My Son's 3rd Birthday Party: Barney & Friends (Part 1)

We initially planned to have an out of town trip to celebrate our son's 3rd birthday. Unfortunately, my hubby's schedule couldnt accommodate it.  His company will be visited by foreign auditors and they will arrive on the day of my son's birthday.  We decided to have a simple get-together with immediate family (his and my side) roughly a week before the DATE. I can accept a small celebration but I still wanted to have a nice cake for my son and some balloons to liven the place up.

 

To go through the birthday decisions and preparations:

 

1) Theme: Barney & Friends

 

My son likes watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Jake and the Neverland Pirates and other Disney Junior characters. But his utmost fave is Barney & Friends so even though I wanted other characters for him, Barney it is.  Also his 2nd birthday at McDo was a combined Mickey Mouse and Toy Story so these are out.  I was thinking, he will outgrow Barney eventually so this is the right time to have this theme. 

 

  2)    Venue: Dad’s Restaurant, Glorietta 3, Merienda Buffet 3 to 5pm

 

Our wedding was held at 10am and we were so harassed by the early time. Since then, we wanted all the birthday parties/events to be in the afternoon. This time slot availability is a big factor when choosing the venue. 

 

Why Dad's and not another restaurant? Because they allowed us to bring and eat our own cake without corkage. 

 

The buffet set-up was just a little confusing because there’s no clear label where the merienda buffet is and the lunch buffet is still available.  It's also crowded because the lunch and merienda diners are simultaneously going around the buffet areas.  I was expecting lunch should have been finished by merienda time.  Also, they always run out of plates so we were allowed to get plates from their lunch buffet.

 

When we arrived at Dad's 2:45pm to set up, we were met by Pam, the reservations representative who is very accommodating and nice.  Good thing she was the one (hostess) who was there on the actual date.  Initially I reserved the area beside the entrance and they arranged it as two tables with 6 chairs each.  When Pam saw us with the cake and other things, she then offerred us the mini private function room near the door which can sit more than 12 people.  There's no additional cost. The room has two extra tables for the cake and balloons.  And its enclosed so there's added security for our valuables.  

 

It's just unfortunate that when I went there to finalize reservation and check out the place earlier that week, it was Meann who was the hostess. I was asking where we can sit and whether I can add more people to my reservation of 10 people.  She didnt mention they had the function room. I could have had more decorations and a tarpaulin made for the event.  Anyway, Meaan was a little rude and seemed to me she didnt want anyone to eat there.  Good thing I had a lot of patience that Monday and didnt have time to look for another venue that would allow us to bring our own cake and balloons without corkage.

Verdict: If budget is an issue and there are a lot of invitees, the merienda buffet is a good option because it only costs P219 per person (excluding drinks). Sometimes they also have a promo wherein all drinks from 3 to 5pm are 50% off. We were able to get this deal. Im just not sure if the 50% off on drinks is available all year-round.
 

3) Cake: Cakeworks (pickup branches in Paranaque and Makati)

Due to the limited time, I planned to order the cake at Goldilocks because they have license for Barney design.  I browsed their album but I really didnt like how their cakes (with soft icing) looked.  I decided to find another cake supplier who can accommodate a rush order and my budget of P3k. I have two days to decide because Goldilocks need 3 to 5 days lead time.  Most of the popular cake suppliers were located in the North and have delivery charges.  I wasnt willing to pay delivery so I focused my search within Makati only.  Fortunately, in one group buying site, there was a deal for a one layer fondant cake and best of all, it can be picked up in Makati!  Before I "bought" the deal, I called up the number and met with the owner on Monday afternoon.  I was planning to order 9inch only because it seems the best deal to me @ P1400. However, my hubby thought the cake was too small so I ordered the 12inch cake instead @ 2,250 (value of P4,500).  

