TOKYO TREAT Subscription Box: MARCH 2019 (Spring Market)

As if I still have that Japan trip hangover… I paid for a Monthly Subscription Box that contains Japanese Snacks (and a drink!) that ships from Japan. I’ve been checking out three boxes with the same theme but decided to go with Tokyo Treat first because of the drink! See photos below!

It took exactly 2 weeks and 6 days before I laid hands on this box of bites — I ordered this on 10th of February and was shipped from Tokyo to Doha on the 12th. I received a message from Qatar Post saying that I have a parcel ready for pick-up by the 3rd of March.

Upon standing at the window for the standard procedure for claiming, I have laid eyes on a neon orange box sitting on the shelves behind the personnel that I’m talking to. So it wasn’t only me!

I was so ecstatic to open it and I did right away… once I got home.

It comes with the booklet that contains a list of what’s inside the box. I was actually surprised by the number of items although I’ve known a long time ago that it contains twelve (12) full-sized snacks and a drink – I don’t know; maybe because on photos, when the contents are laid out, it feels less? But really, I can’t eat all of this in one sitting!

Unboxing with Gudetama…

The main reason why I subscribed to Tokyo Treat was the beverage that comes with the March 2019 box: Coca-Cola Peach!

I’ve already consumed my part and shared it with friends since they are all curious about it. It tastes and smells good! I like how it is a subtle Peach flavour, but also not overpowered by the typical coke.

As of writing, I still have a lot left inside the box. I would update this post from time to time to share with you my thoughts on some snacks below.

SNACK REVIEW:

• Peach Coca-Cola
  The beverage I was waiting for. The Peach is subtle, which is nice because I wouldn’t want an overpowered cola. I hate to admit it, but, I was saving every bit of it.
• LOOK a La Mode Party Pack
  Too many chocolates! It’s coffee-table-good, especially the Almond and Pineapple filling. The other item that you could receive if not this, is the Banana Omelette Cakes which I would love to try for it looks quite tasty. (They randomly put either item to boxes.)
• Buttery Salted Sweet Potato Chips
  Good flavoured chips! The Butter and Salt combo is so good that I finished the snack in one sitting.
• Minions Chocolate Wafer
  My 3-year-old cousin would looove this because he’s an avid fan of minions. It comes with a sticker that I placed in my Hobonichi journal.
• Curry Corn Snack
  Too airy.
• Pokemon Sun and Moon Cookies
  Honestly, I was expecting a little “meh” on this. BUT I did not expect it to be soft and chewy-good!
• Rice Puff Carrot
  I love me a good nibbles while watching Netflix.
• Pineapple Candy Gummies
  Took too much effort in removing the gummies from the packaging as it was so sticky.
• Pea Stick Snack
  If you know Snacku in the Philippines, this is similar to that but less salty and crunchy. More on the the rubbery side.
• Ramune Candy
  Melts in your mouth. Flavour is weird but addictive-weird.
• Split Pea Snack
  I wish I had received the Veggie Potato Stick Share Pack because I already have a Pea flavoured chips in the same box. Now I have five (5) of them because the share packs comes in four (4) packs. They taste almost the same.
• Exciting Animal Soft Candy DIY Kit
  Each month, Tokyo Treat includes a DIY candy snack in their box — and for my first DIY candy ever, I did not realize I can put together a cute snack without eating it halfway. I got the Elephant and Rabbit set of mould where you will put the Strawberry and Lemon-flavoured soft candies. Please see the gallery below for my DIY Candy creation!
• Bear Cub Gummies
  Typical flavour of gummy-bears, in a tiny pack.
• Terikyaki Burger Umaibo
  I like that every box comes with a single Umaibo in different flavour each month and for my first Umaibo with Tokyo Treat, I am impressed with the flavour (however, I did not enjoy that much because it was crushed inside my bag en route to the office.)

• 

  Pokemon Sun and Moon Cookies

• 

  Pokemon Sun and Moon Cookies: All the cookie packaging I received — I got a Pikachu packaging!

Advertisement

Japan Visa Application Experience in Doha | Filipinos with (partial) guarantor

Luckily, before 2018 ends, I have something to share with you!

I am going to Japan!!!

