I Got My Qatar Visa In Just Four Days

On September 30, 2016, at exactly 6:00AM,  4 days after Glenn's heart attack, I was standing in front of the Qatar Embassy (in the Philippines) holding 4 things: my passport, Glenn's medical certificate from Hamad Heart Hospital, a few pictures, employment contract, and a plane ticket scheduled to fly off on the same day before midnight.

I did not have a visa yet. I was only given two names of people who would help me talk to the Consul to allow me to have a visa in Qatar.

I did not know that Qatar Visa in the Philippines can only be applied either online or via mail and that when approved, it will only be sent via DHL in a span of 14 days. I only learned about this when I tried to talk to the guard.

I took a breather, prayed harder, and look for another way to enter the building. 

This time, they were two guards.

I talked to the first guard and he said, "Ma'am, wala pong ganyang empleyado dito." I gave him the second name but still, it was unfamiliar.

Then the second guard came to us and asked me, "Ma'am, ikaw ba ung may appointment kay Ma'am Jill?"

I said yes, even if I didn't know her. The first guard looked at me and let me in.

Inside the embassy, I was scolded by Ma'am Jill. She asked why am I inside, who allowed me to get in, how did I know her name, and finally why am I there. I did not answer any of her questions. I only begged her to let me talk to the Consul because I needed a visa. 

She was surprised that I wanted to talk to the Consul. 

"Sigurado ka, sinabi sa iyong kakausapin mo ung Consul? Hindi pwedeng kausapin basta basta and Consul. Kami ngang staff di basta pinapapasok." sabi nya habang binabalik sa akin and employment contract.

"Sige na po Ma'am, kasi po naatake po ung asawa ko, kailangan ko pong makapunta ng Qatar." sabi ko sabay pakita ng medical certificate at ng picture nya sa hospital habang nagdadasal.

Binasa naman niya ung medical certificate at tinignan ung picture. Tapos tinawag nya ung kasamahan nya at sinabi sa masmababang tono, "May sakit pala asawa nito. Sige na nga payagan na natin."

Tumingin ulit sya sa akin at itinanong kung may flight schedule na ko. Pagkakita nya ng plane ticket tumango sya at muling nagtanong kung may 700.00php ba ko para sa tatak ng bisa. Ipinaliwanag nyang i-a-advance nya ang date ng resibo para mag match sa bilang ng araw ng tamang pag proseso. Kinuha nya ang passport ko at pinabalik nya ko ng 4:00PM. Biyernes noon, at may ritwal pa daw ng dasal ang Consul mamaya. Ipinayo nya din na dalin ko na ang gamit ko pagbalik para diretso na kami sa airport at makaabot ako sa check in time na alas syete. 

Lubos akong nagpasalamat sa kanya at tahimik na umusal ng dasal ng pasasalamat sa Panginoon dahil sa compassion na binigay nya sa babaeng iyon upang mapagbigyan ang dasal ko.

May visa na ko papuntang Qatar. Apat na araw lang. You are amazing Lord.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

-Hebrews 11:1

 

Notes:

-all documents, medical cert, plane ticket, company contract, and pictures at the hospital, were provided by Glenn's company, AMTC

-I intentionally changed "Ma'am Jill's" name 

-I was accompanied by my sister, her husband, and my college best friend in going to the embassy

-during this time, our kids were in Bataan with my youngest sister, mother, father, and mother-in-law 

-my short post about this experience in 2016 can be viewed here

https://honeymom101.blogspot.com/2016/10/angels-without-wings.html 

A Lost Battle

We have lost Glenn last September 24, 2020. That was two days short for our 5th church wedding anniversary and the fourth year of his heart attack.

 https://www.facebook.com/honeylette.inietobagtas/posts/3909644379049841

Please pray for the eternal repose of his soul and the healing of our family.

https://www.facebook.com/honeylette.inietobagtas/posts/3926757537338525

Jesus says, "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

                                                                                                                          Mark 6:31

I've Got You

Two days ago, I was able to finally access my icloud, which has been locked for more than two years due to forgotten passwords and codes and failed verification procedures.

Reading through my notes, I was transported back to Qatar in 2016-2017, only this time as a third person reading through "Honeylette's" mind.

While the pain is still the same and so real, what amazes me is her hope, surrender, and faith in God's plan.

Truly, as Ate MeAnn put it, "We'll never know that is God is all we need until God is all we've got."

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/450922981416985103/?lp=true

"Thank You, Father, for saying, "Do not worry my child, I've got you."

"Thank You, Lord God, for reminding me that having faith in You will indeed make all things bearable and possible. Please hold us closer to Your heart during our down times, and do not let us go no matter how hard we struggle. Help us surrender to Your will and continue to live within it and not against it. Because surrendering in Your will means accepting all of Your provisions and putting You in charge in our life's battle, in Jesus name I pray. Amen."

