Pin's Thoughts

Penmanship Contest

2010-01-05T22:44:00.000-08:00

I got good news from Julia this afternoon. She came home and gave me this letter.

On the letter it says...

"Your child, __________, Gr /Sec _______is one among the Top Five finalist of this year's Penmanship Contest. As such, s/he is qualified to join the final round which will be held on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 in the library at 7:00 am.

We advise you that a finalist loses by default if s/he is absent.

thank you very much!

May we continue working hand-in hand in developing the penmanship skills of our children. Good penmanship enhances one's personality.

respectfully..."

ok, my first thoughts were... wow! I was excited for Julia. I mean, I've never been on any penmanship contest in my life, even though I've always been complemented that I had nice penmanship. I knew it was really something for her bec Julia said, "Mom, I can't beleive it!" She said it in a very calm and relaxed tone while I was ecstatic, almost jumpy. Ok, that was my stage mother instincts kicking in. :-)

When I was young, and would get compliments on my penmanship, my mom would always dismiss it saying, " Na u tong iyong?" (translated in Fookien for What's the use?) See, during those times, my parents believed that for you to become better, criticisms were forms of making you strive harder. I'm not about to follow her footsteps on that one. I gave Julia a lap hug and praised her profusely.

Ok, but wait. Did you see that last part of the letter? "Good penmanship enhances one's personality." I hope for DH's sake this isn't true. He happens to have one of the louiset penmanship I've ever seen. hahahahahahh

Pacquiao Gloves of What?

2010-01-03T21:08:00.000-08:00

I got this from Nico. No offense to Pacquiao, but this is so funny.

Wala lang.

Sex and The City 2

2010-01-03T09:54:00.000-08:00

While browsing music videos on You Tube that Nico listens and watches out for...I stumbled upon the trailer for Sex and the City 2. I was searching for Empire State of Mind, sung by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys and somehow, it lead me to Sex and the City 2 trailer.

I have to admit, I'm not so big about Big but I do enjoy the fashion and friendship in SATC. Will have to ask the girlfriends to watch this with me. DH is so not going to the movies with me for this one....

Santa Stories

2009-12-30T03:03:00.000-08:00

I know its being "Scrooge"... but I want to stop at this Santa charade that we have to put up every year. I could easily just spill the beans on Santa, but I don't want to be the one to burst the bubble on our 8 year old Julia.

We have this family tradition of opening gifts only on the morning of Dec. 25. That morning, Julia found Santa's gift under the tree...

Nico: "Santa's penmanship is so ugly!" (Referring to the "to and From"" note on the gift tag)
Julia: "No, its not. It's a special kind of font!"
Me: "Yeah, can you imagine? If you were Santa, you have to write on so many tags?" (sounding very defensive)

A few days after Christmas...

Julia: "Daddy, Santa's gift is from Toy Kingdom." (She sounded suspicious and confused)
DH: "Santa needs a lot of toys to give during Christmas, maybe he owns Toy Kingdom!"

yeah right! Maybe Santa's full name is Santa Claus SY! hahahahah

Seriously, if Julia asks me if Santa was real, I'm really itching to spill the beans na!

The 25th Putnam Annual Spelling Bee

2009-03-27T20:35:00.000-07:00

WHAT'S THE BEE ABOUT? In the Broadway Musical Comedy, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grownups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser. This hilarious tale of overachievers' angst chronicles the experience of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. A quirky yet charming cast of outsiders for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time.

- excerpts from Atlantisproductionsinc.com

This post is a week late. Last Friday, March 20, my friends and I went to see the first showing of the latest play in town, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee". The last play I've watched, The West End Story is a tragic love story along the lines of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. So, this time around, the light and comic theme of the spelling bee was a welcome change.

The show lasted around 2 hours and had no intermission in between. The plot was quite simple and the stage design was nothing elaborate. Just a couple of chairs and table. The background was likewise no frills, just a big tarp that says "25th Annunal Putnam Spelling Bee". But, despite the simple props, the show had a lot of flavor to it. For example, the show started with Rona Lisa Peretti (played by Cathy Azanza-Dy) walking along the aisle and greeting the audience with a large trophy in tow. The play also had an innovative concept that enhances audience particiaption. Each night, they have 4 guest spellers from the audience, 2 of whom are celebrities. On the first night of the show, the celebrity guest spellers were Leah Salonga and Jett Pangan of the Dawn. The guest spellers' role was to be contestants of the spelling bee, so they were given words to spell just like the other actors on the play. The unexpected aspect of being a guest speller makes the show fresh and funny.

I love how several actors, like Noel Rayos ( who played Mitch Mahoney, an ex convict on parole turned counselor taking community service) and Johan de la Fuente (who played Leaf Coneybear, a quirky contestant speller) could shift into roles of gay parents in a click. I had to comment how astonishing it is for Joel Trinidad (who played the principal) to pull a straight face and not laugh at the funny meanings and sentences of the spelling words he gave to the contestants. The short introduction given by Rona Lisa Peretti (played by Cathy Azanza-Dy) to each contestant before they spelled was also hilarious. e.g. When she introduced Leah Salonga... she said, " Miss Salonga thinks she used to be a Vietnamese prostitute in her past life." okey, maybe the way I wrote it isn't as funny, but we had some good laughs during the play.

The play was fun, entertaining and hilarious! Plus, I also learned that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser.

The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee is directed by Bobby Garcia and runs from March 20- April 4, 2009 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Bilding, Makati

Havaianas Recall

2009-03-20T01:26:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago, I read in the news that Havaianas in the US issued a statement to recall some batches of their flipflops. This reason is because the print on the soles has a higher lead content than what is allowed by Federal standards. My first response was to take some action and inquire if I'll be able to exchange a pair that Julia has. But, a friend who had several pairs of recall Havaianas, informed me that the Philippine distributor made an announcement that those purchased in the Philippines are not included in the recalled batch. So, I didn't pursue the exchange.

Today, Havaianas Philippines issued another statement that out of good faith, they will be recalling and exchanging the flipflops included in the recall. I promptly called thier hotline 8958744 and arranged for the exchange. They will need to get information like the size, style, color of the flipflops plus when are where it was bought. Or, you can also fill up details of the flipflops online here. No need to bring your pair of flipflops to any of their stores as they will be arranging for the courier to pick them up at your place. The only downside here is that it will take around 8-12 weeks for you to receive your replacement. But, considering that you won't be using them anyway, its worth taking up. I even requested that they change the flipflops to a bigger size so Julia can still wear them when we receive it.

Incidentally, they have a list of authorized stores where the flipflops should have been bought in order to qualify for the exchange. If you have some Havaianas flipflops at home, you might want to check out if they are included in the recall.

Medical Assistants

2009-03-19T20:50:00.000-07:00

Even if you don't regularly watch the news or read the paper, you can sense the global financial crisis that is upon us. A few days ago, news broke out that another 2,500 will be jobless because an IT plant in Laguna has closed down. At a jewelers shop last week, I heard the owner lamenting that people are tightening their belts and are forgoing the purchase of luxury items such as jewelry. On a similar note, because of bad business, cruise ships have lowered fares to very tempting prices.

Mostly affected are those in retail and luxury goods. Some sectors like schools and hospitals won't be as badly hit by the crisis. Heard from a friend overseas that medical assistants are still in demand noways. This is probably the reason why medical assistant schools like St. Agustine School of Medical Assistants are now offering online programs. With the crisis upon us with no certainty how long it will last, courses like that of a medical assistant are getting popular. It seems it has become inevitable that the demand for certain jobs have been the factor in which the youth bases its decision of what course to get into.

on credit cards

2009-03-19T01:21:00.000-07:00

We've been planning for our trip to Australia since end of January. For this trip, all of our bookings for hotels and airlines both international and domestic were made online. DH and I were talking about how convenient it is to plan trips nowadays especially since the internet and credit cards have made it possible.

A couple friend we have, who's planning a honeymoon trip to Europe lamented on how big the difference in exchange rate a particular bank charges and is contemplating on getting another credit card just for the trip. I mentioned that they should check and compare credit card services at DealsForCreditCards.com to get a general idea of what credit card would best suit their needs. Quite popularly, there are now more choices of credit cards for specific purposes. Take for example, Rustan's and Shell gas credit cards that give certain percentage of rebate for purchases made.

Admittedly, credit cards have been part of everyone's lifestyle. We'll just be buying a minimum amount of Aussie dollars for the trip and charge most of the expenses on our credit card.

I wish I could get married again...

2009-03-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

...if only to have amazing wedding videos created by Jason Magbanua. (sigh) I know I might come across as a stalker after this confession but, I've just spent an hour watching wedding videos of couples I do not know at Jason's site!

As evidenced from his works, Jason Magbanua has a knack for capturing those moments that are specially meaningful and memorable in a milestone event such as a wedding. His videos are full of emotions and very real. You can just feel the love :-)

As a bride over 14 years ago, I was never fussy or meticulous about the details in our wedding. I was not very hands-on with the wedding preparations, so to speak. My wedding gown is nothing like the ones that are in fashion nowadays. Imagine a gown with long sleeves, sweetheart neckline with an overlay of sheer material above it, fully beaded with petticoat and all. I had a train that was very exquisitely beaded but also very heavy it was quite difficult to move. During that time, it was considered quite a beautiful gown since I received several compliments for it. Today, I don't think you will find any bride who will choose a gown of this kind.

I couldn't care less about the cake either. Since a relative of DH offered to supply the cake, I didn't have to sit down and talk to her about the design. I had no idea what our souvenirs or giveaways were until the wedding day itself as they were made by DH's aunt as a gift to us. Generally speaking, I'm fine about how the wedding came out, but today, while watching those wedding videos, I can't help but wish that I got married in the digital age for photos and videos so I can have ours made by Jason. Haay!

