From Riding the Bar Bus to Dining in Seoul Garden

First of all, Happy Independence Day to all the Filipinos around the world!

My beloved and I spent the day off from work today - not to celebrate Independence Day but to complete the formalities of our Permanent Resident (PR) application. It's also her birthday and we want to spend most of the day for ourselves.

On our way to the Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) building, we rode on a one-of-a-kind bus. From the outside, it looks like your ordinary SBS bus but inside, it's customized to resemble the interior of a bar - a product of creative advertising.


The back seats were fancier but were occupied the whole time so I didn't get the chance to take photos.

The process of completing our PR formalities took less than an hour and we were required to surrender our Employment Pass (EP). Goodbye, green card. In a week's time, I'll be saying hello to your replacement.


Aside from the Entry Permit and Re-entry Permit, we were given booklets about the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA). To quote:

HOTA allows for the kidneys, liver, heart and corneas to be recovered in the event of death from any cause for the purpose of transplantation.

All Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents between the ages of 21 and 60 years and who are of sound mind are included under HOTA unless they have opted out. Those who are under HOTA will not only have the chance to help others, but will also have higher priority on the waiting lists should they need an organ transplant.

We then attended mass to celebrate my beloved's birthday and had a sumptuous Korean buffet at Seoul Garden in Tampines Mall. The restaurant is unique. On the buffet table are raw meat, vegetables, seafoods, noodles, etc. and on your table is a hot plate and a pot of boiling soup base. It reminds me of Kublai Khan but you get to cook the food yourself like in Pepper Lunch. There is also free-flowing ice cream, softdrinks, and Nyonya Kuehs - native sweets that are the Peranakan versions of our kuchinta, puto, biko, bukayo, and cassava cake. They remind me a lot of home.

Nasi Kuning Komplit

It's my Indonesian colleague's 23rd birthday and he treated us to dinner in Java Village at Jurong Point mall. It's only my second time in that mall, my first time being last year when I had my medical examination for the Employment Pass application. We were composed of six persons, each one coming from different countries - the Indonesian celebrant, a Chinese, an Indian, a Frenchman and his Colombian wife, and me, a Filipino. It was fun hearing each other's stories. The Indian is going to leave for a business trip to France this Sunday so the Frenchman and his wife shared about the places he should visit there. The Chinese went to Bali, Indonesia a few months back so she also shared about her experiences there which made the Frenchman want to go there in the near future. I was glad to hear that he's also interested in going to the Philippines, particularly Boracay.

Now for the food, I had Nasi Kuning Komplit which is yellow rice served with chicken, beef, tofu, yam, some spicy chips, and a large piece of fish cracker - a complete meal indeed. The Indian ordered the same, minus the beef because of his beliefs. His, I presume, should be called Nasi Kuning Inkomplit. To top it all off, I had Es Cendol (Iced Cendol) for dessert. Yummy! :)

Road Accident

The bus I was on tried to change to the left lane but the bus captain failed to see the lorry occupying the lane. The sound of the impact made some of the passengers gasp and many peered through the windows to see what just happened. On the next bus stop, the driver disembarked after asking us passengers to wait. It was impressive that the driver from both parties acted so calmly. It was just a minor accident and nobody got hurt. Both drivers made some calls and after maybe 10 minutes, another bus of the same service number arrived. We were asked to transfer to the other bus, tapping out on the first bus but not tapping in on the second bus. In other words, it was a free ride from that point on. So this is how SBS deals with such incidents. The lorry wasn't already there when we transferred so I didn't see how big the damage was to it. The bus' front bumper was ripped on the left side and the housing for the left headlight was gone.

This all happened along Lornie Road and it was the first time I saw an SBS bus in an accident.

10.4 Km Passion Run

My second attempt at being an endurance runner. This time, it's the Passion Run held at East Coast Park and sponsored by Saucony and 100 Plus. There seems to be more participants now than last time. Maybe it's because of the venue since the cool sea breeze and shady pathways makes East Coast Park an ideal place for joggers. Our running tops are blazing red and I can imagine how we probably looked like from above - an army of marching RIFAs!

It's an individual run so I did it in my own slow and steady pace. Result: 10.4 Km in 1 hour 31 minutes and 42 seconds.

Viva La Vida

I can't get enough of this song. It was used as the opening music for my best friend's wedding video and the catchy and rhythmic instrumentals just keeps going in my head.

Loved it the moment it reached my ears.




Viva La Vida by Coldplay

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become

Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world