oDesk Withdrawal Method - My Personal Dilemma

I was due to withdraw my odesk earnings today, July 18. Ever since I started withdrawing funds from my odesk account, I always use the LFT or Local Funds Transfer wherein I directly receive payment through my Metrobank ATM. Unfortunately today, I admittedly was kind of thinking it was like a default setting that when I click "withdraw", it will be just the same. In short, I was not in my proper frame of mind (hehe!). However, when I checked the transaction history on odesk, I withdrew funds and transferred it to my PayPal account! I was angry at myself for being so absent-minded. I registered my Paypal account as a backup payment plan just in case clients would ask if I have such thing. But, to actually transfer fund from odesk to Paypal, I must say is such a hassle for a newbie like me.

My Paypal account is linked to my Union Bank EON Card. I have separately set up my Paypal and EON Card accounts since last year but have not really tried if it actually works. Now, I finally got a taste of how tedious this process is. It was a few months back since I last visited my Paypal account because I do not really use it that often. Good thing I was able to retrieve my password and saw that my odesk money was instantly transferred. The problem now is when I was trying to transfer fund to my EON Card (debit card), I could not push through with the transaction because Paypal system was asking me to verify my debit card through a 4-digit number. Unfortunately, I did not have my EON Card with me and could not check these magic numbers being asked from me to successfully transfer my money from Paypal to EON Card.

Nevertheless, here are the realizations I ended up with:

1. oDesk charges a bit higher amount when you withdraw earnings through Paypal as compared to LFT (Local Fund Transfer). If you withdraw through Paypal, odesk costs $1 whereas LFT is only $0.99. You might say that there is not much difference, anyway. But, if you are going to withdraw a large amount, the decimal point does matter.

2. Paypal's money conversion seemed a bit lower as compared to the dollar-peso rate applied through LFT. Usually, when I withdraw funds from oDesk to my Metrobank account, exchange rate is around $1 equivalent to Php 41 - 42. On the other hand, I noticed that Paypal's conversion rate is a dollar lower thus, $1 is equivalent to Php 40. Apart from this, you will be deducted of the respective remittance charge from your respective bank, like in my case, Metrobank that charges roughly around Php 75 to 80 once money is transmitted to my ATM. In Paypal, different charges apply for different banks too, but the lowest  rate is Union Bank which is Php 50 based on what I have read in other blogs. For other banks connected to your Paypal it may cost to above Php100.

3. For the price that you are going to pay, I would recommend the oDesk LFT withdrawal since the end result gives you a slightly lower odesk charge and remittance fee which in my case is Metrobank. I think the deducted amount is fine since I get to receive payment after 2 to 3 days only. Say for example, I withdraw my odesk money on a Wednesday therefore, I would receive it by Saturday of the same week.  Paypal has a 5 to 7 day allowance before your money is transferred to your debit card which is a bit longer waiting time.


Lessons learned: Withdraw my oDesk fund through LFT, ALWAYS! And most of all, always double check on what you are clicking before finalizing any withdrawal transaction.

Goodluck to others (out there) who are experimenting on oDesk withdrawal methods!

Subic Bay Weekend Get Away

It's been quite a while since my last entry. Since the Philippines is a tropical country, I think it is still worth-sharing what I have been up to and the places I have been to last summer season.

Subic is probably one of the most ideal places to go to for a weekend getaway. When I was searching for a sample Subic Bay itinerary, I got a bit confused that one part of Subic is in Zambales and the other one is the business district, Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBMA). For this weekend vacay, we visited the SBMA area.


Transportation

Going to Subic is not as difficult to reach via public transport.  All you have to do is book a trip with Victory Liner (fare is around Php 280 one way). They have several trips from as early as 5:30am onwards. You do not have to make an advance booking which was what I had in mind. You can check Victory Liner's website for the trip schedules. However, another option would be the Saulog Bus Transit but, I am not really sure where the bus terminal is because we rode on this Saulog Bus (Subic bound) by accident. We were actually in Magallanes waiting for a cab that will take us to Victory Liner in Cubao. It would be more comfortable that way since Victory Liner Bus passes through SCTEX which will save us travel time. However, while waiting for the cab along Magallanes, a Saulog Bus stopped by, and the dispatcher was calling for Northbound passengers. I saw the signboard that says "Olongapo." Then, I asked the driver if it is headed to SBMA. He nodded and said that Saulog terminal is near SM Olongapo which is about 2-minute walk from SBMA Gate. However, one downside of riding this bus is that Saulog had several bus stops and passes through the traditional Pampanga route which took a bit longer. Good thing though that it was a Sunday and traffic was really not a problem.

When we arrived in Olongapo, we were dropped off at SM Olongapo; and we saw color-coded jeepneys. The streets are filled with Pinays partnered with foreigners, which is understandable because Subic is a dock area for US marine vessels. We left our backpacks at SM Luggage Counter and explored the mall and tried to ask around as to where we is the Entrance Gate going to SBMA. It was actually near China Bank, just walk a little farther, and you will be able to see SBMA Entrance Gate. It was literally a 2-minute walk. However, due to the summer heat, I was actually thinking that we can take the taxi going to our hotel inside SBMA despite the many comments that SBMA taxis charge passengers a little over the top. Oh yes, there were cabs in SM Olongapo that will take you to your route inside SBMA. From SM to our hotel (Poco A Poco Hotel), the driver charged Php 80. They do not have a metered taxi but fixed rate based on destination.


