I know it’s kinda strange but aside from the Time Travel films, I’m also fascinated with the Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic films with the thoughts of what shall come after the end of everything.
There’s something strangely interesting to know how anyone would survive to live on the rotten & wasted land. How to live roaming around the destroyed earth in search of food and sleep on the abandoned buildings night after night, there ’s a shortage of food with no vegetation as it will be too cold to grow anything, and find anything left to eat from the abandoned supermarkets. To fight for your life against people who are also trying to survive. I also often daydream about myself living in this kind of world where it’s gonna be survival to the fittest and nothing else matters but to survive the day alive.
With these in mind, I decided to write down the list of the Best Apocalyptic films I have seen in no particular order.
1. BIRD BOX-2018
The film follows a woman and a pair of children, who must travel through a forest and down a river blindfolded to avoid supernatural entities that cause people who look at them to commit suicide.
2. A QUIET PLACE-2018
The plot revolves around a family facing struggles to survive in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by blind extraterrestrial creatures with an acute sense of hearing.
3. THE ROAD-2009
In a dangerous post-apocalyptic world, an ailing father defends his son as they slowly travel to the sea.
4. 28 DAYS LATER-2002
Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary. The plot depicts the breakdown of society following the accidental release of a highly contagious virus and focuses upon the struggle of four survivors to cope with the destruction of the life they once knew.
5. THE BOOK OF ELI-2010
A post-apocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across America in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind.
6. 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE-2016
The story follows a young woman who, after a car crash, wakes up in an underground bunker with two men who insist that an event has left the surface of Earth uninhabitable.
7. CARGO-2017
In a world overtaken by a virus that turns people into zombies within 48 hours, the Rose family Andy, Kay, and their baby Rosie tries to survive.
8. IO-2019
The film is set in a dystopian future, where Earth’s atmosphere has become toxic. Most humans have fled the planet, to live on a space station near Io, a moon of Jupiter.
I know it’s kinda intimidating to apply for the US Visa, especially for the first-timers. When I planned to apply for the US Visa, I started reading forums like what are the requirements I have to provide, what are the usual questions to be asked by the Consul and the best I shall answer and the likes. Reading a lot about these including the long list of the mentioned requirements like bank statements, credit card statements, salary slips, and stories of failed interviews from people unable to establish their ties in their Countries made me wonder, what are my chances to be approved?
But wherever you are, my advise is as simple as- when you come for the interview, just be confident as possible, remain calm and answer the questions straight to the point without elaborating much giving them the chance to ask another question based on your answer.
When I went for the interview, the first thing I noticed is that everyone in the hall could actually hear the Consul’s questions as well as the answers on the microphones. Although it made me a little bit nervous, it helped me think in advance of the best answers when asked the same question.
Ik, Interview may vary depending on which Country you are living, and also from the Individual personal circumstance, so don’t be surprised if you see others pass while some others failed even without the Consul looking at their supporting documents. Sometimes, it also depends on the Consul whims. To be honest, they never asked me to show any supporting documents and if they happen to check my bank statement that time,they will find only BD50 left in my account, (something like PHP6k)- haha! Seriously, so, it really doesn’t matter anyway. I guess they will rely on the consistency of your salary and not the amount of money.
To help you prepare for the interview when you are a Filipino Citizen living overseas, here are the few questions usually asked by the Consul and your best answer.
Note: When your number is called, always greet the Consul with a smile and “Good morning”. Remember to smile always and try to hide your nervousness as much as possible, Otherwise, they might take it against you thinking you are not stating the truth.
1. How long have you been here?
Give them the exact figure.
2. What do you do for a living here?
Just answer your Job Description and the name of the Company you are working with only. Do not mention your salary if not asked.
More often, the Consul won’t ask you to provide hard copies of your documents and they will mainly base to what you have stated in your DS-160 form but then you must have to make them ready in case.
a. Employment Certificate and Contract
b. Salary Certificate/ Salary slip for the last three months
c. Bank statement
3. Have you been to the US before?
If not, answer truthfully. They will know it anyways.
4. Have you traveled outside the Country?
Say yes if you did and if they asked you where, enumerate all the Countries you’ve been to. Again, answer truthfully and do not lie.
5. Why do you want to go to the US?
Since you applied for a tourist visa, just say “for tourism purpose”– and that’s it, simple as that. Be specific and do not answer what is not asked.
6. Where are you going to the US?
If you are going to visit a friend or a family, tell them the exact address of your contact in the US. Remember to memorize their names, your relationship with them, their exact address and mobile numbers and their occupation in case they asked you.