For this cost, I was told the inclusions and details are: 
a) cake type/flavor options: vanilla, lemon, mocha and chocolate chiffon
b) one 2D topper only, additional topper is P200
c) the edible cake height is 3inches
d) no styro will be put under the cake to make it higher

If I decide to have a two-layer cake 10" + 6",  I'll need to "buy" the P2250 deal and pay additional P1000.  The bottom layer is edible while the 6" top layer is just styro. When I gave this option to hubby, he went with the 12inch cake since the two layers are not all edible.  My hubby is the type who is not too concerned with the design.

 

I changed the red "3" candle provided by the supplier with this green one which I bought at Gourdo's

I bought the colorful balloons at Bestway Divi 

The 2D topper is 10.5" high and 5" wide

The "Happy Birthday" seems to be done by an amateur. It was very obvious on the letters T and Y. 

 

I was told by the owner that there's no styro and the actual cake is 3".

What we got is height of 2"cake with 1" styro plus additional bottom layer of 1" styro

 

In summary:

I did not have time to research on the design, the competitive prices and the best cake suppliers due to the limited time.  But I was happy with the cake dimension, height of the cake and 2D topper.  I also liked the fondant icing, its sweet and soft but not too sweet and hard as the other fondant icing I have tasted.  I also appreciate that this was finalized less than 5 days (thanks to the owner for accepting the order). However, I did not like the lettering, some of the circles on the cake were about to fall off, and they got the flavor wrong. I ordered lemon, they gave us vanilla.

I will still order from this supplier, if they are a much cheaper alternative to the more famous ones in forums I read.  I just have to make sure that I give them the right design and there's enough time for discussions and changes. So I'm not sure if I did get a good deal on this cake.  You be the judge. :)

4) Balloon/Decors:

Really simple decors/balloons because I didnt know we will be given the function room.  If we were seated outside the function room, there is no available area to put balloons, even on the chairs. The tables are also small, a Barney balloon is too big for each table. 

The balloon holder is my son's old milk cans. Good thing also that the covers were made of plastic and not metal. We punched three holes on the milk cover so we can insert the balloon sticks then put crumpled newspapers inside and tied up the balloon sticks to hold them in place. Lastly, we wrapped the cans in bond paper before the thin orange wrapping paper. All the items we used, except for the balloons, were already available at home.  I just looked around and made do with what we have. We started to do this three hours before the party.  I conceptualized but thanks to our helper who assisted me.

 

 

 

5) Loot bags - Yes, there's a loot bag even though we are only 12 adults and no other kids but my son. hehe.

To be continued in another post.

DFA Megamall Passport Application

I had a busy 9/11! This morning, I went to DFA Megamall for passport renewal
then PRC Manila (Professional Regulation Commission) naman in the afternoon to
claim my PRC ID. Whew!

Initially, Me and my toddler had a passport appointment at DFA Aseana for
tomorrow Sept 12. However, just last week I found out from a yahoogroup  (thanks talga
for N@W!) that DFA Megamall is already open so I cancelled tomorrow's Aseana
appointment and scheduled Megamall for today instead. Megamall is convenient
for us because my husband can drop us off on his way to work and can possibly
bring us home around lunchtime as well.

TIME - the earliest time I could get was 10:30am. I overheard some people
before me had a 10am appt and one of the guards also told me that they start at
10am. This is perfect for late risers. Hehe. We arrived just before 10am
(applicants are required to come in 30mins before appointment) and lined up
outside the main entrance door/office. This area is not airconditioned and could
get really hot/humid. Good thing the line was fast moving and I had two fans
with me. One of the employees even told applicants with 11am appt to go to the
mall first and go back at 10:30am bec they had two kids with them.

LOCATION - 7th floor Megamall Building C. We only knew Bldgs A &B. I forgot to
google the exact location and we assumed Bldg C is after or near Bldg B (parang
alphabet lang). We were wrong! haha. We had to walk 20mins from Bldg B back
entrance to Bldg C which is just along EDSA and infront of Bldg A. Hirap talga
magassume. :) Buti na lang we had time to spare and still arrived at DFA just
in time. We rode the elevator (side entrance/not along EDSA) upto 6th floor only
then used the stairs to 7th floor. The lift attendant said hanggang 6th floor
lang daw ang elevator. There's also an entrance / link from Bldg A, 5th floor to
DFA, Bldg C 7th floor. You can use this entrance when the mall is open.

