Ampil Pension in Maasin City, A Visitor’s Review

Last November  2011, my family visited Maasin City. And since it was already late night when we arrived there, so we decided to stay in a hotel overnight. We were at the Julies Bakeshop when I noticed the Ampil Pension.

Ampil Pension is actually located in Barangay Abgao along Tomas Oppus Street. In front of it is another hotel, the GV Hotel.

Before entering the Ampil Pension premise, I was thinking first whether to stay in GV Hotel or in Ampil Pension. However, the parking space of the GV Hotel is only the space on its front. So, it is not basically safe for our car compared to the parking lot of the Ampil Pension which is located at the back of its building.

So, our choice is the Ampil Pension.

After parking the car, we went straight to its lobby. There were two men in the area, one is using his laptop, and the other guy is watching tv. No one was there sitting on its front desk. We waited for someone to entertain us, but no one. So, I pressed the bell three times. That was the time when the man watching the tv stood and went to the front desk.

The man, who looks like a janitor gave us the menu card. I don’t know what to call it, but since it is similar to the menu card in the restaurant, so I will just call that as menu.

I ordered one room with twin bed worth P550. Wait, it’s not a food, so I think, it is not right to use the word “order”. But I am idiot, and I don’t know what is the right word to use. However, there was no available room worth P550, we rented a P650 worth of accommodation.

Basically, the room we rented has two beds, an air-conditioning unit, a tv with cable connection, and a wash room. The room is good but it is not as good as the rooms of the hotels we previously visited. For example: I  did not find the foot rag, toilet bowl rim, a mirror in the wash room, and the remote control of the tv. But a P450 room of a lodging house in Baybaby City – Leyte that we previously visited  has these things.

And one more thing, the door has no double lock system. So,  when we went to sleep, I just pushed the other bed into the door.

Here are some photos I took at the room we rented:

This is the door of the wash room. There’s no foot rag on it. So, we just move carefully
to avoid any accident, especially after taking a bath.

As we took a bath, we were looking for ways how we could hang the towel.

No toilet bowl rim.

But I think, it was just right for the price, and you can sleep and rest well in it and you will have nothing to worry about your car because it’s safe in the parking lot.

Related:

1. Surigao Gateway Hotel
2. Beach Resorts
3. Ormoc Hotel

Last July 26, 2010, I subscribed with the Cignal Digital TV broadcast through its Plan 390. I spent PhP2,990 for the kit which includes Satellite Dish, Set Top Box, Remote Control, Cignal Card, and three months worth of subscription credit. I also spent another PhP1,500 for the installation and activation.

The reception of each of the channels available is clear although there were times that it became snowy and worst there was no signal at all.

We have two tv sets here in our home. One is connected with the Dream Satellite TV and the other is connected with the Cignal Digital TV. I tried playing these two tv sets on the same channel (example ABS-CBN 2) and I noticed that Cignal Digital TV is delayed of about five seconds.

Just like what I said, I also had a Dream Satellite TV subscription. I had it before getting another subscription from Cignal Digital TV. I was just forced to subscribe from Cignal Digital TV because it is the only one among cable and satellite tv services available here in my area that broadcasts the NET 25.

However, just recently I noticed that the NET 25 was stripped out from my subscription. Through the  Cignal hotline (02) 244-6251, I learned that NET 25 and Avenue channels were taken out of their system. I asked the rep who answered my call if I can still get the channel through a special deal, and she said that there was no way I can get it as of that time.

The three months free subscription credit that was included when I bought the Cignal Digital TV kit will expire this Sunday. And I think, I will not buy more subscription credits anymore for the channel that I  want to watch is not available anymore. And besides, other channels that we watch everyday like the Star Movies, Discovery, National Geographic, Biography, Nickelodeon and local channels are all available in my Dream Satellite TV subscription.