Yeah, I know...I can't turn back the clock. Anyway, there's a saying that what's more important is not the wedding itself but the marriage after that really matters. Enough said. :-)

Wham!

2009-03-07T08:03:00.000-08:00

DH and Nico had been raving about WHAM since last year. One time, DH brought home (take-out) some Wham burgers but I didn't feel it was really special. The chicken burger wasn't crispy as he described it, and the buns from the beef burger were soggy.

Yesterday, we decided to have dinner at Wham in Robinson's Place Ermita. Left the camera at home so I just took these pictures using my iPhone. Might not have done justice to the burgers but they're really good. Even Julia, who wasn't particularly fond of burgers really appreciated the Crispy chicken burger. (P103) I had the Wham burger with single patty (P93) and DH had the Bronco burger (P138), which had a generous portion of bacon and barbeque sauce. Nico, who normally eats very slow, finished his chicken burger faster than me!

Since Wham burgers are grilled upon order, they're best eaten fresh or right away they are served. Not a good idea for take-out as the juicy burgers will make the buns soggy. The chikcen burger, when wrapped will loose its being crispy. Defintely recommend this to burger lovers. Yummy!!!

Letters

2009-03-05T11:21:00.000-08:00

Its been a while since DH and I went on a trip-just the 2 of us. Mostly, our trips the past years have been with family and friends. Last month, we decided to take a trip to HK/Macau, with the Venetian as our main point of interest.

The night before our flight, Julia hugged us really tight as if to make up for the few days we won't be with her at home. She was hiding her teary eyes and was fighting to keep them from flowing. I instantly became guilty that we were leaving. Its not that I haven't anticipated this reaction from her. I knew she would really be sad despite the fact that I have tried to prepare her with the idea of our trip weeks ago. I felt very uneasy, so I decided to write her letters for the days we won't be around.

In the first letter I wrote...

Dear Julia,

You always surprise me when you come home from school, so I decided to surprise you today. I bet you didn't expect to receive a letter from me. By the time you read this, daddy and mommy will already be in Hongkong.

I remember you told me yesterday that you wanted to answer crossword puzzles. I found some easy crosswords for you last night so you can answer them this afternoon. If you are having a hard time, you can check out the answer key for some clues.

Don't forget to sharp your pencils later after doing your homework. Try not to miss daddy and mommy too much. We'll call you up tonight.

love,
Mommy

Jeanny's birthday giveaway

2009-02-12T22:30:00.000-08:00

Jeanny of "Startin' A New Life" is giving away a Moleskin notebook on her birthday. To join, just write a comment on her entry here. Contest will end 11.59 pm of February 15, 2009.

Birthday wish list

2009-01-24T23:43:00.001-08:00

I don't have a habit of coming up with wishlists, but since Kaye sent me this birthday wish award, I don't see why I shouldn't.

So the rules say that:

1. Make a list of what you want on your birthday...
2. The list should be 15 numbers
3. Post the image of this award in your posting
4. Give it to 10 friends of yours.

Here goes... (not in any particular order)

1. a ring binding machine - I saw this Carl double loop ring binder last year at Times Trading in downtown. I was justifying whether to buy it and almost did for Julia's scrap and salon party. But when I asked DH if I should buy it, he said it wasn't practical. I was looking for someone to affirm me that it will be a good buy, but even my friends didn't agree. So, I took their advise not to buy it but that doesn't mean I don't want it anymore :-).

2. my own domain - I've just began to actively blog again so I don't think its the best time to get my own domain, but it is on my list and I hope to have my own someday.

3. South Sea pearl earrings - Actually, I already have the pearls. DH gave them to me for our anniversary a year or 2 ago but I haven't decided what setting I want for it so they've just been in the safe. I'm planning to see a jeweler soon to have it set.

4. Mediterranean cruise - This is on my list of "must do things". I'm hoping DH and I get to experience this before our 40's!

5. photography lessons - Steph's been planning to take some photography lessons and invited me to join but since I've already earmarked myself for some digital arts sessions, I had to pass. Maybe next time.

6. a masters degree - I've sort of thrown in the towel for my thesis-its just too demanding of my time as of the moment but if I could ask for a wish, I wish I'd get my degree without having to go through thesis work.

7. a set of pilot frixion pens - I've always loved pens but these Pilot frixion pens give me more reason to love them. When subjected to friction or heat, the ink becomes transparent so you can actually erase them. If you're not convinced, try viewing this short video of how it works. I got 2 in black and blue as they are the only colors available at Cosmos. I hope to get it in all 8 colors.

8. a new bathing suit - A few months more and its summer. When we hit the beach, I hope to be in this Victoria Secret tankini looking sexy :-) Too bad I missed the sale on the bathing suit I was eyeing a few days ago. :-(

9. leather checkbook holder - I was just writing checks to pay the bills a while ago and noticed that the zipper on the checkbook case I'm using is broken. I could use a really nice leather checkbook case, I think I found some at Fino.

10. bluetooth headsets - When I'm on the computer and chatting away with my girlfriend, it would be more comfortable if I were talking to her with my hands free. Problem is, I'm not sure if there's something like this available for landline phones. A friend of mine from a call center says, the one they use is attached to an amplifier and that its quire expensive. :-(

11. omega constellation watch - I've been eyeing this watch for some time now. But I find the diamond bezel too flashy. I prefer to have it mother of pearl with the semi-precious stones inside but the ones without a diamond bezel, do not have it in that design. I also find the 'mini'/quartz size appealing but for the price, DH says I should consider the automatic which i find a bit big on my wrist. I'm still waiting for the right one for me. I've waited this long so I can wait longer.

12. quality time with the family - Its never easy to balance work and family. I'm pretty fortunate I am able to work flexible hours and spend more time with the kids. I wish DH and I can also have more opportunities to bond together.

13. good health for everyone in my family - A cliche, but its really true - Health is wealth. None of the above will matter without good health.

14. adventure - our trip last year to Sagada/Batad was one of the most adventurous travels I've had. I'm not much of an adventurer, not even when I was in my twenties. But as midlife inevitably comes closer, you just feel like you have to take more action in making the most out of life. Trying out more unique experiences, tasting different food, looking at another perspective, all these I wish for 2009.

15. giving back - I'm grateful for all the blessings that I have and I wish to pay it forward in my own way. I wasn't able to concretize my plan last year but I wish I have the time and effort to be able to complete this for 2009.

Am passing on the bithday wish award to the sweet life, jhari, jenny and belle, sassy mom's corner, Franny, Wanda, Arlene, Misty signs, Debbie and For Thoughts.

I had a great time coming up and sharing this wish list to everyone. Maybe you can share yours too. :-)

Manila Oceanarium

2009-01-21T07:58:00.000-08:00

It must be the age, but as years pass, DH and I feel more and more averse to crowds. That's why, when we saw this big crowd at Manila Oceanarium last December '08, we decided not to push through despite being there already. Fortunately, we were tipped by the guard that the crowds usually have cleared up by night time. And since the park was open till midnight, we decided to go back after dinner. Turned out, it was a good decision. We didn't have to push and elbow people while appreciating the marine life, plus, there was enough time to take all the pictures we want- sans the flash photography as it was prohibited.

I've always been fascinated by the sea horse - the way the swim and coil their tails with each other. I particularly asked DH to take photos of it.

Nico, me and Julia on those luminous blocks while watching the fishes swim.

The blue spotted ribbon tail ray Nico and me at the "Fish Spa"

For some reason, the "doctor fish" didn't want to nibble at Nico's feet. Even when he switched places where there were more fish, they just ignored his feet. This irked him a lot. Julia on the other hand, got scared when the fish started to nibble. She put her feet up the whole time, refusing to dip them back into the water.

Our guide on the glass bottom boat ride told us that more attractions are being built for the park. Coming soon are dolphin shows and a hotel connecting to the Manila Oceanarium. Next time...

Money Matters

2009-01-21T07:34:00.000-08:00

This is a pile of unfiled bills and statements I have accumulated from last year. As part of my goal to declutter the house this year, this is my first task of order. I hate the task of filing...so it really helped that I had some motivation to do this ( bank statements and credit card bills for the last 3 months are some of the requirements for Australian Visa application).

Julia wanted to help as usual, so I had her highlight the dates for easier filing. I didn't realize it was such a good opportunity for teaching her about money until she asked. " Mom, why are the checks you paid Enopi with you now?"- She saw the checks returned by the bank. I tried to explain the mechanics to her in the simplest terms until she was finally satisfied with my answer. Then she paused to ask, "Mom, how do you pay when you sometimes buy something on the internet?". "I use my credit card.", I answered. "Aah, ok. You know, before, I thought you scanned the money and sent it to them, then they go to the bank to get it.", she explained her theory. I was amazed at how she tries to come up with the concept of things-money in particular. So, I guess its not too early to try and explain complicated things to her now.

I took this experience further by training her to do the filing lol :-) - for future contingency plans he he he. Just today, when the phone bill came, I asked her to do the filing, and she was able to do it! Yey! I'm planning to retire early.

Good Kids

2009-01-16T23:56:00.000-08:00

Julia used to be a nerd. She hates it when school gets called off, loves to write and study and is the one to remind me of her homework (not the other way around). Nowadays, she has slightly shifted from that state. She now enjoys vacations more than school (she joins Nico is rejoicing for school holidays) and occasionally needs to be reminded to do her homework. I always tell friends that Julia has become "normal".

Julia does well academically. Honestly, I don't have problems with her at all. What she routinely does is to open up pages of her homework and assignment notebook and all I have to do is sign them. Last quarter, she was top 4 in her class and was in the honor roll. Yesterday, she gave me the good news when she handed me her honor card. Sigh! I know...I'm so lucky.