It is one of my ultimate childhood dreams — to set foot on the places I have seen on my favorite anime shows when I was a cute (’til now lol) little girl and experience Japanese culture and cuisine first hand inside にほん！

While preparation is under way with the final itinerary and shopping for winter clothes, I made a decision to post my own experience to share with you guys how I go my temporary tourist visa application approved in the State of Qatar.

This post is of best help to Filipinos residing in Qatar (with Qatar ID) as you can not apply in the Embassy of Japan in Qatar without the QID.

VISA APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

A List of Basic Documentation to be Submitted for Applications for Visa for “Temporary Visits” (Foreign Resident)

I would like to refer you first to Ms. MI’s guide on her own experience — which is really a big, big help in obtaining the visa requirements that helped me personally. You can read her guide here.

I prepared everything in Ms. MI’s list of requirements, except, I had a special case: I just had my bank opened in Qatar last September 2018 and I applied this month, December. Which will only give me a total of three (3) months to present to the consul. I am also under family sponsorship and not under the company I am working for.

One of my friends who also applied last April of the same year, suggested to e-mail the Japan Embassy in Qatar – as they are very responsive! I was advised by the embassy to get my sponsor to be my guarantor.

I originally did not plan on applying with a guarantor, but I complied and prepared the following additional documents:

• Sponsor’s Passport Copy
• Sponsor’s ORIGINAL Cover Letter from his company
• Sponsor’s ORIGINAL Bank Statement for the last six (6) months
• ORIGINAL Letter of Guarantee from sponsor

JAPAN EMBASSY IN THE STATE OF QATAR

Well, here — I went to the wrong embassy. By “wrong,” I meant old embassy. I was redirected by a staff readily at the gate, holding a map, to the New Diplomatic Area. (Honestly, I have been aware months ago, by the same friend who applied earlier this year, that you are supposed to ride a bus inside a compound of embassies to get there but I thought it was in the same area where Google Maps will take you when you search for the embassy…) In case you are like me who had no idea where the New Diplomatic Area is, see the map at the end of this post.

You have to undergo security scanning at the main entrance then you will ride a bus that loops around the compound. Japan Embassy is the second stop after Korean Embassy. At the gate, you will be asked to leave your ID and mobile phone and will be given a pass in exchange. I then proceeded to the Consular Section.

I was really hoping that I could submit the papers in one go; but I was asked to come back with more additional documents.

On a side note, it is very calming inside the embassy. You can read pamphlets about Japanese culture and tourism, as well as information about their activities in Qatar.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS

Right away, I prepared the needed additional documents:

• Copy of Qatar ID (QID) of my sponsor/guarantor
• ORIGINAL Salary Certificate of the guarantor

I initially submitted an employment certificate without the salary. Even though the salary is reflected in the bank statement, the consul required it to be stated in the company’s cover letter.

• Birth Certificate of applicant

I have to prove my relation to my guarantor, who is my father, hence the requirement.

• Proof of income (to make up the missing three (3) months)

Copy of pay slips for June – August 2018 and/or letter stating that I received cheques for the said months. Our office gladly helped me on this — they revised the cover letter with an additional comprehensive list of salary for the last six (6) months and how they handed it to me, together with attached copy of pay slips.

• I also forgot to sign the visa application form (lol)

APPROVED!

I went back to the embassy with my requirements (together with the additional requirements asked by the consul) and re-checked if I had signed the Visa Application Form this time.

I patiently waited for ten (10 minutes) before the consul called out my name and handed a receipt or claim slip. He then proceeded to give me the copy of my bank statement and asked for a written explanation on a few deposits. I wrote directly on the statement copy.

I went back after three (3) working days and claimed my passport with my Japan Visa! Yay!!!

I cannot wait to experience Japan and share it with you; I hope this experience could help some of you who are also planning to apply for a Japan Tourist Visa in Qatar. Good luck!

REFERENCES: Embassy of Japan in the State of Qatar

• Address:　Al Shabab Street, New Diplomatic Area, Onaiza, Doha, State of Qatar P.O. Box 2208
• Tel: (+974) 4440-9000 [24h]
• Fax: (+974) 4029-3655
• e-mail:　eojqatar@dh.mofa.go.jp
• Website: https://www.qa.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/link.html

• Office Hours:

  7:15 – 16:00 Sunday to Thursday (During Ramadan 8:00 – 13:30)

  Consular Section 7:30 – 15:00 (During Ramadan 8:30 – 13:30)
  VISA Application 7:30 – 12:00 (During Ramadan 8:30 – 12:00)
  VISA Collection 10:00 – 15:00 (During Ramadan 10:00 – 13:30)

  Closed on Friday, Saturday 

For the location of the New Diplomatic Area, please refer to the map below:

Blog Revamp?

