Most Filipinos, especially those who don't have any idea as to how claiming parcels in PhilPost go are very curious about this one. And today, I'll be sharing my first ever PhilPost experience.

Before you continue reading, I would like to inform everyone that I will be sharing my experience in claiming a parcel. As for claiming mails, I'm sorry but I don't have any idea how it goes as I haven't experienced it yet. Another thing, this will be an experience in Quezon City and not in a provincial area.

So yeah, my first PhilPost experience just happened two days ago, December 27, 2016.

I've already mentioned on my About Me blog post that I love buying things online and this time, I bought a set of lippies on ColourPop when they had their free international shipping for the first time last November 24th. It was my first time buying something directly from the US so I literally don't have any idea how to goes. I read the comments on ColourPop's Facebook post about their international free shipping where to my surprise, most comments I saw where from Filipinos also asking how the shipping goes, the process, and such.

On there, I read comments from people who have already experienced buying from them. At first, I really thought that it would be a door-to-door delivery until I read one of the comments saying that it's not and you will be the one getting the parcel in PhilPost. It didn't really bother me that much since I'm assured that I'd be able to get it.

What actually bothered me was when I read that before going to PhilPost, I will first need to wait for the notice card to be delivered in my preferred shipping address (the address which I put when I ordered on ColourPop's website) because that will stand as a proof in PhilPost that I have a parcel waiting to be claimed. I had my own address as my shipping address for the first time. I usually use my friend's because I'm not at home most of the time since I'm also working. I got worried as to whether I'll receive it or not because if not, I won't be able to claim my parcel (that's what I was thinking that time). But yeah, I already made my order and it's already finalized so it's not like I can still do something about it.

I purchased the set of lippies on ColourPop last November 24th and had it ready for shipment three days after that (November 27th). ColourPop provided me a tracking number where I could check the status of my order. The next day (November 28th), it had already departed it's facility and was already on it's way to the Philippines.

ColourPop uses USPS as its local courier when I had my order and that's where I tracked it. For those who don't know, stuff delivered through USPS will always be claimed in the PhilPost branch that will be seen in the notice card you will be receiving.

ColourPop already indicated on the email they sent me that for international orders, it usually takes 7-21 business days for it to arrive in your country. I have already expected it since it came from the US so there was no problem with it.

On December 24th, I already received my notice card. I happen to saw it in my mailbox when I was checking it with the hopes that the mailman will put in it there, I was lucky enough that he left it in it because based on what I read when I was doing a little bit of research about claiming parcels in PhilPost, mailman's won't leave the notice card unless there's a representative who'll receive it. But well, I guess it doesn't really apply to all.

This is how the receipt looks like

Tadaaaa~ My lovely package exhausted from L.A. haha!

Questions? Feel free to comment it down or contact me. I'd be very glad to answer your queries (LMAO. Very customer support representative)

xx

Products I bought from them

This is what you'll see when you track your order on eCargo

I placed my first order last September 15th and had my parcel shipped three days after that. You'll see above that it took three days for my order to arrive on my doorstep but nope, the next day after I received their email about my parcel being shipped (September 19), I received my ordered beauty haul already. So in total, it just took me 5 days to receive my order directly from Korea. For some reason, eCargo isn't as updated as it is.

I thought it'll just be another order covered in plastic and whatnot, but nope because again, AK surprised me with their cute pink beauty haul box. It was so cute and lovely that I had to squeal while opening it in excitement. All the products inside were covered with bubble pop plastic (if that's how you call it) to make sure you'll be receiving your orders in good condition. And as much as I wanted to show you guys how my first order looked like, I couldn't because I forgot to take pictures of it (I told you, I was excited).

Overall, I was really very satisfied and happy with how my order went on Althea Korea. And yep, I'm now an avid buyer of them.

Now if you're thinking that's all they got to offer, then you're wrong. From time-to-time, they run multiple promotions such as, buy 1 get 1 (BOGO), Clearance sale (up to 90% off), and giveaways. I had an Etude eyebrow pencil and a makeup primer before for free. It's usually for a limited time and subject upon availability, so I also recommend you to follow their social media accounts so that you'd get updated on their awesome promotions, especially on their giveaways because it really runs out so fast. You can also subscribe to their newsletter if you check your email most of the time like what I do. They sometimes send you a coupon code to get discounts and ask you to send a review of your purchased product from them that once you share it on any of your social media accounts, you'd get a discount, too. They also run some contests on their SNS accounts, where you can get up to PHP 1,000 rebate. I have already won on one of their contests before where I got PHP 300 rebate (YAY!).