By the way, here’s the available channels at Cignal Digital TV subscription plans:

Plan 250

1. TV5
2. ABS-CBN 2
3. GMA 7
4. QTV 11
5. Studio 23
6. NBN 4
7. Solar TV 9
8. IBC 13
9. ETC 21
10. TBN Word
11. Community Channel
12. NHK World
13. Al Jazeera
14. PBO
15. BTV
16. Bonus Audio Channels: 89.9 Magic, 90.7 Love Radio, U92 FM, 99.5 RT, 101.1 Yes FM, NU 107, DZRH, GV FM Angeles, 102.7 Star FM Bombo

Plan 390

1. TV5
2. ABS-CBN 2
3. GMA 7
4. QTV 11
5. Studio 23
6. NBN 4
7. Solar TV 9
8. IBC 13
9. ETC 21
10. TBN Word
11. Community Channel
12. Al Jazeera
13. BTV
14. HBO
15. Disney Channels
16. Cartoon Network
17. CNN
18. PBO
19. Viva Cinema
20. AXN
21. Bio Channel
22. Bonus Audio Channels: 89.9 Magic, 90.7 Love Radio, U92 FM, 99.5 RT, 101.1 Yes FM, NU 107, DZRH, GV FM Angeles, 102.7 Star FM Bombo

Plan 590

1. Star World HD
2. NBA Premium HD
3. BTV
4. HBO
5. Disney Channel
6. Cartoon Network
7. Playhouse Disney
8. CNN
9. PBO
10. Viva Cinema
11. AXN
12. Star World
13. Fox
14. Bio Channel
15. Sony Entertainment TV
16. Star Movies
17. ESPN News
18. Nat Geo
19. TV5
20. ABS-CBN 2
21. GMA 7
22. QTV 11
23. Studio 23
24. NBN 4
25. Solar TV 9
26. IBC 13
27. ETC 21
28. TBN Word
29. Community Channel
30. Gem TV
31. NHK World
32. Al Jazeera
33. Bonus Audio Channels: 89.9 Magic, 90.7 Love Radio, U92 FM, 99.5 RT, 101.1 Yes FM, NU 107, DZRH, GV FM Angeles, 102.7 Star FM Bombo

Plan 990

1. History HD
2. HBO HD
3. Star World HD
4. food Network HD
5. NBA Premium HD
6. BTV
7. Disney Channel
8. Cartoon Network
9. Playhouse Disney
10. CNN
11. PBO
12. Viva Cinema
13. AXN
14. Star World
15. Fox
16. Fox Family Movies
17. Bio Channels
18. Sony Entertainment TV
19. Star Movies
20. ESPN News
21. ESPN
22. Star Sports
23. CNBC
24. Discovery
25. Nat Geo
26. TV5
27. ABS-CBN 2
28. GMA 7
29. QTV 11
30. Studio 23
31. NBN 4
32. Solar TV 9
33. IBC 13
34. ETC 21
35. TVN word
36. Community Channel
37. Gem TV
38. NHK World
39. Al Jazeera
40. Bonus Audio Channels: 89.9 Magic, 90.7 Love Radio, U92 FM, 99.5 RT, 101.1 Yes FM, NU 107, DZRH, GV FM Angeles, 102.7 Star FM Bombo

Plan 1,290

1. History HD
2. Nat Geo HD
3. HBO HD
4. Star Movies HD
5. ESPN HD
6. Discovery HD
7. Star World HD
8. Food Network HD
9. NBA Premium HD
10. BTV
11. Disney Channel
12. Cartoon Network
13. Playhouse Disney
14. CNN
15. PBO
16. Viva Cinema
17. AXN
18. Star World
19. Fox
20. Fox Family Movies
21. bio Channel
22. Sony Entertainment TV
23. Star Movies
24. ESPN News
25. ESPN
26. Star Sports
27. CNBC
28. Discovery
29. Discovery Turbo
30. Nat Geo
31. Cinemax
32. TV 5
33. ABS-CBN 2
34. GMA 7
35. QTV 11
36. Studio 23
37. NBN 4
38. Solar TV 9
39. IBC 13
40. ETC 21
41. TBN Word
42. Community Channel
43. Gem TV
44. NHK World
45. Al Jazeera
46. ??Bonus Audio Channels: 89.9 Magic, 90.7 Love Radio, U92 FM, 99.5 RT, 101.1 Yes FM, NU 107, DZRH, GV FM Angeles, 102.7 Star FM Bombo

I accidentally visited Carmina Villaroel’s twitter. From there I learned that she’s doing a shoe business.

