I have found the bag, my Kate Spade bag... Hudson Street Francis in tobacco ... when will you find me??????
Monday, April 30, 2007
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Perfect
My little daughter has always been meticulous about different things. She's the one who would notice that her placemat's turned around, or her shoes or flip-flops are on the wrong side of her feet, or that her footwear were not next to each other where she's left them... she'll always make sure that her socks would be the same color as her shirt or skirt/pants, she's gotta have all her bling-blings when leaving the house (ring, necklace, bracelet), her hair needs to be fixed a certain way or have some clip or headband.... she gives up if her colorings went outside the black line, she gets mad if you bother her if she's working on something, oh, you better not interrupt her on anything... and I can go on and on and on....
Sometimes I'd think that she's really so cute still because she's young, then I keep wondering how it would be as she gets older... case in point, on the weekend, after she's gone to the potty (which she's perfected by the way, no accidents since), I put her in the bathtub to start bathing... I started fixing her room and bathroom at the same time giving her time to play in the tub...well, she starts shouting "Mommy, Mommy, I can't take a bath here!!!" So I go, "Why?" The little girl answers, "IT's NOT PERFECT!!!" Like, (I was so confused!) "What do you mean it's not perfect?" Then she says, "but it's DOIRTY!". Well, she saw the little black stuff that forms from dust that accumulates and a stain on the side of the tub from her bath toys! Lesson learned, Mommy needs to clean the bathtub and the whole bathroom I guess before our little princess gets in there, yes my 3 year old princess! AHHH!
Sometimes I'd think that she's really so cute still because she's young, then I keep wondering how it would be as she gets older... case in point, on the weekend, after she's gone to the potty (which she's perfected by the way, no accidents since), I put her in the bathtub to start bathing... I started fixing her room and bathroom at the same time giving her time to play in the tub...well, she starts shouting "Mommy, Mommy, I can't take a bath here!!!" So I go, "Why?" The little girl answers, "IT's NOT PERFECT!!!" Like, (I was so confused!) "What do you mean it's not perfect?" Then she says, "but it's DOIRTY!". Well, she saw the little black stuff that forms from dust that accumulates and a stain on the side of the tub from her bath toys! Lesson learned, Mommy needs to clean the bathtub and the whole bathroom I guess before our little princess gets in there, yes my 3 year old princess! AHHH!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Gawad Kalinga Inspiration
I've always stood by my belief that the Filipino is an invaluable race. We are God-fearing, loving people who care about our family, our environment and our children's future. The following inspires me as I rear my children towards the future --- I hope that when they are at my age, their concept of being Filipino would be one like that of Mr. Meloto's.
Tony Meloto, the visionary and driving force behind the Gawad Kalinga movement, is gifted with a Doctorate of Humanities, Honoris Causa, by the Ateneo de Davao. He then delivers a speech to the graduates of the university, a challenge actually, for patriotism and heroism. The same message will be given to eight other colleges and universities who have asked Tony Meloto to be their commencement speaker for 2007.
"The Filipino Spirit is Rising" Antonio Meloto
2007 Commencement Exercises Ateneo de Davao University
Today, I feel intelligent. Not only am I addressing some of the brightest minds in Mindanao, but I am also being honored by this prestigious university with a Doctorate in Humanities, Honoris Causa. This is the first doctorate that I have received and I am accepting it in all humility and pride as a recognition of the nobility of the cause and the heroism of the thousands of Gawad Kalinga workers that I represent. Thank you Fr. Ting Samson and Ateneo de Davao for bestowing the highest academic degree on a man who was born without a pedigree- the "askal" (asong kalye) who went to Ateneo and came back to the slums to help those he left behind.
To a person like myself who did not excel in Ateneo in my pursuit of a college degree, receiving this Ph. D. is extremely flattering being fully conscious that my principal role in this movement is to be the storyteller of the many who put in the sacrifice and the hard work and yet have remained mostly unrecognized. It is also exhilarating because it builds on the growing global awareness, triggered by Gawad Kalinga and other movements that have not given up on our country, that the Filipinos can and will build a squatter-free, slum- free and hunger- free Philippines by committing their collective genius, passion and strength towards restoring the dignity and the potential for excellence of the poor, the weak and the powerless.
The Filipino spirit today is rising wherever he is in the world. He is starting to discover that he has the power to liberate himself from being a slave of the past… that he can remove the label stuck to his soul as a second class people from a third world country… that he can correct the scandal of history of being the most corrupt in Asia despite being the only Christian nation, until East Timor, in the region.
In the right setting the Filipino has proven that he can be law- abiding, hardworking, honest and excellent.
Over the years, I have not met a Filipino beggar in my travel to the US, Canada and Australia…not a single beggar that I have seen or have heard of out of more than 2 million Filipinos in the US; many Caucasians, Afro- Americans and Latinos- yes- but no Filipinos. Clearly, it is not the nature of Filipinos to beg if he is in the right home and community environment. The mendicant culture in his native land is man- made and artificial and can therefore be unmade and corrected if we give him back his dignity which is his birthright as a son of God.
In the same vein, we know that the Filipino is not lazy. Time Magazine in its 2006 article on Happiness identifies the Filipino as one of the ethnic groups in America least likely to go on welfare. How many of us know of friends and relatives who would take on two or even three jobs in pursuit of their dreams for a better life. Hardworking when motivated, resilient when tested- that is the Filipino…that is us. It is no surprise therefore that the average income of the Filipino- Americans is higher that the US national average; the former slave is now richer than the master in his master's home country.
We must believe that we were designed for excellence. World- class Filipino doctors and nurses are healing the sick of America and Europe. Our sailors dominate the seas in every mode of marine transport for commerce and pleasure providing every imaginable form of service- and often always, they are the best navigators, the best chefs, the best entertainers. Thriving economies in Asia carry the mark of Filipino managerial expertise in their start-up stage. Filipino CEOs, CFOs, COOs captain top multinational corporations carrying on the proud expat tradition of SGV's Washington Sycip, PLDT-SMART's Manny Pagnilinan, P&G's Manny Pacis and many others.
Sadly, we are top of the line, crème de la crème, the best of the best elsewhere in the world except in our homeland. While the Jews and the Arabs were busy building abundance out of their desert, we were busy creating a desert out of our abundance. Let us put a stop to our inanity and hypocrisy.
Let us stop cracking jokes about our shame and misery. Instead let us celebrate with our hard work and integrity the return of our honor and pride as a gifted people, blessed by God with this beautiful land. Let us honor every great deed, every sacrifice, and every kindness that we extend to our disadvantaged and needy countrymen. Let us put an end to our lamentation. We have suffered long enough. For 400 years, we have been gnashing our teeth, blaming one another, stepping on each other and yet have the temerity at the end of the day to ask God why this is happening as if it was His fault. It is now time to hope, to care, to work together and to rejoice.
Yes, we will rise as a nation if we nurture this emerging beautiful spirit of the Filipino and cultivate an intelligent heart. How? When we show our love for God by being our brother's keeper- giving land to the landless, homes to the homeless and food to the hungry. This is about love and justice in a country where the majority of our people are landless, millions of them living in shanties and slums and 17% of them experiencing hunger in a rich and fertile land. This is not about charity but about authentic Christian stewardship and nation- building.
We will rise as a nation when rich Filipinos will consider the poor as an heir, like our youngest child, equal in worth and dignity with our own children, deserving an equal share in our children's inheritance. A beautiful spirit and an intelligent heart consider the poor as family, see the face of Christ in them, and see the paradise that every slum community can become. That is why every GK home is beautifully painted and the standard of landscaping of every GK village is Ayala Alabang or Ladislawa in the case of Davao. When we build first world communities for the poorest Filipino, we give them dignity and first world aspirations that will motivate them to dream bigger and work harder with support and nurturing. A recent study of GK Brookside, Payatas conducted by the UP Diliman College of Economics revealed an amazing result – the confidence and self- respect of the residents, many of them former scavengers, rose from 17% before GK to 99% after GK; 93% consider themselves better off in terms of quality of life and 96% believe that their economic situation will improve in the future. Clearly the spirit of the poor is rising because those with the most share their best with the least.
