Sinhala Birth Certificate FTW!

Nothing will ever say that you are born in Sri Lanka but a Sinhala Birth Certificate.  Check it out!

Yes, it is handwritten.

The process of getting it is quite simple.  The hospital will give you the document and information on where to register the birth.  It is not done in the City Hall as it is done in the Philippines but in an “outsourced” “office” (where we went to was more like a house) that takes care of the Registration of Births and Deaths as well as the English Translation.  Took care of the registration and we were able to get the copies a little over 2 weeks after. 

Today, I also had the documents authenticated by the Ministry of External Affairs Consular Services Division as part of the requirements for the Report of Birth to the Philippine Consulate.  Luna had to stay home of course (they were serving 500+ people and I couldn’t risk exposing my lovely daughter to all the germs that could bring!).  The process was again, fairly simple.  The Consular Services is at the Old Board of Investments Building at the Fort (NOT Bonifacio ok! Haha!).  Head straight to the 5^th floor to get your form and your number.  They will be calling your number to submit your forms and pay the fee (for foreign nationals, it is Rs. 1,000 per form).  You go back to the waiting area where they will release your authenticated documents.  I got there around 8am and left around 1pm.  Quite long but not bad I must say. 

Some tips, the office opens at 6am – I suggest for you to beat the rush (and the heat) and get there as early as possible.  If you are one of the first ones to arrive, your document (sans any problems of course!) will be released only after 2 hours.  If you get there a bit later, of course it will take more time – like what happened to me.  Not to mention there will be more people which makes the waiting room really, really hot (the A/C can’t handle the crowd).  Moreover, there is a cut-off time of 3pm. 

The process is smooth (I’m impressed actually!) but there’s a lot of waiting time so go with a full batt of your phone/iPad/etc. (my iPhone only had 20% of battery to begin with), a book/magazine and other paraphernalia to while away the time.  No worries with bringing food or drinks as concessionaires are there where you can buy drinks of your choice and some shorteats.

As you know, having your own documents enable you to go on more adventures (uhm, you can’t really travel without a passport for example, right?).  For Luna, as she is not born in her “own” country, the process is a tad bit more tedious.  But the process is turning out to be her mother's (and father's) mini-adventures as well. 

Belated Happy Independence Day Pilipinas!

Our National Hero, Jose Rizal (photo courtesy of squidoo.com)

Did you know that our national Jose Rizal came to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) on his way to Germany?  And he thought the place was quite lovely!  Who would have thought right?  It was the Honorary Consul General William John Terrence Perera who shared this factoid with the Filipino community during the 113^th Philippine Independence Celebration in Sri Lanka last Saturday, 11 June 2011.

It was so comforting to see our kababayans (countrymen) in Sri Lanka.  Again, who would have thought the Filipinos here could actually fill a mid-sized ballroom?  They come in different shapes and sizes too!  Doctors, Engineers, Managers, Filipinos married to Sri Lankans, or Filipinos married to other nationalities who have been assigned to Sri Lanka.  It was also pretty to cool to be seated with Sri Lankan Airline Pilots (5 Pinoys that we got introduced to!  That’s quite a lot!) who seemed like they were my dad’s friends (hehe!).  It was also quite fascinating to see families as well. 

In the true spirit of Filipino family, who else to better entertain other than the kids with songs (both Filipino and contemporary) and some dancing (Interpretative Dance of Bayan Ko or the 90’s hit Macarena).  Not to mention the native Tinikling with audience participation.  But the moms and other ladies also made a run for the kids’ money with their high-energy dance number to the tune of JLo’s On The Floor.  It was such a fun-filled event although it would have been perfect if lechon (roasted suckling pig) was served.       

All in all, I was happy to part of this celebration albeit a short one.  Preggy-ness is not exactly compatible with partying.  But at least, my intense homesickness was cured, just for a night. 

If you wish to contact the Association of Filipinos in Sri Lanka, you may e-mail them at afsril@yahoo.com.