7. Are you traveling alone?
Say yes if you’re alone and if traveling with anyone, say with a Company.
These are the actual questions asked to me when I went for the interview, (along with some other side comments, like you don’t look like your age, how old are you and etc.) But overall, these are the most important questions you must prepare to answer. It didn’t even take me 5 minutes to stand there on the booth and he smiled to me and gave me the stab with the date when to collect my passport with Visa on it.
Please note, I don’t have a huge amount in the bank at the time of my interview and I never bother to put any amount just to show that I have money, I guess the Consul knows the bank scheme and all. More so, although I have Relatives in the US which I mentioned in my application form, I don’t have an invitation letter from them.
But I did it and so are you hopefully!
I got 10 years multiple entries to the United States of America!
Here are some other possible questions from the Consul and try to prepare for the best answer.
WHICH PLACES ARE YOU PLANNING TO VISIT?– Not bad to start searching online for the places to go to the state you are visiting.
HOW LONG DO YOU PLAN TO STAY IN THE USA?– You can depend on your answer to your itinerary.
HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK WILL IT COST YOU TO STAY IN THE USA?– You have to prepare your answer accordingly. Better have a proof of your Salary Certificate, Salary Slips, Bank Statements, Credit Card statement and the likes. If you are going to stay with a relative, better say: I will not spend much as I would be staying with my relative during my vacation and I would only go on short solo day trips within the area if they are not available.
DO YOU HAVE PLANS OF WORKING IN THE USA– Definitely a NO-NO! Never ever give them the idea even if they asked you confusing questions like “What if anyone offers you a job in the USA or what if anyone offers you marriage in the USA or what if you win a jackpot in the casino or anything like that to intimidate you or expect your VISA rejected.
HOW CAN YOU ASSURE THAT YOU WILL COME BACK HOME?– With this question, you can say that you don’t wanna spoil your travel records as you plan on visiting other countries in the near future.
Nueva Vizcaya is a province of the Philippines located in Cagayan Valley region in Luzon, though it is geographically and culturally part of the Cordilleras. Its capital is Bayombong. It is bordered by Benguet to the west, Ifugao to the north, Isabela to the northeast, Quirino to the east, Aurora to the southeast, Nueva Ecija to the south, and Pangasinan to the southwest. The province is cultural, linguistically, and geographically part of the Cordilleras, but was put in the Cagayan Valley region by American occupiers in the early 20th century. Quirino province, later on, broke away from the province as it was more related to Isabela province in the north.
These breath taking aerial photos were taken in Sta Fe– just as we ended the long Nueva Ecija stretch. We stopped by for a little warm up early in the morning in seems to be like an eco-park. You will see the magnificent mountains in front of us. We went up to the park but unfortunately the zip line was still close and will open at 8am. We just stretched and took photos in this amazing view and went back driving going to the City Proper of NV.
Sorrounded by North Luzon’s three large mountain ranges, NV is generally mountainous varying from steep mountains to rolling hills with some valleys and plains.
Info: Sometimes called by locals as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, the Ifugao Rice Terraces begin at the base of the mountain range and extend several thousand feet upwards. Two of the terrace clusters in Banaue, namely Bangaan and Batad, are part of the UNESCO World Heritage inscription.
The Banaue Rice Terraces (Filipino: Hagdan-hagdang Palayan ng Banawe) are terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by the ancestors of the indigenous people. The terraces are occasionally called the “Eighth Wonder of the World“. It is commonly thought that the terraces were built with minimal equipment, largely by hand. The terraces are located approximately 1,500 metres (4,900 feet) above sea level. These are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. It is said that if the steps were put end to end, it would encircle half of the globe.
It was in 2017 when RJ and I went to Banaue Rice Terraces which is about 3 to 4 hours drive on a steep mountain (in a very nice view along the way) from his place in Nueva Vizcaya.
We left his Town in Bayombong in the morning and reached there before lunch. Along the way, we passed by this beautiful tiny little restaurant to have a brunch, picture uploaded.
These amazing photos were taken from my cam phone only.
Nice view.
And if you are a nature lover, you will definitely love the serenity of the place, the green fields, and the smell of the air.
Cute little restaurant along the way made of bamboo sticks.
Although I have been to Bulacan several times and several places since childhood, since it was our only way to go to the Metro at that time before all the express highways, I have only compiled the recent photos I’ve been in Bulacan, particularly our church visits.
On our trip to the Philippines in 2017, RJ and I went for some errands in Bulacan, and at the same time, he took me to these beautiful Cathedrals within the area.
Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in San Jose, Bulacan.
