Kevin's Visit to the Philippines

Kevin flew from Detroit to Seattle, Seattle to Japan, then Japan to the Philippines and landed NAIA Terminal 1, Philippines at 11:53 p. m on November 22, 2013. His scheduled arrival time was at 12:05 a.m, Nov 23, 2013 but then his plane arrived 12 minutes early. I and Couz was able to see him at about 12:40 as we lost contact with each other which I soon learned he has no phone signal here in the Philippines but he had in Japan as he sent me messages yet when he arrived there.

I was so worried at first as we can't see him yet and the time was about 12:30 am already.I checked the lists of plane that already landed and learned that his plane landed at 11:53 p m and that worried me  more thinking he's already there but we can't see him and I'm not even receiving a message from him.

I requested the guard to enter inside where passengers are and he agreed as I explained him our passenger's plane landed 30 minutes earlier and we need to go find him. I'm about to enter when I recognized him  few steps in front of me. He smiled so I went to meet him. We both smiled while he tapped my back which I also did to him. He went next to cousin and tapped her back also. I heard the guard told me ,"souvenir" a few times meaning can we give him souvenir from our foreign guest. I just ignored him and then we started looking for a taxi. A man immediately approached us and offered their taxi, asked how much  and he answered their rate is fixed at $45 dollars (about P1900 @ P43/dollar). I was surprised and said it was too much but he repeated it's the normal rate at the airport as their's is safe especially that our companion is a foreigner.

I ignored him but he kept following us. Kevin then asked me where can he have his dollar changed to pesos and so I asked that man who keeps following us. He pointed the money changer at the other side which we headed next while he keeps following us. After Kevin had his dollars changed to pesos we returned back for a taxi but the guy still followed us. Kevin called me from behind and asked how much will he give as a tip to the man and so I learned that the man asked for a tip. I told him P50.00 is enough which he gave him then he left us as I told him we're not really taking their taxi.

We walked then upwards where there are lots of taxis and when we reached there another man approached us for their taxi. He said i'ts worth P1,180.00 and I felt theirs is better than the previous one and immediately thought of what my friend told me before that it's really expensive to hire a taxi at  the airport. I agreed then thinking Kevin needs a rest as he was jet-lagged and so we should take a taxi immediately.

We rode the van then, which I thought was a taxi only to find out it's a van, then headed directly to Guijo Suites Hotel in Makati. He settled his things and prepared then we went out to find an open restaurant for dinner as our hotel doesn't serve food that late already. We ended up at Shakeys, dined then went back to the hotel to rest. 

We woke up at around 11 am ( Nov 23, 2013) and he told me he needs to call his mother to tell her he arrived in the Philippines already. We asked the hotel for a phone but nothing so we went out and find one that can call internationally until we ended up in Landmark. No phone also so we just bought a load card worth P100 and have him called his Mom thru Couz'  cell phone.We bought some stuff afterwards then went back to the hotel and slept again as he said he was  tired for some reason which I think was still due to his jet lag.

I and Couz woke up at 5 pm and noticed he was already up way earlier than us at 3 pm as he said. I immediately thought of ocean park but hesitated to go as it was already late and the shows are  gone. Thought twice and finally decided to go than do nothing so we immediately prepared and headed next to Manila Ocean Park. We just saw the oceanarium and the penguins as those were just the two available that late time of the day. I felt so sorry for waking up late that we were not able to watch the cute shows such as the sea lion show, and the others. We had a picture taking though then bought some stuffs in there before going back to the hotel. Took a rest then dined at the hotel before we finally slept.

The second day, November 24, 2013 we went next to Canyon Cove Beach Resort in Batangas.

A Visit to Canyon Cove

We visited Canyon Cove in Nasugbu Batangas last November 24, 2013 with my cousin and my boyfriend back then now my fiance. From Guijo Suites Hotel in San Antonio Village Makati we rode a taxi to DLTB bus terminal in Buendia and we paid the driver P300.00 as he didn't used the taxi meter. I immediately asked him to use the taxi meter the time we sat and he started but he disagreed and said we'll pay P500.00. Hearing him irritated me cause we can get there at less than P100.00 thru taxi meter. He is just one of those opportunist taxi driver taking advantage seeing we have a foreigner with us. Not wanting to scold him, I immediately said, "Ok P300 fixed", which he agreed. Good for him huh, that's still too much. Asked where are we going and after answering him , he asked why are we taking our foreigner in a bus ride to Batangas which isn't safe cause he is a foreigner and that we should use taxi to go there. We asked how much just in case and offered us P5,000.00.In my mind was like, "Damn! That's too much!" , we can go there in less than P500. We immediately declined and told him he is too much. Oh well, we  should really be smart enough to negotiate with opportunist individuals out there.

Upon reaching the bus station we boarded first our things in the bus and have my cousin see them while I and my boyfriend went to a nearby Mercury drugstore to buy him medicine. When we returned after atleast 20 minutes the bus went already and Couz transferred to the next bus with our things. We then took the trip to Batangas and fared almost P140 each.  We arrived after atleast 3 hours and took a tricycle to Canyon Cove wherein we paid P100.00 though he charged us P90.00 at P30 each.