Poco A Poco Hotel  in Subic Bay

Poco A Poco Hotel was just near the Bay area. It will take about five minutes for you to get to the beach area. It was very near the public beach where a lot of people hang out. In fact, it reminded me of Baywalk in Manila, but Subic's version was more like a place to chill with far way cleaner surroundings and beach area.  The humid weather makes you want to take a dip in the sea, but unfortunately, we don't have swimming clothes. There were hotels along the beachfront area, restaurants, bar and shopping spots. One sad thing though is that the marina area seemed like a prostitution site full of US Navy men hanging out in bars and restaurants with Pinays.

Anyway, our hotel was just near the restaurants so, we walked along the shore trying to explore the restaurants, but there were only the usual ones like Gerry's Grill, Pier One and Giligan's Island. But, it was definitely a scenic location for photo ops.

If I were to rate Poco A Poco Hotel, I would give it a 4 out of 5. It's probably one of the most reasonable hotels in the area but just be careful in the published fees because it may appear as discounted rate, but we were actually charged for a 500-peso processing fee. 



But, the room was spacious, it was very neat, they had cable tv, bathroom was clean and the attendants were also nice.

clean and very cozy parts of the room

Ocean Adventure in Subic

The highlight of our tour in Subic is the Ocean Adventure trip. It is a wildlife park that showcases four parts of a show. We caught the 1:30pm show and paid around Php 600 each person. Going to Ocean Adventure is quite far a distance. We took the cab from our hotel and paid around Php 400. Luckily, the taxi driver was friendly and gave us some little chit chat like a tourist guide. As we travel the highway, we saw some monkeys on the sidewalk and stopped a bit to take a photo of the fruit bats quietly hanging on the trees. Ocean Adventure was like 1 hour away from Poco a Poco hotel. Soon as we arrived, we got our tickets and proceeded to the cafeteria. Food was quite pricey ranging from Php 200 to 300 per meal. It was generally of average quality so, we just opted to order burger and fruit shake which cost around Php 220.  And then, at exactly 1:30pm we rushed to the first show which was the Sea Lion show. After that, we proceeded to the Divers show and then, transferred to another part of the park which showcased wildlife animals -- monkeys, snake, Philippine eagle and even the dog popularly known as "askal." The last show that we watched was the Dolphin show. All of which were very entertaining, educational and the animals were so much fun to watch. It was also an eye-opener for those who lack concern for animals and the environment as well. I think it is one good way for students to learn interactively and entertainingly.

Here are some of the photos we took:

fruit bats

monkeys we saw along the way

dolphins in the air

more of them

divers

sea lion show with a man who volunteered to imitate the sea lion but ended up sliding down the pool

Overall, Subic is another good way to unwind and relax although it would be better to stay in beachfront accommodation. Nevertheless, I had fun exploring and learning more about Subic. You oughta go there, too!

                          

How I Started as a Virtual Assistant

It was in October 2011 when I started my first online jobs through odesk.com. With my frustration and stress in the office routine, I turned to attend a series of webinars hosted by Mr. Jomar Hilario, a well-renowned online marketing guru in the Philippines. There were days when I wanted to participate in one of his live seminars/workshops on how to become a virtual assistant, but my schedule does not permit me to do so. Good thing he offered an audio version of his How to Become a Virtual Assistant seminar and I quickly purchased it online. After I finished the audio seminar and after I have read blogs of people who had the similar dilemma as mine, I got so inspired and confident that I can change my life 360 degrees and become a full-time Virtual Assistant.

Soon as I learned about odesk.com in 2011, I started out my profile but never really paid attention to how to improve it. I was not that determined. Thus, I left it hanging incomplete for quite some time. When I learned more about how to boost my "marketability" in odesk, I quickly overhauled my odesk profile and took the tests which will reflect my expertise in writing. Writing is my passion, and I was thinking that I ought to make a career out of it if I am going to pursue my Virtual Assistant career. 

My first gig as a Virtual Assistant (online writer) was to blog about a variety of topics. It was for an American client who is maintaining a sort of Wikipedia website (Usenet) hence, I started with the work in October 2011, and up until now, I am still writing articles for this client. Then, I realized I can manage to handle some more work perhaps, try out the fixed-price contract available in odesk. I did get a few and found it very fulfilling when clients are very pleased with the articles that I submit, and some would even pay me a bonus. Opportunities and job offer came in one by one, and I was definitely happy about how things are working out for me as a newbie Virtual Assistant. I admit that starting at a lower rate per hour was a stepping stone. So, as I gained more experience and confidence, I eventually increased my hourly rate. 

Now, I am happy to be working on a part-time basis for several clients whom I am writing articles for website content and some as a research assistant. What I even appreciated more is the fact that I can use my background in Psychology for some projects I handled. I also get to have my fair share of demanding clients, and when they ask too much of my effort which I know I cannot accommodate, I just end the contract rather than carrying on with the project which I cannot deliver on their expected schedule. But overall, my Virtual Assistant experience is indeed an eye-opener that I can actually start a career by working at home as long I have the determination, motivation, and yearning for change. It is just a matter of time to hone my skills and brave the world of becoming a full-time Virtual Assistant.