OFFICE - I haven't been to Aseana so I cant compare but the DFA Megamall office
is new, clean, well-lighted, cool (so professional looking), seems spacious vs
other govt offices (although limited space lang). The office is fully air
conditioned. Entrance and Exit doors are separate. The comfort rooms are
located outside the office, near the exit doors thus not airconditioned but new
and clean. Also, there is only one floor here. Maikot mo ung buong office nila
(from verification to encoding) and wala akong nakitang paakyat to another floor
for courtesy lanes. There is also a photocopying machine/service inside the
office. Very near to the processing windows.

PROCESS -
1) The office main entrance guard will check if you're bringing an application
form before he lets you in.

2) Once inside, you will line up at the verification counter (not sure of the
exact name now) immediately after the entrance (right side). There were two
lines during our time. During verification, they look at the application form
schedule, scan the appointment number/bar code located at the top right hand
corner of the application form, then sign on the upper left hand corner where
your appointment date and time is.

BE SURE THAT YOU ARE INDEEED SCHEDULED AT DFA MEGAMALL, NOT AT DFA ASEANA.
There's a different scheduling website for Megamall.
http://www.megamall.passport.com.ph/

You can doublecheck where your appointment is in the Important Reminders List
(page 1) which you better print together with the application form (page 2) in
the confirmation link that they will send to your email. There were at least 3
applicants before us that were asked to proceed to Aseana. Sayang ang time and
effort if hindi pagbigyan tumuloy magapply sa Megamall. If nagkamali kayo, just
cancel the wrong appointment and book the right location.

3) Get your printed queue number from the automated machine which is on the left
side of the verification counter and across the main entrance door. There are
two choices/buttons on the touchscreen. Left button for seniors, pregnant
women, minor, etc. The right button is the regular or passporting (This is the
one I chose because courtesy lanes might have additional cost as some N@Wies
have experienced and doesn't really guarantee that processing will be fast vs
regular applicants).

4) Wait for your number and the window (where you should go to) flash on the
screen in the waiting area infront of the processing windows. When it's your
turn, proceed to your given window and show the number printout, application
form, and supporting requirements. It was around quarter to 11am by the time we
reach this stage.

5) The DFA attendant will ask if rush or regular processing. I chose regular
processing because we don't need the passports urgently. He then proceeded to
fill up the payment form. For comparison, passport will be released on Sept 19
for rush processing and Oct. 2 2pm for the regular processing. The attendant
referred to a schedule beside him when I asked him the dates. Additional P200 or
P250 for rush processing.

6) After all the documents have been approved/signed by the DFA attendant, it
will be returned to you with the payment form. You then proceed to the Payment
window (cashier). There is only one window and no chairs provided here so you're
standing in line. Around 5 people lang ahead of me. Your number printout is
still used here because the cashier will prompt or flash your number on the next
part of the step (Encoding desks).

7) After payment, proceed to the Encoding desks. This is where you submit the
forms/requirements, payment form and have your picture taken/thumbprint scanned.
Thumbprint scan was not done for my toddler. My son was asked to sit on a
cardboard box na pinatong sa chair. It took us five tries because in the first
two shots, my son was goofing around, making faces at the camera. The next two
shots, he couldn't sit still. Haha. Eh ung attendant parang hindi sanay kumuha
ng picture ng bata. Hindi marunong magtyempo. Inaantay nya 5 seconds na
completely still ung anak ko. Duh! Hirap pa kasi hindi stable ung
chair/cardboard. Halos walang tao sa area na eto. And medyo nagkakagulo pa sila
on the number/flash process from the cashier.

8) You will be asked to check your basic information on their computer screen
(name, address, birthdate, birthplace, civil status, name of parents and spouse
(if applicable).

9) Once information is confirmed correct and picture/signature/thumbprints
taken, the payment form is returned to you and this serves as the "claim" stub.

10) If you decide to have your passports couriered to you, their area is the
last stop in the office, near the exit doors. I decided to claim personally this
time.