Details of the Consulate General of the Philippines in Sri Lanka:

41 Ernest De Silva Mawatha, Colombo 7

2696321, 2522524

philcons@slt.lk

Office Hours from 900am to 430pm

Woes Of Being An OFW

During my last trip to Manila, hubby and I have become officially OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers).  Months before I wouldn’t have imagined that a trip to POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Agency) would be part of the itinerary.  We literally spent the day there, having ourselves registered and getting our departure clearance.  Apparently, all Pinoys need to get registered with them (duh!) no matter if you’re a corporate expat or otherwise and you need to be issued a clearance EVERYTIME you leave for work from the home land.  I understand that controls must be in place to ensure that departing OFWs have the legal documentation, heck it’s also for their own protection.  However the hassle, more so the discrimination is unbearable.  Hassle because for each trip and every trip back home you need to get the clearance documents.  There are drop in and delivery options or you can choose to spend the day in POEA.  You can also get a multiple exit clearance if you are one of the lucky ones who get to go back every so often within the course of a year. 

After getting your clearance from POEA, you have to get it cleared (again!) once you reach the airport and line up in the OFW Exemption line (which is longer than if you’re paying the Terminal Fee).  All the hassle, plus the POEA charges a huge sum mind you (around 6000 grand good for 2 years!).  All the hassle and what do you get in return?  Long lines and crappy (not to mention bitchy) service.  The airport clearance lady was a hormonal biatch but in fairness model employees exists such as the man who processed our papers in POEA.  He had the right disposition, respectful and efficient.  When you think about it, the combined contribution of all OFWs is significant enough to make or break our GNP and this is how we get treated?  

My complaints may seem shallow but it should not be dismissed easily.  Going back to the Philippines, all we want is to experience how it is to truly feel home sweet home.  We do not need special treatment, but at least a more efficient and respectful service fit for our so-called “Bagong Bayani.” 

Missing Home

One of the toughest parts of living la vida Lanka is homesickness.  I don’t get it a lot because 1) I actually love living here, 2) I can cook Filipino food here and 3) ultimately my home is really with my hubby – so when I’m with him, I’m at home.  But you know what I mean… family and friends, and everything else you grew up with is no longer where you are. 

The emotional cycle started on Valentine’s day.  I was in Bangkok for a business trip and serendipitously one of my very good friends was in Bangkok as well.  We met up and I just realized how I missed him and their barkada (close friends).  They are actually hubby’s barkada but back home we go out often – eating out, going to “clubs” and singing our hearts out upto the wee hours of the morning.  When we moved here, well, they were not around.  We have friends but reaching the barkada level is a process.  It was a fun “Valentine’s Date” – we talked about our lives, how our friends are back home (or what he could remember since everyone’s been uber busy) and how the whole fact of catching up happens abroad. Somehow the whole scenario just made us feel old. 

Hubby and I with my funny Valentine during one of the crazy Manila nights

Then yesterday, it really hit me.  Because “my favorite couple” also in the same barakada got married and we were not there.  It just made me miss home a little bit more.  They were not the only close friends we had who got married during the time we are away – or celebrated something significant.  Heck even in our own wedding our family was incomplete.  But I digress. 

Hubby and I with J & M on one of our party nights!

Being away and missing things like this made me feel like I’m missing out on my friends / family’s lives.  Especially those who mean a lot to us.  I’m sure we will miss a couple more.  But I guess that’s all part of growing up.

So to R – thank you for being my funny Valentine! 

And to J & M – we really regret not being there for your special day… when you guys have been with us on our special days… emceeing, singing and just making the party wilder.  But trust that we were there in spirit and praying for an awesome marriage! 

To all our friends back home, we miss you guys!  I’m sure you miss us too!  Haha!  But really, we hope you’ll also come and visit us and see what it’s like livin’ la vida Lanka.

Home Leave

Before it reaches a month since my last post, I’m posting one now!  The reason for such an absence was that hubby and I made our way back to the Philippines for his (and mine!) annual home leave.  As with any vacation, things are just hectic before, during and after.  But it’s the kind of busy-ness that I like and am grateful for.  