Hello.

(I am actually lost for words since I checked the last time I posted here was July 2017. What.)

I am very, very good at starting things and then slowly burn out… and leave most things stagnant. I actually just realized this when my boyfriend asked me to take a personality test using Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. The result says that I’m an “Advocate” (INFJ-A). Photo below is the result of my third try. Every test result in different (and gradual) percentages per trait but ends up with the same personality type.

This personality is unique that it’s composed only by one(1) percent of the population. And one of the weaknesses of this personality is Burn Out. What a great segue, isn’t it? I don’t want to go on about my personality type and make it as an excuse for not maintaining this place but I actually want to– it’s… actually one of the rea– kaliwali (never mind.)

Anyway, about this blog’s future…

This earl on the web has been my personal niche to record my “hair-ventures” and lately had been swerving into more practical matters, like board exams and document processing in the Philippines. I know it’s kinda out of line, but it’s my blog and its main purpose is to share and help – be it hair or paper.

I am planning to go premium here on WordPress once I get the gist of laying out topics regularly. That’s my idea of getting a revamp, you know, actually making this place active, creating quality content, finding my blog style, and decent photos! And I kind of don’t want to give up “iamdeying” as my domain. Or should I?

By the way, I am wearing my natural hair color for eight (8) months now. I also don’t have the luxury of time to dye since I’m working on a few projects as a freelance architect whilst looking for a day job, so I cannot post actual (crazy) hair color tutorial with photos of my hair anytime soon. Unless there’s someone here in Doha who’s willing to be featured in my – uh, never mind, this blog still needs a lot of cleaning, babe.

See you on the future posts.

DFA Authentication “Red Ribbon” for COE (Certificate of Employment) and Seminar Certificates

I am sharing and speaking from my experience when I applied for DFA Authentication of my COE.

Before going to DFA, you have to notarize your certificate, then go to the RTC.

I went to Manila City Hall RTC to process my COE (Certificate of Employment) and one of my Seminar Certificates since I have to drop-off other documents at DFA NCR West (5/F SM Manila) right after.

Reminder: Apply at the RTC branch where your document was notarized. If you notarized your document at Manila, send your documents at RTC of Manila.

There’s a lot of affidavit–notary right below the Regional Trial Court Manila (RTC Manila), just prepare at least one (1) photocopy of each certificate before going in because each copy costs 2.00 PhP. I was asked for my PRC ID and where it was applied.

Process (45 minutes) & Claim (3 days):

1. Present documents to be notarized (photocopy) at the lawyer’s office and let them create an affidavit. 

2. The photocopy will then become attachment/s to that affidavit. They will notarize it. PHP 200/document

3. Go to Manila Regional Trial Court (Rm. 401 Manila City Hall)

4. They have templates for the authentication ready to receive your name (thru typewriters.) PHP 25.00/ document

5. You will then be given a Claim Stub

6. To be passed at Window 4 outside room 401. PHP 75.00/document

7. Go back after three (3) working days.*

*Working days: Mon-Fri, holidays not included.

8. Bring the claimed document to DFA for authentication.

Click here for DFA Authentication Process.

DFA Authentication “Red Ribbon” at DFA NCR West SM Manila

I am sharing and speaking from my experience when I applied at DFA NCR West, 5/F SM Manila, near Manila City Hall.

Before going to any DFA Branch, prepare your documents plus a photocopy of your ID.

I entered the DFA Authentication area at about 11:22am and out at 12:05pm, including the line and the walk in and out of the passport processing area’s cashier. 