Btw, I did not see any applicant wearing T-shirt/jeans lang, although hindi
naman bawal ang T-shirt based on their website. I remember dati, they require
collared shirt, etc so I think the applicants (me included) wanted to be on the
safe side. Hehe.

Our appointment is 10:30am, we finished at 11:15am. All in all, the process
took 1hour and 15mins from the time we got there at 10am. They just recently
opened which could account for fewer applicants.

Reilly's Milestones - Jan 25 2012

Another good thing about this journal is that I would be able to post Reilly's developments as well. 

When I went to my sister's studio unit two days ago, I brought my super adorable son Reilly. :) He doesnt see my side of the family often bec they live in Las Pinas while we live in Cavite. 

Anyway, as we went inside the elevator to go down and leave the place, my son suddenly blurted out "Where's Tita Vic?".  He said this 3x in the elevator.  I was so surprised and excited not only because he remembered my sister's name but also he connected Tita to the name.  Its the first time I heard this.  Hay naku, proud mom moment talga. haha.

Avida Makati West and condo furniture

One of my sisters bought a studio unit in Avida Makati West Tower 2.   She was going there last Wed, Jan 25 because the cabinet and bed she ordered will be delivered around lunch time.  I want to check out the place for comparison because I also bought a studio unit at nearby Belton Place (which will be turned over next week).  Will post about this after turnover.

About the Avida property at Yakal St.  I like the fact that there's room to walk around because its an enclosed propery with two condo towers and two small swimming pools at ground level.  There's also a small kiddie play area at the back.  There are two elevators at Tower 2..  I assume this is the same with Tower 1.  Medyo matagal ang waiting period (est 5mins) and probably because a lot of repairs/delivery are going on at the time.  So matagal nahihinto ang elevator at one floor. 

So inside the unit, theres a built in kitchen cabinet overhead and under the sink.  This was provided by Avida, maganda ang finish.  Sa CR, as expected, very basic looking ang sink/toilet.  Problem is na cut by about 20% ung shower area bec nadaanan ng wall/structure ng building there.  So just to maximize the space, my Sis would use the 20% as storage.  Kainis talga.  These type of unit 'defects' should be disclosed to the buyers and sold with a discount kahit minimal lang. If she had known, she would have selected another unit. Now Im worried if the unit I bought had those unit defects as well.  What I like about the unit is there's a view. Hindi kulob ang feeling.  Another condo unit Linear will be put up across her unit. Pero may view pa rin na maiwan.

The cabinet and bed she bought were costum made.  We didnt like how the cabinet turned out to be.  The white finish was bad.  Parang minadali kasi hindi pantay ung pagpinta. Hindi madulas ung sliding doors, sumasabit sa pintura.  Hindi rin lapat ung cabinet doors.  This would have been acceptable if they paid a low amount.  Eh for the price of P18k, they could have found a much better one at the mall.  Buti na lang, the twin size or double size bed looked ok.  It had a more natural wood finish. For the cost of P7k, sulit na.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take pics. Haay.

So its really important to canvass and look around malls for comparison of furniture prices.  Because you will find good buys naman.  Advantage din is you already know how the furniture looks.  Now if you really dont find anything you like, then maybe its an option to have things "pasadya".  Just make sure you hire good ones.  I also wanted costum made kasi i had all these ideas for a bed that I couldnt find anywhere.  With my sis experience, ayoko na.  Ready made na lang muna.

Voluntary government payments

I have been a busy bee this morning.  haha.  Went to three government offices (HDMF, Philhealth and SSS) to file and pay as a voluntary member..  Ive been in this road a few years ago but forgot what to do, the requirements, the deadline, etc. so Im keeping a record of  what I did today thru my journal.

I prefer to transact in Makati bec 1) my previous records/employers are in Makati and 2) the 3 offices are conveniently located along Buendia/Gil Puyat Avenue. 

Dont forget to bring ballpen (faster to fill up forms), at least one valid ID and your ID numbers for HDMF, Philhealth &SSS if you dont have the cards. 

