Easytrip Reloading Fees and Processing Time

Here's my reloading experience from Easytrip, ordered from best to worst:

1. UnionBank - ₱0.00 (FREE), instant

2. Lazada -  ₱12.00, instant

3. Shopee - ₱12.00, sometimes instant, sometimes 4 days

4. BDO mobile banking - ₱0.00 (FREE), minimum 1 business day

5. ING - ₱0.00 (FREE), 2-3 business days

6. GCash - ₱12.00, 1-2 days

7. Justpay.to - 3.5% + ₱25.00, instant

 

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If you don't have Shopee yet, you may sign up using my referral code MONSH232 to get ₱100 off your first order.

 

On top of that, you can earn rebates when paying bills via Shopee when you use Shopback. Use my referral code wtseqN or click the link below.

 

If you don't have GCash yet, get ₱50 GCash to buy load, pay bills, and many more. Just use my referral code DWGP8Y when you register.

Download the app: iOS / Android. For more information on GCash, please click here.

GrabRewards Points to KrisFlyer Miles

Grab has recently added KrisFlyer to its list of GrabRewards partners. You can now convert GrabRewards points to KrisFlyer miles with the exchange rate depending on your tier.

Platinum members will be able to convert 11,000 GrabRewards points for 1,000 miles. Since it was just launched recently, there's an introductory double miles offer. Instead of 1,000 miles, you get 2,000 miles until October 31, 2017.

Gold, silver, and normal Grab users can exchange 12,000 GrabRewards points for 1,000 miles. The introductory offer is also applicable for these users.

I converted my points to miles and the transfer was fast. It's not instant, but it took them day. That's already good! 

Tap For More Points to KrisFlyer Miles

Photo from Singapore Airlines

I recently converted my TapForMore points to KrisFlyer miles. The processing time is really fast. How fast? Instant!

Singapore Airlines and iOS Passbook (Wallet)

I flew with Singapore Airlines from Singapore to Manila and vice versa. Before my flight, I used their to mobile app checkin and tried saving the boarding pass to my passbook. While I was trying to save the boarding pass, a problem occurred! I wasn't able to take the screenshot of the error but luckily, the boarding pass was added to my Wallet app!

 

On my return flight to Singapore, I noticed that the option to save it to Wallet is disabled.

Too bad I wasn't able to get one to add to my collection.

Silk Air and iOS Passbook (Wallet)

Too bad Silk Air doesn't have support for iOS Passbook. The boarding pass you get after checking in online is in PDF and cannot be loaded to your Passbook app. I hope they will support this soon since Singapore Airlines has already implemented this type of service.

Philippine Airlines and iOS Passbook (Wallet)

Philippine Airlines doesn't have an app for iOS Passbook but they made it possible to add your boarding passes to the Passbook app! When you use your iPhone and check-in through their mobile site (or whatever link for mobile check-in they send in their reminder email), there will be a logo like this at the end of the check-in process:

All you have to do is click it, save it, and voila!

Philippine City Lights and Urbanization

The Earth Observatory article Bright Lights, Big City describes how NASA scientists use city light data to map urbanization. You can see from the map below which part of the Philippines is urbanized. You can also see how the Philippines fairs to its neighbors:

 I hope one day, the Philippines will be as urbanized (and well-lit) as the developed countries.

Philippine National Railways (PNR) Manila to/from Naga

The Manila to Naga and Naga to Manila PNR services have started last September 5, 2011. Trains leave Manila and Naga at 630PM then arrive to their destinations 430AM of the following day. Ticket price for the family sleeper is 950 pesos per person. Air-conditioned coach with reclining seats are priced at 548 pesos per person.

The Morning Rush for Nov 18

I missed Nov 18's TMR. Thank God for http://cdtop10.blogspot.com/ I was able to listen to the "Top 10 Tourism Slogans for the Philippines (or a Province, or a City)". Being a travelholic, I can't let this topic pass.

These are my favorite entries from the show:

siquijorgwarts

major major phils

go na to laguna

bohol: go to hills

boom mayon, bye bye albay

papaparanaque/papapapampanga (to the tune of Lady Gaga's Paparazzi)

bonggang bongga zambongga

make roro to mindoro

bulacan can

haller baler

pilipinas, ganda mo 'teh

di ka malolost sa malolos

thanks for coming, camiguin (come again)

