BE WILLED

What are the 26 countries in the Schengen area?

• Austria
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia

• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

You might also want to know: Countries Philippine passport holders can visit without VISA.

Where can I apply for Schengen Visa in Philippines?

ITALIAN EMBASSY

Hotline: (0063-2) 892-4531
E-mail: informazioni.manila@esteri.it

How much is the Schengen Visa fee?

The visa-processing fee is 60 euros which is approximately 3,600 pesos . Children ages between 6-11 years old pay 35 euros (2,100 pesos) while children below 6 are free of charge. The fee is non-refundable even if application is unsuccessful. Payments are made at the Embassy/Consulate when submitting your application and you need to have exact change.

What are the requirements in applying Schengen visa?

SINCE THEY HAVE THESE NAMES, EXPECT TO SEE THESE SIGNAGES:

If it's easy, it's not ECE. Yes, Electronics Engineering (previously Electronics and Communications Engineering) is one of the hardest engineering degree in the Philippines. I, personally, have taken this course for five years in one of the universities in the north and have passed through challenges drawing blood, sweat, and tears. Most of my friends might not believe me, but YES, I confess and admit that this course is tough and a bit complicated. Many ECE students and graduates would agree to my thought that sometimes it really is hard to fully appreciate things which we do not see or feel. Electromagnetic waves, flow of electrons in diode and transistor, these are just few examples of the things we studied and knew by heart yet we didn't see or even feel. Enough of this, I just really wanted to prove that I was once a full blooded ECE student who went through the same things an ordinary ECE student have experienced.

I don't know which kind of air I breathe today, but I just felt so inspired to write reflections about those days, before and after the exam. Four years ago, I was one of those graduates who attended review, refresher, and coaching (the most important of all) courses in review centers in Manila. To name a few, Excel, PERCDC, Edge, Powerful, ERA, these were the institutions (I've just known that there is TOP now) we have back then (based on my personal experience and my friends' insights about the review program, I would recommend the first three). In that period, I LITERALLY HAVE READ A LOT! Though, I also ended up memorizing those multiple choice type questions, and the Q&A slides presented during the coaching sessions. That was what I basically did to prepare for the board exam and get the precious license card we all have dreamt to put in our wallets. I PASSED! Most of my classmates and friends did too, but the sad thing was there were those who didn't. You might have felt awkward in greeting them the first time you see them personally, or have found it hard to find the best words to use when you chat with them on facebook.

Well that's the reality, not everyone will pass the exam at the same time. Unless, the HONORABLE Board of Examinees are so generous that they would let everyone in the same batch to pass. (See passing rate trend) This is barely possible though so let us just face it. Whether you have a license or not, there is this BIG WORLD with full of opportunities waiting for you. License is actually a plus factor when you are applying for your first job. Well, it somehow brings a sense of pride not only to you but also to your family. I, personally, have used my license and the ratings I had in choosing the job I want. I am not sure if it applies to everyone or just me that owning a license makes you a bit choosy to jobs. I am LICENSED so why would I enter this kind of job? Why would I accept that amount of salary? Did you also have these thoughts? I did and I was wrong.

I just realized that life after board exam or even graduation is about FINDING what you WANT and if you are adventurous or still a bit confused you can do this with EXPERIMENTING and EXPLORING. But always remember to take an avenue where you think you will enjoy and get inspired. There is a broad range of careers which you can choose from as an ECE graduate. You can enter telecommunications, electronics, IT, broadcasting, manufacturing, navigation, etc. You can also start a business of your own or continue your formal studies. There really are many field and companies which you can enter. In which field do you want to develop your skills? Are you an adaptable person or you are looking for a company culture which you think you will fit in and enjoy? I would say, that salary would be the last factor you should consider when you are looking for your first job. You are searching for your stepping stone, as they say, you are just starting to build a strong foundation. I know a lot of people who entered a high paying job at first but eventually quit to go to a job with lower salary. They just wanted a job which they will enjoy doing, they wanted a job where they will grow. I am not telling you not to accept jobs with good pay but consider first the career which you really wanted to pursue.  Imagine it, working in things which you enjoy, discovering new things about yourself. Wouldn't these help you grow? Try to find a career which makes you happy. And surely, MONEY will come soon.

