     I called back to hear a recording saying they are closed and to call back during working hours.   Maricel says she talked to the post office and they said that Fed Ex will not come to Bansarvil that she should go to Iligan to see if is arrived yet.  One hour later Maricel called and said she got it! It was hand delivered by a carrier.  It was sitting in Iligan for 3 days.  It shows how easy things can get confused and how people around you don't know what is going on.  She sure sounded excited, and she usually never shows much emotion.  We talked a bit and made plans for her to go to Cebu for her CFO stamp.  She is presently on the ferry to Cebu as she was told that the seminar is Mon Wed Fri.   Once that is done she is to go to the Airport in Cebu and inquire about a plane ticket to the USA.   I found that a few days here or there can make a lot of difference in the ticket price.  Any ideas or information on that would be appreciated.  I would send her the money in her ATM account but realize that only $400 can be taken out per day.   But she will be in a pension house and will email me of her results.  She still talks about how hard a time she had at the interview and although she did ok she wished she could have been more prepared.  They really grilled her and gave questions that were difficult to answer using short yes or no.   Out plans are once she has the ticket for the USA she is to have some time to say good bye and then join me here in Orlando Florida.   .  
We have a fresh water canal behind the house that leads to the river.  So I told Maricel we could save lots of money if we shut off the city water and she gets the bucket like at home and gets water for the kitchen, bathroom and shower.   There are lots of crabs and fish in the canal so we will have plenty of bulad and rice morning noon and night.  I ask Maricel if she likes kids?  And she said she loves them.  Good coz the neighbors has 6 of them and will pay us extra if she takes care of them and gets the older ones ready for school.  The younger ones are real cut and she can help change the diapers.  She asked about a cell phone and I told her there is no need for one coz she will be real busy cleaning the house.  Budgeting will be no problem coz she won't have any money.  The good part is that she will get to know all the tenants in my rentals as she cleans the hall and stairways each day.  I told her I did all this for her so she wouldn't feel home sick so soon.
Maricel then said she if that is the situation she is not coming LOL.

But she did ask many times what she would be doing here when she gets here and I did not have a good answer.  Just be a good wife is all I could say.  

My room mate is leaving this week so we will have the house to ourselves.  I planned that all along but Maricel asked if I still had the roommate.  She understood that I did that coz I needed the money and that she was willing to stay with her mama as long as it took till my roommate was gone and my finances were in order.  
No, no, no honey it is alright, I am ready for you come as soon as possible LOL.
Now I wonder who is really in charge here?

Question:
Is the way I am getting Maricel to go to the Airport and finding out the best dates and prices for the tickets a good idea??
Is there a better way?

[Howard]

... in response to Peter & Maricel update, posted by Peter Lee on Apr 17, 2004

P~

If you go to Northwest's website there is an 800 number to call.  I'm with you on the whole "pruchase tickets online" thing.  I want a human as well  I'm lucky because Detroit--Hell Hole that it is --is a POE, so I can have Gerlie fly direct from Manila to Detroit and I can at least be inthe airport if there is a need.  If I'm not mistaken, Dan flew up from Virginia to use Detroit as a POE for Mares. I have never had trouble getting a ticket on NW.  They have daily--or had--flights to and from Manila.  

Think about this.  If you're Mahal HAS to transfer, better it's in the Philippines than America or somewhere else.  NAIA is pretty easy to navigate and there will be plenty of people to help her find her way.  I also avoid LAX like the plague.  If your girl has to come in via California, I would advise SFO instead.  It's smaller and less chaotic.

Good Luck man!

Keep the Faith!

H

[Peter Lee]

... in response to Tickets, posted by Howard on Apr 19, 2004

k thanx

[Humabdos]

... in response to Peter & Maricel update, posted by Peter Lee on Apr 17, 2004

Sallie and I used NW air. I paid for the ticket on line and she picked it up in Manila. $600. Be prepared to pay several hundred dollars more if she fly's PAL from Cebu.
Hum

[Peter Lee]

... in response to Re: Peter & Maricel update, posted by Humabdos on Apr 17, 2004

Hi Hum and Sallie,
Thanks for the information.   I am a bit nervous on buying a ticket on line with out getting to talk to a real live person to guide me on what to do.   I have called a friend who runs an agency who may give me the confidence I need to buy a ticket on line.  Right now I am going to try the primitive method as I explained to Ray.  Cagayan De Oro does not fly to Manila every day and is a 6 hour bus drive to her home.    Maricel took the Ferry last time to Manila and enjoyed it with her mama.   It would be another option if she decides to do it again from Ozamis.  The ferry takes 3 days from Ozamis.  Maricel is in Cebu now but has to go back home to Ozamis to give her last good bye to the family.  Once there it would take another 24 hr ferry ride back to Cebu or a few days wait for a flight to Manila from Cagayan with a 6 hr bus ride.   The 3 days and 2 night ferry to Manila seems like a good option specially if it save the PAL fee.  We talked about the prices together and we have been apart for almost 8 months a few days here or there shouldn’t make that much difference if it can save money and make her feel more comfortable.    Lots of options so Monday will tell what is the best way to go.
Till Later
Peter Lee

[Ray]

... in response to Re: Re: Peter & Maricel update, posted by Peter Lee on Apr 18, 2004

Peter,

She doesn’t have to depart from Manila. In fact, in her case it may be much easier if she flies out of Cebu. That way she will have some family/friends to accompany her to the airport and see her off. That may be very important to her and much easier than going to Manila alone with all her bags and stuff with nobody to accompany her to the airport from the ferry terminal. Have her ask about a Cathay Pacific flight through HK. There are a couple of other international carriers that fly out of Cebu I think.

