MOM MATTERS: SSS Requirements for Maternity Benefit and Reimbursement

It's my eight month in the pregnancy and one of the many things I also prepare for aside from cute little clothes, tiny socks and mittens, feeding bottles, etc. are documents to claim benefits from SSS and Philhealth. Being a practical person, I always organize my files and prepare documents way ahead of time so I won't have problems when the time comes that I need it. Or in my case, I would want everything in easy access for my husband so he knows what to do when I can't do it after delivering our baby. It would be less stressful not only to him but especially to me. It also will give us more time to adore and admire our newborn son than go gaga over documents we need.

One of the most important things to prepare right after or let say 2-3 months after finding out that you're pregnant is the SSS Claim for Maternity Benefit or MAT-1 Form. If you're working, your company can help you in submitting this, but if you're like me who's unemployed, you can directly go to the SSS office near you.

What to bring when filing your SSS MAT-1 form:
1. Mat-1 Form: It's available online so you can print one at home and fill it out or if not its also available in the office.
2. Ultrasound or hospital record showing you're really pregnant
3. Bring your SSS ID or number
4. Ballpen
Click here for the downloadable MAT-1 Form: MAT-1 Form

After giving birth, you will need to submit your MAT-2 form which will help you claim for your maternity benefit. Click here for the downloadable form: MAT-2 Form

Requirements: (As seen in the MAT-2 MAternity Reimbursement Form)
1. Maternity notification duly stamped received by the SSS prior to the date of childbirth/miscarriage
2. The member must have paid at least three monthly contributions within the 12 month period immediately preceding the semester of childbirth or miscarriage
3. a. For Normal Delivery - A certified true copy or authenticated copy of Birth Certificate duly registered with the Local Civil Registrar
b. For Cesarean Delivery - Certified true copy or authenticated copy of Birth Certificate duly registered with the Local Civil Registrar, Operating room record or surgical memorandum duly certified by the hospital where the member is confined.
c. For Stillbirth - Fetal Death Certificate duly registered with the Local Civil Registrar
d. For Miscarriage or Abortion - Pregnancy test before and after miscarriage/abortion, medical certificate/obstetrical history indicating the number of miscarriages duly certified by the attending physician, D & C report duly certified by the authorized hospital representative where the member was confined.
4. a. For Separated Member - Certification from last employer with the effective date of separation from employment
b. For Voluntary Member - a copy of approved SS Form E-5
c. For Self-employed Member - a copy of approved SS Form RS-1


You may check their official website here SSS Official Website for more details.

MOM MATTERS: How to have fun without spending?

I found this post by Ms. Ginger Palma Arboleda in the Manila Work-at-Home Moms facebook page   and I was really challenged by her question. Now that I'm only a month away from being a mom, it is very important for me to save money and make sure my future son would still enjoy and have fun. So I think this topic is really very timely for me. Good thing I already had some practice with my nephews and nieces.

So how do I have fun and spend nothing?

.I am a frustrated pre-schooler teacher so I would always play pretend school with my nieces and nephews. I've listed below some of the activities that we do but unfortunately I don't have the pictures to show it. Surely, next time I would take a picture so we could preserve those moments.

1. Melted Color Arts: I'm sure most of you are familiar with this method of art wherein you collect used crayons, those little ones you can't really color with, a candle, old teaspoon, and a paper. The step is to melt the crayons and splat it on the paper to create different figures and colors. It's very simple and it challenges your kids creativity.

2. Sketch a Leaf: I did this in grade school before and I think this is one of the most fun things to do with arts and nature. Kids would surely enjoy not only the sketching part but also being in nature.

3. Pinoy games: I taught my nephews and nieces piko, tumbang preso, and patintero. Those games cost nothing but is very fun and tiring.

4. Dance and Sing: I would teach them icebreaker and unfreezing songs and dance I learned way way before and in turn they'll teach me what they know.

5. Storytelling: Storytelling is one way of having fun and teaching kids at the same time. I also try to ask my nieces and nephews to tell their own stories and used new words they are not that familiar yet. So we have fun and learn at the same time.

6. Jogging and exercising: We go to the nearest park in our village and jog for an hour and play in the playground. It's an exciting and healthy way of having fun with kids.

I'm sure there are a lot of other activities that are fun and costs nothing. I guess its true that having fun does not necessarily mean spending a lot of money but more on the quality of the time spent. I'm so excited to see my son and enjoy new and free fun activities with him.

TEACHER'S TALE: My Two Cents on Passion

I have always admired people who obviously does things not for money or fame or popularity. I have seen a lot. But this is not about passionate people, but about the opposite. We always talk about passionate people, what they do and how they are with whatever passion they have, but we rarely read articles about im-passionate people. If that's the right word?

And so I wondered. For the longest time, I consider myself a very passionate person. Passionate about teaching, about things I love to do like reading, make ups, and taking care of my family. But I guess not everyone has "passion" or I think they don't. The question now is, why do people become these kinds of people? How do we identify these kinds of people? How do we prevent from becoming one? Or stay away from them? 

