**** August 2013 UPDATE – Due to so many great responses to this entry, I’ve made an Ateneo FAQ entry for you to post your questions and inquiries on. I will try my best to answer as many questions as I can. Please check out the updated entry here: https://iamjulienne.com/blog/2013/08/ateneo-mba-faq/ ****
Having lived in Manila the last few years has made me realize that studying in the States has made me miss out on the crucial social network of opportunity that the local Filipino universities offer. While I don’t regret studying abroad, I wish I had college friends to hang out with here in Manila.
However, since I’ve been toying with the idea of going back to school for my Master’s Degree, I figured it would be wise for me to enroll locally. I’d hit two birds with one stone – make friends and get a good education.
Today I enrolled in Ateneo University’s MBA program. I’ve been planning and looking forward to this moment for a while but strangely enough, I was inexplicably nervous as I paid. The tuition fee is steep! That made me hesitate a little bit I strengthened my resolve, paid and sealed my attendance. It’s official. I’m a student again.
The minute I received the syllabi for the 3 classes I’m taking this semester, I was already seriously regretting my decision. I’m signed up for Financial Accounting, Applied Mathematics and Managerial Statistics. I wonder if I have a death wish, taking on a load of 3 calculator burning, mathematics-heavy classes. It almost makes me wonder whether I’m taking my MBA or an Engineering Degree. While I’ve taken these subjects before (in college), it’s been a while and it doesn’t make the material any less challenging. Yikes.
I’m going to be acclimatizing again to a different culture, one that I’ve never ever been exposed to before. Already I’m adjusting to the registration and enrollment process alone. I know I’m not supposed to compare but I can’t help but fondly remember my Undergrad University and how convenient everything was. (example: I never had to pay a fee for wanting to change my schedule. Now, if I ever wanted to switch schedules, even prior to class starting, I have to pay a fee. Sucks.)
Sigh. I’m not looking forward to homework and school stress. But I’m so excited for learning, new experiences and new friends! 😀 Now.. Does anyone know where I can get my textbooks for cheap?
While brother and I were at SM Hypermarket in Pasig today to get dinner, I walked by this cute looking gelato stand. I love gelato and the stand looked so inviting I couldn’t resist purchasing some. Brother had to drag me away to get dinner first and return for dessert haha.
I feel I have to explain the sequence of events. Before dinner, Brother and I chat up the Saleslady at MokkiLato There was a flavor that caught my eye but it had no label. Saleslady said it was Snickers. I got excited. I said that we would come back after dinner. When we came back, Saleslady was nowhere to be found. We walked around and stuff, she was gone maybe 20 minutes. After a while, someone from the nearby SM foodcourt helped us out. I never saw the Saleslady come back.
All the flavors seemed fairly interesting but I went with the one that had no label (see photo). Snickers, as mentioned by Saleslady.
The price is P50 per scoop.
I have to say I was really disappointed by the price versus the portion. I watched as the salesperson scooped it into the cup, weighed it and then started taking out itty bitty pieces of ice cream just to make it lighter. We’re talking small 1-centavo sized pieces. I was like WTH, how stingy can you get? I asked him why he had to remove from the cup when there’s very little in the cup already. He said that that is their rule. “Ganon po talaga instruction sa amin.” Fine. I asked him why it’s so expensive and he said because it’s Italian. Um… That didn’t make me feel any better.
What made it kinda worse was that I could see the bottom of the cup, that’s how little gelato there was in there. I repeat… YOU CAN SEE THE BOTTOM OF THE CUP. That’s a sign of there’s barely anything in there. (Note, I haven’t eaten from this cup at all. It’s pictured exactly as it was given to me)
Also…. the original Saleslady needs a little more product knowledge. She turned out to be wrong. It tasted more like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Because there was no label, I can’t confirm what it really was. I was sad because I don’t like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. I however, LOVE Snickers. This is why I purchased the gelato flavor to begin with. Granted anyone can make an honest mistake which is forgivable. However that plus the disappointing size of the portion made me really.. sad.
But!!! To MokkiLato’s credit, the gelato was good. I was pleasantly surprised. There was good vanilla and chocolate flavor. The peanut butter part was subtle and just right. It’s not too sweet either. It had good crunchy texture from the chocolate drizzle and the consistency is also perfectly creamy.
All in all, I’m still glad I tried it. I wish I didn’t have to deal with the wrong info and small portions though. Not sure that that’s worth my money.
MokkiLato Real Artisan Gelato
Foodcourt SM Hypermarket, Libis
(in front of the Filipino Food station and Arcade)
I’m annoyed at you. I came home from the USA with a maxed out card (my fault) and a credit card bill filled with late payment charges, financing fees and overdraft fees. I called you today to request a reversal of said fees for the following reasonable reasons:
1) Late Payment Charge – I have been out of the country as my indicated statements show. It was due on June 6. I flew out on June 7 and due to time differences, I didn’t arrive in Manila until June 9. I paid it on June 10. I have charges on my card on June 6 and 7 indicating I’m still in California. With the exception of this situation, I have never been late on a payment. I think logically, consideration needs to be given.
2) Overlimit Charge Assessment – One of your own customer service representatives said that it is a mystery how Citibank’s credit limit amount works. Some customers’ are unable to use their card after as little as 2 pesos over the limit. Some are allowed to keep using the card. I belong in the latter category. I was able to use my card and charged a couple of thousand over the limit. If Citibank didn’t want me to do this, why didn’t they just decline my card. How is it that they’ll let you keep using it and then charge you for continuing to use it? If anyone is attempting to use a maxed out card (whether their own or worse, stolen), then it should get declined no matter what. Because then isn’t that what limits are for? Be consistent with your policy. Don’t be lax with it and then penalize me as if I cheated your system and exceed my limit without your knowledge.
Also, They definitely make money from each of the charges. They’re making money from me no matter what I do. Because of the good standing on my card, I’m inclined to think they’re bound to increase my limit anyway. So they’re charging me for something they’re gonna do eventually. Hmm.
I asked the CSR what to do in the future when I travel and unable to pay? He said that I should just tell someone to pay it for me? WHAT! Dumbest answer in the world. First of all, my credit card and spending habits are sacred and confidential. Secondly, I don’t have a person at my disposal to be paying my card bills for me. Just offer online payment Citibank, it’s cheaper than me hiring someone to pay my bills every month.
Okay I’m just ranting. To their credit, Citibank agreed to reverse the Financing Charges and Overlimit Charge. The Late Payment Charge is another battle.
I just need to vent and tell people to watch out, be vigilant with your credit card use and watch your statements. These banks are out to get you.
If I don’t like to..
- consume alcohol
- smoke
- go out much (as in to the bars and such)
If I like to..
- Stay home
- Hang out with my family
- Party liquor-free and in moderation
Does that make me a loser?
Falcon
Thanks to Typhoon Falcon, for the most part it was a gloomy weekend. Non-stop rain and wind Thursday to Saturday morning. Torrential Downpour in the true sense of the word. I love the rain. I just wish it doesn’t do so much damage. I hate the traffic, flood, inconvenience and danger it brings to a lot of Filipinos. If we could magically do away with the rain’s side effects, I would want it to rain more often. I love the rain. It’s perfect bedtime weather.
Doesn’t this make you just want to curl up in bed and sleep all day?
EDSA was transformed into a parking lot. It was terrible, to say the least. (sorry for the blurry photo)
Gross. I hate traffic. We waste so much of our lives sitting in a car trying to get somewhere.
Hope you all stayed warm and dry!!