Address: Sta.Maria- Tungkong-Mangga Road, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan, Philippines
Phone: +63 923 844 9247
The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes is a famous religious and ecological tourist destination and attraction in Graceville, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan. It is a replica of the Lourdes Grotto in France
And at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy located in Marilao, Bulacan.
Address: M. Villarica Rd, Marilao, Bulacan, Philippines
Phone: +63 44 711 5393
The Adoration Chapel was the first structure built in the Divine Mercy National Shrine. It is constructed to immortalize the Last Vision of Fatima.
Update 2019:
We also went again together 2 years later ( August 2019) to Barasoain Church in Malolos Bulacan (Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish) as we passed before our errand, but since I was pregnant at that time and always feeling hot and tired- I didn’t take many photos.
Photo not mine
This Church apart from very beautiful is one of the favorite tourist destinations in the Philippines. Its stunning look has always been the place for special events/celebrations in the Country.
As RJ and I will start ticking off one of our Bucket List starting this year – that is to explore the 81 Province of the Philippines to start with during our Phil vacations at any time with no particular order and no particular duration, then I’ll move forward to other International destination starting in Asia and eventually will move further to other Countries, given the chance.
But my goal as of now is to step my foot on all the 81 provinces of my Country. As I’ve visited some places in the past alone, with family and with RJ, I’ll just continue the journey and document each of the places I’ve been in my blog until we completed them all.
The fun race to complete the 81 provinces of the Philippines is becoming the ultimate travel goal for backpackers. Ik, finishing the list shall be a great achievement for everyone but can only be attained by a few… hopefully, we will!
I know it’s kinda strange but aside from the Time Travel films, I’m also fascinated with the Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic films with the thoughts of what shall come after the end of everything.
There’s something strangely interesting to know how anyone would survive to live on the rotten & wasted land. How to live roaming around the destroyed earth in search of food and sleep on the abandoned buildings night after night, there ’s a shortage of food with no vegetation as it will be too cold to grow anything, and find anything left to eat from the abandoned supermarkets. To fight for your life against people who are also trying to survive. I also often daydream about myself living in this kind of world where it’s gonna be survival to the fittest and nothing else matters but to survive the day alive.
With these in mind, I decided to write down the list of the Best Apocalyptic films I have seen in no particular order.
1. BIRD BOX-2018
The film follows a woman and a pair of children, who must travel through a forest and down a river blindfolded to avoid supernatural entities that cause people who look at them to commit suicide.
2. A QUIET PLACE-2018
The plot revolves around a family facing struggles to survive in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by blind extraterrestrial creatures with an acute sense of hearing.
3. THE ROAD-2009
In a dangerous post-apocalyptic world, an ailing father defends his son as they slowly travel to the sea.
4. 28 DAYS LATER-2002
Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary. The plot depicts the breakdown of society following the accidental release of a highly contagious virus and focuses upon the struggle of four survivors to cope with the destruction of the life they once knew.
5. THE BOOK OF ELI-2010
A post-apocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across America in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind.
6. 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE-2016
The story follows a young woman who, after a car crash, wakes up in an underground bunker with two men who insist that an event has left the surface of Earth uninhabitable.
7. CARGO-2017
In a world overtaken by a virus that turns people into zombies within 48 hours, the Rose family Andy, Kay, and their baby Rosie tries to survive.
8. IO-2019
The film is set in a dystopian future, where Earth’s atmosphere has become toxic. Most humans have fled the planet, to live on a space station near Io, a moon of Jupiter.
Taal Volcano and Lake are wholly located in the province of Batangas. The northern half of Volcano Island falls under the jurisdiction of the lakeshore town of Talisay, and the southern half to San Nicolas.
So it was just like we went to spend the night in Tagaytay and we passed by to see the beauty of this lake.
It is a stripline with bars, coffee shops, and restaurants where you could relax, dine, and get the chance to look at this awesome view from the top.
Haven’t got a lot of photos as the others are not for posting material but the actual site of this place is truly remarkable particularly in the late afternoon when the sun is going down.
Benguet is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the southern tip of the Cordillera Administrative Region in the island of Luzon. Its capital is La Trinidad. The highland province is known as the Salad Bowl of the Philippines due to its huge production of upland vegetables.
Baguio, officially the City of Baguio and popularly referred to as Baguio City, is a mountain resort city located in Northern Luzon, Philippines.
I’ve been to Baguio several times, oh well, who else wouldn’t be, and definitely, I will come back, hopefully during my 2019 vacation as it is now on my 2019 travel itinerary.
Chescadventures 