Living on Star Cash and a Prayer

The price of gasoline really isn’t what it used to be.

I used to unwind by driving to Ayala Alabang, parking in either the Alabang Country Club (ACC) or outside the Makiling Park then walking around the village for at least an hour. I must admit though that most of this time is actually spent giving the homes I come across the ‘once-over’. Now that I’ve computed that the distance from my home to ACC is about 14kms, I’ve opted to park outside Makiling Park. Still, the drive from home to the Park is not as near as I thought it was. Lately, I avoid the village altogether because it is equidistant from my office (surprisingly). Now even the gym gets done after work on weekdays since it’s on the way home.

Each trip must be methodically planned to maximize the visit to any area. Talk about everything needing to be geographically desirable. Going to the gym in Alabang? Might as well schedule the dog for his weekly bath at the vet, swing by the supermarket for toiletries, the mall for coffee/the parlor/a facial, the credit card office to pay that monthly bill, and so and so’s home to pick up/drop off something. After identifying all the places you plan to hit during that one trip, you proceed to map out the most time and cost efficient route. What gets done on the way to the gym then on the way home? Should I take the village road or the service road? Once that’s done, you must announce this proposed journey to your family to see if anyone needs a ride to or from that area. Based on this discussion it is also possible that you agree to use someone else’s car instead of yours. You must have even defined the window of opportunity to get all these tasks done without hitting heavy traffic on the road.

When does it end?

Thankfully, Calai now works at Chevron Philippines and has encouraged us to join a number of their activities that have benefited us lately. It started out with this gas card you have stamped at the Star Mart after filling up at least Php500 worth of gas. After four stamps you get a free TJ hotdog and a chance to win something in the monthly draw. Whatever you win, the Chevron employee wins. Hence, Calai is crossing her fingers that one of us gets an IPod. Well, we won Php1000 worth of gas (pictured) during the first draw and are still dropping our entries in the drop box so all is not lost, yet. We also got to participate in the company’s Halloween Party and placed second in the Best Family in Costume category. The prizes were more gas cards and SM gift certificates, nice!

It’s reassuring to know that wherever Lulu (my car) and I decide to venture off to, there’s a good chance that our loyalty to Chevron Philippines events will help us keep on burning that rubber.