This nation will rise if her sons and daughters abroad will see wisdom in helping not just their relatives, which is an admirable Filipino trait, but also the poor they do not know who need help the most. Last night, I arrived from a 1- week trip to the U.S. for the world premiere in Chicago of "Paraiso", the Gawad Kalinga movie, and to attend GK events in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The movie was a big hit but the bigger hit for me was the phenomenal response of our patriots in America to help the motherland by building self-reliant and sustainable GK communities. The UST Medical Alumni Association of America Board was planning not just building more houses but also hospitals and community health programs through Gawad Kalusugan. USTMAA president Dr. Primo Andres is building a beautiful GK Village for his wife, Sylvia in Panabo, Davao where she comes from as an expression of his deep affection for her. Another Davaoeno, former Cabinet Secretary Cito Lorenzo, joined me in booming Las Vegas to honor Filipino entertainers and realtors who are investing in the rebuilding of their home country. Passion for the Philippines was evident everywhere I went. From successful young San Diego businessman Tony Olaes who spoke about sleepless nights in his excitement to help fund 20 new GK villages with his Filipino business partners to the SouthCal Ancop Sikad Bikers pedaling to build Sibol Schools and the Bayanihan Builders who are retired professionals in Los Angeles repairing homes of neighbors to raise resources to build homes in Bicol, to the 8 nurses in NorCal working extra shifts to fund their individual GK villages. The Filipino exile is waking up and starting to unleash a stream of Patriot Funds that will augment the OFW flow in fuelling the Philippine economy.
Today, I am here to salute the beautiful spirit and the intelligent heart of the people of Mindanao. Many of our volunteers here, like many in other parts of the country, build homes for the poor when they themselves do not own land or home. Christians here starting with caretakers from Couples for Christ set aside fear and comfort to serve our fellow Filipinos in Camp Abubakar and other Moslem GK communities. Your students are going out of the classrooms to learn about life and love of God and country by serving in poor communities. The LGU of Davao led by Mayor Duterte and many throughout Mindanao are doing massive land banking in solidarity with our conviction that no Filipino deserves to be a squatter in his own country. And many families here are starting to understand that giving a part of their land to give dignity and security to the landless and homeless poor is not only right with God but also builds peace, triggers economic activity, improves land values- createsa win- win situation for all.
And to you my dear graduates, what can I say? Congratulations of course for finishing what you began and for joining the ranks of the elite few of the Filipinos with a college degree. I thank your parents for their sacrifice and for giving us sons and daughters who will steward this country better than us. You are entering adult life equipped with a degree from a respected university at an auspicious time in the life of our country. It is your destiny to reach maturity during this great season of hope, this exciting time of awakening, this period of great challenge and heroism. You have the choice and the opportunity to correct the mistakes of our generation and build a future full of hope in this country. You can be the new breed of political leaders who will gain your mandate through visible and quantifiable performance, rather than mastery of the art of winning elections through cheating and corruption. You can be the new captains of business and industry who will work for profit with a conscience, expanding the market base by wisely investing in developing the potential of the poor for productivity. You can be the new elite of this country who will not be happy to send your children to exclusive schools and live in exclusive subdivisions if out of school street children are ignored and Lazarus continues to live as a squatter outside your gates. Who can stop us from claiming our Promised Land? Spain is not our master anymore. America is not our master anymore. Japan is not our master anymore. Our enemies are not the corrupt politicians, the greedy rich, the lazy poor, the religious hypocrites and other convenient scapegoats. Our enemies are not out there anymore. Our enemies are now within us. We have compromised our values and tolerated corruption. We have lowered our standard and tolerated poverty. We have sacrificed the truth for hypocrisy. We have chosen convenience for vision, popularity for leadership…and have chosen despair over hope. Do we fight or do we run? Is there a King Leonides among you who will fight for honor and freedom? Are there 300 Spartans among you who will confront our enemies with extraordinary courage and love? Can you be the army who will lead our people to victory following the path of peace? Are you the generation of patriots who can shout to the world that no Filipino will remain poor because you will not allow it; that no Filipino will remain a squatter because you will not allow it; that no politician will remain corrupt because you will not allow it? If you are, then join us in Gawad Kalinga.
Together, we can build a great nation, first world in the eyes of God and respected by other great nations. Godspeed to you our patriots and heroes. God bless our beloved Philippines.
Tony Meloto, the visionary and driving force behind the Gawad Kalinga movement, is gifted with a Doctorate of Humanities, Honoris Causa, by the Ateneo de Davao. He then delivers a speech to the graduates of the university, a challenge actually, for patriotism and heroism. The same message will be given to eight other colleges and universities who have asked Tony Meloto to be their commencement speaker for 2007.
"The Filipino Spirit is Rising" Antonio Meloto
2007 Commencement Exercises Ateneo de Davao University
Today, I feel intelligent. Not only am I addressing some of the brightest minds in Mindanao, but I am also being honored by this prestigious university with a Doctorate in Humanities, Honoris Causa. This is the first doctorate that I have received and I am accepting it in all humility and pride as a recognition of the nobility of the cause and the heroism of the thousands of Gawad Kalinga workers that I represent. Thank you Fr. Ting Samson and Ateneo de Davao for bestowing the highest academic degree on a man who was born without a pedigree- the "askal" (asong kalye) who went to Ateneo and came back to the slums to help those he left behind.
To a person like myself who did not excel in Ateneo in my pursuit of a college degree, receiving this Ph. D. is extremely flattering being fully conscious that my principal role in this movement is to be the storyteller of the many who put in the sacrifice and the hard work and yet have remained mostly unrecognized. It is also exhilarating because it builds on the growing global awareness, triggered by Gawad Kalinga and other movements that have not given up on our country, that the Filipinos can and will build a squatter-free, slum- free and hunger- free Philippines by committing their collective genius, passion and strength towards restoring the dignity and the potential for excellence of the poor, the weak and the powerless.
The Filipino spirit today is rising wherever he is in the world. He is starting to discover that he has the power to liberate himself from being a slave of the past… that he can remove the label stuck to his soul as a second class people from a third world country… that he can correct the scandal of history of being the most corrupt in Asia despite being the only Christian nation, until East Timor, in the region.
In the right setting the Filipino has proven that he can be law- abiding, hardworking, honest and excellent.
Over the years, I have not met a Filipino beggar in my travel to the US, Canada and Australia…not a single beggar that I have seen or have heard of out of more than 2 million Filipinos in the US; many Caucasians, Afro- Americans and Latinos- yes- but no Filipinos. Clearly, it is not the nature of Filipinos to beg if he is in the right home and community environment. The mendicant culture in his native land is man- made and artificial and can therefore be unmade and corrected if we give him back his dignity which is his birthright as a son of God.
In the same vein, we know that the Filipino is not lazy. Time Magazine in its 2006 article on Happiness identifies the Filipino as one of the ethnic groups in America least likely to go on welfare. How many of us know of friends and relatives who would take on two or even three jobs in pursuit of their dreams for a better life. Hardworking when motivated, resilient when tested- that is the Filipino…that is us. It is no surprise therefore that the average income of the Filipino- Americans is higher that the US national average; the former slave is now richer than the master in his master's home country.
We must believe that we were designed for excellence. World- class Filipino doctors and nurses are healing the sick of America and Europe. Our sailors dominate the seas in every mode of marine transport for commerce and pleasure providing every imaginable form of service- and often always, they are the best navigators, the best chefs, the best entertainers. Thriving economies in Asia carry the mark of Filipino managerial expertise in their start-up stage. Filipino CEOs, CFOs, COOs captain top multinational corporations carrying on the proud expat tradition of SGV's Washington Sycip, PLDT-SMART's Manny Pagnilinan, P&G's Manny Pacis and many others.
Sadly, we are top of the line, crème de la crème, the best of the best elsewhere in the world except in our homeland. While the Jews and the Arabs were busy building abundance out of their desert, we were busy creating a desert out of our abundance. Let us put a stop to our inanity and hypocrisy.