Don’t worry too much about the ticket prices if they are in the ballpark. Have her go for an itinerary that is convenient for transfers and layovers. Make sure that she has plenty of time at her POE to clear immigration and customs, eat some lunch, and still make her connection.

Ray

[Peter Lee]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Peter & Maricel update, posted by Ray on Apr 18, 2004

I have her on line right now and she is in Cebu and has her CFO stamped.   She went to 3 travel agencies and Philippine Airlines.  All told her it is peak season and all the flights are booked.   They were going to text her this afternoon if there were any cancelations.   The next flight was 30 May for $850 one month in advance.

[Ray]

... in response to Peter & Maricel update, posted by Peter Lee on Apr 17, 2004

Congratulations!

For those plane tickets, it would be much easier if she went to a reputable travel agent in Cebu. They have all the rates and available flights for several different airlines so she can compare costs and routes, etc.

Ray

[Peter Lee]

... in response to Re: Peter & Maricel update, posted by Ray on Apr 17, 2004

Congratulations!
For those plane tickets, it would be much easier if she went to a reputable travel agent in Cebu. They have all the rates and available flights for several different airlines so she can compare costs and routes, etc.
Ray

Thanks Ray,

She is in Cebu now and Monday will go to CFO to get her stamp on her passport.   She already went to her CFO months ago so it should just a matter of getting her passport stamped.   On Sunday she went to the Airport in Cebu to get some idea of prices for a ticket to the USA.   We were both in shock when she was quoted 117,000 [$2000} for a one way.   She was told to go to a travel agency as it would be cheaper with more options but it was Sunday and she as you suggested will do that after the CFO stamp.   I also told her to go straight to Philippine Airlines for a quote.   Our initial plan was for her to get a reasonable quote and email me and I would put the amount in the ATM.   Only 20,000 peso [$350] per day can be withdrawn from the ATM.  So she was to withdraw on Sunday Monday and Tuesday to buy the ticket.   Sounds primitive but it should work.   I looked on the internet and seen prices as low as $877 to as high as $2000 from Manila to Orlando Florida.   It seemed that prices dropped after the 24th of April and get raised on the weekends.   I still feel it is less confusing to her to let her buy her own ticket and let her chose her own time that she should leave.    Maricel wanted some time to say good bye to the family.    

I have to say that she can’t understand why I want to live in the USA if everything is so expensive here.   She was told that having a baby can cost over $5000 and is worried about that expense.  Her suggestion was to for me to live in the PI and use my American dollars so I would not be in so much debt living in the US.   I guess one day I will agree but for now I chose to be free to be in debt in the USA LOL

Maricel has told me she made good friends with some of the women she met in the Embassy getting their visas.   Many of them were handed lists saying they are missing papers.   Others didn't get papers and were told that the Embassy will notify them with a letter of what they must do.   She kept in contact with some of them that came to the Interview the same time as she did.  They have not received any notice yet and no passport.   I have to thank you and all the others who helped make us getting the visa as trouble free as possible.  Raquel had helped her and called her personally on the phone when she was in Manila and reguards her as a good friend.

Look to a upcoming web site for my Total Defense School and a web cam that shows the school in live action.   I have been working on it for a month now and should be ready in a couple of months.  

Peter Lee

[nealt]

... in response to Re: Re: Peter & Maricel update, posted by Peter Lee on Apr 18, 2004

call asian rose travel in cebu and use cathy air much nicer planes

[Ray]

... in response to Re: Re: Peter & Maricel update, posted by Peter Lee on Apr 18, 2004

Peter,

Tell her not to waste her time going direct to PAL! Tell her to shop a few larger travel agents in Cebu.

When my wife got her visa, I let her find a travel agent and pick a date to fly. She ended up taking a Cathay Pacific flight from Cebu-Hong Kong-LAX. She saved a bunch over PAL and the connection in Hong Kong (1-hr) was much more convenient than the PAL connection in Manila (10 hrs). I think she paid about $385 total in late March 2001. I remember that the rates increased about $40-50 on April 1st. A price of $2,000 is insane but that’s what you get dealing direct with the airlines sometimes.

Yes, I’ve seen on other forums that a lot of the ladies who were interviewed on April 2 got admin reviews and requests for further docs. One lady told me that only one girl in her group of 8 or 9 got an approval that day. Maybe that’s your wife?

Yes, let her have a nice despidida (going away) party. It’s traditional. Spring for a couple of roast pigs and a few cases of beer and she’ll love you forever for it :-)

Ray