LAX Landing

My parents and Josh landed at Los Angeles International Airport in the afternoon of April 15, 2010.
At the immigration line, my parents were asked for their length of stay in the U.S., which they responded would only be a month.
"A month?" the immigation officer asked.
"Yes" my father replied, as he's got only a month off from work.
The officer stamped the maximum of six months stay, or until October 14th.
Then they breezed through customs, but not after having been asked by a Latina officer, "no chi-cha-roan? no longganisa? no chow-reezo?"
U.S. customs 'penalize' you with US$100 per kilo if you are caught bringing those stuff.
They were fetched by Tita Macel who lives in Torrance.
It pretty much was a stress flight, mother said.It was mainly because of their seat arrangement.
They purchased their tickets late in the day, so to speak.
As a result, all the preferred seats had been purchased.
They were occupying the middle seats throughout the flight.
But upon arriving at LAX, their excitement took all the stress away.While waiting for Macel, someone, a large person withi middle eastern features, casually asked if he can borrow papa's cellphone, as he wanted to call a friend. My father graciously lent his phone. My amused father couldn't contain himself and took a picture. Somebody borrowing someone else's phone doesn't happen much in Manila. But this is L.A. You've gotta be kidding me.

Lively Incheon Airport

It's a huge airport. It's bustling with people.It has floor-to-ceiling glass, allowing a full view of mainly blue-and-white aircraft coming and going on the runway park area.With in the airport, passengers stream, walking all sorts of directions.Others are busy wandering inside well-lighted duty free shops.
Still others can be seen tinkering with their laptops.My parents and Josh just loitered.
They didn't have much time in the airport.
After all, it was just a two-hour lay over.Hungry, they grabbed a quick meal on the second-floor of the airport's food area.

Executing the plan

My parents and my older brod Joshua proceeded to execute their plan.
There were already time constraints as they had not yet purchased their plane tickets.
It was only a few weeks before their planned date of depature to the U.S. in April
For sure the ticket prices had already been jacked up because April is peak season for airlines.
My father contacted his friend at the travel agency to ask for the best (least expensive) price.
It was Korean Air that gave the least price which was already over US$1,200 return.
Philippine Airlines already priced their tickets at more than US$1,400 return.
My father decided to go with Korean Air, as he has also flown with the airline before.
Their departure from Manila was mid April.
Their return tickets were a month after, or in mid-May.
What's more, its got those individualized entertainment screens, making flights way less boring.
With Korean Air, there is a two-hour lay over at Incheon Airport in South Korea.
My father has no qualms about Incheon Int'l airport.
He finds this huge airport impressively vibrant, brisk, full of life.

Month long vacation

With their plans for a Dallas trip in March botched, my folks decided to have their vacation in April.
They planned a monthlong trip in the U.S., and hoped to be back in the Philippines in time for the national elections in May.
They decided to leave in April, as I was already five months in my mother's womb.
Leaving in May may already be difficult.
My mother would already be six months pregnant by that time.
She was concerned it would be difficult to be moving around during their vacation if the family left in May.
So April spring it was.
They planned to come to LA from Manila, and then leave for the East Coast and stay there for two weeks.
Thereafter, they pllaned to return to the West Coast, in San Franciso, then back to LA before flyng back to Manila.
That was the plan.

Visa approved

My parents and my brother were granted a ten-year multiple visa to the United States.
My dad's was actually a renewal of an expired visa.
In their visa application, they planned a month-long visit to the U.S.
But they had no longer any urgency to leave for the United States since their main reason to go there can no longer be realized due to time constraints.
They had wanted to go to Dallas to watch the Pacquiao-Clottey fight live.
Unfortunately, with the U.S. embassy interview only two days before the fight (march 11), it was impossible to leave in time for the fight.
Besides, they got their visa and passports only a week later.
They had to schedule another time for a vacation.

Pacquiao and my birth

There is apparently no connection about my birth and Manny Pacquiao.
Manny Pacquiao, as many know, is a Filipno boxing sensation.
But my birth in the U.S. is connected with Manny Pacquiao's boxing exploits in the United States.
Upon hearing of Manny Pacquiao's next fight against Joshua Clottey on March 13 2010, my father entertained thoughts of watching The Event live at the Cowboy's Stadium in Dallas Texas.
He wanted to watch at least one of Manny Pacquiao's fights live.
Aside from this, my papa had fond memories of Dallas when he stayed there more than a decade ago for a study held at the Southern Methodist University (SMU).
My dad was a fellow of the 1999 Academy of American and International Law which is no the Center for American and International Law.
He suggested to my mama that they go to Dallas in March 2010.
That began his process of renewing his expired U.S. visa.
Unfortunately, when he sought an appointment for a visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in January, the interview was scheduled on March 11, 2010.
The interview was two days before the Pacquiao Clottey fight.
It was impossible to be able leave in time for the live event.
So immediately, papa had to drop his plans of watching the fight live.
Nevertheless, my folks went on with their sceduled visa interview, thinking of just visiting the U.S. on a later date.
Anyway, my brother Joshua would still be in school until the end of March.

My Birthplace

Perhaps, what would be interesting about my birth is my birthplace.
I was born in California.
My parents and elder brother were having a vacation in April 2010.
They planned a one month vacation.
Instead my mother and brother Joshua ended up prolonging their vacation.
Eventually, mom gave birth in the U.S. before returning to the Philippines.

My beginnings

The story of my birth naturally begins at conception.
I suppose I was conceived nine months before my birth.
That should have been late November or early December of 2009.
I can discuss WHEN I was conceived.
I don't have to discuss HOW I was conceived.
How should I know? I wasn't existing yet.
My mom, was delayed in her monthly period in December.
Finally on December 31, 2009, still no period, she bought a pregnancy tester at a local drug store in Dumaguete.
The family was to take a ferry trip to Tagbilaran City on that day.
So my mother didn't use the tester until she arrived in Tagbilran city for the family reunion.
Upon arrival at the ancestral home in Tagbilaran City, my mother went straight to the bathroom and took the urine pregnancy test.
The results were positive.
After eleven years, she was having another baby in her womb.
That was me.

My birth

My name is Jacob Gabriel Vendiola Dejaresco.
I was born August 23 2010.
There is nothing out-of-the-ordinary about my birth.
But it might spark some interests to some, I guess I'll just blog about it.
Anyhow's, what's not exicting about one's birth?
Nevertheless, I find this worthwihile since I may just look back and recall my beginnings in this world.