I have seen and dealt with these types of people.

People who you would think works only for the sake of money because they want to have so much in life they do things even if they don't want to. This usually results to suffering maybe of themselves or unfortunately of other people.These are people who keep a record of what they have done for you or for the company or for whoever. People who are selfish and would take advantage of other people, all for their own benefit. 

Physically, these people look unpleasant, not that they are ugly or anything. Its just there is something in them that you can really pinpoint, that looks or better yet feels unpleasant. They walk around with a frown, reacts negatively, and their body language shows defensiveness. They don't consider other people's time, and go to meetings or classes late without valid excuses or without remorse. They are nice only to people who they think can be of help to them. In reality I think,they are afraid of competition, but disguises this fear with strength.I think people like these are wrongly motivated. Or they choose to be this way.  

This is where the challenge comes in. If passionate people can be influential, no doubt being impassionate as well.  So you get to choose, would you rather have the fire and let it burn or just a candle looking for a flame? For me, I would try my hardest to keep the fire burning even if I am surrounded by these kinds of people. It is by choice that a person becomes passionate, just like being happy. If you are happy with what you do regardless of any monetary reward or recognition, hold on to that and continue doing it. That is your FIRE. Like a real fire, it needs protection. Protection from air, water, and people who would try to put the flame out. Don't let them. Hold on and fight for the flame. If at the moment you are on the verge of putting out your own flame, step back and think. Recall what was good about you, what makes you smile, what keeps you alive, then maybe, just maybe, this would be enough to rekindle the flame. If you have that "impassionate" person in your life, stay guarded, make sure you are focused on your passion. You cannot let anyone overshadow what we love to do. It is your ow fire and you have to keep it safe. If that person, is your friend, family, relative or anyone close to you, what we can only do is to try and rub them with our flame, in that they find their own. 

If we are truly passionate people, we do not stop because we are already passionate as an individual. What we do should always be to try and make other people feel passionate as well. Through our actions, behavior, words, and especially thoughts. You cannot fake passion, if it isn't true, just like any flame it will die. 

Passion drives a person to a direction one chooses to go. Without it, everything would seem to feel like a routine, boring, and a senseless existence.

I challenge you, keep the fire burning. Spread like wild fire!:)

FACE TALK: AVON Beauty Blogger Challenge

A friend posted me this Blogger challenge from AVON yesterday, but I was a bit hesitant to join as I just started blogging about make up and make up tutorials this month. But after thinking about it I said, "What the heck, might as well give it a try." I'm sure a lot of bloggers will be joining and it wouldn't hurt if i entered the contest myself, who knows I just might get lucky!:)

My official entry to AVON's Blogger Challenge

For other beuaty bloggers out there, try your luck too and enter the contest. It's very easy, you just have to post links of your make up tutorials with or without AVON products. (But I think it's better if you have used their products) After completing the online form, they'll give you a voucher just like the picture above and you just have to wait if you'll get chosen.

Here is the mechanics for the challenge:

For more details click here: AVON Beauty Blogger Challenge How To

FACE TALK: What's Inside my Make up Kit?

I've always wanted to share what's inside my everyday make up kit but have for the longest time put it off. But today, I've decided I'll stop procrastinating and start writing.:)

Here's my make up kit, a pouch I bought again from Japan Home. It's rectangular in shape so all my make up paraphernalia will fit into it.

Inside it are my essentials, for my everyday look I go for natural or neutral colors. I also have my 5 basic brushes in a pouch. What I like about my set of make ups is that most of it are dual purpose and is not too bulky. I only bring with me small sizes so it wouldn't be too heavy on my bag.

This is  my brush kit, I bought the pouch in Landmark department store. They have different colors and designs as well. It's good to put your brushes in their own pouches to keep it from becoming dirty. It's also better to have your equipment organized than to have it in a messy make up kit.

From upper left to right:
1. Eyelash curler
2. Maybelline BB Cream
3. Careline pressed powder
4. In 2 It eyebrow kit
5. Everbilena Mascara
6. Physician's Formula Eyeliner
7. Blush
8. L'oreal Coral lipstick
9. Quad colored eyeshadow

I'm planning to try and make different looks out of the make ups I have so I hope you'd keep reading. I also wish you could share what's inside your make up kit as well. :)

LIFE ONLINE: Online work in Manila

As you've probably have read in my About me and my latest post, I am a converted work-at-home mom. My search actually was a full long 3-4 months, if I remember correctly. It was not a walk in the park, so if you're considering working online at home here are some sites I think can help you through the journey.

1.  oDesk.com - This is where I got my first online work as a transcriber. Just finish completing your profile, be very about the details. I also suggest you do all the exams possible like MS work and MS excel proficiency and be specific on the types of job you are willing to take. I also suggest you put a picture in your profile, cause I think just like any other company, it will be best to have a decent picture of yourself in your virtual resume.