Nico is doing pretty well himself. Although not on the honor roll, Nico has a general average of 91 each quarter. This, he achieves all by himself, without me coaching him or a tutor. I know its not really a feat when you compare how we were in school before. But with kids these days mostly dependent on tutors, I consider it something.

Last year, from out of the blue, Nico told me, "Mom, thanks for teaching me and helping me with my homework." I became teary eyed when he said this because it means he valued the time and effort I spent in teaching him. How many kids would know and be grateful of this?

DH and I always discuss how lucky we are to have good kids. We feel really blessed and hope they become good adults in the future.

Dashing Diva

2009-01-15T17:49:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday, Julia attended a birthday party of her friend's held at Dashing Diva inside Beauty Bar. She was pretty excited as it was her first time to attend a party like this. When we got there, most of the girls were already on their seats having their nails done. Mommy Jeneen, the celebrant's mom, suggested I help Julia pick her nail color and also the nail art design that she wanted.

While waiting for her manicure/pedicure, Julia decorated her own cupcake with pink icing and "lipstick" marshmallows. The girls chatted away while having their nails done. Their smiles evidently showed that they were having a great time. I made Julia wear her flipflops so she won't ruin her pedicure. Some girls, who wore closed shoes were made to wear disposable slippers while they stay at the drying area.

When DH came to get us after the party, he only has one word about what he saw - "Kikay!" as he shook his head repeatedly.

Christmas gifts

2009-01-05T17:08:00.001-08:00

The Christmas tree and decors have been put down and this marks the end of the Christmas season in our house. The kids are back to school and I'm back to reality.

One of my goals for the year is to minimize the clutter in the house. But right now, while putting away gifts from Christmas, I realize that its more than material things that I need to declutter. I just checked the text box on my phone and it has 225 messages while the count on my personal email has 1348 messages (most of them trash). Anyway, I'm really seriously planning to change this habit so I'll be posting updates now and then to help me achieve this goal.

While lookin through the kids' gifts, I thought it might be interesting to post them here - their favorites anyway :-)

Julia got this Zip-It bag from Auntie Maleen. As the name suggests, its made of long 2 toned zippers that when zipped all throughout, makes into this cute small body bag. I actually had fun zipping and unxipping it. Felt it more like a toy than a bag :-)

Nico instantly loved this Mickey Mouse Mp3 player when he opened it. It comes with a silicon case and lanyard earphones. To switch on/off or adjust volume, you have to turn the ears of Mickey as knobs. Nico has his own playlist album on our ipod, so the very same hour he got this gift, he transferred the songs to his new mp3 player. Clearly, this gift is the coolest he got for Christmas. thanks mon and jen!

Reed Diffuser

2008-12-31T02:03:00.000-08:00

I recently got this reed diffuser for Christmas and instantly loved how it made our room smell so nice. It gives out an atmosphere that's cheerful and relaxed. The diffuser set contains a bottle of scented oil, a glass jar with cover and rattan sticks that absorb the fragrance oil. What makes this really convenient is that you don't need any candles and is basically maintenance free - no need to turn on or off. I'm not sure if this is already available from our local Body Shop stores, but I've seen other brands from the home section at Robinson's. The fragrances available are not as unique as "cherry blossoms" but since it only costs P200, it was worth a try.

Santa's identity

2008-12-26T21:26:00.000-08:00

Ever since we had our own home and Christmas tree, its been our tradition to open gifts on the morning of December 25. The kids really look forward to this and I think the element of suspense and surprise in waiting for Christmas morning to open them makes it really special. Each year, Santa's gift would be the most awaited. This is probably because Santa's gifts always come on Christmas morning itself when they the kids don't really have time to shake, feel, peak and try to guess whats inside :-).

This year has been a bit tough for Santa - who thinks its become more and more dificult to stay unidentfied. Nico, who's just recently discovered (around 2 years now, i think) Santa's true identity had to pretend he doesn't know who he is for Julia' sake. He's not doing a good job of it and often makes meaningful faces whenever the topic of Santa pops up. Also, Julia, who's just lost her first tooth this year, had been disillusioned when her Kindergarten teacher told her that tooth fairies aren't real. I'm thinking, it won't be long until she discovered the same thing about Santa, thus the apprehension.

I wasn't sure how to go about it especially when Julia started to make comments and reactions after opening Santa's gift. Julia gave me a big surprised but happy look when she first opened Santa's gift. I wasn't sure what she meant until she explained that one of the Sanrio notebooks Santa gave her was the same one we gave her cousin. Oops...I forgot that she'd be able to see what I wrapped for her cousin.

Later on that the day, Julia commented that there was a trace of price tag on the notebooks. "Santa removed the price tags.", she mentioned. Then she said, "Mom, Santa bought this from the store. Maybe he's shopping when we're sometimes at the mall and we just dont recognize him." I responded by saying, "Maybe its the elves who does the shopping for him."

It was so much easier to go about these things with Nico before. Probably because Nico was half as perceptive as Julia at her age now. Imagine Julia, who had to ask what was inside the wrapped packages I prepared, who knew all the designs of wrappers I had at home, who insists on helping me with wrapping, who patiently watches me after I tell her she cannot help and you'll understand what I'm talking about. From the way she phrases questions and make comments, I wouldn't be surprised if she figures things out before next Christmas.

I'm running out of creative ideas to keep Santa's identity safe. Any suggestions?

Realizations afer reading Twilight

2008-12-22T20:48:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've gone to the movies since the "ber" months ushered in, so when Twilight made it to the silver screen a few weeks ago, I didn't have a hard time to ask DH to go with me. I've heard about Twilight several months before and got curious what the hype was all about. I wouldn't rate the movie "A" but decided to read the book version to answer some of my questions about the plot. After reading the 4 books in the Twilight saga, I realize that....

1. ...the theme of "love" is universal. Stephenie Meyer wrote it to cater the the young juvenile but clearly, the age of the characters were not an issue for the older and more mature audience. Reading the book at my age, felt like experiencing first love in high school all over again. I guess the appeal extended beyond the teenage years because it was reminiscent of how young love was. (sigh)

2. ...I don't buy the "you can love 2 people at the same time" idea. With regard to this issue, I'm no "Switzerland", either you're on Team Edward or Team Jacob, not somewhere in between. For me, trying to hold onto the 2 loves in the story made the female protagonist Bella look selfish and greedy.

3. ...I'm terribly old fashioned; or else, I wouldn't find Edward's lines such as "Charlie, I realize that I’ve gone about this out of order. Traditionally, I should have asked you first. I mean no disrespect, but since Bella has already said yes and I don’t want to diminish her choice in the matter, instead of asking you for her hand, I’m asking for your blessing. We’re getting married, Charlie. I love her more than anything in the world, more than my own life, and – by some miracle – she loves me that way, too. Will you give us your blessing?" chivalrous and romantic. If I didn't enjoy or appreciate gadgets and technology so much, I'm inclined to think I'm an old soul.

4. ...that I should have stopped reading at book 3 - Eclipse. I was more than a bit disappointed with Breaking Dawn. The main characters were quite inconsistent with how Meyer built them up in the first 3 Twilight books. Its as if a different writer finished the last sequel to the saga. By the ending chapters of the book, I even found myself wishing Meyer wouldn't finish it with a happy ending that everyone was waiting for- which was very unlikely of me. The plot just got crazier and crazier it was getting really hard to imagine. Instead of being able to enjoying the book, I found myself spending time questioning and trying to fill up holes in the plot.

5. ...that I miss reading fiction. For a while, the materials I've been reading are mostly under the non-fiction category like biographies, inspirational essays and journals. I've almost forgotten how fun it is to get lost in a book and let my imagination lead the way.

There's a lot of contradicted opinion on Twilight, some call it trash yet others are obsessed with it. All in all, I think it was good book. It delivered well its purpose which was to entertain and I was. So, if you're piqued at how a vampire/human love story would go, go ahead and read it. Only, take my advice and stop at Eclipse. :-)

Olympic Friendlies

2008-09-02T07:10:00.000-07:00

After following the Olympic opening and games last August, Nico & Julia were really bitten by the Olympic bug. DH and I found ourselves consuming "Happy Meals" from McDonalds's just to get those Olympic collectibles. Recently, a friend of mine had her mom buy these FuWa from Beijing for Nico & Julia. Nico super loves Jing Jing, who represents the panda. He's had this thing with stuff toys especially pandas. I think it started when we first went to Ocean Park when he was 4 and saw a real panda. The second time we were there, we bought him a cute panda stuff toy that he keeps with him while he sleeps. When Nico slept over at his cousin's house last weekend, he wanted to bring JingJing with him. I advised him to leave his stuff toy at home so he told Julia that she could sleep with JingJing for that night. I thought that it was really sweet of him :-)

A while ago, the kids asked for some paper and showed me these drawings. I just love them. What do you think of their drawings?

Julia's drawing of BeiBei

Nico's drawing of JingJing

Iba talaga pag babae...

2008-08-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

This was what I found waiting for me on my desk after I came back from the grocery. I let out an "Aaawwww..." and showed DH what I found. She's just so sweet, don't you think?

Aside from drawing and doodling, Julia loves to write small notes like the one above. She got some Lisa Frank sticky notes from her "koko" and gave me 2 sets because she knows I like using them. Last week, I was having a home service haircut in the living room when she brought out the electric fan all by herself. "Is this okey, mom?" she asked. And I was like, "Thanks so much, sweetie!", while I gushed at how thoughtful she is. Its times like this that remind me to be thankful for having a daughter. As they say in Filipino, "Iba talaga pag babae!"

To the crazy ones.

2008-08-12T18:32:00.000-07:00

I was at a workshop a few months back when I found this posted on the wall. The title and the first few lines caught my attention. I want to share this to all the misfits, who sometimes feel like the odd in a group of even. A black in a group of white. Being a misfit isn't bad like other people would think. It doesn't mean that you are wrong and they are right. It just means that you think differently and see things in another perspective. It means that you found your true self and don't need to follow what others are doing to feel normal. Being "crazy" is sometimes a good thing...it sets you you free and leads you to being happy.