As of right now, Althea Korea only caters in some Asian countries, which are, Philippines (my country), Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. I'm pretty sure they're on their way of expanding and who knows, it might reach not only Asian countries but also Western and European countries.

Well, you really couldn't ask for more on Althea Korea and I highly recommend you to try them out. Here's the link to the site. Just sign up, get as much as PHP 350 discount and have their wonderful products right in front of your doorstep.

PS: Note that some of the rules, promotions, and such, sometimes differ from country to country. Some of what I said here, (i.e. coupon code for new users) only applies to Philippine residents.

***

UPDATE (03/10/17)

Good news! Althea Korea also caters now in the USA and the rest of the world! This is a very good news to all US residents and people from other countries. I wasn't expecting AK to expand this fast but wow, I guess they're really just getting in demand lately. Go ahead and visit this link to know more about their US version site. Also, if you try to change the location to "Rest of the World" in the site, it'll still prompt you to their US version site.

Go ahead and grab all their very cheap yet wonderful and good quality products!

Questions? Write it down or contact me.

xx

I’m back to share more of myself, though this will be a broader version of my self-introduction on my previous post.

I took the education course for no reason. Ah no, there’s actually a reason, and it’s because one of my closest high school friends took that course. I originally took a computer-related course, attended some of its classes for a week, and shifted to the education world right after. I don’t know, I just felt sad during my whole first week. None of my high school friends took that course in the same school I have, though, I do have high school classmates who studied in there, too. It’s just that they took a different course, just like one of my closest friends from high school.

My classmates in there were cool, but I think it’s dealing with the new environment that I have that I decided to shift. I still wanted to be with at least one high school friend to survive my college life so yeah, I changed course. I can still remember how annoyed my mom was at me because I kept on changing course (I almost forgot to mention that during the entrance examination, I took a test for those who want to take the engineering course. I passed but didn’t push through, on it. Thanks to my Kuya who scared me that I’ll be facing tons of numbers and formulas once I take it).

Changing courses wasn’t really that hard for me because aside from it happened as fast as I expected it would be, it’s also because I really don’t know what I wanted to do during that time. I remember wanting to be an architect and engineer when I was in high school just because of the high salary that I’m guaranteed once I start working (that’s what they told me back then). Unfortunately, drawing isn’t my thing and so does numbers (don’t worry, I’m also wondering up ‘til now how I passed the entrance examination for engineering course before). So yep, hello education world and hello old high school friend for me!

At first, I wasn’t really enjoying my course, especially what I majored. I can still remember how my professors in my major subjects asked us to make our own chair, fix a car, try to make a non-working refrigerator and air conditioner work, connect two metals through welding and such (like dang, why do I have to study all of these?). But as time passed by, I unconsciously started loving what I was doing. The manly major subjects that I have started to become something interesting for me, and that’s also the time where I started accepting and loving my course. I was in my 3rd year when I realized what I really wanted to do. I already love my course that time. I have also experienced teaching kids which I really enjoyed a lot, but my heart wanted something different, and that was to be a flight attendant. But I have to be honest, I was just all words. I mean, I want to become a flight attendant but I don’t really want to do something to be one (I know I’m not alone on this one. Haha!). 

April 2015, when I graduated from college. You can see above how happy I am for finally, I won't studying anymoreeee~! LOL (that’s what I thought until I started reviewing for my licensure examination).

A month after my graduation, I started reviewing for my licensure examination. I and my college friends studied again in a review center for we don’t really trust ourselves when it comes to self-studying (Haha!). Our review days lasted for four months. We felt everything within those four months – pressure, stress, etc.. God knows how many tears I’ve let out because I really wanted to quit, and just not take the licensure examination anymore. What ifs came in to my mind, which was really not helpful, especially during those times. But of course, prayers were never gone, that’s my strongest power against negativity. 

September 2015 when our licensure examination came. It felt like a nightmare and  a dream came true at the same time. All of us were so nervous but we all know we prepared and we gave our best shot. Right after the examination, we went to a mall and partied (LOL). Vent out all of the stress we felt for the whole four months of seriously taking studying, seriously, through eating. Licensure examination was like, a life or death deal wherein you need to pass or else, you’ll die, emotionally and mentally.

It usually takes months for the LET passers to be announced because of the number of people taking the exam. So while waiting, I came back to being the jobless bum. I did nothing but surf the internet, fangirl, eat and sleep at home for a month. It was only when my mom got mad because I was not yet looking for a job instead, I’m lazing off at home that I decided to do so. To be honest, I was not mentally prepared to work. I was afraid of the fact that I really need to face the real world and give back the support my parents gave me when I was still a baby until I graduated from college. But I have no choice, obviously.