Let us stop cracking jokes about our shame and misery. Instead let us celebrate with our hard work and integrity the return of our honor and pride as a gifted people, blessed by God with this beautiful land. Let us honor every great deed, every sacrifice, and every kindness that we extend to our disadvantaged and needy countrymen. Let us put an end to our lamentation. We have suffered long enough. For 400 years, we have been gnashing our teeth, blaming one another, stepping on each other and yet have the temerity at the end of the day to ask God why this is happening as if it was His fault. It is now time to hope, to care, to work together and to rejoice.
Yes, we will rise as a nation if we nurture this emerging beautiful spirit of the Filipino and cultivate an intelligent heart. How? When we show our love for God by being our brother's keeper- giving land to the landless, homes to the homeless and food to the hungry. This is about love and justice in a country where the majority of our people are landless, millions of them living in shanties and slums and 17% of them experiencing hunger in a rich and fertile land. This is not about charity but about authentic Christian stewardship and nation- building.
We will rise as a nation when rich Filipinos will consider the poor as an heir, like our youngest child, equal in worth and dignity with our own children, deserving an equal share in our children's inheritance. A beautiful spirit and an intelligent heart consider the poor as family, see the face of Christ in them, and see the paradise that every slum community can become. That is why every GK home is beautifully painted and the standard of landscaping of every GK village is Ayala Alabang or Ladislawa in the case of Davao. When we build first world communities for the poorest Filipino, we give them dignity and first world aspirations that will motivate them to dream bigger and work harder with support and nurturing. A recent study of GK Brookside, Payatas conducted by the UP Diliman College of Economics revealed an amazing result – the confidence and self- respect of the residents, many of them former scavengers, rose from 17% before GK to 99% after GK; 93% consider themselves better off in terms of quality of life and 96% believe that their economic situation will improve in the future. Clearly the spirit of the poor is rising because those with the most share their best with the least.
This nation will rise if her sons and daughters abroad will see wisdom in helping not just their relatives, which is an admirable Filipino trait, but also the poor they do not know who need help the most. Last night, I arrived from a 1- week trip to the U.S. for the world premiere in Chicago of "Paraiso", the Gawad Kalinga movie, and to attend GK events in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The movie was a big hit but the bigger hit for me was the phenomenal response of our patriots in America to help the motherland by building self-reliant and sustainable GK communities. The UST Medical Alumni Association of America Board was planning not just building more houses but also hospitals and community health programs through Gawad Kalusugan. USTMAA president Dr. Primo Andres is building a beautiful GK Village for his wife, Sylvia in Panabo, Davao where she comes from as an expression of his deep affection for her. Another Davaoeno, former Cabinet Secretary Cito Lorenzo, joined me in booming Las Vegas to honor Filipino entertainers and realtors who are investing in the rebuilding of their home country. Passion for the Philippines was evident everywhere I went. From successful young San Diego businessman Tony Olaes who spoke about sleepless nights in his excitement to help fund 20 new GK villages with his Filipino business partners to the SouthCal Ancop Sikad Bikers pedaling to build Sibol Schools and the Bayanihan Builders who are retired professionals in Los Angeles repairing homes of neighbors to raise resources to build homes in Bicol, to the 8 nurses in NorCal working extra shifts to fund their individual GK villages. The Filipino exile is waking up and starting to unleash a stream of Patriot Funds that will augment the OFW flow in fuelling the Philippine economy.
Today, I am here to salute the beautiful spirit and the intelligent heart of the people of Mindanao. Many of our volunteers here, like many in other parts of the country, build homes for the poor when they themselves do not own land or home. Christians here starting with caretakers from Couples for Christ set aside fear and comfort to serve our fellow Filipinos in Camp Abubakar and other Moslem GK communities. Your students are going out of the classrooms to learn about life and love of God and country by serving in poor communities. The LGU of Davao led by Mayor Duterte and many throughout Mindanao are doing massive land banking in solidarity with our conviction that no Filipino deserves to be a squatter in his own country. And many families here are starting to understand that giving a part of their land to give dignity and security to the landless and homeless poor is not only right with God but also builds peace, triggers economic activity, improves land values- createsa win- win situation for all.
And to you my dear graduates, what can I say? Congratulations of course for finishing what you began and for joining the ranks of the elite few of the Filipinos with a college degree. I thank your parents for their sacrifice and for giving us sons and daughters who will steward this country better than us. You are entering adult life equipped with a degree from a respected university at an auspicious time in the life of our country. It is your destiny to reach maturity during this great season of hope, this exciting time of awakening, this period of great challenge and heroism. You have the choice and the opportunity to correct the mistakes of our generation and build a future full of hope in this country. You can be the new breed of political leaders who will gain your mandate through visible and quantifiable performance, rather than mastery of the art of winning elections through cheating and corruption. You can be the new captains of business and industry who will work for profit with a conscience, expanding the market base by wisely investing in developing the potential of the poor for productivity. You can be the new elite of this country who will not be happy to send your children to exclusive schools and live in exclusive subdivisions if out of school street children are ignored and Lazarus continues to live as a squatter outside your gates. Who can stop us from claiming our Promised Land? Spain is not our master anymore. America is not our master anymore. Japan is not our master anymore. Our enemies are not the corrupt politicians, the greedy rich, the lazy poor, the religious hypocrites and other convenient scapegoats. Our enemies are not out there anymore. Our enemies are now within us. We have compromised our values and tolerated corruption. We have lowered our standard and tolerated poverty. We have sacrificed the truth for hypocrisy. We have chosen convenience for vision, popularity for leadership…and have chosen despair over hope. Do we fight or do we run? Is there a King Leonides among you who will fight for honor and freedom? Are there 300 Spartans among you who will confront our enemies with extraordinary courage and love? Can you be the army who will lead our people to victory following the path of peace? Are you the generation of patriots who can shout to the world that no Filipino will remain poor because you will not allow it; that no Filipino will remain a squatter because you will not allow it; that no politician will remain corrupt because you will not allow it? If you are, then join us in Gawad Kalinga.
Together, we can build a great nation, first world in the eyes of God and respected by other great nations. Godspeed to you our patriots and heroes. God bless our beloved Philippines.
Monday, March 26, 2007
The Daffodil Principle
The company I work at support fundraising drives for the American Cancer Society. An annual fundraising that I've been participating in is Daffodil Days --- "Give hope. Give daffodils."
Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead "I will come next Tuesday", I promised a little reluctantly on her third call.
Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren.
"Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!"
My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother." "Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!" I assured her.
"But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this."
"Carolyn," I said sternly, "Please turn around." "It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."
After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, "Daffodil Garden." We got out of the car, each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight.
It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain peak and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and butter yellow. Each different-colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers. "Who did this?" I asked Carolyn. "Just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's her home." Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house. On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking", was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. "50,000 bulbs," it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman Two hands, two feet, and one brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958"
For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration.
That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time--often just one baby-step at time--and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world ....
"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"
My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start tomorrow," she said.
She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, "How can I put this to use today?"
Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting.....
Until your car or home is paid off
Until you get a new car or home
Until your kids leave the house
Until you go back to school
Until you finish school
Until you clean the house
Until you organize the garage
Until you clean off your desk
Until you lose 10 lbs.
Until you gain 10 lbs.
Until you get married
Until you get a divorce
Until you have kids
Until the kids go to school
Until you retire
Until summer
Until spring
Until winter
Until fall
Until you die...
There is no better time than right now to be happy.
Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
So work like you don't need money.
Love like you've never been hurt, and, Dance like no one's watching.
If you want to brighten someone's day, pass this on to someone special.
I just did!
Wishing you a beautiful, daffodil day!
Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.
Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead "I will come next Tuesday", I promised a little reluctantly on her third call.
Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren.
"Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!"
My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother." "Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!" I assured her.
"But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this."
"Carolyn," I said sternly, "Please turn around." "It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."
After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, "Daffodil Garden." We got out of the car, each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight.
It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain peak and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and butter yellow. Each different-colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers. "Who did this?" I asked Carolyn. "Just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's her home." Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house. On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking", was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. "50,000 bulbs," it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman Two hands, two feet, and one brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958"
For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration.
That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time--often just one baby-step at time--and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world ....
"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"
My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start tomorrow," she said.
She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, "How can I put this to use today?"
Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting.....