You can visit the website munizshoes.com. I think, it’s the official website of Carmina’s shoes.

As of writing this post, Carmina’s shoes collection are:

These shoes are made of leather and each has its own distinct design. And according to its About Page, these shoes are made by Filipino shoe craftsmen and personally designed by Carmina himself.

I think, Carmina’s business is based online. In How-To-Order page, it says:

Thank you for choosing Muñiz Shoes. We are currently accepting orders through this website. Unfortunately, we cannot process any payments at this time. Customers are contacted within 24 hours when their orders are received.

October 27, 2010 – I was using LimeWire before in getting songs and movies for free. But then after realizing that most of the free files shared through LimeWire were infected by Trojan and similar malicious softwares or codes, I stopped using it.

Now, Lime Wire was ordered by a Federal court late Tuesday to shut down its LimeWire site permanently ruling that it allowed the massive scale of infringement by its 50 million monthly users. And by January, the court will determine how much should the parent company Lime Wire and its founder Mark Gorton pay as compensation to the tens of thousands of copyrighted materials used by the million of users of the peer-to-peer website.

I feel tired today and I really need a rest. So I don’t have other choice but to check in at the Surigao Gateway Hotel in Surigao City.

My family (my wife, our son and I) were on our way home to Maasin City after taking our short vacation in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur. We left San Agustin this afternoon at 1:30 even if I felt sleepy already. I don’t know what’s the cause of it, but my wife suggested that it might be the stress caused by the activities we did yesterday.

Yesterday morning, I went to Barangay Tagungon, Tagbina, Surigao del sur (about 70 kilometers from San Agustin) along with the two brethren in the church (Iglesia ni Cristo) for a church related job. And soon as I returned in San Agustin, Surigao Del Sur in the afternoon, I again became busy helping my siblings in the preparation for the 74th birthday celebration of my mother which was held in the evening.

I was not in a good condition since this morning, but we really needed to go home because we have a lot of things to settle. Before leaving San Agustin, Surigao del Sur I drank two plastic bottle of Cobra energy drink hoping that I would feel better, considering that Cobra energy drink contains Vitamins B, Taurine and Caffeine. But the two bottles of the said energy drink failed to relieve the stress that I have. So, my wife again suggested that we better stay overnight here in Surigao Gateway Hotel.

Last week, we’re here too in a standard accommodation worth PhP 1,450 (with free breakfast for two). Now, we took the De Luxe accommodation since no standard accommodation available.

I paid PhP1,550 for the De Luxe accommodation here in Surigao Gateway Hotel and it still has the free breakfast for two for tomorrow. The only difference of this to the standard one is the bathtub.

Surigao Gateway Hotel has pool, conference room, restaurant and better parking area compared to other hotels here in Surigao City that I visited already. Besides, it is located at junction of the highway going to the downtown of Surigao City, Lipata Ferry Terminal and to Butuan City.

The hotel is a Wi-Fi zone. It has seven available wireless networks but all these networks are not secured. However, I haven’t found any problem with an unsecured wireless connection as long as my laptop is secured with a security software and other security measures.

I actually wrote this post at the lobby of the Hotel. The guard who was standing at the door was staring or watching me. I don’t know what he’s thinking about me and he had no idea that I talked about him her.

Overall, the Surigao Gateway Hotel was good and I was contented on the accommodations and the services they have.

By the way, it’s not a sponsored post. I might be making money online by blogging, but no one paid me to write this post.

Everybody knows that I am making money online by blogging. My income from it is enough to provide for the needs of my own family. And I am already contented on it.

However, I am spending less time in blogging. I think, I still have time to be spent in other way of making money… like an offline business.