Process (45 minutes):

1. You will be asked to turn off your phones before entering, so do so beforehand. Cameras and food are also prohibited.
2. Present your documents at the entrance of DFA upon inspection.
3. You will be asked if you want Express (1 working day) or Regular (4 working days) processing.
4. The inspector will hand you the form for the type of process that you prefer.
5. There are three (3) rows of seats where all of you will be seated whilst filling up the form. (It moves so be considerate to all people behind you).
6. On your turn, present the form, photocopy of ID, and documents for authentication.
7. Once document/s are verified, you will be given four (4) copies of what would be your receipt/claim slip.
8. Go out of the authentication processing area and go to the passport processing area cashier.
9. Present the slips at the cashier and pay the required fee: Express (PHP 200/document); Regular (PHP 100/document). Prepare exact amount as much as possible.
10. Cashier will give you back the two (2) slips. A pink and a blue one.
11. Go back to the authentication area and drop the pink receipt. Keep the blue one as your claim slip on the release date.
12. Express processed documents can be claimed the next working day. 
13. Regular processed documents can be claimed on the fourth (4th) working day from the date of application.

Saturday Haul x Raspberry Ombré

On our way to Escolta on a Saturday, I asked my good friends if we could stop by at Hidalgo St. in Quiapo to buy my hair staples.

I immediately went to the stack of Sunbright Series but apparently, they don’t have stocks on all the colors I’ve picked… but ate went and suggested another brand with the colors I was looking for. Lo, and behold, the new name on the shelves: Toni&Guy Color Cream.

Toni&Guy Color Creams; 6% Sunbright Series Developer

Toni&Guy Color Cream Tubes

Blue Toni&Guy Color Cream

3 minutes after mixing Blue Toni&Guy color cream with developer

10 minutes (halfway through dyeing my hair) after mixing the Blue Toni&Guy color cream with developer

As you guys would know, I’m refraining from bleaching my hair too often because mine gets brittle easily. So, my hair color before applying these products is green-ish grey (kind of similar to seafoam green) and you might be expecting another result, but in my humble opinion, these type of hair dyes are too strong that the shade color is not considered a factor, as long as it’s light enough to show pigment.

My point is, you don’t have to re-bleach your hair every time you want to change colors, because, aside from it takes another 60+ minutes from your time, it damages the hair more. Fade it out until it’s too light and apply colors above it.

Before application

I dyed the upper half of my hair with the blue and waited for 30 minutes before I washed it. I used the leftover dye to quick-wash the lower half of my hair to give it a light shade of Blue.

This is to achieve the Purple color once the Red pigment is applied. Red + Blue = Violet.

Red Toni&Guy Color Cream

Last Application: Red Toni&Guy Color Cream

I left the Red for 20 minutes and washed with Shampoo & Conditioner. I actually slept in while my hair was (air)drying.

Next day after wash.

Next day after wash.

Next day after wash.

 

This is one of the color combinations that I’ve never been bored of… in its lifespan. It lasted for about two and half (2.5) weeks with bathes using shampoo every day.

Do you think I should dye my hair again in this color gradient?

 

How to: Prepare for PRC’s Architect Licensure Exam (ALE)

Original post dated on 1st of May, 2017.

This is not a hair-related post, nor did I managed to land on the top ten examinees which is what you may be looking for; still, I was hoping I could help the reviewees/examinees in a way I could. I want to share my experience in preparing for the Architect Licensure Exam. Here’s what I did and how — I think — you should do it.

I came up with three phases that I would like to call “Grab, Aim, & Shoot” which represents the whole process: from day one of preparation up to the last day of exams (and even waiting for the results. Yay.)

Grab your requirements.

Grab all the necessary lessons, equipment, materials, and friends! This phase is as important as your aiming stage. It actually works side-by-side.

Stationery! Anything cute that you could buy to help you, like notebooks, pens and sticky notes with colors that could get you working up, organizers, – and calculator. Get the one that you are familiar using for this should help you get your way through the problem solving. Make sure you put these supplies into use!

Stock up on a few No. 2 Mongol Pencils, Eraser, Sharpener, short brown envelope, short plastic envelope – you will be needing these during application, and the day of exams itself.

Requirements! I suggest you work on your requirements for PRC application while, say,  waiting for the copies of your review materials or while taking a snack break from your review. Because personally, I had one or two problems with the requirements.