Our Home: Mi Familia At Hubby's Send Off Lunch

For one, nothing beats spending the Christmas holidays in your own home country.  In as much as I love Colombo and my life in La Lanka, I just needed to be in the Philippines for the most wonderful time of the year!  The street décor, the endless yummy food (I gained 5 whopping pounds in just a week!), the meet up with friends, the family reunions, the shopping (hubby’s luggage was 25kgs over the limit – how will mine fare against his?) just to name a few all make coming home to the Philippines worth the 7 hour-flight (and a pretty much a whole day’s worth of traveling)!

Second, in as much as being a housewife is a “vacation” from “work” – it is a lot of work.  So when someone else does the things you normally do (and is better at it!), it is heaven:

1) To come home to my parents’ cooking.  Yes, both nanay and tatay are great at it and eating their home-cooked meals gives you that warm fuzzy feeling.

2) To have help with the laundry - I am super grateful for Manang France our laundry and iron woman!

Third, trips that allow you to take a step back from your daily grind are always a blessing.  It is a breather (we all need that once in a while) and an opportunity for you to see things from a different perspective or as they are and reflect on life and whatnots.  And yes, even amidst the flurry of events it can happen. 

As the home leave is winding down, a new year has dawned, I find myself leaving for home again.  This time for La Lanka.

Happily Serviced From Far Away!

I love how many services of our government are getting more systematic and efficient.

Before I left Manila, I had my driver’s license renewed.  I had to change to my married name and I couldn’t go to the mall offices.  I instead went to the QC LTO Branch along P. Tuazon (not the main office) and was finished with my renewal in around 2 hours.  Such a far cry from the old days where you need a friggin whole day just to get your license.  As if you have nothing better to do!

Now, I need to renew my passport.  I just needed to complete an online process to set up an appointment and go there on the designated time (http://epassport.com.ph/).  It seems really efficient – at least they have identified how many they can process in a day and will have to stick to it.  They even have all the requirements listed in the site and indicators of timeline.  Let’s cross our fingers that everything goes well with that when I go home next week!

Part of my requirements is getting my Marriage Certificate from NSO.  Another government office offering awesome service.  I’ve been happy with their e-census application where you an request for your documents online (https://www.ecensus.com.ph/Secure/frmIndex.asp), pay for it in their accredited banks and the docs will be delivered straight to wherever you want it to be.  Again with clear timelines and all.  Well, our marriage certificate happens to not be converted at the time of request – the ramification was it would take longer to process because it would entail some manual processing.  Lo and behold, I got a message telling me about the situation.  With again, clear timelines – albeit a new and extended one.  But I didn’t care – I would still have it in time for my passport renewal and I am not left wondering what the heck happened to it.  Plus they even sent me a notice when it has been dispatched already!  And that was within the new timelines!

So kudos to these government offices!  You are truly giving us the bang for the taxes we pay and making us proud to be a Filipino!  Not to mention satisfy efficiency freaks like me.  Now I just hope more government offices will follow in their footsteps!   

Movie La Vida Lanka

Ever experienced watching a movie for say 45 minutes… then an intermission?  I thought intermissions were for plays only.  Not in Sri Lanka!  Apparently it is a practice to have an intermission in the middle of a movie!  Hello?  What’s up with that?

Well, people go off to the toilet, get snacks, some go home altogether (I think they even sell tickets for half the movie!).  While people who opt to wait it out get a treat viewing print ads ala slide show – yes I am NOT kidding.  Then a few other commercials, this time moving, follow.

Slide of an Ad in Sinhala

Slide of an Ad in English

I learned from S (my Sinhala classmate) that intermissions were usual for Bollywood movies.  I didn’t know Bollywood movies last for around 3-4 hours! I agree for that you do need an intermission!  But not for your average Hollywood movie which was what we were watching.  Oh well I guess Bollywood trumps Hollywood in this side of the world.

The movie house is quite ancient and it reeks of years of sweat that stuck to the chairs and walls.  It feels like watching a movie in old Guadalupe or Cubao standalone movie houses big in the 70’s and 80’s but doing it today.  I have never experienced that but that’s how it looks from the outside.  People put their feet up, answer the phone, talk to each other, not only during intermissions but also in the middle of the movie.     

A Stolen Shot of the Moviehouse During The Intermission

That’s how our baptism to the Sri Lankan movie house experience went!  Movie la vida Lanka!