So, that’s where T-Shirt Screen-Printing comes in. What I really mean is that I want to put up a screenprinting shop which will offer t-shirt printing and other related printing services.

Learning to Make a Silk Screen Stencil

Several days ago, I made a frame for the silk-screen using the extra 1×2 lumber when I made our sala set. I was forced to make it by my self because there was no frame available in any stores here in Maasin City.

By the way, in making a silk screen stencil you need the following materials and devices:

1. frame
2. silk cloth
3. photographic emulsion
4. emulsion sensitizers
5. emulsion coater
6. study lamp
7. artwork printed on the acetate or transparency
8. Power Stapler
9. pressurized washer.

Here’s what I did:

1. Assemble the silk screen by attaching the silk cloth into the frame.
2. Mix the photographic emulsion and the emulsion sensitizers. Just follow the instruction printed on the bottle on how to mix the two.
3. Coat the silk with the sensitized photographic emulsion into silk screen evenly. Do it in your dark room because the emulsion is already sensitive to light.
4. Let the emulsion on the screen dry in a dark room. Two hours is already enough.
5. Attach the artwork into the silk screen with dried emulsion.
6. Expose the screen into the light using your study lamp for 10 minutes.
7. Wash the screen using the pressurized washer. This is to wash out the emulsion in the screen which is not exposed to the light.

Actually, I tried the procedure for five times before perfecting it.

Learning To ScreenPrint

After having the perfect silk screen stencil, I then started printing t-shirt. It’s my first time to screenprint so I tried it first on my old tshirts.

On this process, the materials used are:

1. Silk screen stencil. This is the final product of the above procedure.
2. Squeegee. There are many kinds of squeegee. What we need here is the screenprinting squeegee.
3. Fabric Paint. Tulco product is popular here so I just bought the Tulco Athletic ink.
4. T-shirt.

The screenprinting process is actually just simple.

1. You just need to place the t-shirt on the table then place the silk screen stencil on top of the t-shirt where the art should be printed.
2. Put large amount of ink on the squeegee side of the stencil. Just refer to the video on the links below to understand where it should be placed including the proper way of using the squeegee.

The process is simple but I perfected it after five tries. You really need to know how to properly use the squeegee to avoid blocking the printable area with harden ink.

How-to-screenprinting videos

• How to make a silk-screen stencil?
• How to properly coat silk-screen with emulsion?
• The ScreenPrinting Process
• How to use the squeegee in silk-screenprinting?
• How to clean the silk screen after screenprinting?

Then What’s Next?

Now that I already had the skill in screenprinting, I should start collecting the materials, devices and equipment in screenprinting like:

• Lazer printer. This will be used in printing the artwork into the transparency and at the same time in my other desktop printing jobs.
• Squeegee. The squeegee that I bought at Maasin School Supplies is not good. I just need a better squeegee.
• Transparency
• Set of Emulsion. Photographic emulsion and sensitizer.
• Emulsion coater.
• Fabric Paint in different colors.
• Silk Cloth
• Frame
• Screenprinting table
• pressurized washer. I can use this too in washing motorcycle and tricycle.
• Better UV exposure instead of an ordinary study lamp

After acquiring these things in the list, the next thing that I should do will be to prepare for the establishing of the screenprinting shop.

Question

For example I already have no prepaid load credit in my Smart SIM and there’s no available loader or prepaid load retailer in my area and I really need the load to text my loveones. Is it possible to ask load from them through Smart Pasaload? How can I request a Pasaload from them?

Answer

For the sake of those who don’t know what Pasaload is.. Pasaload is another service of Smart wherein one Smart user can send a load to the other Smart user and the load that is sent is deducted from the sender’s current prepaid load credit.

Pasaload is actually derived from the words “Pasa” which is the Filipino term for “Pass”. So Pasaload literally means “pass the load”.

How to send the Pasaload?

Sending Pasaload can be done by typing the “recipient number”, “space”, “amount” and send to 808. For example, I want to send P2 to 09191234567, what I will do is type o0191234567 2 and then send it to 808. You will then receive a confirmation message from Smart telling you that you have sent P2 of your credit load to the specified celfone number.