Here’s the list of documents which I personally submitted to PRC:

• Printed Application Form (PRC Online Appointment)
• Birth Certificate*
• NBI Clearance*
• Transcript of Records (TOR) – Photocopy*
• Diploma – Photocopy (CTC)*
• Cedula*
• Passport Size Photo with nametag**
• 2 x 2″ Photo (Softcopy)**
• Logbook***

* Birth Certificate can be requested from the National Statistics Office (NSO) or Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – this should be the easiest document to acquire.

* NBI Clearance can ba obtained from a wide selection of branches of NBI offices. As of writing, they are now implementing the “No appointment, no processing rule.” Click here to set an appointment for NBI Clearance. Pick the date you are available, preferred NBI branch, submit, take note of your reference number, pay online (or through their partners; I always choose Bayad Center and pay for it through LBC Branches inside Robinson’s), print application form (not required), proceed to the NBI office.

* Request for your Transcript of Records (for board exam purposes; this TOR must have a photo of you printed on it) from your Alma Mater.

* It also depends on your school how many days (or weeks) they need to process your request/s – and while you’re at it, find your Diploma! This is where I had a minor delay: it was not clear that you have to get a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Diploma.

* You do not have to request for a CTC  of the TOR, only the diploma is required to have a Certified True Copy.

Just to make sure, what I did was, I made photocopies of both my TOR and Diploma and requested UST for CTC (165.00PHP/document.) I claimed it 5 days from date of payment.

UPDATE (May 06, 2017) My friends who are going to take the board exams this June 2017 said that they were not asked for a CTC of the Diploma, upon submission of the requirements.

 

* Cedulas are available inside the PRC Compound. (5.00~7.00 PHP/Cedula) — you will need the Cedula No. for the online application.

** Get your photo taken within 6 months before the date of application.

** You need a 2×2″ (or larger) soft-copy of your photo: you will be needing this for the online application — choose your best photo because this will be the photo on your license! 

** You also need at least 3 copies of the passport size photo with your name on it.

** Photos must be sharp and clear. White background. Hair away from the face. Do not smile showing your teeth. No accessories. No eyeglasses. Also, wear something clean and with collar, or you could ask the studio to edit your clothes (most studios, if not all, already have templates for that.)

*** You can get your Logbook of Diversified Exprience in Architecture (LDEA) or “Logbook” from the UAP National Headquarters. Office Address: 53 Scout Rallos Street, Diliman, Quezon City, 1103, Metro Manila.

*** Detailed instructions and procedure are stated in the Logbook.

*** You will need a minimum of 3,840 hours of experience before you could take the exam – I’m assuming you already know this.

*** Filling-up you LDEA may take up a few (or a lot) of your preparation time – depending on how you keep the records of your activities within a project.

Luckily, the firm I was in has this weekly accomplishment report that we turn in every week and they compile it for us, which later on, we can request a copy when we are about to apply for the board exams. I also have a personal notebook (that I exclusively use for work) where I record my progress and agendas daily, so I did not have a hard time when I was tabulating my hours. If you can have a great recall of the things you’ve done from day one, then you’re fine.

*** Tabulate your hours per project until you reach the minimum required no. of hours.

*** Make a summary of the total no. of hours for each FOP. If you have two mentors or more: One (1) summary for each mentor and a separate overall summary.

*** The logbook comes with only four (4) pages of DT FORM 002 and you may need more. If you have two or more mentors, then you will be needing an affidavit for each mentor plus a page for the overall summary. Make duplicates of the necessary pages and just insert it. Do not staple or puncture in any way.

*** Fill-up the page nos. (at the upper right corner of DT FORM tables) so you can avoid missing pages.

I could answer more of your questions on how to fill-up your logbook; just send an e-mail.

*** Once completed, make sure your mentor has the following ready:

• Photocopy of mentor’s PRC license, Professional Tax Receipt (PTR), and IAPOA Certificate (preferably in one paper, with 3 specimen signatures and seal)
• Mentor’s Cedula No. (needed for filling up the mentor’s details in the logbook)

*** To date, the college dean’s signature is not required. (But better if you have yours signed. Your college dean will show his support!)

*** You can have the affidavit (last page of your logbook) notarized inside PRC Compound (50.00 PHP/affidavit/mentor.) Just ask the information counters.

Click here for the sample LDEA.