EXPERIMENTING and EXPLORING. These are easy yet risky. By doing these, you might either land a career where you will excel, build relationship, and develop yourself. On the other hand, you might find issues in the culture, stability of and your personal development in the first companies you will be in. "I just don't think I can fit in this team culture, I even do not appreciate their values and goals", "Politics is everywhere","I am not sure about the future of this company", "I can't apply my skills here, I might need to find a job where I will be able to show off my special skills, knowledge or expertise". These are the common lines you can hear in every  company. Wherever you go, you might hear or even utter them. It is normal to hat e your job for weeks or months. You can quit your job when the going gets tough. But even if you extremely hate your job, you can do some things to make u for it. Make the most out of it. You can ask to change your job description, transfer to a different team or department and work with new people. You have the right to discuss all of these to your managers. Tell them how your work conditions are. Remember, it's also hard to find a new job in a different company. So why not find it in the same company you are in. Aside from the fact that it's easier, it will be faster for you to adapt. Doing these will also contribute to your learnings. Don't be afraid to learn something new. You need them to reach the top. You might also reach the point where moving from team to team within the same company isn't helpful because the things you want for yourself isn't there. This is the time when you need to shift your gear.

These few thoughts are too general that you can apply them even if your not an ECE. I just want to emphasize personal development which I believe is the most important. Aside from becoming more effective, it brings a sense of satisfaction in the current career you are in.

Philippines has been considered as one of the countries where most beautiful women reside. Last year (2013), the world has seen how talented and beautiful Filipinas are after winning the titles in major international beauty pageants. Their natural elegance, strong qualities and character make them very attractive not only to fellow Filipino men but also to foreigners around the world.

Pinays in a relationship with or married to foreigners are now very common in the country. Their numbers are increasing especially now that internet and social media is becoming accessible to everyone. Yahoo mail or messenger, facebook and skype are just one of the common internet channels used by Filipinas living in Philippines to meet men from other countries.

Aside from finding a person they can be with to build a family , many Filipino women finds marrying a foreigner a way to get out of poverty. That's the common thinking of every Filipino. White men are rich. So everytime you see them with their partners in malls, public transpos, tourist places, or even in your neighborhood you might have these words running out in your mind, "Isa na namang pinay ang aangat ang buhay". (Another life of a Filipina will get well off). To be honest, I had these words coming out directly from my mouth when I was in the Philippines. I was thinking that these women are lucky. Having exotic beauty as their capital, they are able to enjoy the wealth of these foreign men, getting the foreign citizenship, living the happy ever after life of a princess or queen.

Last year, I flew to Ireland and met Filipinas who are married or in a relationship with Irish and other white men. Some of them met their partners through internet when they were in Philippines, while others knew their other half while working in Ireland. I have learned and realized a lot after getting to know these people, their lives and their relationships.

Cinderella's rags to riches story of Filipinas in a relationship meeting a foreigner really exists. But this is a rare case. Most Filipinas still have to work to live after marrying foreigners. This is the reality. Not all foreigners are actually rich in their country. They don't all work in the office. Some of them have to work outside in a lower type of jobs.  The foreign husbands' salary is most of the time not their wives' money. They own it. So their Filipino wives' have to find a job to share with house rent, utilities and food. They can't touch their husband's money and give it to the families they left in the Philippines. They still have to work hard, like a typical overseas filipino worker, to earn and feed their parents and siblings.

Having known this, I believed that we should not underestimate these Pinays who have chosen foreign men instead of fellow Pinoys. Yes, all they wanted is to have a better life. They are intelligent enough to use the opportunity of meeting foreigners in finding a well off life. But more than these, they are courageous, they are brave to leave the country and their families, and to have a relationship with a man raised in another culture who might misunderstood and abuse them. We should respect and understand them. Remember that most of them are not living a fairy tale. They are living in a real world like us.

This new banking service proves BPI's commitment in bringing convenience to its loyal clients. BPI 24/7 Banking is opened for clients to perform their transactions as fast, secure, and easy as possible for them to have time for other important activities. The time saved from traveling to a bank branch or payment center can instead be precious time spent with friends or loved ones. 

Here are the simple steps you can follow to enroll or apply in BPI's online banking service:

1. Visit the website of BPI, bpiexpressonline.com

2. Under the Online Banking Login portion located on the upper right portion of the site, click "Enroll Now" to register your BPI Savings Deposit or Credit account in BPI Express online.

3. A new window will appear, asking the type of account you will enroll in the service:

• ATM-based BPI, BPI Family Savings, or BPI Direct deposit account - clients with ATM-based accounts
•   Passbook-based BPI or BPI Family Savings deposit account  - clients with Passbook-based accounts 
•   BPI Europe account  - clients with BPI Europe accounts 
•   Enroll a BPI Credit Card account - clients with BPI Credit Card 

For clients outside the country, complete the express online registration form. Upon completion, tick the checkbox below to agree on the terms and conditions then click "Submit".

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