Here’s the schedule of the Pasaload:

And not only that, you can even send the ALL TEXT promo to the recipient. What you need to so is type the “recipient number”, “space”, AT<amount>  and send it to 808.

For more example:

• type 09181234567 AT10 and send to 808 – for Alltext 10
• type 09181234567 AT20 and send to 808  – for Alltext 20
• type 09181234567 AT40 and send to 808  – for Alltext 40
• type 09181234567 AT50 and send to 808 – for Alltext 50
• type 09181234567 AT25 and send to 808 – for Alltext Upsize P20

How to request for a Pasaload?

So for the answer of your question, here’s how you can request a Pasaload?

Dial *808 plus 11-digit cell number of your friend then press call.

For example, you want to request a Pasaload to 09191234567. Just dial *80809191234567 and then press call. Your request will automatically be sent.

Note, you can actually request Pasaload 3 times. And each request, you’ll receive a P5 Pasaload credit. And sending the request is free of charge.

But what about if you are the one being request to send the Pasaload?

If that’s the case, you’ll receive a message from Smart saying: Smart Advisory: 09191234567 is requesting for you to pass P5. Just reply this message with Yes or No and Smart will act depending on your reply. If you of course replied yes then Smart will deduct P5 from your credit load balance and send to the requester’s number and another P1 as charge.

Hope this answer helps.

I learned from the step daughter of my brother-in-law that Smart Bro’s High-speed Packet Access (HSDP) is already available in Hinunangan, Southern Leyte. And the good thing is that even in Barangay Calag-itan which is 6 kilometers away from the town proper, HSDP is still available and that according to her, she’s enjoying the full-bar signal of Smart Bro’s HSDP internet connection.

I don’t know what makes Hinunangan special to Smart Broadband and they made the Smart Bro (in HSDP) available in that place.

Question

How to Send Money to the Philippines?

Answer

Sending money to your friends or loveones in the Philippines is already easy. You can do that in different ways like:

1. Paypal

When you’re sending money to the Philippines using your credit card, then sending it through Paypal is the safest way. The only problem is that the recipient of the money should have his own Paypal account too.
2. Xoom
It’s another money transfer service wherein you can use to send money from your credit card, debit card or even from your Paypal account to anyone in the Philippines. The recipient will just claim the money from the Xoom partners in the Philippines like the Cebuana Lhuiller.
3. Bank to Bank
It’s safe. You can send money to some who have bank account in the  Philippines or even to those who don’t have bank account.
4. Other Money Transfer Agents
There are more money transfer agents available. We have the:

1. Western Union
2. GCash of Globe Philippines
3. Smart Money of Smart Philippines
4. Allsafe (Australia)
5. Atlas Xpress Padala
6. Forexworld.com
7. FX Remit
8. iKobo Lucky Money
9. MegaPadala
10. Moneygram International
11. MyAyala
12. Paystone
13. Philsend
14. Remithome
15. Technocash (Australia)
16. UK Moneygram
17. Uniteller
18. Wells Fargo
19. YesPinoy.com

Question

How to Register Unlimited Text in TM in Night?

Answer

I am a TM user but I am not actually fond of using the unlimited texting promo of TM.

Anyway, Touch Mobile has its new promo which I think started last February (because I saw the ads already since February) but it will end this May 31, 2010.

The promo is called ASTIG TEXT 10, wherein subscribers can enjoy the unlimited texting to TM or Globe numbers for 24 hours.

What you need to is:

1. Register to the ASTIG TEXT 10 promo by typing ASTIGTXT10 and send it to 8888. But you need to have a prepaid credit balance of 10 in order to successfully register.
2. Then wait for the confirmation message before you can use the unlimited texting. And you have to remember the activation is within 1 hour.

Once registered to the ASTIGTXT10 promo, avoid sending text messages to non-TM or non-Globe users because texting to those numbers will get you charged the regular text charges.