more asia than malaysia

more incredible than india

more amazing than thailand

make a baby in macabebe

virac you rock

sure na sure ang pleasure sa cam shur

tatatetetititototutuban

weee tawi-tawi

sa marinduque malalaki ang pu-so

Budget Davao Itinerary

DAY 01
0400	Depart Manila	200.00
0545	Arrive Davao
0600	Taxi from Airport to MyHotel (3 persons)	40.00
0630	Leave luggage @ MyHotel
0700	Breakfast @ Taps (must-try!)	84.00
0730	Jeepney to Toril (Eden Nature Park)	20.00
0815	Trike to Eden	60.00
0845	Eden Nature Park Entrance Fee	180.00
1100	Free Snack @ Eden
0100	Zipline	150.00
0200	Softdrink @ some sari-sari store (6 persons)	5.00
0215	Trike to Toril	50.00
0300	Buy water @ Mercury Drugstore	25.50
0315	Jeepney to City	20.00
0400	Check-in @ MyHotel (2 days, 2 persons/room)	1050.00
0700	Dinner @ Iron Horse (all you can + buko juice, must-try!)	114.00
DAY 02
1000	Brunch @ Dencia's Restaurant	214.50
1100	Taxi to Paradise dock (3 persons)	33.33
1130	Ferry to Paradise Island Resort	15.00
1145	Paradise Island Resort Entrance Fee	100.00
0230	Volleyball (6 persons)	16.67
0500	Ferry to Paradise Dock	15.00
0515	Taxi to Gaisano Mall (3 persons)	30.00
0545	Dinner @ Dimsun & Diner (don't bother eating here)	110.00
0600	Buy pasalubongs @ G Mall Supermarket	397.35
0730	Taxi to MyHotel (3 persons)	20.00
1000	Taxi to Matina Town Square (3 persons)	20.00
1015	Whistletop Pub	65.00
1045	Taxi to a bar near Sutherland (3 persons)	20.00
1100	Drinks	150.00
1230	Taxi to MyHotel (3 persons)	20.00
DAY 03
1000	Brunch @ Penong's (must-try)	113.00
1130	Taxi to Bangkerohan (3 persons)	15.00
1135	L300 van to Calinan	40.00
1215	Trike to Malagos	15.00
1225	Malagos Park entrance fee	5.00
	Philippine Eagle Sanctuary	50.00
0300	Trike to Calinan	10.00
0310	L300 van to downtown Davao	45.00
	Buy pasalubongs @ Aldevinco (don't buy fruits here!!)	250.00
	Taxi to MyHotel (3 persons)	13.33
	Early dinner @ MyHotel	65.00
	Taxi to airport (3 persons)	40.00
0710	Depart Davao	200.00
0840	Arrive Manila
	Total	4086.68

New Philippine National Railways (PNR) Schedule

Train numbers with * are cancelled on SUNDAYS and HOLIDAYS

Southbound (Manila–Biñan)
Train #	Origin	Destination	ETD	ETA
101*	Manila	Alabang	0505	0600
103	Manila	Alabang	0535	0630
105*	Manila	Alabang	0605	0700
107	Manila	Alabang	0635	0730
109*	Manila	Alabang	0705	0800
111	Manila	Alabang	0735	0830
113*	Manila	Alabang	0805	0900
115	Manila	Alabang	0905	1000
117*	Manila	Alabang	1005	1100
119	Manila	Alabang	1105	1200
121*	Manila	Alabang	1205	1300
123	Manila	Alabang	1335	1430
125	Manila	Alabang	1505	1600
127*	Manila	Alabang	1605	1700
129	Manila	Alabang	1635	1730
131*	Manila	Alabang	1705	1800
133	Manila	Alabang	1735	1830
135*	Manila	Alabang	1805	1900
201	Manila	Biñan	1820	2015

Northbound (Biñan–Manila)
Train #	Origin	Destination	ETD	ETA
202	Biñan	Manila	0500	0648
102*	Alabang	Manila	0605	0700
104	Alabang	Manila	0635	0730
106*	Alabang	Manila	0705	0800
108	Alabang	Manila	0735	0830
110*	Alabang	Manila	0805	0900
112	Alabang	Manila	0835	0930
114*	Alabang	Manila	0905	1000
116	Alabang	Manila	1005	1100
118*	Alabang	Manila	1105	1200
120	Alabang	Manila	1205	1300
122*	Alabang	Manila	1305	1400
124	Alabang	Manila	1435	1530
126	Alabang	Manila	1605	1700
128*	Alabang	Manila	1705	1800
130	Alabang	Manila	1730	1830
132*	Alabang	Manila	1805	1900
134	Alabang	Manila	1835	1930
136*	Alabang	Manila	1905	2000

Train Sets and Series
Type	Set	Link	Trains
DMU	1	101-102-111-112-121-122-131-132	8
DMU	2	103-104-113-114-123-124-133-134	8
DMU	3	105-106-115-116-125-125	6
DMU	4	107-108-117-118-127-128	6
DMU	5	109-110-119-120-129-130	6
Commex	1	201-202	2

Special Passenger Tarriff
From Tutuban to	DMU Fare	COMMEX Fare
Blumentritt	10.00	8.00
Laon Laan	10.00	8.00
España	10.00	8.00
Sta. Mesa	10.00	8.00
Pandacan	10.00	8.00
Paco	10.00	8.00
San Andres	10.00	8.00
Vito Cruz	10.00	8.00
Buendia	10.00	8.00
Pasay Road	10.00	8.00
EDSA	10.00	8.00
Nichols	15.00	12.00
FTI	15.00	12.00
Bicutan	15.00	12.00
Sucat	20.00	16.00
Alabang	20.00	16.00
Muntinlupa	25.00	20.00
Tunasan	25.00	20.00
San Pedro, L.	25.00	20.00
Pacita MG	30.00	24.00
Golden City I	30.00	24.00
Biñan	30.00	24.00

Source: www.pnr.gov.ph

Enjoy Card and BPI Microtel Promo

I recently inquired about the rates of Microtel Davao and they offered me an outright 10% (9.85% to be exact) discount on their double room weekday rate (from 2995/night to 2700/night). They also have a promo rate for a weekend stay at 2350/night.

I have an Enjoy card and a BPI credit card that both offers 10% discount on Microtel Davao. However, their 'promo rates' will be of no use since Microtel will be giving you promo rates even if you don't have these cards.

Phillipine National Railways (PNR) Train Schedule

Tutuban to Bicutan

0605

0655

0725

0820

1205

1535

1650

1720

1735

Bicutan to Tutuban

0605

0650

0745

0815

0905

1250

1620

1735

1810