Hair Chronicles: Hair Update + Blue Grey Tip

It has been months since I posted an update or anything on this blog! The thing is… priorities smacks me in the face. Every. Day. I currently have responsibilities on a certain non-profit organization in line with my career, and at the same time, I’m enrolled at a review center in preparation for the licensure exams next year. 
But guess what I haven’t lost time to deal with? Hair color!

However, no, not really. As you would see on the following photos below, I have almost 5″ long roots. I’ve been busy that long and I did not have the luxury to dye my hair. The very last time before this post would be 2.5 months ago, during the Master Plumbers’ Oathtaking, in which I just covered my hair with Enchanted Forest, without bleaching my (already showing) roots.

Bleached once (which turned out to be uneven/pictured below) and topped with a layer of Bremod hair color tube in Blue mixed with a generous amount of white conditioner. That mix gave me a silver-y blue.

3-4 days after application, daily washing.

3-4 days after application, daily washing.

After application. Bleached once, blue generic permanent dye with conditioner.

I’ll let you in the not-so-secret tip; bleaching a jet black hair would give you a golden brown kind of color, if not bright yellow-orange — then, given that you’ve been taught Primary colors since Pre-school, you should know that yellow + blue would give you green. And digging more into the color wheel, violet neutralizes yellow.

From my experience, overtly neutralizing yellows gives you Silver. Hence, – you do the math.

1.5 – 2 weeks after application, toned roots, hair color back to washed up teal.

1.5 – 2 weeks after application, toned roots, hair color back to washed up teal.

1.5 – 2 weeks after application, toned roots, hair color back to washed up teal.

Hair Chronicles: Back To Blue with Sunbright Series and Bremod + Bleach Powder

Not the first time I experienced disappointment with this type of hair dye that comes in tubes. But then, I bought it for a very low price that it feels like I don’t have much right to complain about it not being Violet, but Brown. Happened twice, thus, I will never consider purchasing Violets from its line anymore.

I want to get back to Blue just in time for two major upcoming events this month. A party and our company outing. So I’d gone past through the staged set-up for the last Miting De Avance that’s setting up at Plaza Miranda and bought a new bleach powder, and a Blue and Silver Ash color tubes.

The bleach powder is greater than the first two tubs I’ve tried. I think it’s milder in terms of processing or frying your hair.

I did a little experiment with the colors

I emptied the remaining Bremod color tube I used before, in Blue, for my roots and Sunbright’s Silver Ash for the lower part of my shaft.

I was trying to mix in a Blue-ish Grey as a result, but then I realized I just put in way too much of Blue that it overpowered the Silver. I like the result though, I just think it would have been better if the Blue was on a lighter note (— anyway, you’ll just have to wash your hair thoroughly with shampoo to fade it out faster.

Here’s a stack of photos of my now blue Ombre hair:

The next day (washed twice).

The next day (washed twice).

The next day (washed twice).

The next day (washed twice).

Get That Blue Hair for Less than 100 Pesos

Backstory

I stocked up for my hair color supply needs from Quiapo. As per usual: I dropped by so I could get cheaper products that works just the same.

My hair has been through a lot and currently washed out from my previous Manic Panic© Cotton Candy Pink™ (it lasted only for about 2 weeks) over a bleached hair at about level 8 blonde.

I decided to try the color that I’ve long been planning to wear, which is Blue-blue. From experience, these color tubes (which costs around 35-45 pesos/piece) would do the trick. It always depends, of course, on your hair situation!

The process

I just want to warn you about its difference with semi-pemanent jar dyes, which you can put on directly to your hair; because these color tubes similar to these requires developer to process, and developers are oxidizers, and oxidizing damages your hair. Also, developers contain ammonia: it smells so bad that you should work with your hair in open air.

Prepare your tools. Find a well-ventilated room. Call a friend!

Mix 1 part dye with 1 part developer. (1:1) I used 9% (30 Vol.) developer.

    
  

This certain color develops so fast that it will turn Royal Blue before you get to the next section.

After applying it, I let it sat for about 15 minutes and washed it with shampoo (to thoroughly remove excess chemicals, I wanted to fade it out a bit, anyway) and lots of conditioner.

  
  
Because of the yellow-ish blonde color I had beforehand, it turned out to be this wondeful shade of Teal (— I’m wearing teal again) which is similar to Manic Panic©’s Enchanted Forest™ after a few washes.