Until your car or home is paid off
Until you get a new car or home
Until your kids leave the house
Until you go back to school
Until you finish school
Until you clean the house
Until you organize the garage
Until you clean off your desk
Until you lose 10 lbs.
Until you gain 10 lbs.
Until you get married
Until you get a divorce
Until you have kids
Until the kids go to school
Until you retire
Until summer
Until spring
Until winter
Until fall
Until you die...
There is no better time than right now to be happy.
Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
So work like you don't need money.
Love like you've never been hurt, and, Dance like no one's watching.
If you want to brighten someone's day, pass this on to someone special.
I just did!
Wishing you a beautiful, daffodil day!
Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.
Monday, March 19, 2007
You Raise Me Up
since my mom passed, everything's just been kind of plain
i don't even know if i've gone through the grieving stage
or am i just entering into
more and more i feel her absence whenever certain things happen around me
she used to be my punching bag of sorts...
whenever i've had some disagreements with my other half
i'd call her, even just to let out steam
i'd chat with her, if only to migrate my mind into other realities
or, i'd think about her to try and see how she would've handled the same situation...
with my kids, when i'm not sure on how to deal with them, i'd ask her
or even just to brag about something they've done that's impressive
or even just to share their "growing up"
or mainly, just to laugh with her about the crazy things they do
i guess, i'm really just starting to miss my mom
and i won't be surprised if this goes on and on and on....
here are some lines to a song that makes me remember my
mom all the more...but i love it because it does make my
memory of her alive in me...
"when i am down and, oh my soul, so weary
when troubles come and my heart burdened be
then, i am still and wait here in the silence
until you come and sit a while with me
you raise me up, so i can stand on mountains
you raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
i am strong, when i am on your shoulders
you raise me up... to more than i can be"
i know i can move on, as mommy will always raise me up
to more than i can be. i love you Mommy!
i don't even know if i've gone through the grieving stage
or am i just entering into
more and more i feel her absence whenever certain things happen around me
she used to be my punching bag of sorts...
whenever i've had some disagreements with my other half
i'd call her, even just to let out steam
i'd chat with her, if only to migrate my mind into other realities
or, i'd think about her to try and see how she would've handled the same situation...
with my kids, when i'm not sure on how to deal with them, i'd ask her
or even just to brag about something they've done that's impressive
or even just to share their "growing up"
or mainly, just to laugh with her about the crazy things they do
i guess, i'm really just starting to miss my mom
and i won't be surprised if this goes on and on and on....
here are some lines to a song that makes me remember my
mom all the more...but i love it because it does make my
memory of her alive in me...
"when i am down and, oh my soul, so weary
when troubles come and my heart burdened be
then, i am still and wait here in the silence
until you come and sit a while with me
you raise me up, so i can stand on mountains
you raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
i am strong, when i am on your shoulders
you raise me up... to more than i can be"
i know i can move on, as mommy will always raise me up
to more than i can be. i love you Mommy!
Monday, March 12, 2007
Mondays...
Today’s not a very good day
I haphazardly sent out a confidential email
Without password protecting it
My mind’s a blur
I keep jumping from one topic to the other
Maybe I should just go home
My mind is at a shallow stage
I can’t seem to analyze anything
Everything I do, all seems to be half-baked
Maybe, I should just go home
But I can’t
I guess this is what happens
When you don’t put closure
To things that transpired over the weekend
Arguments that never got discussed
Feelings that were never let out
Tears that never flowed down
Too many pieces in a puzzle
Still unsolved
Still left out
Still waiting to be put together….
I haphazardly sent out a confidential email
Without password protecting it
My mind’s a blur
I keep jumping from one topic to the other
Maybe I should just go home
My mind is at a shallow stage
I can’t seem to analyze anything
Everything I do, all seems to be half-baked
Maybe, I should just go home
But I can’t
I guess this is what happens
When you don’t put closure
To things that transpired over the weekend
Arguments that never got discussed
Feelings that were never let out
Tears that never flowed down
Too many pieces in a puzzle
Still unsolved
Still left out
Still waiting to be put together….
A Balancing Act columns, featuring interviews with mothers with high-profile careers, is a good read all around.
This piece of advice from Gloria Feldt:
Share your work with your kids daily as a gift to them. Let them be part of it because it is part of you and who you are, and kids want to know that.
This piece of advice from Gloria Feldt:
Share your work with your kids daily as a gift to them. Let them be part of it because it is part of you and who you are, and kids want to know that.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Am I an Insightful Linguist?
It's a Monday so don't blame me. I ended up answering tickle.com's IQ test and here's what I found out:
You scored 127 on Tickle's IQ test. This means that based on your answers, your IQ score is between
117 and 127. Most people's IQs are between 70 and 130
You scored 127 on Tickle's IQ test. This means that based on your answers, your IQ score is between
117 and 127. Most people's IQs are between 70 and 130
Because of the way you process information, these are just some of the many careers in which you could excel:
Publicist
Translator
Graphic designer
Teacher
Broadcaster
Public speaker
Attorney
Politician
You've got tons of strengths. It wouldn't surprise us if you:
Can clarify complex issues
Can bring new insight to ideas through their fresh perspective
Are good at leading teams
Now let's look at the factors that contribute to you being an Insightful Linguist with a 127 IQ score. Based on the results of your test, Tickle divided your scores into four distinguishable dimensions — mathematical intelligence, visual-spatial intelligence, linguistic intelligence and logic intelligence.
You scored in the 80th percentile on the mathematical intelligence scale.This means that you scored higher than 70% - 80% of people who took the test and that 20% - 30% scored higher than you did. Your mathematical intelligence score represents your combined ability to reason and calculate. You scored relatively high, which means you're probably the one your friends look to when splitting the lunch bill or calculating your waitresses' tip. You may or may not be known as a math whiz, but number crunching might come a little easier to you than it does others. (I welcome this information about me as I always thought that I wasn't good in math, however, this could've been a direct result of my constant practice as a Mom --- you know, balancing the checkbook and paying bills monthly!)
You scored in the 100th percentile on the visual-spatial intelligence scale.This means that you scored higher than 90% - 100% of people who took the test and that 0% - 10% scored higher than you did. The visual-spatial component of intelligence measures your ability to extract a visual pattern and from that envision what should come next in a sequence. Your score was relatively high, which could mean that you're the one navigating the map when you're on an outing with friends. You have, in some capacity, an ability to think in pictures. Maybe this strength comes out in subtle ways, like how you play chess or form metaphors. (now, this explains why I am always the navigator on family trips)
You scored in the 90th percentile on the linguistic intelligence scale.This means that you scored higher than 80% - 90% of people who took the test and that 10% - 20% scored higher than you did. Linguistic abilities include reading, writing and communicating with words. Tickle's test measures knowledge of vocabulary, ease in completing word analogies and the ability to think critically about a statement based on its semantic structure. Your score was relatively high, which could mean you know your way around a bookstore and maybe like to bandy about the occasional 25-cent word to impress friends. (I'm sure my work attests to this, I wouldn't be in Contracts if I was poor in this area)
You scored in the 40th percentile on the logical intelligence scale.This means that you scored higher than 30% - 40% of people who took the test and that 60% - 70% scored higher than you did. Tickle's logical intelligence questions assess your ability to think things through. The questions determine the extent to which you use reasoning and logic to determine the best solution to a problem. Your logic score was relatively low, which could mean that when the IKEA furniture arrives sans instructions, you're more likely than others throw in the towel and have a friend to do it for you. (this doesn't come as a surprise, I would rather just experiment than follow manual instructions!)
You have an uncanny ability to work your way out of sticky situations using your talent with words. Crossword puzzles, debates — you're particularly well equipped to come out on top since you can read people well. Like Charles Dickens, your verbal skills go far beyond having a good vocabulary. Dickens' genius was in the artful and descriptive way he crafted sentences. Also Dickensian, is your keen eye for detail and your adeptness for identifying the best way to express an idea based on your given surroundings and circumstances. Your ability to communicate your vision clearly will take you far. So enjoy being perceptive, and make the most of your abilities as an insightful linguist.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
What Really Happened
A glimpse of Mommy’s last days with her family in the US ---
It was early 2005, at the tail end of our 2 month vacation in the Philippines, when my Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. A few days after returning to the US, I found myself on a plane heading back to Manila for my Mom’s surgery. The successful operation was followed with alternative and homeopathic therapies instead of chemotherapy or radiation. Her decision against chemo & radiation was brought about by her heart condition, as she was recovering from a stroke in 2001, and a history of hypertension.