To the crazy ones.

Here's to the crazy ones.
The misfits.
The rebels.
The troublemakers.
The round pegs in the square holes.

The ones who see things differently.

They're not fond of rules.
And they have no respect for the status quo.

You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them,
disbelieve them glorify them or vilify them.
About the only thing you can't do is ignore them.

Because they change things.
They invent. They imagine. They heal.
They explore. They create. They inspire.
They push the human race forward.

Maybe they have to be crazy.
How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art?
Or sit in silence and hear a song that's never been written?
Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?

We make tools for these kinds of people.
Because while some see them as crazy ones, we see genius.

And it's the people who are crazy enough to think they can
change the world, who actually do.

Julia's Scrap and Salon Party

2008-07-29T20:56:00.000-07:00

Now that I've decided to blog about Julia's Scrap and Salon party, I realize that I didn't take as many pictures that I was suppose to. If you planned and prepared a party such as this one, you'd understand how taking pictures can conveniently be forgotten over other more pressing matters during the party. Lest you think that we had a hundred guests, it was just a small and intimate party held at our home. Julia's not one who enjoys big parties so it doesn't seem right to give her a big one even if this was her 7th birthday.

The idea for the Scrap and Salon party was conceptualized early summer. I was at the duty free shops and saw some "kikay" sleeping masks and thought it would be a good item for giveaways. To prepare for the 'Salon" part of the party, I bought the following:

1. iron curler
2. hair wax in colors pink, blue and golden yellow
3. nail polish
4. nail stickers
5. jewelled clamps, hair ties, colored clips

Since yaya is an expert at fixing hair, she took care of the parlor booth. The girls told yaya what hairstyle they wanted and chose the pins and accessories they preferred to be used on them. At first, none of the girls wanted to use the colored hair wax but when Mjane started to apply them on one of the girls, they welcomed the idea. Inasmuch as I want to show you guys how it looked like, I can't because I missed taking pictures of those. I was multi-tasking-photographer, party organizer, food coordinator kaya di nakayanan ng powers ko :-(

I also set up a nail polish area where the kids could chose their nail color and nail sticker designs. While the others were in the parlor, some were busy making scrap pages using the pictures I asked them to bring. I bought foam stickers, colored paper, boards for the scrap party. I also brought out all of my gel pens, markers, stencils etc for the kids to use. In the beginning, I tried explaining to them some techniques they can use and gave them some ideas on how to go about scrapping. But, they didn't seem too interested as they were too excited to start working. As in they looked like they were going to burst if I had to discuss some some. In the end, I gave up explaining and just let them have a good time. For most of the girls, it was their first time to scrap so they were focused on the stickers and other materials they could use.

After the girls had their hair fixed at the parlor, I took pictures of them using my camera and printed them on the spot using our newly purchased Canon Selphy printer. The girls enjoyed seeing their pictures being printed on the spot. I placed their picture in a photo slot on their canvas tote which was part of the giveaways. In the bag, I placed a set of poster colors, a giant scrap book, a 'kikay' pen with mirror, a personalized notepad and a girly sleeping mask. Of course, they also got to bring home the scrap book pages they created during the party which I bound using a single hole-fastener.

For the cake, I made around 2 dozens vanilla cupcakes and decorated it with pink and yellow icing. Using the same theme of fairy princess from the paper plates, cups and napkins, I also made some cupcake toppers to match. All these entailed several hours of planning and preparation but I was really satisfied with the outcome.

It was after the party that I realized I forgot to bring out the icecream! It totally slipped my mind. The next time I'm throwing Julia another party like this, I have to remind myself to come up with a checklist. It was tiring and busy planning and preparing for the party but I did enjoy myself in the process. It was enough for me that Julia had a great time. Maybe a sleepover party next year :-)

I'm Back!

2008-07-28T18:50:00.000-07:00

After a long absence here, I'm back!

To say that the months of June and July was busy is an understatement. "Crazy" is the word more suitable to use. It started when I was preparing for Julia's SCRAP and SALON party and then got really busy with work and my thesis.

Each day, I would spend hours on the computer doing research, reading journals and writing the proposal. It was fine with me going through research and reading but the difficult part is how to conceptualize the problem. It didn't help when some people who don't really understand what the task of doing a thesis entails, gave some comments that make it sound easy and trivial. Just yesterday, I told my mentor that it was impossible for me to do this if I didn't take a leave from work. It was such a draining ordeal both physically and emotionally that I had to ask myself several times why I'm doing this. I almost gave up, too. Up until recently, I didn't realize I could be this persistent and persevering. It feels like a new self-discovery :-)

Not to sound too confident, I still have the actual proposal defense to prepare. I'm just savoring these few days to relax and refresh myself for more work in the next few months.

I really hope I'll have enough time to blog regularly. I miss blogging and have a handful of things to write about. Stay tuned!

Kung Fu Panda

2008-06-09T20:45:00.000-07:00

We've been planning to watch this movie ever since we saw the trailer last April. Its the last hurrah for the kids before going back to school. We normally watch movies at Greenbelt 3 in Makati. The 'sureseats' online reservation is really convenient so we've grown accustomed of going there for movies. However, DH needed to buy something at MOA so we ended up going there instead. We were surprised with the lines that we saw there. We had around 25 minutes before showtime which we felt was long enough to buy tickets and popcorn, but with the line we saw, we won't be making it in time for sure. Then we thought of another option, which was to watch Kung Fu Panda at the IMAX theatre. The tickets there were pricey at P300 but we were already there so we might as well watch it. We were thinking that the IMAX would probably have lots of seats available since the ticket price was a bit steep. It was kinda surprising to find that it was full and the only tickets available for us were the ones on the first 3 rows. We watched it anyway.

Needless to say, the kids got the kicks from watching the movie. In between, I would look at both Nico and Julia laughing at the hilarious scenes from the movie. I was also entertained myself. There were slapstick sequences that were very similar to the "Jacky Chan" movies. It was also filled with funny and witty side comments by the characters that made it very entertaining. After the movie, Nico would talk about scenes that he was really fond of. "Mom, do you remember the scene where the panda sat on Thai Long? It was even in slow motion..." Yada yadayada, we would go on and on. Obvioulsly, he really enjoyed the movie. I greatly recommend this movie for kids and even those who are kids at heart like me :-) hehehe

Manual Enrollment

2008-06-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day for thesis/dissertation writing enrollment at DLSU for the first term. I am happy to say that I did not enroll on the last minute. Instead, I took care of the enrollment process a few days earlier. The last time I enrolled, it took me hours to finish because of the long lines at the vice dean's office, at the registrar's and at the accounting office. It really is such a hassle especially since I've been accustomed to the convenience of online enrollment. I remember during my undergrad days when I even joined the EATF (Enrollment Assistance Task Force) just to get the privilege of early enrollment. We would help out in processing the forms at the registrar and in ushering during graduation rites in exchange for the opportunity to be advance enrollees. We were always able to get into our first choices of courses while the others in line lament at the hassles of regular enrollment.

I can't be sure, but I don't think the EATF exists anymore. Since online enrollment has taken away the queues, the need for the task force has been eliminated. During today's enrollment, I suddenly miss going online. Thesis/dissertation enrollment requires manual or the special process so I had to do it the "old" way. It didn't help when a woman probably in her late forties or early fifties sneaked herself in the line. She had a visitors ID on her shirt and excused herself on the window to ask something then pushed her slip to make the payment. Hmmpph! If she slipped in the line in front of me, I would really make a comment to her about it. Being a visitor in the university doesn't exempt her from falling in line, which I know she is aware of. The guy in front of me was too surprised to even react.

oh well...I think it would really be great if they implement a numbering system at the accounting office. They already have this system at the registrar's so its just a matter of extending this service at the accounting. I hope that I won't have to endure going through the manual enrollment any longer. I still have a long way to go with my thesis. Unlike most of my classmates who have a lot of pressure and timetable to finish their thesis, I am fortunate enough to have the luxury of time to do it. Or not. That luxury may actually be hindering me from putting more effort to accomplish it ....hay!

PRC Express

2008-05-30T06:42:00.000-07:00

I wish I knew about the PRC Express ID service earlier so that I didn't have to go through the manual process of professional license renewal. My ID actually expired last Feb. , but I was too pre-occupied to arrange the processing of renewal. Plus, I really dread the long lines and red tape involved in the process so I procastinated and procastinated until I heard that you can ask a representative to do it for you. I filled up the form that a friend got for me and asked our messenger to go to PRC today. In less than an hour, he came back with the claim stub that says I can get my new license on August 1, 2008. Aside from the claim stub, he also handed us this flyer about PRC EXpress ID renewal service. It claims that all you have to do is call their hotline number: 8544848 and arrange for LBC to pick up your application for renewal, then go to an LBC branch for payment and they deliver nationwide to your doorstep once it has been processed. This is good news - an answer to the dreaded lines and hassle of processing license renewal.

BIG family trip

2008-05-26T08:33:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, we had a family outing trip to Punta Fuego in Batangas. We were 50 plus in the group including the yayas and kids. The last time we had this kind of trip was in 2002, when Julia was just a baby. From 2002 up to 2008, there had been a significant increase in our family's population. (New babies come along each year, with 5 baby boys in 2004 alone). Our group was so big that we had the staff at Punta Fuego arrange an exclusive tent and buffet tables for our party of 50 something. When we occupied the jacuzzis at the club, there was literally no room for the others. They had to wait until we decided to leave before they could use the facilities.