Though anyway, December 2015 when the result of the LET was announced. I PASSED!!! I was actually in the middle of working when it was announced and I just knew I passed when I received lots of SMS from my friends congratulating me. At first, I wondered why, until I remembered the LET. And you know guys, hearing the news that I passed the licensure examination was surely one of the bestest things that have ever happened to me. All of my hard work, tears I let out, stress, pressure, sleepless nights, etc., were well paid off. More than how I expected it would be. The happiness I saw in my parents’ eyes when I told them the news was more than enough to tell myself that I really made it. 

So, going back to my search-for-a-job story. I looked for a job that’s related to my course but will not require me to teach in a school setting (because I was not yet prepared). Jobstreet was a big help during that time. I found a job where the company needs an office-based online English tutor for Japanese students. That was exactly the kind of job I wanted to have that time because I was so obsessed about Japan. I even declined a job offer where I’ll be teaching Korean students because I really want to teach Japanese students. So from Batangas, I flew to Manila to start my journey. Good thing I have a friend who’s staying in Manila. She was a big help to the probinsyana me because I really don’t know where this and that was. I didn’t know being a Manila newbie was so difficult until I started staying in the place.

It was my first attempt to find a job so I really prepared a lot. I did research about the common questions that might be asked in an interview and even talked to myself in the mirror as if I’m interviewing myself. And guys, I’m telling you, doing that was really a big help because when I did the interview in that company, I didn’t feel nervous at all. It was like I was already expecting the questions the interviewer asked me, though, mind you, memorizing your answer is not a good thing. I practiced, yes, but when I was already in the said situation, all of my answers weren’t scripted. And yes, I passed. I passed on my first ever job interview. I accepted the job and worked in there.

My first job was fun, seriously fun! I get to talk to my favorite people (which are the Japanese people). I got to learn their culture, their language, and how to deal with them. Most of my Japanese students were adults so it wasn’t really that difficult for me to talk with them since they’re already (kinda) knowledgeable or exposed to the English language which is a good thing to me since I’m still a beginner when it comes to speaking Japanese, though, I also have nursery/junior high/high school students who really can’t communicate in English wherein I really need to use my limited Japanese vocabulary words just to talk with them. Good thing I was a bit good at understanding their language because I don’t know what might’ve happened to us if I don’t know how to speak or understand it at all.

I worked in that company for six months. It was short, yes. I wanted to continue working in that company because I don’t want to leave my students (I really love them so much!) but I was not enjoying what I was doing already. My mind and body started searching for a more challenging job. I mean, teaching students online was a fun job, but it’s not as challenging as I thought it would be. Plus the fact that the environment where I was working was really stressful. Everybody needs to work hard (like do lots of overtime without getting paid) as if they are Japanese. Our boss is Japanese and he’s expecting that we’re as hard working as them, when in reality, nope. Also, the salary was very low, can’t even save money for myself because of all the things that I need to pay and buy (food, house, transportation, happiness etc.).

When I was already on my rendering month, I started looking for a new job. A job more challenging and I’ve been wanting to try while I was still working as an online English tutor – a customer service job. Don’t judge me, to be a CSR had also become one of my dream jobs when I was in high school. All because of the high salary that I kept on hearing from every people I know working as one (you see, I consider the salary I'll be getting most of the time). But when I had my first job, my reason for pursuing that job (CSR job), changed. Now, I chose to land in this more stressful and challenging work because of the chance given to talk to Americans. I’m not into Americans or something, but I just really want to practice my communicating skills to native English speakers. Yes, I needed to talk in English whenever I communicate to my Japanese students but it was not really that challenging for I know I was better than them when it comes to speaking. There was never a time where I worried about the way I communicate during that time. But being a CSR is different, getting the chance to communicate to Americans mean you should be good at speaking and understanding the English language. We also all know that Filipino and American English accent are two different things, which adds up as to why being a CSR is a more challenging job for me.

So that’s it, I tried my luck in the CSR world, and yup, I did it! I passed on my first ever CSR interview.

Now, I’m still working as a CSR. Earning money enough to prepare myself for all the things I will be needing once I apply for a cabin crew position. I’m already on my fourth month and I’m just so happy with it. Most especially, with the environment that I have. Maybe I’m just also lucky that I was given the chance to work in this company.

I know some of you are already thinking why I’m not using my professional I.D. by working in a school, but my reason still remains there, I'm not yet ready. Not this time. Maybe after a few years, I don't know. Who knows? Don’t get me wrong, I know I still love teaching, but not as much as how I love to tour the world.

Questions?

xx