My parents finally migrated to the US on December 1, 2006. My Mom had lost a considerable amount of weight from the last time I saw her. She would occasionally complain of difficulty breathing and of getting tired easily. There were days when she'll get over it and other days, we'd provide her with respiratory treatments. My dad said that in the past 3-4 mos, she’s been on pain medication for soreness or pain in her back.
In spite of her condition, I witnessed how my Mom managed to ignore any pain and put on her best smile and laughter as she spent those December days with my 2 daughters. She enjoyed her days just being around them, playing “teacher” to them, reading to them, singing with them and watching them perform songs, pretend plays and ballet dances for her. This was all she ever wished for- to enjoy the company of her “apos” (grandchildren).
On New Year's Eve, we brought Mommy to the UC Davis emergency room due to difficulty breathing where she was immediately put into a ventilator. Several chest x-rays and a cat-scan revealed fluid and suspicious and abnormal cells on her chest and lungs. She was kept in the ICU as doctors drained the fluid and treated her for possible infection and pneumonia. On January 2, they tested if they could extubate her but her lungs failed the test so they waited another day. On that same day, we were apprised of her condition while we initiated an emergency visa request for my brother in the Philippines. My Mom’s doctors said that she neither had infection nor pneumonia but that the cancer has metastasized from her breast to her lungs and even to her bones. She had Stage 4 cancer that was very aggressive. Despite this, she passed the second breathing test and the doctor was to extubate her. Before doing so, the doctors explained to her that her lungs may not function satisfactorily and that there is a possibility of putting her in the ventilator again. She said that she did not want the tube back.
A few minutes after the tube was removed, it was apparent that my Mom could not breathe on her own and was gasping for breath. It was so painful for me to see her that way and so I asked her again if she wanted the tube back but she said no, mumbling “walang silbi” (there's no use). I begged to her telling her that without the tube, she would not be able to breathe, and she answered, “mamatay nalang” (I'll just go/die). Mommy’s decision was very difficult for me to hear and accept. Yet, I had to respect it.
Through faith and love for Mommy, we submitted her to God's care --- she was given comfort care (oxygen, morphine, and sedatives) from around 1230 pm. She stayed a little longer to listen to our messages, to which she shed tears especially when she heard Bea's "mahal na mahal kita Lola Mommy” (I love you very very very much) and my brother's voice (saying I love you) on the phone. She passed on peacefully at 9 am in the morning of January 4th (California time).
We are accepting God's will now and my Mom's requests throughout her fight against the disease. We know that the 30 days she spent with her granddaughters certainly meant a thousand days to her. Together with my dad and my brother who was able to come to the US to be with us, we will lay Mommy’s body to rest knowing that her spirit is now in God's bosom and that all her wishes have been granted.
It was early 2005, at the tail end of our 2 month vacation in the Philippines, when my Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. A few days after returning to the US, I found myself on a plane heading back to Manila for my Mom’s surgery. The successful operation was followed with alternative and homeopathic therapies instead of chemotherapy or radiation. Her decision against chemo & radiation was brought about by her heart condition, as she was recovering from a stroke in 2001, and a history of hypertension.
My parents finally migrated to the US on December 1, 2006. My Mom had lost a considerable amount of weight from the last time I saw her. She would occasionally complain of difficulty breathing and of getting tired easily. There were days when she'll get over it and other days, we'd provide her with respiratory treatments. My dad said that in the past 3-4 mos, she’s been on pain medication for soreness or pain in her back.
In spite of her condition, I witnessed how my Mom managed to ignore any pain and put on her best smile and laughter as she spent those December days with my 2 daughters. She enjoyed her days just being around them, playing “teacher” to them, reading to them, singing with them and watching them perform songs, pretend plays and ballet dances for her. This was all she ever wished for- to enjoy the company of her “apos” (grandchildren).
On New Year's Eve, we brought Mommy to the UC Davis emergency room due to difficulty breathing where she was immediately put into a ventilator. Several chest x-rays and a cat-scan revealed fluid and suspicious and abnormal cells on her chest and lungs. She was kept in the ICU as doctors drained the fluid and treated her for possible infection and pneumonia. On January 2, they tested if they could extubate her but her lungs failed the test so they waited another day. On that same day, we were apprised of her condition while we initiated an emergency visa request for my brother in the Philippines. My Mom’s doctors said that she neither had infection nor pneumonia but that the cancer has metastasized from her breast to her lungs and even to her bones. She had Stage 4 cancer that was very aggressive. Despite this, she passed the second breathing test and the doctor was to extubate her. Before doing so, the doctors explained to her that her lungs may not function satisfactorily and that there is a possibility of putting her in the ventilator again. She said that she did not want the tube back.
A few minutes after the tube was removed, it was apparent that my Mom could not breathe on her own and was gasping for breath. It was so painful for me to see her that way and so I asked her again if she wanted the tube back but she said no, mumbling “walang silbi” (there's no use). I begged to her telling her that without the tube, she would not be able to breathe, and she answered, “mamatay nalang” (I'll just go/die). Mommy’s decision was very difficult for me to hear and accept. Yet, I had to respect it.
Through faith and love for Mommy, we submitted her to God's care --- she was given comfort care (oxygen, morphine, and sedatives) from around 1230 pm. She stayed a little longer to listen to our messages, to which she shed tears especially when she heard Bea's "mahal na mahal kita Lola Mommy” (I love you very very very much) and my brother's voice (saying I love you) on the phone. She passed on peacefully at 9 am in the morning of January 4th (California time).
We are accepting God's will now and my Mom's requests throughout her fight against the disease. We know that the 30 days she spent with her granddaughters certainly meant a thousand days to her. Together with my dad and my brother who was able to come to the US to be with us, we will lay Mommy’s body to rest knowing that her spirit is now in God's bosom and that all her wishes have been granted.
A Message for Mommy
MESSAGE FOR MOMMY
January 19, 2007
As we lay Mommy’s body to its final rest, I would like to go back and remember exactly what I have learned from Mommy’s life here on earth. Her legacy, I should say. Her life, has been pictured by all the stories we’ve heard today, of how she’s affected the lives of the people around her, and through how each one of us who had the chance to know her have seen her live her life.
Words would not be enough to describe Mommy, all her dreams and aspirations, not just for herself, but for us, her children. Having come from humble roots, she dreamt of living a good and comfortable life. I believe this has been her driving force to improve on whatever she already had. She valued her education because she knew that this will allow her to achieve her dreams. And in working towards her dreams, she showed her determination to only be the best in whatever she was doing.
Mommy had a very strong character and that’s why she has always been my pillar and strength. She is my inspiration for achieving what I have and will still achieve in my life. She has instilled in her children, both my brother and I, the value of education. I remember her saying that there is nothing that she could leave us with in this world, but EDUCATION. She always said, “walang katumbas na kayamanan ang EDUKASYON”. Indeed, she and Daddy strived their very best to send us only to the best private schools and then to the premiere university in the Philippines. They supported us all throughout school, knowing that if we went to the best schools and got our degrees, they can let go of us into the world knowing that we would be in good places, wherever we are. Now that I have my own family, this legacy from my Mom would be my inspiration to work hard so that I can also provide my children with the best education.
While growing up, Mommy had always told me that we should CHOOSE our FRIENDS. Knowing my very friendly and trusting character, she always reminded me that not everyone I meet is my friend. For only true friends shine in the darkest of times. I did not understand this when I was younger, but now that I am older; I realize how true her statement was. Indeed, my Mom and my Dad have been surrounded by true friends, who have survived the test of time. These are friends whose lives they have touched by always being there for them, both in good and bad times --- by being there when no one else could be, and by being available to them during the most trying of times. I can attest to her statement now, for indeed, her true friends have surfaced to provide myself, Daddy, and my brother the comfort we need, now that Mommy has passed on.