Cooking Monster

One of the things that made me anxious prior to coming to Colombo is the fact that I would need to cook.  I do not hate cooking let me get that straight.  In fact when I was in high school I enjoyed baking and had a few signature dishes under my belt.  As time went on and I got a little busier with life in general, the love affair with cooking or baking fizzled.  So for years, I had no practice with cooking whatsoever other than the occasional pasta here and there.  And now I’m thrown to a situation where my most significant DAILY contribution would be to provide a meal everyday of the week. 

To add to the anxiety, my husband is some kind of a gourmand.  When he was on his own here, he would cook steak, calamari, complicated pastas, etc.  Plus he has a discriminating taste, not to mention the words he would use to describe something that is just plain wrong (or totally right).  To make matters more complicated, both my parents are awesome in the kitchen.  My younger brother is a culinary genius while my youngest bro has shown potential.  So imagine the pressure.  Of course this is all self-imposed.  My husband nor my family are not expressing great expectations (now is that a good thing or bad?).  Except for one question by my dad: “So, what will you feed your husband?” 

O.M.  (Oh my!)

So for my first week in Colombo I took the bull by it’s horns and transformed myself into a cooking monster.  And these are what I fed my hubby for dinner (which is his packed lunch for the day after):

4 Oct, Monday

Entrée

Sinigang na Baboy

A Filipino classic – much like the Thai’s Tom Yum only more sour than spicy

Dessert

Avocado Salad

Hubby said the Sinigang elements were cooked very well and just right (crunchy raddish, very green kangkong).  On the Avocado Salad, hubby likes it a little bit more creamy so add milk and sugar he did.

5 Oct, Tuesday

Entrée

Naked Burritos with Tomato Salsa and Guacamole

Dessert

Fresh Strawberries with Newdale Yoghurt

Hubby was pleased I think even if it didn’t taste too Mexican as I didn’t have cumin (only seeds in the market and no powder).  He ate a lot!  I personally was not pleased with my Guacamole.  Andy Alberto, please send me an authentic recipe!

6 Oct, Wednesday

Entrée

Grilled Baby Back Ribs with Sweet Corn

Dessert

Cupcakes by Mon Gateau (Sri Lanka’s First Cupcake Shop!)

I did the barbeque sauce ON MY OWN!  It was a bit too sweet though but I guess it’s to hubby’s taste.

7 Oct, Thursday

Salad

Mixed Greens with Pesto Vinaigrette

Entrée

Carbonara Pasta Topped with Bacon

Dessert

Ferrero Rocher

Hubby said the combination of the pesto vinaigrette salad and creamy carbonara pasta was a good complement to each other and created balance to the overall menu.  Of course he is happy that I chilled chocolates for dessert.

Friday and Saturday are my days off and a chance for hubby and I to check out cool places in town (watch out for future posts!).  Sunday lunch was a re-make of our Saturday dinner doggy bag left overs done by hubby.   

10 Oct, Sunday

Entrée

Steamed Lapu-Lapu

(instead of Grouper, Mullet – which in hindsight was more of a broil fish)

Hubby liked it but I like my mom’s recipe for the sauce better.  Plus I could have used a less tough fish.  And de-scaled it.  Oooopppsssie!

The journey to making these dishes is exhilarating.  For a newbie in everyday cooking it was a feat being able to prepare all of these.  From menu planning, to sourcing ingredients, preparation to actual cooking.  Plus, because I was not in my home country I didn’t have the luxury of having all the ingredients.  There was a lot of substitution and making do with what I have.  I had to change a lot of my plans - depending on what the trusty grocery or neighborhood market can provide.  I guess I am not a newbie at that – it’s pretty much what I’m used to at work.  Now I just need to translate change management to the kitchen! 

A week into this I still get excited over cooking.  I live for cooking dinner these days!  It is a foray into something new, something yummy and something I can pleasure my hubby with.  And the verdict?  Nothing orgasmic (yet!) but definitely good enough for everyday meals!  The anxiety over cooking is gone but is now replaced with a simmering passion for crafting gastronomic delights that fill the tummy and the soul not just for me but more so for the people I love.  The culinary adventure continues!