2. Freelancer.ph - Another source of online work is freelancer. ph. It offers different work ranging from online work to full time company work. Though they really have a lot of job opportunities you also have a lot of competitions here. So if you're a newbie, it's kinda hard to land a job.

3. Skillpages - I also signed up on this site but didn't really get the chance to explore it that much.This site also offers not only online works, but also office and corporate work. You just have to choose which job openings you'd like to send your resumes to.

4. Discovery Reports Group Ltd. They have a lot of online work available, but they are more on the business and technical side. They have job opportunities for country analyst, market researchers and business writers. They offer full time positions with benefits.  tried to apply for the business writer but I knew I wouldn't get in because I did not really have any business background.

5. Rare Jobs PH - I learned this from my cousin who has been working as an online English tutor here in Rare Jobs. Their main clients are from Japan, and they offer very flexible working hours. You can choose to teach for four hours or eight hours depending on your availability. Their shift though is usually at night because of the time difference of our country and theirs.

6. Red Hare Ltd - My company as of the moment. It is a Hong Kong based shipping and drop
shipping company that provides gadgets to countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, and the United States. My shift everyday is from 9 - 6pm and I have a two days off. It's really very convenient and challenging for me.

So if you are considering working online or at home, these are some of the options you might want to consider. Just be cautious also in applying and make sure that the company is a legit one so as not to put your efforts and energy to waste. Happy searching!:)


Disclaimer: Picture used came from the internet.

LIFE ONLINE: 14 Days of Working at Home Online

Yes today marks my 14th day of being a full time work at home soon-to-be mom. For almost eight years I have been in a corporate and academe type of working environment. So this month of July a big change really happened to me when I decided, and luckily got hired by an online work I applied in.

I have only known about working at home through my cousin who works as an English tutor for Japanese kids. It was very convenient for her during that time because she was expecting her first born. Then I got really seriously acquainted with it from a friend who also works home-based. What's good about it is that she can take care of her son and husband, stay at home, and earn at the same time. Talk about women empowerment, right?

And because a lot of things happened to me from the last quarter of last year to this year, I decided to give it a try. My first reason was because I had too many spare time last quarter of the year because I only teach part time and I felt I was not maximizing my opportunities. Then came 2013, wherein I had a lot of new blessings, a wedding, a baby and unemployment. Yes, I had to leave the academe I have loved so much for 8 years, technically for 11 years as I also graduated there. It was a very sad part of my life but at the same time I had too much of a blessing to even complain about having to leave my passion.

It was during our wedding preparations that I landed my first online work through www.odesk.com. I signed up one day, completed the exams they required and the following day got a job interview for a transcriber position. I felt so blessed. Thrilled and amazed at how I can truly feel God guiding me to the right direction. I passed the exams for the position but unfortunately I did not get in the last exam, or so I thought. After a week, the project manager emailed me to inform me that I got hired and that I could start as soon as possible. I started a week before our wedding. That's how relaxed I was with the wedding preps.. haha.. NOT! But I needed to grab that opportunity not only for me but for my family.

Then because when it rains it pours, I was also considered in another online job where I work now full time. Actually, I am still on training for one month and on probation for six months. But again I am not complaining. I am so grateful for the people who made all this possible, and for the universe who made it all happen. To cite one example of how the universe conspired to make this all happen is our internet connection. We don't really have an internet connection here at home since last year because we only use our neighbors internet. They are that generous,, reallllyyyyyyy!!!:) Before the year ended last year we decided to get an internet connection and divide the payment between us, my brother and sister-in-law. Second, I got my laptop destroyed by doing "defragment" and all those stuff without me understanding it. In less than one week, my husband got it fixed, Free!!:) Then I was scheduled for an online exam, something I thought I couldn't pass but again miraculously I got scheduled for an initial interview. Then another bump happened when on the day of my interview twice in a row my interviewer was offline. I was a little nervous that I might not be considered for the job after all. But then again, the initial interview went online and so did the final interview. I felt hopeful after our final interview but at the same time doubtful because they finally knew I was pregnant. I understood if they will not take me in, its too much of a risk for the company, but again, blessed as I am, I got in.

And today, July 19, just to emphasize is my 14th day on the job as a home-based employee. It's not traditional, it's beyond what I expected, and it's a new world and adjustment all over again. I didn't know before that I could get this tired after a day's work.  I also did not expect to be this busy after 2 weeks of training. I also did not know that it is, this challenging.

When I decided to take an online work, I had no expectations whatsoever. I only knew that this is my BEST option now that I am starting a family. This is an opportunity where I can do both things, take care of my family and earn.

Luckily, I was not wrong. I am more than happy that I was blessed to be in this work right now. I know that this is where I belong and where I should be right now, in this moment. My life online just started and I am loving every day of it.:)

So magicspaceship is signing on.:)