Mommy will always be my moral conscience. She has always taught me about the love of God and that moral integrity is the utmost building block of one’s character. She never supported any blurry tactics or “panloloko”. She would always tell me that what I do NOW would reflect on me as I live life towards the future. Thus, when faced with doubt in decisions I need to make, I only ask one question, “Will Mommy approve of this?” Only if I can say YES will I know that I have made the right decision.
After Mommy’s passing, a friend of mine said, “Your Mom left a beautiful legacy, and that is YOU.” I can only smile and agree to this statement because I know, that I will continue living my life, based on these 3 things that Mommy has instilled in me --- the value of education, the value of having true friends and of helping others, and the love of God. These, my Mom’s beautiful legacy, I intend to pass on to her granddaughters.
January 19, 2007
As we lay Mommy’s body to its final rest, I would like to go back and remember exactly what I have learned from Mommy’s life here on earth. Her legacy, I should say. Her life, has been pictured by all the stories we’ve heard today, of how she’s affected the lives of the people around her, and through how each one of us who had the chance to know her have seen her live her life.
Words would not be enough to describe Mommy, all her dreams and aspirations, not just for herself, but for us, her children. Having come from humble roots, she dreamt of living a good and comfortable life. I believe this has been her driving force to improve on whatever she already had. She valued her education because she knew that this will allow her to achieve her dreams. And in working towards her dreams, she showed her determination to only be the best in whatever she was doing.
Mommy had a very strong character and that’s why she has always been my pillar and strength. She is my inspiration for achieving what I have and will still achieve in my life. She has instilled in her children, both my brother and I, the value of education. I remember her saying that there is nothing that she could leave us with in this world, but EDUCATION. She always said, “walang katumbas na kayamanan ang EDUKASYON”. Indeed, she and Daddy strived their very best to send us only to the best private schools and then to the premiere university in the Philippines. They supported us all throughout school, knowing that if we went to the best schools and got our degrees, they can let go of us into the world knowing that we would be in good places, wherever we are. Now that I have my own family, this legacy from my Mom would be my inspiration to work hard so that I can also provide my children with the best education.
While growing up, Mommy had always told me that we should CHOOSE our FRIENDS. Knowing my very friendly and trusting character, she always reminded me that not everyone I meet is my friend. For only true friends shine in the darkest of times. I did not understand this when I was younger, but now that I am older; I realize how true her statement was. Indeed, my Mom and my Dad have been surrounded by true friends, who have survived the test of time. These are friends whose lives they have touched by always being there for them, both in good and bad times --- by being there when no one else could be, and by being available to them during the most trying of times. I can attest to her statement now, for indeed, her true friends have surfaced to provide myself, Daddy, and my brother the comfort we need, now that Mommy has passed on.
Mommy will always be my moral conscience. She has always taught me about the love of God and that moral integrity is the utmost building block of one’s character. She never supported any blurry tactics or “panloloko”. She would always tell me that what I do NOW would reflect on me as I live life towards the future. Thus, when faced with doubt in decisions I need to make, I only ask one question, “Will Mommy approve of this?” Only if I can say YES will I know that I have made the right decision.
After Mommy’s passing, a friend of mine said, “Your Mom left a beautiful legacy, and that is YOU.” I can only smile and agree to this statement because I know, that I will continue living my life, based on these 3 things that Mommy has instilled in me --- the value of education, the value of having true friends and of helping others, and the love of God. These, my Mom’s beautiful legacy, I intend to pass on to her granddaughters.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Looking back --- fast!
This year definitely went by so fast! My eldest turned older this year about the same month we moved in to our new home. My kids were so excited as we painted their room with their favorite colors course! They had a hand in decorating their room (Mommy hesitantly obliged) so it’s filled with bears and books and pillows and toys and etc etc etc. It took us about 6 months to empty our boxes and finally have at least 1 car in the garage. By that time though, we’ve eliminated most of all our trinkets and excess baggage (with Mommy – me making sure that we did not add or bring in garbage into our new abode).
The year didn’t really go by so fast without our family enjoying every bit of it. You would think that since we just moved into our new home, we would spend most of our days “inside” the house? Well, 2006 turned out to be our most traveled year. Summer was fun for the kids as they had their “triple-whammy”. Not only did they get a trip to San Diego to visit Legoland, we also went to California Adventure in Los Angeles. Something I look forward to in these road trips is the chance for our family to bond (yes, despite the stress of being in the car with our 2 toddlers) and the chance for our family to visit relatives. The kids got to play with their cousins. My cousin and his wife graciously hosted us (again!) and of course, we love tasting their new recipes. They provide us a good feeling of ‘relief’ as we see them raising their 3 toddlers. It’s nice to know there’s a couple out there going through the same things we do!
Did I say “triple”? Yes, just before summer’s end, we headed to the East Coast --- off to the Sunshine state, Florida! We stayed at a very nice resort with full amenities and 2 swimming pools at our disposal. Did I say it was very close to Disneyworld? We went one day to Universal Studios where the kids had such a blast! One day we spent at Epcot, it was kinda rainy so we really didn’t get to enjoy all the sites but had a spectacular time though at the fireworks display! Another day we spent at my favorite ---- Magic Kingdom! Oh, the kids enjoyed Mickey & Minnie’s Toontown – this is where they enjoyed every bit! Seeing, hugging and taking pictures with the Disney characters made such good memories for them. They can’t stop talking about everything they saw. Mickey and Minnie Mouse became their favorites! Of course, all of us adults loved “Wishes”! Watching that fireworks show rekindles sweet childhood memories, aspirations, and dreams. It just makes you live for another lifetime --- full of hope and love! Tiring (and expensive), but all worth it. Of course, nothing can cap our trip than a day at the beach. Not a Florida beach --- too bad, but nothing beats Blizzard Beach. The kids enjoyed every bit of it!
This year, my hubby also had the chance to go to North Carolina and Oregon on business. While I got to go to the Rockies (Denver, Colorado) for training and to attend a friend’s wedding in the Big Apple (yes, NY NY!). Oh well…. It was indeed a travel filled year!
We couldn’t be more excited though for my parent’s coming to America! Our kids have been desperately waiting for them to come to the US. After such a long wait, we finally welcomed them to our home on December 1st. It was such a heartwarming experience. Seeing them finally coming out of the arrival area at the airport, my kids stared at them for a couple of minutes, my older one overcame the “feeling a little shy” stage then went on to hug grandma and grandpa. My little one continued to stare on, until we said, “close your eyes for little bit and listen to grandpa” as they talk on the phone almost everyday! Yes, it worked! My little one kissed and hugged grandpa so tight! Now at home, they work magic with the kids, they’re all inseparable now. It feels so good when we go to sleep at night and you hear them thanking our Lord Jesus Christ for their lolos and lolas, and knowing too that they will be able to experience their grandparent’s love first hand.
We’re excited for Christmas too --- we as a family have a lot to thank God for; Papa's (my hubby's dad) successful heart surgery, my parent’s being here with us, new “baby-cousin” arrivals, our birthdays, keeping our jobs, having a new home, my husband’s aunt and cousin (who tirelessly help us in raising our kids), my little one’s recognizing her A-B-Cs and learning to write each of it, my eldest’s growing love for reading, and of course, the New Year --- yes, our youngest will be starting preschool and we will have a kindergartener next year! Life really goes by so fast! (Sigh!)
The year didn’t really go by so fast without our family enjoying every bit of it. You would think that since we just moved into our new home, we would spend most of our days “inside” the house? Well, 2006 turned out to be our most traveled year. Summer was fun for the kids as they had their “triple-whammy”. Not only did they get a trip to San Diego to visit Legoland, we also went to California Adventure in Los Angeles. Something I look forward to in these road trips is the chance for our family to bond (yes, despite the stress of being in the car with our 2 toddlers) and the chance for our family to visit relatives. The kids got to play with their cousins. My cousin and his wife graciously hosted us (again!) and of course, we love tasting their new recipes. They provide us a good feeling of ‘relief’ as we see them raising their 3 toddlers. It’s nice to know there’s a couple out there going through the same things we do!