We were quite lucky the weather cooperated with us. It was cloudy and it occasionally drizzled but no big rain that would have ruined our trip. The beach was nothing spectacular - especially if one's idea of beaches are those of Boracay. Despite this, the kids had a lot of fun. It was a good break from just being in the metro with practically nowhere to go except the malls. This is one of those trips that that wouldn't be worth it if you go alone as it was really the company that made it worthwhile.

Julia's Art Exhibit

2008-05-24T23:56:00.000-07:00

Julia had her oil pastel exhibit at My Little Art Place last mid-May but since I got so busy with the teacher workshop preparation, I only had time to arrange the pictures these past few days. Being held on a Saturday afternoon, it was just Julia, me and yaya who went to the exhibit. Compared to the first exhibit, this one was more organized and less crowded. However, I think there was a lack of air conditioning in the place as it was a bit humid with all the people there.

I got to talk to Teacher Stan during the exhibit. He was recommending Julia to take up 'Pen and Ink" class for the third module. He said Julia was 'matiyaga' with doodling and had a lot of details in her illustrations. Here are some of the examples of her work at the exhibit. My favorite is that of our family picture inside a heart. I'm planning to make use of her artworks and put them on our personal gift tags. Julia is just too thrilled with this idea.

Bright and Sunny

2008-05-23T18:15:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to post the whole week, but wasn't able to because I was really busy. My excuse is that I had to prepare and give a 3 day workshop for teacher training. I've sort of gotten used to my flexible hours at home so I underwent some adjustments for this week's full schedule. It felt like I was back at the weekly grind from grad school preparing for presentations.

Actually, I'm not done with grad school yet. I still have the humongous task of research work for my thesis before I finally get my degree. Friends and relatives have been asking me if I'm done with my studies. Those who don't know me really well have this assumption that I'm planning to open up my own school after I graduate. When I let them know that I don't really plan to, they give a surprised response that seem to say, "But why did you have to study?". They become even more confused when I give them the reason "I just wanted to, for personal growth."

To be honest, opening up a school did cross my mind. But this was before I became a teacher and found out that it wasn't as easy as the ABC's. It entails a lot of responsibility, to say the least. My experience this past year helped put me in perspective. In some way, it got me to prioritize what I needed to do. I'm so looking forward to do the things that I love and enjoy. I'm all bright and sunny about everything - which is how things really should be.

I'm a slave to the computer...

2008-05-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

Yup, I admit that I am. I eat, breathe and sleep the computer. I recently discovered that turning on the computer is the first thing I do when I reach home, while turning it off is the last thing I do before I leave. I spend most of my awake hours on the computer to surf, shop, check mails, research, blog, talk to friends through ym, watch videos, listen to music, arrange photos and so much more. Yesterday, I purposely went out of the house to take break from being on the computer the whole day, but I still found myself using my iPhone to search and check my mail and updates.

There's no denying that all these advancement in technology have shaped our lifestyles and habits. In our house, the ratio of family members to the computer is 3:4 ( 3 computers to 4 of us). Despite this small ratio, I sometimes wish it was 1:1. Nico's almost always glued to the computer like me. And over the years, he has wowed us on what he has learned to do by himself using the computer. A few years back, he surprised his dad by preparing him a birthday powerpoint presentation. We did not even realize he knows how to use it - no one taught it to him and he did not learn it in school. He just tinkered with it and figured it out by himself. Early this year, he came up with a video clip of the American Army game that he's so addicted to. He accomplished this despite the fact we did not have any programs for it. He downloaded the tools he needed and learned by searching You Tube! My point here is that everything's a fingertip away with computers. Its so easy, convenient and so addicting. But lately, I found that its so easy for me to loose my sense of time when I'm on the computer. I keep wondering where all my time went.... I think I have to set limits for myself and stick to it.

Since its Sunday today, I'm going to sign off and spend it with the family. Its my day off today. On Monday, I can go back to being a slave to the computer:-) he he he

2008-05-17T08:19:00.000-07:00

“Don’t wonder why people go crazy. Wonder why they don’t. In the face of all we can lose in a day, in an instant, wonder what the hell it is that makes us hold it together.” - Meredith Grey

Sometimes, terrible things happen that are so unbelievable and crazy that we don't have any explanation why it took place. It pains so much that trying to deny it happened can make you loose your mind. I think of the family and loved ones of the victims from the tragic events found in the news these days... Cyclone in Myanmar, earthquake in China, RCBC bank robbery/murder in Laguna and other gruesome crimes that have been on the news and papers recently. It makes you think how we as humans can handle the pain;how difficult it is to be vulnerable. But life goes on and people to learn to cope. We get by somehow...we have to or we go crazy and disillusioned.

Mommyfest Party

2008-05-12T05:34:00.000-07:00

There's a party going on. Stop by at http://mommyfest.com/ to join. Its my first time to get involved in something like this so I'm a newbie here. This is a really cool way of meeting people.

Welcome and feel free to browse around. Don't forget to drop me a line or just say hi before you go :-)

Grey's Back

2008-05-12T00:37:00.000-07:00

After several weeks of absence because of the Writer's strike, Grey's Anatomy is back. I only discovered yesterday that they resumed the showing of episodes late April. So, before I left the house, I downloaded the 3 episodes I missed and had a marathon last night to catch up on what's going on at Seattle Grace.

The last episode in Feb left me hanging about the Derek-Meredith breakup. I still can't get over the fact that the reason for the break up was that Derek was seeing someone else. I'm not so much of a fan for Meredith but I wasn't expecting Derek to initiate the break up. He was building a house just the day before! And for him to be casually dating the nurse right after...I just feel for Meredith. But then again, who wouldn't date McDreamy if you had the chance? I know I would. lol

I can't wait for this Thursdays episode and the season's finale. :-)

A Rant

2008-05-11T22:22:00.000-07:00

Its useless to elaborate. It won't get through his thick head. So, I'm here to rant.

Inconsiderate and insensitive. And he doesn't have a clue that he is. Trying too much to please others gets you to become the opposite to those who matters. The balance is lost somewhere.

And its not true he does not have a choice. Its a matter of wanting and prioritizing-which he is very poor at. Same is true at making decisions. I hope oneday he realizes this...

Sometimes, I really think we speak a different language. I'm tired of this. Its the same issue over and over. There. I wrote it down here and I feel much better.

Batad/Sagada Day 2

2008-05-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

We were dreading the hike back to 'saddle point'. Our muscles haven't recovered from yesterday's abuse and the massage last night did little to relieve the ache. See where I'm pointing at? We hiked all the way up to ride the jeep going to Banaue-Sagada.

Along the way, we found stops that sold "I Survived Batad" t-shirts and felt the need to express ourselves with those shirts. In a way, we survived Batad in different and numerous aspects. Aside from the hiking and climbing, we also survived the cold 'tabo' showers, the lack of cell site and charging outlets for our gadgets and the limited amenities that was available to us during our stay. For us urbanites, that itself was a challenge.

We finally arrived at 'saddle point' after an hour and a half. It took us another 4 hours of rough roads and zigzags before we finally reached Sagada. When we got to St Joseph's, the first thing I checked was the toilet. It takes deprivation to really appreciate something that we have. Thanks to the cold shower in Batad, I now have a new found appreciation for heated baths. lol

We all found St. Joseph's to be really nice. Aside from this, its location is also very accessible to the municipal hall and other restaurants in the area. The resthouse's restaurant was under renovation so we had to go somewhere else for our late lunch.

Since it was late, we decided to go to Lake Danum to catch the sunset. Many have hailed this place a must see, but we were quite disappointed. Firstly, there was no sunset because it was drizzling. Second, the brown and muddy water looked more like a pond than a lake. There wasn't much too see so we were back at St. Joseph's in less than an hour.

We then visited St. Mary's Church which was right across St. Joseph's. The church garden was abundant with flowers and the pine tress surrounding the area gave the place a rustic feel.

While the boys went back to St. Joseph's, the girls went to the "Log Cabin" to make dinner reservations for the night. There was no one at the place when we got there. The doors leading to the kitchen were open so I had to announce, "Tao po. Tao po." By the door we found a sign that said, "Attention. This kitchen will be closed today on account of illness. I'm sick of cooking." :-) We thought we won't be able to make reservations as the place was often fully booked. Luckily, someone came when we were about to leave so we were able to make a down payment for our reservations.

Normally, the Log Cabin only serve dinner buffets every Saturday night when the chef gets fresh produce at the Saturday morning market. So, it was more of an exception that we were having buffet on a Friday night. The place was full and we even saw some walk-in customers who were turned away because they were not accommodating anyone anymore. The food lived up to our expectations and more. For P290 per person, there were soup, salad, main dish, desserts and coffee/tea. I especially liked the wild mushroom soup and even had 2 servings of it. The ambiance at the log cabin is country and very cozy. It feels just like having dinner at a friend's home. I highly recommend it to anyone who's visiting Sagada - you don't want to miss this. Just make sure to make reservations in advance. It was definitely a nice ending to hectic day. :-)

The case of the missing shoes

2008-05-08T16:45:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a short break from the Sagada travel stories...will still write about them but let me just tell you first about something mysterious that happened on our Day 2 in Banaue. Read on...The case of the missing shoes!

I was busy packing things in our room when DH barged in and asked, "Where's your Crocs?". I sensed the panic in his voice so I shrieked, "Outside where I left them." "Its not there!", said DH. "What do you mean its not there?", I said in disbelief. We both went out through the hallway and tried looking for it by the entrance where our muddy shoes from the hike were suppose to be left. A few seconds of trying to find where it is, we both confirmed that it was missing. Why would anyone be interested in my old 'Crocs'? Just then, a man with eyeglasses came down holding my Crocs and said, "sori, sori!" with either a Korean or Vietnamese accent.

DH said he saw the man wearing MaryJanes and thought it was mine. He couldn't confront him coz he wasn't sure. He just felt it odd coz they were for girls. Whew! I can't loose those Crocs especially since they're my comfort travel shoes. I'd gladly wear them despite their bulky look as long as my feet are comfy.