I. First stop:  HDMF / Pag ibig

My husband dropped me off  at 9am.  I asked the lobby guard where to go if I'll file and pay as voluntary member.. He said 2nd floor so went to 2nd floor and queud up for the 'membership' desk.  After 15 mins (3 people), it was my turn to talk to the female employee. I was told I need to bring latest ITR and 2 valid IDs.  I didnt have my ITR with me so I said I'll go back.  And then she told me to go to 4th floor 'membership' desk for Makati 2 members (per their system, Makati 2 is the group where my most recent employer is included based on its address).

So I went to 4th floor, no queu (yehey!) and the guy told me I didnt need to bring latest ITR since Im just reactivating my membership as a voluntary member.  He requested for my ID, searched for my name, asked how many months I'll be paying.  Then he printed one page "Payment Order Form" indicating the months I'll be paying.   Since its time consuming to go back, I always pay a few months in advance.  HDMF contribution is just P100 a month.  You also have an option to pay P200 instead of P100.  I should bring this POF when I pay at ground floor, photocopy the form and receipt before going back to him for filing.  It was still quite early not yet 9:45 am so there was no queu (yehey again!) at the payment counter.  But when I left, I noticed more people are now sitting on the chairs.  After paying, I went to the nearest photocopying service which is at Star Centrum building, the 2nd building next to HDMF.  ONce done, I went back to 4th floor, membership desk and submitted the copy of the POF and official receipt.  He stamped received the orig POF and thats it! Filed and Paid as Voluntary Member at HDMF. Success!


II. Second stop:  Philhealth

After HDMF office, I walked to Philhealth (ground floor) which is beside BPI Reposo and PS Bank. I like walking and it wasnt too far.  1st step, get the form at the desk near the guard.  Once completed, get a number from the guard to queu at Counter/Desk 1.  This process didnt take long, around 10 minutes only.  Unfortunately, since its January already, the Desk 1 guy told me I can only pay January onwards and not December 2011. I said isnt the deadline one month after.  He said yes for employed members but no for voluntary members. BUT I can back pay as long as I can confirm from another window/office if the latest month of payment per their records is November.  So I went to a different room in the same floor. Their records show my latest contribution posted is August.  What??!!! I was so surprised... So I went back to the Desk 1 guy and told him this info, he said probably the contributions have not been posted yet.  So, I need to get a Certificate of Contribution from my recent employer before I can pay.  I should do this by March 2012 if I want to backpay December 2011.  But to be sure, once I get the Cert of Contribution, I'll head back to Philhealth ASAP!

III. Last stop:  SSS

After my unsuccessful stint at Philhealth, I'm hoping it will go well at SSS.  So then I walked to their Makati branch near Petron gas station corner Makati and Buendia Ave.  Did I say I like walking? haha.  Its not that far and the weather was good (sunny but not humid).

At SSS, I went to Counter 10 for inquiry then Counter 3 to get the RS-5 form.  There's a queu, around 5 people but quick lang bec general inquiry lang naman ung counter 10. I also got the SSS contribution table which shows the payment deadline depending on the last number of your SSS #. After I got the form, I just need to complete it and pay at any of the authorized payment centers (ie. banks, SM). But I wanted to know what month was my last contribution before i pay. For my info. So I got the number 1186 for the "Generalist" counters.  I think there were four counters but unfortunately the number being served at that time is 1126.  I was hoping the line will be fast but I waited for 10 minutes before the number changed to 1127 and 1128.  There were a lot of people there before me unlike HDMF and Philhealth.  With the rate the line was moving, I will be there forever! haha.  I was getting hungry and thirsty so I decided to leave and just pay at the nearest bank. Fortunately, there's a bank near SSS, (Bank of Commerce at the Petron station) which accepts SSS remittance payments. I went inside, no queu and paid December 2011 to March 2012. Yes, success!

And you guessed right, I walked to the nearest resto. haha.

First Post!

Yehey! Finally got around to typing something on my online journal.  I created this account sometime in March 2011. After 10 months of complete silence, today, January 5, 2012 is my first official post!  Congratulations and Best Wishes to me! haha.   Hope I can keep this up. :)