Did I say “triple”? Yes, just before summer’s end, we headed to the East Coast --- off to the Sunshine state, Florida! We stayed at a very nice resort with full amenities and 2 swimming pools at our disposal. Did I say it was very close to Disneyworld? We went one day to Universal Studios where the kids had such a blast! One day we spent at Epcot, it was kinda rainy so we really didn’t get to enjoy all the sites but had a spectacular time though at the fireworks display! Another day we spent at my favorite ---- Magic Kingdom! Oh, the kids enjoyed Mickey & Minnie’s Toontown – this is where they enjoyed every bit! Seeing, hugging and taking pictures with the Disney characters made such good memories for them. They can’t stop talking about everything they saw. Mickey and Minnie Mouse became their favorites! Of course, all of us adults loved “Wishes”! Watching that fireworks show rekindles sweet childhood memories, aspirations, and dreams. It just makes you live for another lifetime --- full of hope and love! Tiring (and expensive), but all worth it. Of course, nothing can cap our trip than a day at the beach. Not a Florida beach --- too bad, but nothing beats Blizzard Beach. The kids enjoyed every bit of it!
This year, my hubby also had the chance to go to North Carolina and Oregon on business. While I got to go to the Rockies (Denver, Colorado) for training and to attend a friend’s wedding in the Big Apple (yes, NY NY!). Oh well…. It was indeed a travel filled year!
We couldn’t be more excited though for my parent’s coming to America! Our kids have been desperately waiting for them to come to the US. After such a long wait, we finally welcomed them to our home on December 1st. It was such a heartwarming experience. Seeing them finally coming out of the arrival area at the airport, my kids stared at them for a couple of minutes, my older one overcame the “feeling a little shy” stage then went on to hug grandma and grandpa. My little one continued to stare on, until we said, “close your eyes for little bit and listen to grandpa” as they talk on the phone almost everyday! Yes, it worked! My little one kissed and hugged grandpa so tight! Now at home, they work magic with the kids, they’re all inseparable now. It feels so good when we go to sleep at night and you hear them thanking our Lord Jesus Christ for their lolos and lolas, and knowing too that they will be able to experience their grandparent’s love first hand.
We’re excited for Christmas too --- we as a family have a lot to thank God for; Papa's (my hubby's dad) successful heart surgery, my parent’s being here with us, new “baby-cousin” arrivals, our birthdays, keeping our jobs, having a new home, my husband’s aunt and cousin (who tirelessly help us in raising our kids), my little one’s recognizing her A-B-Cs and learning to write each of it, my eldest’s growing love for reading, and of course, the New Year --- yes, our youngest will be starting preschool and we will have a kindergartener next year! Life really goes by so fast! (Sigh!)
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Nais Ko
Parang ibong wala ring hangarin kundi ang lumipad nang lumipad
Nais kong lumipad
Nais ko ring maagos ng alon saan man mapadpad
Kahit na isdang mumuntiin, hangari'y lumangoy nang lumangoy
Nais kong lumangoy
Nais kong malibot ang mundo sa kanyang kasuluk-sulukan
Nais kong makita ang paligid kong puno ng kagandahan
Nais kong makadama ng kakaibang damdamin kahit minsan man lang
Habang ako ay may buhay, wala nang hangarin pang tunay
Nais ko...nais ko...nais ko...
Nais kong maulit muli ang buhay
Kung may pagkakataon upang mamalas
Ang mga bagay-bagay na 'di ko natanto sa aking buhay
Nais kong lumipad(5x)
Jumbled Emotions
I'm disoriented. Totally excited. Getting sentimental. Nearing nervousness. Happy as can be. All my emotions are jumbled as you can see. Well, maybe you really can't see. It's all been inside me. Inside me that's why others might find me disoriented at times. Yes, I've been excited, sentimental, nervous and happy all at the same time! My parents are coming, that's probably why. Come to think of it, a new phase in our lives will be starting. I've been waiting for this moment. My parent's have been waiting for this moment too. Even my kids and my dear husband have been waiting for this moment too. So I guess, you really can't help but have a mix of emotions.
You see, we've been living apart for almost 7 years now. I've been back home (to my hometown) only 2 times, the longest of which was for 4 weeks. Vacation mode is different from "living together". Before, they ran the house. They had their rules. This time, it's my home. Our home, of course. But I wonder though how it will be since this time, I make the house rules. They've been accustomed to their way of living while I have been used to my way of running the house too. The anticipation is killing me.
But I love and am excited about the idea. It's time that they be near and accessible to me. The only way though is for them to stay and live with "my" family. I'm excited for my kids. They will have the opportunity to grow up with my parents. My parents to whom I attribute maybe what I am today. At the same time, my parents (both in their senior years) will have the opportunity to spend their golden years in the company of their grandchildren. They say that the grandchild's love is so much different from the "love" given by your own child. I know for sure that the grandparent's love for their "apo" (grandchild) is definitely much more different itself.
Additionally, because of the fact that I attribute a whole lot of what I am to them, this will be the perfect opportunity for me to give back to my parents. To care for them and look after their welfare first hand is of a much grander scale than just sending them gifts and money when they need it (and when I have it).
Most of all, it will be my husband's & my chance to reconnect with my parents. Yes, they'll see right before their very eyes how my husband has transformed me into a much more responsible (let's see about this) person. Maybe not as much as he is, but at least more responsible now than I was when I was in my parent's turf. They'll see me as a Mom, a privilege should I say and a blessing being one. I will be doubly blessed now that I will have my parents be there right by me as I guide my children towards maturity!
Yup, I'm very excited!!!!
You see, we've been living apart for almost 7 years now. I've been back home (to my hometown) only 2 times, the longest of which was for 4 weeks. Vacation mode is different from "living together". Before, they ran the house. They had their rules. This time, it's my home. Our home, of course. But I wonder though how it will be since this time, I make the house rules. They've been accustomed to their way of living while I have been used to my way of running the house too. The anticipation is killing me.
But I love and am excited about the idea. It's time that they be near and accessible to me. The only way though is for them to stay and live with "my" family. I'm excited for my kids. They will have the opportunity to grow up with my parents. My parents to whom I attribute maybe what I am today. At the same time, my parents (both in their senior years) will have the opportunity to spend their golden years in the company of their grandchildren. They say that the grandchild's love is so much different from the "love" given by your own child. I know for sure that the grandparent's love for their "apo" (grandchild) is definitely much more different itself.
Additionally, because of the fact that I attribute a whole lot of what I am to them, this will be the perfect opportunity for me to give back to my parents. To care for them and look after their welfare first hand is of a much grander scale than just sending them gifts and money when they need it (and when I have it).
Most of all, it will be my husband's & my chance to reconnect with my parents. Yes, they'll see right before their very eyes how my husband has transformed me into a much more responsible (let's see about this) person. Maybe not as much as he is, but at least more responsible now than I was when I was in my parent's turf. They'll see me as a Mom, a privilege should I say and a blessing being one. I will be doubly blessed now that I will have my parents be there right by me as I guide my children towards maturity!
Yup, I'm very excited!!!!
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Of Birkins and Kellys
The legendary French luxury goods house began as a saddle maker in Paris in 1880 under the name of Hermes–Freres. By the 1920s Hermes had the patent for the zipper in France, and introduced the first ladies bags with zip closures. The company expanded into riding gloves, belts, and men and women's sportswear, and designed the now famous travel trunks to meet needs of the new automobile drivers.
The infamous Kelly bag debuted in 1956 after Grace Kelly used a large crocodile handbag to hide her pregnancy. In the 1970s the first women's shoe collection and the first complete men's ready-to-wear collection were introduced. Actress Jane Birkin replaced her old straw purse with a leather Hermès number in 1984, and started the rage that is the Birkin bag. Today the Birkin remains to have the longest waiting list of any luxury accessory—about six years. Price - definitely over $5000/10,0000.
So, since I really can't have the Hermes Birkin or the Hermes Kelly, can I just please have my Kate Spade???????
My bag, my bag, oh my bag!!!!