We checked in to our hotel which I  booked a week earlier for P3,350 for one night good for a family (2 adults with 2 kids or 3 adults) then we slept as we're all tired in the trip. 

At approximately 4 pm we took our lunch then went out for viewing and picture taking. It was really a great time for us. When evening arrived we planned to swim but then Kevin has no shorts for swimming so we went to Batangas market via tricycle back and forth and bought him one.  We paid the tricycle a total of P200.00 for the back and forth ride. We had a hard time finding him a short as he is a lot bigger than Filipinos and the shorts don't fit him. We returned then swam together then at the swimming pool while my cousin just slept as she was tired and said we'll go out to swim alone so we can bond more without her. Tsk tsk, thoughtful Couz...  

The next day we returned then to Makati.

NBI Clearance in Robinsons Galleria Ortigas

Just got my NBI clearance at Robinsons Galleria Ortigas last December 4, 2013 after 30 minutes only.I went first to Mega Mall as I thought they still issue NBI clearance in there but the lady guard told me not anymore and to go try Robinsons Galleria which I did next and successfully got it. Glad she told me such. I can't really go back to Quezon City Hall and wait whole day as I did thrice before due to long line of people getting the same document. Really hard to wait and have your whole day wasted the fact that there are other places to get such.

Requirements as usual include photocopy of 2 valid ID's. Go there and sign a form, pay P115, have it encoded, then fingerprints scanning/signing, ID taking ,then wait for your NBI to be printed.

K-1 Visa Application

On December 5, 2013 (at around 4 pm) I sent Kevin via FedEx at 2/F Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Avenue Makati City original copies of the following:

1) Cover letter
2) Signed G325a
3) Intent to Marry
4) NSO birth certificate
5) NBI Clearance (for Travel Abroad)

It was worth P1,688.00 and I was told that it will arrive in Livonia, Michigan, USA after 2-3 days as the flight will take tonight of that day. Also asked if their charge is based on the weight of things customers send and was answered yes. P1,688.00 is for half a kilo and below then will just add an amount if more than.

For the other items below like Police Clearance, Degree certificate, and passport I just sent him  scanned soft copies via email. I'm still to send him yet a soft copy of my visa photo thru email as well.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Cover Letter

Dear US IMMIGRATION:

Kindly see enclosed documents to complete the requirements for a K-1 Visa to enter your country for my forthcoming marriage to Kevin [Family Name].

Contents Include:

1) G325a

2) Intent to Marry

3) Birth Certificate

4) NBI Clearance & Police Clearance

5) CPA Certificate

6) Passport

7) 3 Visa Photos

These documents will also be included  with Kevin's documents to complete the requirements upon entry. I certify that copies of documents submitted are exact photocopies of unaltered documents and I understand that I may be required to submit original documents later. For any questions, kindly contact me at [email] or thru my cell phone at +63 0000 (from the Philippines).


Signed,

[Signature]

Name

___________________________________________________________________________________

Statement of Intent

[My Name]

Kevin and I initially met thru an online dating site, Filipino Cupid and further knew each other thru regular chats, mails, phone calls and video calls until we gained each other’s trust and had our relationship in August 2013. We shared stories about our lives, experiences, and etc. It was there how we learned each other’s principles and goals in life. I got to meet and talk to his mother also via Skype and this strengthened my trust of his true intent. He sent me pictures of his family, relatives and friends aside from his photos which is really an adorable thing as I noticed how proud he is to have me. I got to receive greetings from his family and friends then, simply those hi’s and hello’s meant a lot.

We decided to meet personally the soonest and most available time for both of us and so he booked a flight to the Philippines last November 2013 and spent his Thanksgiving Holiday in my country. He arrived in Manila, Philippines last November 23, 2013 at midnight where I and my cousin picked him up at the airport then headed directly to Guijo Suites Hotel in Makati.

The following days we spent time first in Manila like going to the mall and buying some stuffs then had a quick peek at Manila Ocean Park. We headed next to Canyon Cove Beach Resort in Nasugbu, Batangas afterwards. We had a great time together, took pictures and bonded more. We went back to Manila after a day in the beach then had dinner with my colleagues in Makati. Knowing that it was our first time to meet in person, my colleagues asked us several questions especially to him. “What are your plans?”, “What have you been doing the last few days together?” etc. It was a great meeting though as my colleagues were all excited to meet and finally get to know him in person.

The next day we took a trip home to my province Nueva Vizcaya. He met my family specifically my mother, my 2 brothers and my cousins as my dad already passed away last 2011. He at least got to see and know how and where I grew up; what’s our living in the province and how things really are.

The night before our trip back to Manila, he asked my hand for marriage from my mother and after a serious conversation Mom undoubtedly agreed though a bit sad knowing she’ll barely see me once he moves me to his country. He assured her though that he’ll love and take care of me forever and will visit Philippines at least annually or so. In the evening of November 28, his last day, he proposed to me with a diamond engagement ring. I gladly accepted and I’m looking forward to living with him forever.

Sincerely,

(Signed)

Name (hereby states that the above is true)

Date: December 2, 2013