Citi Thank You® Rewards Points to KrisFlyer Miles

I recently converted my Citi Thank You® points to KrisFlyer miles. The processing time is really fast. How fast? It got credited the following day! 

They mentioned in their website that the processing time usually takes up to 14 days: 

How long will it take for my ThankYou Points to post to my participating loyalty program member account after I request a transfer? 
For airline loyalty programs: It may take up to fourteen (14) days for the ThankYou Points to post to your participating airline loyalty program member accounts. 

 Good thing both Citibank and Singapore Airlines both have efficient processes.

Prestigious Credit Cards in the Philippines

I saw someone using a metal credit card a few days ago. It was my first time seeing one and got intrigued by it. I searched the internet and found out the guy is using a credit card from United Overseas Bank (UOB), a bank from Singapore.

Metal cards are the next tier of elite cards. Can we still call credit cards 'plastic'?

I checked online if there are metal cards in the Philippines but I couldn't find one. Don't fret though. There are other other cards that can be as exclusive as this for now. We will get our own metal cards soon I hope.

By exclusivity:

1. BDO World Elite™ MasterCard® - by invitation only

2. The Platinum Card® - by invitation only

3. HSBC Premier MasterCard® - must be an HSBC premier customer

By annual fee:

1.  Citi^® Prestige - 12,000

 

2.  The American Express® Gold Card - USD150 (around PHP7,500)

3.  Metrobank World MasterCard® - 6,000

Runners-up :

• The American Express® Platinum Credit Card - 5,000
• BPI Ayala Malls Amore Visa Platinum - 5,000
• BPI SkyMiles® Platnium MasterCard® - 5,000
• Citi® Platinum Visa - 5,000
• Citi^® PremierMiles Visa - 5,000
• HSBC Platinum Visa - 5,000
• Standard Chartered Priority Banking Visa Infinite - 5,000
• Cathay Pacific American Express® Elite Credit Card  - 5,000 
• American Express® Platinum Credit Card - 5,000
• BDO Diamond UnionPay - 5,000
• Metrobank Travel Platinum Visa - 5,000

Globe Mobile Internet Charging Scheme

During Globe's 3G internet infancy, they introduced two charging schemes - kb and time charging. Kb is the default, which costs PHP0.15 per kilobyte. Time charging on the other hand costs PHP5.00 per 15 minutes. I switched to time-based charging of course. I always text TIME to 1111 before I go online just to make sure I will be charged PHP5 for 15 minutes. When the bill came, I was shocked to see a PHP17k bill. What happened to my PHP1.5k credit limit? What happened to the time based charging I subscribed to?

To call their hotline and ask for reasons why I'm being charged  that much is such a painstaking ordeal. They cannot tell why I am charged per kb even though I'm on time-based charging. They told me they will escalate it to their technical department blah blah blah. After days of waiting, I didn't hear from them so I had to follow up. After calling them again, they still don't have updates blah blah blah. 

Two weeks has passed and I decided to go to a Globe business center. The Globe personnel said the same thing that I'm on time-based charging blah blah. They will escalate it to blah blah. I forgot what happened next but I remember Globe reversing the charges.

The following month, my bill is still in the thousands! I went back to the same business center and talked to the same staff. Luckily the guy remembered me. I told him I'm not stupid to switch to kb charging. Why did they introduce this stupid kb charging to begin with? To scam customers? Everything has been sorted out miraculously after a days. The charges were reversed and I'm finally charged PHP5 for 15 minutes!

Fast forward to 2016,  my internet usage suddenly got charged per MB!!! This effin charging scheme is PHP2 per mb (a reincarnate of PHP0.15 per kb). My phone plan is still the old plan and I'm not subscribed to any internet promos. Based on their website:

"If you're not subscribed to any Globe surfing promo, you will be charged P5 for 15 minutes. For a cheaper and worry-free browsing experience, Globe encourages you to subscribe to our surfing promos. Please click here to find the best surfing promo for you."

This is like 2011 again. Globe said I made a request to change to mb charging. But I didn't do anything! Then I remembered I requested for a SIM replacement. They must have changed it during that time. Sneaky paniki! But I also changed SIM card back in 2012 and it didn't affect the charging scheme. I had a hunch that something wrong will happen so I sent TIME to 1111. I'm not sure if the keyword is still valid but sent it anyway just to make sure that I'm on time-based charging.

After talking to Globe, they said I'm on both mb and time charging. How the fuck is that even possible? They won't even reverse the charges. Thank you Globe for not charging me more. You should have charged me additional 5 pesos per 15 minutes usage since my charging scheme is both mb and time.

I think I'm cursed. I'm so unlucky with our telcos. Or maybe they just really suck? Life is so miserable when these telcos are the only ones available. Don't make me start with PLDT. They deserve another blog entry.

