I want to share to you how my mother got her first passport and what is the first country that she used it. You will be amazed of the story, but it is a fulfillment of young boy with a dream that became true with lots of prayers and thousand of sacrifices. I can still remember my conversation with my mother, I asked her that she needed to have a passport just to be ready anytime that I need to bring her outside the country. I want to offer her something special with a surprise, but my mother replied:
“I am already at the twilight of my life son (anak), I am going to be 70 years old in about 8 months why I need to have a passport. There are worst memories that I remembered when you are still young that I want to forget especially during the period when I attempted to apply for my supposedly 1st passport. My memory is still fresh that I can still remember everything including the pain.
If you can remember that I took my first 2×2 photo with red background in the house of Capaciete because they are the only one who knows how to make it. They don’t know what passport size is, so they made the photo 2×2, but it was rejected that failed me going abroad. I have no idea what passport size at that time and I have no money to repeat it again since everything is laid back including our lives.
My sisters who are working in Saudi Arabia don’t want to help me or to support me, but I want to work abroad to support all of you at that time. There was no one who wanted to provide opportunity for me even to work as domestic helper so that I can support your “ate” (big sister) and “kuya” (big brother). I remembered that I am helpless during that time, I called your aunties how many times, but they did not reply!”
My mother was teary-eyed when she was recalling the story. The memory of me and my mother reminiscing the pain of the past…the hardships…the frustrations and the sacrifices. Our life then was really on silver lining, I think I am the best representative of this group. The short statement of my mother reminded me that I need to struggle more, to pursue why I want her to see the other world. This is the year of 1986 where I first grasp the wisdom of understanding.
It is true indeed that our town is small, we call it “Bayan” where there is only one house studio that offers the photo services that takes month before they can deliver the photographs. You will choose only the kind of paper whether a Fujifilm or Kodak, no other option as everything is limited.
(Photo Credit: 1st airplane ride of my mother bound to Malaysia)
At the end, I convinced her to get a passport. There are more struggles including registration again of her birth certificate as she has no record, but everything went on timing until her passport was ready to her 70th Birthday. The tour that I prepared was a surprised to her birthday with the help of my brother Jeri who is my best friend. It was really a memorable one, it was not only one (1) country but five (5) in Southeast Asia that includes Malaysia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and Singapore.
(Photo Credit: Different locations in Malaysia with Mama Maring, Ana Fely, Ton, Jon and Jeri )
The plan takes six (6) months to prepare including itineraries, flight segments and hotels. We consider also the cost for the journey to make it more practical. I will give you tips on how the tour preparation was arranged:
- Gather required documents for the country you want to visit, create your plan usually take six (6) months preparation:
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- Check validity of passport required at least 6 months validity.
- Visa requirement or check your passport access.
- Wait until your visa is granted or in case of Philippines, it is visa free to some of the Asian neighboring countries.
- Decides on dates of travel:
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- Booking of airline tickets
- Booking of hotel
- Research on country’s main attraction and booking of itineraries.
- Check the transport system and climate of the place of destination.
- Have a log sheet of schedules and budget as a guide.
- Day of tour so enjoy it.
Everything was arranged and I am ready to offer the gift of a lifetime to my mother. The first leg of our Asian Tour is Malaysia. This is the journey that I documented everything to ensure I have lots of memories of this travel. Watch our YouTube video so that you will be amazed of our journey. This video was documented intended for the 70th Birthday of Mama Maring…my mother!
My bestfriend Jeri also made the tour special by including her mother Ana Fely and with his family. It was a memorable experienced with lots of places we cover in Malaysia including National Monuments, Istana Negara, Origin of Kuala Lumpur, KL Tower and Petronas Twin Towers. We have seen different places and eat different foods. Check the video to find-out.
(You too can invite us to cover your event to be featured in our blog at http://jerichosplace.com/ , Jon & Jeri at YouTube/ePro Webstore Channel and message us in Whatsapp no: +971-525527986. We are ready to serve you even on a simple gathering to make your event meaningful. Our Bestfriends and OFWs around the world, we will wait for your comments and invitation down below.)