A few minutes later, DH was at the veranda with his camera taking pictures. The man passed by wearing my Crocs again! That was it- DH followed him and had to tell him that those were not his shoes. When DH handed me back my Crocs, I kept them in our room, lest he try to wear them again. I gave him the benefit of the doubt the first time, but its obvious it wasn't a mistake.

Over at breakfast, we heard that 'he' also wore the slippers of my girl friend. This guy was going around the inn wearing whoever's foot wear! Our guess was, he did not have any slippers or easy take off shoes to use around the inn. When I saw him again, he was wearing sneakers with laces. But then, it wasn't an excuse to wear other people's shoes or slippers. Good thing he was wearing socks the whole time this shoe swapping took place. Grrrr!

Batad/Sagada day1

2008-05-07T21:45:00.000-07:00

Since the roads leading to Banaue/Sagada have been dubbed dangerous and rough, we decided to take the night schedule via Autobus in Sampaloc. Had a bit of difficulty finding exactly where the Autobus station was since it has relocated three times. We got several different contact numbers from the internet but they were all out of service. Finally, we decided to ask a messenger to personally find the new location of Autobus and to purchase our tickets. A week before our trip, we found that the 10pm schedule was full. It was a good thing they opened a second trip at 1045 pm.

Autobus Transport Systems, Inc.

1455 SH Loyola St. corner F. Cayco Sampaloc, Manila

Telefax: 4934111 7407959

mobile no: 09212685526

We arrived at the station around 1015 pm. We wanted to be early since it was our first time to take the bus and we didn't know what to expect. It was not a very good experience as we had to wait for the 'mekaniko' to change the bus's alternator. It was around midnight when we left for Banaue.

I wasn't able to get any sleep during our 8 hour bus ride to Banaue. The aircon was too cold and I was expecting the seats to be more comfortable. The zigzag roads made us sway from one direction to another. Upon arrival at Banaue, I immediately reserved our seats back to Manila.

We hired a jeep to take us from Banaue to Batad - a small Ifugao village which has the amphitheater type rice terraces that we often see in post cards. The jeep brought us to 'Saddle Point' where we started our hike to get to the Hillside Inn - the place where we'll stay for the night. The hike was suppose to be around 45 minutes but because of the rain and our pace, we arrived after an hour and a half. It was a good thing they had porters to carry our bags for us. Each bag was charged P150 oneway, meaning another P150 going back. But it was well worth it. I don't know how I would have managed if I had to carry them all the way up. The walking stick we rented at P10 each was also a big help. It gave us support and balance along the hike.

After a short rest and lunch, we headed for the Batad Rice Terraces. It was not practical to use the umbrella while trying to balance on the terraces, and we didn't bring any rain coats so we had to make use of garbage bags to protect us from the rain. Thanks to Maleen who's thought of everything we needed for the trip. :-) As we made our way on the terraces, the paths became narrower and steeper. It was an effort to concentrate on the path as a single wrong step could be fatal. Once in a while, I would pause to just enjoy the wonderful scenery. At one point, it just took my breath away. I couldn't help but be enthralled by its beauty and wonder.

While we were trekking back to the Hillside, one of us mentioned that better roads and facilities should be made so more people can see the terraces. I disagree. This place has maintained its beauty because no roads were built to disturb its existence. The accommodations and facilites that we had were the very basic. If 5 star hotels and buildings were built here, then there would soon be no terraces to see in Batad. I will never forget this experience. It is defintely different from the travels I have made in the past. My only regret is that we were not able to see Tapia Falls...

If there was one thing I learned from this experience, it is that beauty has its price. Going through the hiking and climbing was just a minimal price to pay for the beauty that we all experienced. Those who appreciate such beauty will not haggle over a few discomfort in exchange for this.

I'll soon write about our other adventures in Sagada. Stay tuned!

I Survived Sagada!

2008-05-05T22:41:00.000-07:00

Last Labor day weekend, DH and I, together with friends went up North to Banaue and Sagada. We have been talking and planning about this trip for months and despite some minor conflicts in schedules, we finally pushed through.

After doing research from the internet and getting feedbacks from friends who have been there, we had a set of expectations from the trip. We knew there will be hiking and climbing. We expected the rough roads and only expected the basics from the accommodations we made.

But, even when our minds were conditioned for this trip, our bodies were not. The 9 of us on the trip had an average age of 38 and after the our first day hike to the Batad Rice Terraces, we all agreed that we should've came here in our twenties. This came along with the realization that despite the fact that we feel young, our bodies contradict it. The proof for this is how our first dinner conversation included things like Alaxan, Bengay, Ponstan and Salonpas. Then we started to talk about things we should do while our bodies will still allow us.

Maybe that was what we were thinking when we decided to do spelunking at the Crystal Caves of Sagada. The adventures we had there are dubbed to be for the strong, experienced and the fit spelunker. The irony of it is, we are none of the 3 adjectives mentioned. We were in fact, new to spelunking. Someone from our group even asked, "What exactly does spelunking mean?" This not only illustrate how little we knew about what we got ourselves into but also meant that it was several "firsts" for us. First time to do rapel, to climb down small holes, to get into knee deep cave mud and many more...

I can probably say that this trip is the most different, adventurous and tiring experience I have had. I don't regret being there but I doubt if I'll do this again. As of now, what i really what to say is "I Survived Sagada!".

I have more stories to tell about Sagada, will post them in my next entires :-)

The Men Hunt Tag

2008-04-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

I got this from Wanda who got it from someone else. It was fun reading about them and so I thought I'll snag it so I have an excuse to talk about hot men. :-)

Here they are:

1. Jerry Yan

Admittedly, when I first saw Jerry in Meteor Garden, I did not like him-especially with his pineapple hairstyle. But, he grows on you, just like his character as Dao Ming Si in Meteor Garden. Among all the hot men in my list, he's the only one I got to see upclose and personal. I wasn't that much of a fan to go see his concerts but when a friend had access to his Bench presscon and lunch conference at Manila Pen afterwards, I didn't let the opportunity pass. During that time, a lot of girlfriends got jealous that I could see him in person. Well, some girls have all the luck:-) hehe. Of course, I needed proof that I really saw him, so pictures had to be taken. Unfortunately, the ones I have are with a group, so I won't be posting them here. :-(

2. Pierce Brosnan

I've liked him ever since his Remington Steele days. He's so cool and I find him to be a real debonair in his roles. When he became "James Bond", I was hooked. I made it a point to watch all his James Bond movies. I also loved him in "The Thomas Crown Affair" and am anticipating its sequel. Aside from his showbiz persona, Pierce is also an environmentalist and uses his stature to promote his advocacies. Although he's well into his fifties, I still find him very sexy :-)

3. Patrick Dempsey

The name McDreamy is just so appropriate. I love him in his role as Dr. Derek Shephard. I just think he looks so hot in those scrubs. Plus the hair and dimples :-) hay!

So there, these are the top 3 in my "Hot Men List". What do they have in common? hhmm...they're all bedimpled? Incidentally, so is DH :-) lol Now its your turn to share your list of "Hot Men". To follow, copy what's written below and tag all the people you want.

{begin copy}

It’s up to you how narrate your stories but there are two rules: 1.Post pictures (I want to see what is all the hotness about), 2. Keep the linky linky alive (Tip, highlight the text which has links, right click and choose View Selection Source and just copy the HTML). Link the post where you wrote about the topic so women can find more drool-worthy men. (You might need to publish and then edit the entry first)

List: 1. Wanda, Pinch I'm tagging Tere, Portia and Mia.

{end copy}

Prayer For Serenity

2008-04-23T22:50:00.000-07:00

While looking for something in our room today, a brown and worn out piece of paper from the cork board caught my eye. I remember this. It used to be white paper where I have copied the "Prayer For Serenity". I think I've had this pinned on the board for like 9 years or more. When I held it, it felt brittle and about to crumble.

Oftentimes, we seek to have control over the things around us and forget that we do not really have control on them. It makes us unhappy and discontent. I like to share this to those who are currently unhappy about something in their lives or those who seek some peace of mind.

Prayer for Serenity

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

...living one day at a time

...enjoying one moment at a time.

...accepting hardships as a pathway to peace

...taking , as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is.

...trusting that you will make all things right if I surrender to your will.

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with you forever in the next.

Amen

It's so embarrassing!

2008-04-22T23:42:00.000-07:00

That's what Nico said when I tried to take his picture while he was at McDo for the Kiddie Crew program this afternoon. He started going to McDo yesterday, but I only had time to visit him today. I was planning to take some pictures of him behind the counter but found them on the second floor doing art. I only wanted him to have a picture of this summer activity, but several attempts I made to take his pictures were all in vain. He would turn away, cover his face with his cap or hide behind his cousin just to escape me and my camera. Haay! Lately, Nico's been acting like he's grown up. He downloads music on his own, raps and bounces as he listens to music and uses "Duh!" or "Who cares?" a lot in his conversations.

I don't want him to grow up too fast. I still like him to hug and kiss me everyday even in front of other people. But today, he said, "It's so embarrassing!" It's a good thing that he handed this bag to me before we went home. I know it was part of their activity at McDonald's, but it still melted my heart when he said, "Mom, this is for you."

To do list

2008-04-22T20:22:00.000-07:00

It's summer and that means I have more time to do things that I did not have time to do during the school year. Things that I have shelved for next time because it takes so much time to accomplish and probably because they're not my favorite things to do. Anyway, I'm listing it down here in the hopes that it will motivate me to do them soon:-)

1. Renew my professional teacher's license which expired last Feb. - If anyone of you have been to PRC , you'd easily understand why I've been putting off doing this. The red tape and the rude people there are the topmost reasons this task is hard to accomplish.

