Hello. Sa mga nalalapit na ang pag alis, magshare lang ako ng tips and lessons learned sa landing. Mga bagay na dapat ginawa ko noon before pa ako lumipad.
1. When you buy tickets thru travel agency, call the airlines and confirm if they have already confirmed your flight. Last june i had this horrible experience with PAL and flighthub (travel agency). After we bought the ticket, flighthub sent us an email saying that the flight was confirmed and NO NEED TO CALL FOR RE CONFIRMATION. On the day of our flight, I was not able to board PAL kasi di daw pala confirmed ang booking ko. To cut the story short, i stayed in the airport for almost 24hrs (worst nightmare, i was literally crying in the airport) and I re booked a new flight with JAL instead after 2 days. When you buy tix, please PLEASE reconfirm with airlines. #NeverAgainPAL #NeverAgain
2. When you bring hand carry, secure a sling/body bag and put all the important documents there (i.e., plane tix, copr, passport, etc.) I brought a backpack and very hassle sya when it comes to checking your docs. Sorry first time to travel abroad. Lols. Narealize ko dapat pala sling bag lang para madaling dukutin. Haha
3. This is very important. Before you fly (as early as now if youre planning to pursue your career here), magresearch na po ng mga requirements kasi as what other put it, medyo start tayo from zero dito. Soooooobrang hirap po maghanap ng work na related sa field na pinanggalingan natin sa pinas lalo na kapag walang CANADIAN EXPERIENCE (i got so lucky i found a job related to my profession after 1 and a half months. My friend took her about 2 months and others sad to say was not able to find related jobs at all) so i suggest kung ano po ang profession nyo sa Pinas, search po kayo kung pano nyo sya macontinue dito. For example, kapag po ikaw ay CPA sa Pinas, kailangan mo po magpa assess dito sa cpa ontario para malaman kung ano level mo na and ano pa need mo kunin to pursue your cpa profession here. So dapat habang nasa pinas pa simulan na po magresearch, prepare the requirements at magpa asses para pagdating dito less hassle (hindi ko to napaghandaan before kaya sad life nalaman ko pwede naman magpa assess habang nasa pinas pa. Huhu) Yung iba free assessment, yung iba may bayad.
4. Kapag po nagland na, syempre ang goal natin ay para kumayod so after ilang weeks ng pahinga mag aapply na ng job. Go to the nearest ACCESS EMPLOYMENT office near you. Search the net madami sila office per city ata or district. Not sure. Malaking help po sya sa job hunting SUPER! This is a government employment agency that connects immigrants to different employers/clients. THIS IS FREE, ABSOLUTELY FREE. Madami din nmang mga agency dito kaso sayang kasi kaltas dba. So better try this one first.
5. Madalas itanong, pwede daw ba magdala ng bagoong. Opo, pwede po basta naka check in. Declare nio lang po sa form then tatanungin kayo immigration officer ano dala mong food sabihin nyo lang shrimp paste or whatever ano ba tawag dun. Basta pwede po sya.
6. Magdala pocket money. Yes po kasi magugutom po kayo sa airport pero wag po masyado kumain madami baka mempacho like me. Madami din pwede mabili, pwede magshopping galore sa airport lalo sa japan ang saya. Hahahaha.
7. Magdala po ng mga basic na gamot. Ibalot sa plastic na malupit. Example ng gamot: biogesic, bioflu, neozep, kremil s, diatabs. Always check expiration. ANG MAHAL PO NG GAMOT DITO.
8. Magbaon na po ng roaming simcard (though di na gaano to uso kasi may viber/skype/fb na). Pero mas ok pa din simcard kasi di na need ng internet right? Hindi ako nakabili nun sa sobrang inis ko sa PAL. Hay nako PAL. Meron po nabibili sa airport nun tingin nalang po kayo.
Yun lang naisip ko mga bagay na dapat pala ginawa ko nung before ako umalis. For sure yung iba madami din mashare. Di ko lang mashare ung process ng interview sa immigration kasi iba case ko. Hindi ako under spousal, pagdating ko immigration tinanong lang ano address ko, sino kasama ko and sabi nila welcome to canada - yun lang. Nevertheless, sana may maitulong. Better land here prepared than sorry. Goodluck po sa lahat. Prayers to those still waiting for good news! SORRY SOBRANG HABA. Goodvibes lang