FML.

Till my next bill!

Asus K43SV and Windows 10 Update

Long long time ago, there was a free upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7. I quickly grabbed the offer and after the update, my audio isn't working anymore. I searched the Internet for fixes and the suggestions online didn't work for me.

So last weekend, I decided to reformat this laptop once and for all. I tried downloading the iso file but since my Windows is bundled with my laptop, I had to use the recovery provided by Asus. I was expecting my recovery disk would still be Windows 7 but to my surprise, it's Windows 10! I still gave it a go and after a few hours, my machine's OS is reinstalled successfully. The best part of re-installation is the audio! There's sound now! Hallelujah!

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.

Where to Buy Panasonic DJ-10A Nozzle in Singapore?

I always wanted a water irrigator since I was a kid. When I saw this Panasonic oral irrigator on sale at Isetan for $48 (U.P. $69), I quickly grabbed and bought it.

Photo from Panasonic

This thing works wonders. The only problem I have is, I can't find replacement nozzles here in Singapore. I will try scout for these nozzles for a few months. If all else fails, my last resort is to buy from Amazon.

Photo from Walmart

Update (07/01/2015)
I was able to buy the nozzle at Takashimaya. They're selling 2 nozzles for $6.90.

Tagalog Words You Should Know

I received this e-mail 8 years ago and this never fails to make me laugh. Have fun!

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TAGALOG WORDS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

1. BAKTOL – ang ikatlong lebel ng mabahong amoy sa kili-kili. Ang baktol ay kapareho ng amoy ng nabubulok na bayabas. Ito'y dumidikit sa damit at humahalo sa pawis, madalas na naamoy tuwing registration sa school, sa elevator o FX at sa LRT na hindi aircon.

2. KUKURIKAPO – ito ang libag sa ilalim ng boobs, madalas na namumuo dahil sa labis na baby powder na inilalagay sa katawan. Maari ding mamuo kung hindi tlga naliligo o naghihilod ang isang babae. Ang kukurikapo ay mas madalas mamuo sa mga babaeng malalaki ang joga.

3. MULMUL – buhok sa gitna ng isang nunal. Mahirap ipaliwanag kung bakit nagkakaroon ng MULMUL ang isang nunal subalit hindi talaga eto naaalis kahit bunutin pa ito, maliban na lamang kung ipa laser ito.

4. BURNIK – taeng sumabit sa buhok sa puwet, madalas nraranasan ng mga taong nagti-tissue lamang pagkatapos tumae, ang BURNIK ay mahirap alisin, lalo na kapag natuyo na ito. Ipinapayo sa mga may mga BURNIK na maligo na lamang upang ito'y maalis.

5. ALPOMBRA – kasuotan sa paa na kadalasang makikitang suot ng mga tindero ng yosi sa quiapo. Ito'y makipot na kasuotan ng paa, at manipis na swelas, mistulang sandalyas ito ng babae pero kadalasang suot ng mga lalaki, available in bl ue, red, green etc.

6. BAKOKANG – higanteng peklat, itoy madalas na dulot ng mga sugat na malaki na hindi ginagamitan ng sebo de macho habang natutuyo. Hmbes na normal na balat ang nakatakip sa bakokang, ito'y mayroong makintab na balat na takip.

7. AGIHAP – libag na dumikit sa panty o brief. nabubuo ang AGIHAP kung ang panty o brief ay suot-suot na nang hindi bumababa sa tatlong araw at kapag tinapon ang panty o brief sa dingding, ito ay hindi mahuhulog pagkat dumikit na ng kusa sa dingding.

8. DUKIT – ito ang amoy na nakukuha kung kinamot mo ang pwet mo at may sumamang amoy tae.

9. SPONGKLONG – ito'y isang bagong wikaan na nangangahulugan isang estupidong tao.

10. LAPONGGA – ito'y kahintulad sa laplapan o kaya sa lamasan.

11. WENEKLEK – ito ang buhok sa utong, na kadalasang nakikita sa mga tambay sa kanto na laging nakahubad. Meron din ang babae nito.

12. BAKTUNG – pinaikling salita ng BAKAT-UTONG.

13. BAKTI – bakat panty.

14. ASOGUE – buhok sa kilikili.

15. BARNAKOL – maitim na libag sa batok na naipon sa matagal na panahon

16. BULTOKACHI – tubig na tumalsik sa pwet kapag nalaglag ang isang malaking tae. naramdaman ito kasi tumalsik sa pisngi ng pwet ang tubig sa toilet bowl.

17. BUTUYTUY – etits ng bata.

18. JABARR – pawis ng katawan

19. KALAMANTUTAY – mabahong pangalan.

20. McARTHUR - taeng bumabalik after mong i-flush…

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!