2. Clean up our study room. - The paper and books have been piling up in our study room. And looking for a particular book entails searching the 4 large plastic containers that are really heavy that you wouldn't want to look for them anymore. I've accumulated so much resource and reference books from grad school that there's really no place to keep them. My friend says, the rule to follow if you need to decide whether to keep or throw something away is to answer the question: "When was the last time you used this?" If the answer is more than 2 years ago, then you should let it go. My problem is on the letting go part. I always think that I might still be able to use it.

3. Come up with a master list of all the children's books we have at home. - I've always earmarked myself to do this but never got to do an inventory. DH once commented: "What are you going to do with all those books when the kids are all grownup already?" My answer, "I'm going to give these to our grand children!" :-) Especially my collection of Dr. Seuss books.

4. Put together videos of our family trips. Since we shifted to MAC, making videos have become something we non-professionals can do at home. But, since it takes so much time, it has always been shelved till next time. I was able to do one for school, but only because it was for a project. I have to do at least one this year.

I know I have more to add for this list, but this is all I can think of for now.

I signed up for PPP!

2008-04-21T23:56:00.000-07:00

I've been toying with the idea of getting into paid blogging. It won't hurt to earn some extra while you're already doing what you enjoy, right? A friend of mine who recently signed up for PayPerPost gave me some feedback that it was quite easy to get into PPP. To qualify, I think your blog needs to be at least 30 days old and has to have x number of posts. Plus, you get to write your opinion about products or services that interests you. What I find very convenient about PayPerPost is that it pays bloggers through PayPal- a really safe way to send and receive money.

Anyway, I was going through PPP's site last night to try and learn more about it. It was indicated there that my blog will need to be assessed first if it was qualified. I decided to sign up since I assumed it will take a couple of weeks or at least a month before it could be assessed. That's why, I was pleasantly surprised to receive an email after only a few minutes that my site has been approved. I felt a bit anxious as I wasn't clear on how to go about these things yet.

As of now, I'm still learning the ropes on how to go through the process of paid blogging. I'm looking forward to this new venture and recommend it to those who love to write or simply want something new to do.

My top 10 reasons to blog

2008-04-18T23:25:00.000-07:00

1. Blogging is therapeutic. It has a good effect on the mind. It relaxes. Blog is to the mind what a massage is to the body.

2. Blogging lets you rant, rave, complain, babble. It gives you a voice.

3. Blogging makes you feel like a columnist but one that has total independence on when and what to write about.

4. Blogging inspires. A highschool classmate who read my blog says she was inspired to write a blog herself after stumbling upon this.

5. My blog lets me feature my kids' work and anecdotes. Hopefully, they can get to read them when they're older.

6. Blogging lets me reflect-something less practiced when you get caught up in the hussle-bussle of life and technology.

7. Blogging gives me the opportunity to tell stories and connect with other people.

8. Blogging has a lot of potential for financial rewards. Might get into paid blogging one of these days -to get funds for my online shopping :-)

9. Blogging is a learning experience everyday. You get to learn so many things - also get to know the lives of people even if you don't know them yet. ha ha!

10. Blogging is a way of expression. Much like how you wear your hair or the way you speak. It gives you a sense of self that only a few can provide.

Girlfriend

2008-04-18T22:45:00.000-07:00

Early January of this year, I received a call asking if I was interested to be featured on Girlfriends' magazine. It was to for an article in their regular section on Money. At first, I was really surprised, then I was flattered before I finally felt apprehensive. "Can i think about it, first?" was my answer to the offer. I consulted DH and friends. Should I? Should I not? My friends were excited for me, telling me how this is will be a great experience. DH left me to decide, "Whatever you want, its up to you." To make the long story short, I finally agreed.

We had the photo shoot/ interview early February at Mega's studio along Emerald Ave. We were greeted by the managing editor, who introduced me to my makeup artist, hairdresser and interviewer/writer. They were all there waiting for me :-) While I was having my hair done, I had a pleasant interview/conversation with Lucille. It was just like talking to your girlfriend! A girl approached who identified herself as the photographer. "I'd like to ask what you would be wearing for the shoot?" I thought for a while and said, "This. (holding up my sleeve)" I thought she might be expecting me to have brought a wardrobe along- lol! Anyway, she needed to know as she was setting up the back drop for the shoot.

The shoot turned out really well. Paola, the photographer was very pleasant. She made me feel relaxed and even asked me to see the shots she had taken so far. During this entire time, DH was at the background with his SLR trying to take some "behind the scene photos", while the managing editor was working with Paola on the best way to get my picture. I felt like a celebrity. So this is what it feels like to have people fuss over you :-)

2 months after the shoot, I have the magazine with me and it still feels surreal. It was a great personal experience - one that gives encouragement and excitement.

Yo!

2008-04-16T22:11:00.000-07:00

I tried out the Hip Hop Abs yesterday. Julia accompanied me through this and was enjoying herself. "Mommy, look at me", she would call out occasionally. The movement of the instructor's mouth did not match the voice over. Either it was dubbed or it had poor quality. I was fine with this flaw. You only need to concentrate on the body movements with this video anyway, so no problem there.

There was a timer on the screen- to let you know how many minutes the sequence has been going on. 8 minutes into the sequence, my throat felt really parched, so I got some water to drink. After doing it for 12 minutes, I had to stop. I was feeling really hot despite air condition and somewhat dizzy. I was expecting not to finish it, especially since its been a while since I had some exercise. Julia came to me and said, "Mommy, why you're not doing it anymore?" I just could not go on. Bummer, and I felt I was back in my teens while doing those moves lol :-)

Hope to do at least 20 minutes on my next workout :-)

Shopping bag

2008-04-15T18:00:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a trip to Divisoria. Here's a list and description of the things I bought:

1. Hip Hop ABS DVD Vol 1-8 (able to haggle it at P30 without the case) - I'm planning to do some workouts at home 'coz I haven't been playing badminton for a while.

2. Coffee Prince DVD -(P50) - I feel like watching those funny yet mushy Korean telenovelas so I bought this. I also made sure it had Chinese subtitles and voice dub-I have a hard time watching them in Korean but with English subtitles.

3. a dozen of those spring accessories for the hair ( with cherry designs in different colors) P36 - Julia had some of these in a different design and yaya said it was nice for her hair.

4. 2 rolls of 1/2" satin ribbons in matte gold and golden yellow (P25 each) - They were on sale at Morning Glory! I recently bought a stash of shiny red and royal blue gift wrappers but was only able to buy silver ribbons for the blue. I couldn't decide between the 2 colors available but since it was on sale, I got them both. I'm sure I'll be able to use them for other purposes.

5. small memo notebook with black pages P30 - I love these! Since we have lots of gel pens at home, I can write on these to my heart's content. Btw, I tried it right away and discovered that light colored pencils like white, pink or yellow write very well on these, too! Yey!

6. Canvas cloth (P50/yd) - am planning to make bags for Julia's giveaways on her birthday. Just to clarify, I'm not making them myself, just buying the materials and have it sewn :-)

Hay! I had to huury back so I was bitin. Will go back as soon as I can.

2008-04-15T10:17:00.001-07:00

I never thought I would ever blog about make up. Its one of the topics I'm less likely to write about. Those who know me will understand what I'm saying. For one, I rarely use makeup and if I do so, its more because I had to than because I wanted to. I first heard about Bare Escentuals from my sis-in-law who purchased hers online. Did not get interested as I don't really put make up on. But I got to try it when a friend used it on me for a video shoot I had a few months back.

When i asked a friend to buy me the Bare Escentuals starter kit during her trip to the states, my girl friends got intrigued. "A person who does not like make up is buying THIS makeup", was Steph's comment. So, they ended buying a set for themselves, too.

I got the starter kit the other day and watched the DVD included in the kit. I'm such a dummy on make up that I found the video quite useful. It included the specific steps and even the particular brushes to use. DH and Julia had the question mark look on their faces when i was trying the make up on. "Why are you putting on make up?" asked Julia. They're not used to see me "kikay" lol :-)

The mineral makeup feels really light on my face. Its very easy to apply and you don't look like you have make up on. For someone who's so not into makeup, I really like it.

My Little Art Place

2008-04-14T17:32:00.000-07:00

The agenda yesterday was to attend the art exhibit of Nico at My Little Art Place along Wilson St. We got there a bit late and found the place full. Parents and even grandparents were there to appreciate the works of the kids.

Nico started with his fun photography lessons with Teacher Maya last March-right after Holy Week. When I first asked him what he thought of photogrpahy classes, Nico immediately showed interest. It's always been a puzzle where to enroll the kids every summer so the photography class was very timely. The kids were taught basic things about photography like lighting and composition. Each session, they were given assignments on what to shoot like, pets, portraits of family members and their favorite things.

The other week, when there was a motor show, Nico insistently wanted to go. He took pictures of the cars there while DH took pictures of the models :-) One of the photos he took from the motor show was displayed at the exhibit. Next week, he'll be having some make up classes and Teacher Maya asked permission if she could bring the kids out to take photos. Will post some of the pictures he took in my future entries.

My Little Art Place is located at 222 Wilson St., Greenhills. Tel Nos. 4094122

That's the point!

2008-04-11T08:49:00.000-07:00

Have you ever analyzed the reasoning of a 6 year old? Here's part of the conversation I had with Julia last night that shows how she relates abstract things to concrete ones she understands - cookies.

Me: "Julia, who do you love more? mommy or daddy?"

Julia: "2 of you."

Me: "No, just 1."

Julia: "Ay, 3 including ahiya."

Me: "If its just one, who do you love the most?"

Julia: "Mommy, if you're very hungry, how many cookies would you eat?"

Me: "I don't know."

Julia: " So, if you're very very lovable, how many people can you love? see? that's the point!" (speaking matter of factly)

Anyone of you got her point?

I love Mac!

