My PhilHealth Membership's Up-to-Date

The first month of the first quarter of  2014 is nearly at its end. I flipped over my notepad last night and was reminded of my Philhealth contribution for this year. Before, when I was employed, my employer(s) would automatically deduct 50% of my Philhealth's premium contribution from my gross salary every pay day and the other 50% would come from their end. The last BPO company I worked for was paying me 8,000 Php every 15 days amounting to 16,000 Php in  a month that required me to pay 375 Php monthly by Philhealth as my contribution. Now that I am no longer working, I still continue paying for my membership voluntarily categorized under the Individually Paying Program. Year 2012, it was amended that the 100 Php paid monthly by individually paying members will be doubled and would start by the following year and counting; but Philhealth also offered a payment scheme privilege that if an individually paying member could pay on or before August 2012 his/her whole 2013's contribution in one payment only then he/she will only pay 1,200 Php instead of 2,400 Php to which I availed. Come 2014, I have to pay 200 Php monthly for my contribution.

Paid 200 Php x 6 months for the first two quarters of 2014

I keep on paying for my Philhealth contribution because I can see that my membership benefits are essential not only for myself but for my household as well. Our youngest child was admitted last year due to UTI and because I am a meticulous mom when it comes to my kids' wellness and hospitalizations, I will always opt for a private hospital, an exclusive room, the best pediatrician in the city and branded medicines to be applied to my children. My husband and I would not take any risks at all when it comes to our little ones. We do not mind about the amount we have to shell out when health and recovery is a must. Our hospital bill for three days at General Santos Doctor's Hospital amounted to 16, 000 Php + 7, 500 Php for the Doctor's Professional Fee. We only paid 4, 000 Php out of the whole bill. Aside from my Philhealth membership, my husband had his paid for by the school where he is teaching but we requested  to have it cut-off. Philhealth does not allow double membership since my husband is already one of my beneficiaries. What he is focusing to is his SunLife insurance and his SSS contributions.

For more of Philhealth's programs and details, you may visit them online at http://www.philhealth.gov.ph.

Good thing here is, the bank where we have our deposits is accepting Philhealth payments. I need not to wait for long hours inside the PhilHealth office in General Santos City which is always bursting with people.

Korea's Best Foods in Davao

The only remembrance I had in my thoughts from Korean people is their kimchi. We used to have batches of these tiny-eyed and porcelain-skinned visitors when I was in my grade school years. My father is a minister and we have different kinds of foreigners for mission field trips arriving in the church, those times we were living in a pastoral house (parsonage) so we got numbers of them all throughout. Particularly with our Korean visitors, when they're in the house, we always had kimchi on the table. I wasn't able to eat it when I was kid but when I married Rex, and I started to roam the supermarkets all by myself, I got a hold of a jar of kimchi. It then started my gusto for these chinese pechay soaked in chili powder. I also have an elder friend who makes kimchi that's too yummy for me - it means her kimchi is not overrated with spiciness. Tamang-tama lang ang anghang. Pang pinoy ang level ng anghang.

I've heard Davao City hosts a lot of Asian restaurants. I've already tried Chinese and Japanese cuisine but they're not for me, not for my low-class taste buds. I'm not a foodie but there'd be times I need justice for what I pay. (laugh) Kelangan kong mabusog. Last December, my sister-in-law and his husband brought us to Gomone, a Korean restaurant owned and managed by an authentic Korean (as I say so). I liked their samgyeopsal and most of all their ice-cold coffee! I even asked for a second round. Sure it's a 100% Korean food experience but the dishes were all super-maanghang! I needed to drink a lot of water and stuff more rice inside my mouth to contain my self from firing from the inside! (laugh) The servings were superb though. I also liked the dish that has rice noodles. I wasn't into knowing the names of what they were serving on our table because I was too busy soothing my tongue. Hehe. Maybe I'll give myself another try anytime this year to see if I can fight a good fight of spice.(wink again)

Last weekend, we ate at Manna Korean Restaurant. And here, I'd say I have eaten a lot. Still, I'm in love with their samgyeopsal, they have red lettuce and first time I tried bibimpab. We also had mandoo and kimbap. What I also like about these Korean restaurants we've been to is that their side dishes or appetizers can already feed one - and they are for free!

Side dishes at Manna

samgyeopsal

Here's a few trivia I got while waiting for my dinner at Manna:

Tea in Starbucks is Love!

I was with my husband in SM Lanang Premiere a couple of days ago before his flight to Manila. Since it was too early to go to the airport, I suggested we go to Krispy Kreme to have some donuts and coffee. We only have J.Co in General Santos City by the way. Hehe. Only Americano & Brewed coffee were available at the counter when I ordered and my stomach couldn't tolerate those kinds. After ordering coffee and pull apart muffins for Rex and Kuya Sunny (our driver), I headed upstairs planning to buy latte or cappuccino from Starbucks which is located at the mall's second level . And hey, I saw their new menu of tea drinks! I think it's been three months already since I visited Starbucks in SM Gensan that's why I was misinformed. Hehe. I asked the attendant if what's their best tea drink. She said its their Chamomile Latte. I ordered the venti size and asked for some sweetener to which she gave me two tiny foils of honey. Believe me you, Starbucks Chamomile Tea Latte is one of the finest tea I've ever had in my whole life! (exaggeration applied) My husband and I are tea drinkers and we adore chamomile so much because of its soothing and calming effects in every part of our body. The serving is too generous because the bar girl placed two large bags of their Starbucks Chamomile Tea (exclusive huh) inside my tall cup for take out.