Hope and Surrender

Last night, I dreamt about you 

Wearing exactly the same clothes; off to fetch our kids

And while everyone around you was awed to see 

You moved freely with no sign of disability

I miss you

I wish we can all just wake up from this 

But I know that the Lord's plans are greater

I'll hold on as I surrender 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

 Jeremiah 29:11

How to Prevent Financial Loss That Goes with Death

More than a week ago, a former co-teacher and a friend died at the age of 35 due to complications of high blood pressure shoot up and stroke. She left her husband and three sons; 7 years old, 5 years old, and 7 months old. 

Please do not take this as an insensitive post but rather respond to this with urgency. While we can never prepare for an emotional loss, one can lessen the impacts of death by preventing the sudden financial loss that goes with it.

My husband was totally disabled at the age of 33 due to a brain injury secondary to cardiac arrest in 2016. At the age of 33, I was a struggling mother of 2 and 5-year-old daughters and a hurting wife.

The following year, we've lost a friend and a former classmate, age 33, due to complications of ectopic pregnancy and a friend's husband died due to a vehicular accident at the age of 34. The list goes back to our batchmate who was disabled the age of 32, a classmate who died in his late 20s due to an aggressive disease, and the one that our batch lost when we were still in college due to a vehicular accident. All of them have left a hurting family. 

These are real stories of real people who are close to me and for sure, you know a number of the same cases, too: sudden death or disability at a very young age.

Questions:

 If you suddenly get sick and need a long-term medication, who will pay for the bills and medication?

 If you meet an accident, who will pay for your treatment?

 If you suddenly die for whatever possible reason, who will provide for your family? 

Who will pay for the bills, for the food on the table, and for the kids' education?

 Can your spouse provide for these alone?

 Is your current savings enough for all of these needs?

Would you rather sell your hard earned house and car in the future rather than start saving now? Would you rather risk the possibility of your children dropping out of their classes because no one will pay for their expenses anymore?

In our case, when my husband was disabled, we were able to claim a critical illness benefit from his life insurance with Manulife enough for me to have time in setting up the rhythm of our new normal before I started working again (I will have a separate post on this.). 

Life insurance is NOT an additional expense. Life insurance is a form of savings that will save you and your family in the future when you will be needing money the most. It will protect your family from the financial loss that goes with sickness, disability, and death.

My friend,  my job is to help you prepare in protecting your family's future while you can. What I can do for you is to make sure that your spouse and children will have enough to keep them afloat when you're gone. Because when your time comes, sympathy and moral support alone will not be enough. What they will need more, other than prayer, is the financial stability as if you are still there. Financial stability that only you can provide. Now.

Let me help you.


HONEYLETTE I. BAGTAS
Financial Advisor
Manulife Philippines

When The Skype Haunts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsUyjzRIU9w

I heard the Skype ringing

I searched for my laptop, it was off

The Skype kept on ringing

I reached for the plug, it was tangled

I needed to turn on the laptop

The Skype call might end

I must answer it

I started crying

I slammed the laptop on the floor

"Why wouldn't you turn on?!"

The call ended 

I listened hard

No more ringing -- only sobs

I was awakened by my sobs

It was just a dream 

A nightmare

My heart wanted to make that Skype call

But no one will answer

Glenn is not on the other line.

Huwag Kang Mapagod Kaibigan

"Napapagod akong mamalengke mag isa.. 

.. nakakapagod magbuhat ng para sa isang linggo supply na kailangan ng walong matanda at     

   dalawang bata

.. nakakapgod isipin ang pakiramdam ng may kasama mamalengke na magbubuhat ng higit   

   sampung kilo mong pinamili

.. nakakasawang makakita ng mga mag-asawang magkasama.."

Sa kabila nito.. alam kong MAPALAD AKO

wag kang mapagod mamalengke kahit mag-isa, dahil mapalad ka na meron kang perang pambili habang ang iba ay wala...

wag kang mapagod sa mga gawaing bahay, mapalad ka dahil ang iba ay walang tahanan..

wag kang mapagod kung may sakit ang iyong asawa, dahil mapalad ka na sya ay kapiling mo pa  habang sa iba ay pumanaw na...

wag kang mapagod kung nawalan ka ng asawa..

mapalad ka dahil ang iba ay nawalan din ng anak..

wag kang mapagod kung nawalan ka ng asawa at anak..

mapalad ka sa iyong mga magulang, kapatid, kamag-anak at kaibigan

habang ang iba ay lumaki na sa ampunan, iniwan na sa home for the aged, o di kaya'y napilitang mag pakupkop sa gobyerno dahil sa naranasang pang-aabuso..

wag kang mapagod kung isa ka man sa kanila, dahil mapalad ka na may kumukupkop sa iyong institusyon habang ang iba ay namamatay ng mag- isa sa kalsada na walang nakakapuna..

wag tayong manatili sa pagkapagod, bagkus bilangin natin at ipagpasalamat ang mga biyaya na bigay ng Dakilang Lumikha