2008-04-11T04:09:00.000-07:00

This is a late post, but still worth telling. Me and DH love MAC ever since. We love how user friendly it is, its sleek design and its reliability compared to the PC. The application " iLife" that comes with it is also the best! You don't even need a manual to learn how it works.

A few weeks ago, we got another reason to love MAC the more. See our brand new 20" iMac Core 2 Duo? We got it in exchange for our almost 3 year old 17" G5. Sweet deal, right? The secret? AppleCare Protection Plan. AppleCare extends your ordinary warranty of a year to make it a 3- year coverage.

When Mac people asked us if it was alright for them to change our G5 to the new 20", we were just too thrilled about it! READ-smiles extending to our ears. :-) Try using the Mac, you're sure to love it!

2008-04-08T12:33:00.000-07:00

Julia is into a lot of drawing lately. She always has to have pen and paper with her wherever she goes. Drawing keeps her preoccupied for hours each day.

Last March, she was commissioned to do the artwork for the souvenir mugs the school gave to the alumni students. I was the one who was more delighted when we finally got the mug! I love it!

Admittedly, I'm not very fond of mug as gifts. But if the mugs are designed with children's artworks or drawings such as this one, it's definitely for keeps!

Can you spot the difference?

2008-04-06T22:35:00.000-07:00

The latest game/program that I'm tinkering in my iphone is called WeSpot. The mechanics of the game is very simple: Take a look at the almost identical pictures and try to find the 5 things where they differ. Sounds easy, right? The picture above is one of the easiest...but it gets more and more difficult by the level. At one point, the pictures given are those of real images and the differences become even harder to spot. Try the one above and give yourself 60 seconds to finish this. Maybe you'll enjoy it as well!

2008-04-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

Spent the morning baking cupcakes! Ever since I saw a cupcake stand from a baking supply store, I suddenly wanted to bake again. Its been quite some time since I've actually whipped up something from the kitchen. And since it was DH's birthday, I decided to make cupcakes for his simple birthday dinner with the family. The kids also got involved and actually enjoyed messing up the kitchen. They measured, poured and mixed the ingredients gleefully. It was likewise fun for me to be able to do this again. All those baking pans and equipment have been untouched for some time now and it feels really homey to make things from scratch. Since its summer, I've agreed to do more baking with Julia. Am planning to make some homemade chocolate chip cookies next week. :-) hmmm...

2008-04-04T19:08:00.000-07:00

A proof of the "Roadrunner Society" that the authors were pertaining to is this ad I saw at www.adweek.com. The ad clearly markets Gymboree's classes by preying on parents' fears that their children might fall behind others if they don't enroll them in these kinds of activities.

The book has opened me to the realities of today's society that puts pressure on the children to achieve more, better and faster. As a parent, I may not fall prey to these kinds of marketing strategies, but the message of the authors has given me a more critical eye in singling these kinds of ads that send wrong messages to parents and practitioners. It has made me more aware of the environment and how it has contributed to the anxiety of the parents to push their children some more.

The book was very insightful especially when it tackled the findings of researches on how children really learn and develop. As a teacher, it provided me the backup to use play as often as possible in curriculum planning. Prior to reading the book, I had some ideas about the benefits of play in children. However, the book has widened my knowledge about the effects of play even in the areas of social and emotional development. I used to presume that children's intellectual development needed nurturing and that social development will take care of itself. Now, I understand better that children need help in regulating their emotions and that our responses t them shape their sense of self.

In the area of cognitive development, the authors pointed out how play is really the foundation for learning. During play, children are able to talk more, create more and engage more. Play is directly related to greater creativity and imagination for children, which is important in developing their problem solving skills. The book's message about play has made me reflect on the frequency I utilize play as a way for children to learn about the concepts we introduce in school. It illustrated how learning meaningless, disembodied facts is so shallow compared to learning in context. Play provides learning that is real and allows the innate creativity in children.

After reading the book, I feel that my role as an educator should also extend to an advocate of play. I can do it right inside my classroom by providing children with more resources for play and encouraging learning by setting up activities that are play-based. As a co teacher, I can communicate the benefits of play to my colleagues. Educating parents is also an important factor in advocating play for children.

In a way, the book's message has helped relieved the stress and anxiety I may have over the quantity and pace of learning the children I am involved with are suppose to have. It reassures me that my instincts with children are correct and that I should resist being affected by the inputs of a marketing strategy like the one above is communicating. Play should be given back to children and emphasized more than ever. Reflect. Resist. Re-center.

To Teach

2008-04-04T19:06:00.000-07:00

Reading the book “To Teach” by William Ayers felt like having a glimpse of what is to come for me in the future as a teacher. The author began writing about the challenges of teaching and found its way back to where it started by coming to a full circle. ”To Teach” is a book that touched a lot of aspects in my short journey as a teacher. There were parts in the book that I had to mark because it just felt like my own sentiments that was written on the pages/ ”Why do you want to teach?”, “What made you choose to become a teacher?”. are questions most people I meet and know ask me all the time. Even those who do not verbally ask me these questions have the same thoughts when they learn that I am a teacher. During my initial year, I wanted to teach because I want to try what it was like to be a teacher. The next year, I wanted to teach because it is where I find my creativity has an output. The following year, I wanted to teach because I find it rewarding and fulfilling. Each year I grow as a teacher, I become more enriched and more mature in the way I see myself.

From the author’s own words, “Teaching is an activity that develops and flowers over time, that there is no way to be an experienced teacher without first being a new teacher.” I realize that teaching is a way of life. It is much like being a parent where no specific techniques or style can be prescribed to become a good one. It is not like a skilled worker who can become an expert at what he does through practice. With teaching, you deal with different individuals and there is always interaction involved. In a way, I think this is why teaching is fulfilling. By establishing relationships with individuals, you give a part of yourself to them as much as they give a part of themselves to you.

Seeing the journey of a teacher who has come full circle, I find myself reflecting whether I would remain to be a teacher through the years. I believe that teaching is a passion. One has to be passionate about it to become a good teacher. But, will my passion for it sustain after 10 years? 20 years? I am inclined to think that if I feel I cannot be a good teacher, I would rather not be a teacher anymore. Do teachers who do not remain to be teachers after some years, really not meant for teaching? The book has opened me to ponder on these thoughts.

Teaching is indeed challenging. It demands a lot from the teachers but it has its rewards. I think the most important thing I have learned from the book is that being a teacher is a journey that is a continuous lifetime affair. Teaching is dynamic, always in motion, always searching to find better ways. The end of the journey as a teacher is also the end of becoming one. There is no race or finish line to rush in this journey. What counts in this journey are the lives I touch and change because of my being a teacher.

Big Circle Time

2008-03-31T19:45:00.000-07:00

I got an email from a fellow practitioner in the field of early childhood education about this conference. It's called "Big Circle Time: Empowering the Filipino Early Childhood Educator". This conference is for teachers, school administrators and even parents.

Venue: SEAMEO Innotech

Commonwealth Avenue, UP Diliman

Date: May 14-15, 2008

Participation Fee: P4,000 per participant

P3,700 early bird fee till April 16

Finally, a conference of this sort in the Philippines. I hope they have this annually.

There's a gondola outside my window!

2008-03-30T19:35:00.000-07:00

Yes, you read it right-There's a gondola outside my window. But, I'm not talking about the Venetian gondola with a singing gondolier. They're construction workers cleaning and repainting our building facade. They've been around for almost 2 months now and I've sort of gotten used to it. At first, I was a bit paranoid. Can you imagine people outside your window who can directly see what's going on in your household? I even have to close the blinds in our bathroom to make sure its really private! What's really bothersome is the smell of paint and thinner. It permeates in the house even if all the windows are shut.

But of course, I see how this inconvenience is really part of something that will benefit us. We've been living in this condo for around 10 years and its the first time we're having some repainting done. The facade has really brightened up and it looks aesthetically better. Its like a makeover with a "before and after" difference.

Next year, we might have to change some wallpapers in the house and have some repainting done, too. Hay! Will be forced to do some general cleaning!

party pooper

2008-01-14T00:36:00.000-08:00

I'm not very fond of big parties. I find them tiring and loud. I don't know if its the age but I've come to dislike the crowded places and the loud sound that comes with it. Last weekend, I attended 2 of these kiddie parties that gave me more reason to dislike them. Not because I don't like the hosts of these parties but because of the behavior of the people in big parties like these. While I was making sure my daughter was ok in the kiddie area, I found some yayas 'stealing' some of the prizes intended for the games from the table. They were just getting them without the host or party organizer knowing about it. Talk about setting good examples for their wards.

Why do these yayas do this? I know for a fact that some employers actually encourage and train their yayas to be aggressive in these kinds of situations. I 've heard them, (when they think they are out of earshot) tell their yayas to get balloons even if the party has just started or make sure their children get into the booths whatever it takes(meaning they have to make 'singit'). At a recent party we went to, my daughter told me a yaya pushed her while she was in line to get giveaways. My sister-in-law, who was in the same party, got pissed when an 8-year old girl rudely asked her to stay at the back of the tattoo line. My sister-in-law was actually ahead of the girl, she just left for a few seconds to bring her son to the table and informed the others about it. On my out of the party, I saw a woman take the life size picture of the birthday celebrant from the entrance. I find it really odd because I don't know what she will be doing with it. Later that night, I heard that the host was looking for it. I bet she didn't think anybody would be interested in it.

What's with these parties? Why are people behaving this way? I'm not surprised if one day, psychologist or sociologist would have a term for this. Is this normal or am I just a party pooper?

My first blog

2008-01-12T18:21:00.000-08:00

I know that blogging is not something new...but it is to me. I enjoy reading others' blogs and often wish I have the time to do the same. As a mom, wife, daughter, homemaker, teacher, student, sister, and friend among others, TIME is something I always need more of. This 2008, I want to try being able to do this-for myself.