I still think it's little bit of practicality lurking behind the love of fancy handbags, but even when I know how many really fantastic handbags there are for this season - and in general - it's nice to have at least one classic, everyday shoulderbag. Kate Spade's Siena Medium Serena fits the bill nicely, with classic lines, comfortable shoulder strap and a structured, reinforced bottom that will hold up well to everyday use without banging the contents of the bag around (didn't I say "practicality"?). Aside from these, this bag has several interior pockets that will help keep you organized and provide room for things you need on a daily basis, like cell phones, pdas, pens and your reading/sun glasses. The bag is made of waxed, natural cowhide and features a colorful nylon web detail, with a cotton twill lining and gold hardware. Most of all, it's a Kate Spade!!!!
Price: $485.
Guess what, it's on sale now for $199 at www.katespade.com
Oh my! It's Christmas, can it be mine please??????????
Friday, November 10, 2006
NY NY
I recently went to New York City --- the purpose, my good friend from college and law school was getting married! Finally! Finally goes for my friend who is "finally" settling down. And, "finally" for me, as this was my first ever trip to the Big Apple! I really was going to go with my hubby, but our plans were overcome by events so I went on this trip by myself. So, my adventure went...
Denver - I was to fly out at 745 am onto Denver by 10, leave by 12 and get into La Guardia by 5 something. Well, the heavens decided to pour out snow into the Rockies that day so we were actually caught in a snow storm. Our dear pilot (who was literally in charge of our dear lives at that time), was so good at updating us... probably more to limit inquiries from his passengers, he gave us a blow-by-blow account of what was happening in the Denver airport. He kind of tried to distract us from being impatient as we were hovering in the friendly skies for practically 2 hours! We couldn't land as Denver only had 1 runway open, so we were all in a cue. We ended up landing about 1230 pm. And since I was really hungry and thought that I deserved a good lunch, I went straight to Wolfgang Puck Express and chowed down a Chinois salad (it really was just Asian Chicken Salad with a french twist, I guess). Oh, and I have to check my connecting flight! I felt safe doing this after my lunch since our pilot already forewarned us that all the connecting flights out of Denver were delayed anyways)!. True enough, my flight was not until after 2. Good thing I've been to this airport in October, I knew exactly where to find the restroom, good stores, good coffee....There! I left Denver at 230, flight was around 5 hours, so I got to La Guardia almost 8 pm.
New York New York
Day 1 ----- Luggages were delayed too, plus I had to wait for my car service. My first day in NY, really started at 9 pm when I got to my friend's apartment. Yes, I stayed with another very good friend of mine from college. She's single in NY, so it was perfect! She lives in Manhattan (btwn 1st & 2nd Sts), near the brownstones and mind you, in the same street where Martin Scorcese lives! I really thought I'd see Leo (Leonardo di Caprio), but no luck! I was lucky Grey's Anatomy had a re-run that night (she's an avid fan), so after a little rest and a tour of her apartment, we dashed out for some Cuban dinner! Good food and sangria! After dinner, she brought me straight to Times Square -- Broadway! Oh, the lights were fantastic! The billboards created such a party atmosphere for me! We rode the subway to another area onto where we were having dessert. It was quite a walk, but it ended in a quaint street and a cafe with this big lighted tree in front of it. She goes, "do you remember this?" I go, "o-k".... "Let's go inside...." It turns out to be the same cafe used in the movie "You've Got Mail" where Meg Ryan sat to do her emails.... The name of the cafe is Cafe Lalo. I guess it was an artist who owns it as it had all the artwork "by Lalo" all over the place. They had good coffee and of course, very good dessert! We rode the subway back to my friend's place and yes, I got my own Metro card!
Day 2 ----- Since of course, we had a veeeeeeeeeery long night which ended in the wee hours of the morning, we started our day late. Around 11 am our old friends from college showed up for our pre-lunch get together. It was nice to see folks you haven't seen in such a loooooooooong time. These 2 friends of ours migrated to Canada a few years back and they had brought their 2 little ones with them. We went to lunch and oh, amidst all the chit-chat, almost forgot that we had a wedding to go to at 3. We hurried up since we had to primp up for the wedding.
Wedding ----- We rode the cab to the West side (we came from the East), went through Central Park and on to the Church. At the church I found my other good friend from post-college days (yes we went through 4 years of higher education) whom I actually haven't seen in 7 years! With that, you realize that its nice that we've been emailing and touching base on the phone, thank goodness! We saw our other friends from college (whom I haven't seen in 10-15 years) and we tried to contain all our excitement (including our excitement over seeing two actor- celebrities (they're a couple) from our hometown). Then of course, we were happy to see our couple-friend who were getting married! After the ceremony and picture taking, we headed to the reception --- guess how, yes, through the subway once again.
Reception ----- Oh my, nice nice nice! The reception was at The Grill at Bryant Park. After giving our coats (and getting our little claim stub), we headed to the cocktails area. Wine flowing and hors d'oeuvours unending! Food was great, I had a grilled halibut with veggies and something like rice but the texture was like hashbrowns. Nyummmmm. My other friends had the filet mignon of course, which looked really good too. Oh, dessert, absolutely delectable! A light chocolate cake with warm chocolate syrup and strawberries on the top and the sides. The bride and groom's parents (mostly the dads did the talking) had a lot of good and inspiring things to say. We were all touched by the show of friends and family, of course. They are indeed a very happy and deserving couple! I'm truly happy I went and was part of their special day. Our mini-reunion continued in a neighboring bar where we all were happy to spend (or drink?) the rest of the night away!
Day 3 ---- We headed for brunch (apparently, in NY, brunch is from 10 am to 4 pm, o-kay!) at like 12:30 pm in a french cafe on the southside, I believe. I had crab cakes eggs benedict, coffee and mimosa. Was really yummy. This brunch was with the mini-reunion group less the bride and groom of course. It was fun chatting and updating each other with developments in each of our lives. We all realized though that we still talk and communicate as if we just saw each other yesterday (figuratively speaking of course)! That was good as now you realize the kind of friends you've had all these years. The experience was sweet and worth a thousand memories. After brunch (and after the rain in NY stopped), we headed to South of Hudson, more popularly known as SOHO. We walked 20 (!freaking!) blocks (and more), but I actually hardly noticed this as we were chit-chatting the whole way. Also, I was busy looking at the environment, parks, houses, buildings, cars, people, clothes, shoes, everything! We went to the meat-packing district (which turns into a party zone at night), got to see places featured in Sex In the City, took pictures everywhere, walked towards TRIBECA, then into SOHO. We saw most of the shops from the outside, only went to the Apple store to use the restroom, checked out L'Occitane, went to a Scholastic store to get my kid's halloween costumes and some gifts, then, we all ended up in another cafe to finally sit down and chat once more (after 3 hours walk that is). You can't blame us though, didn't I say we haven't seen each other in like ------- 15 years?
After our goodbyes in the subway as we headed either home or to other parties, we exchanged cellphones and email addresses and promised to all keep-in-touch!
That night, my friend and I went to dinner at another friend's house (whew, she has a really nice apartment by the river (overlooking NJ)). Her apartment is a Trump one (yes, owned by "the" Donald Trump) so it has one of those concierge type of set ups. NICE! (Wait, did I tell you her 2/Bdr unit cost about $900,000$@!) We met some of their friends, with little kids, had a hearty dinner of our hometown dishes, and more chit-chatting. We headed home after but not without going around town. I got to see Rockefeller Center, Rockefeller Plaza, went into a MET store, saw NBC studios (where they have the Today show), Radio City, St Patrick's Cathedral, Park Ave, Madison Ave, 5th Ave, Lincoln Arts Center (where they hold events for the NY Opera, NY Ballet & NY Philharmonic), a glimpse of Fordham U, Time Warner (first ever mall in NY City), the Trump Hotel, the entrance to Central Park, and all the big name stores! We tried to have dessert at Serendipity but it was packed!
My last night in NY was a blast, went around, and I just had fun with my good ol' friend. Our conversations filled up all the missing parts of my trip --- with missing, I mean: not seeing Liberty, Ground Zero, the Empire State Building and other well-known tourist spots. But, it was all worth it, besides, missing those spots, give me all the more reason to go back to the Big Apple. And this time, with my hubby! With my kids? Ahhhh, maybe in 3 more years.
Day 4 ---- was travel day again, bye New York, hello California (oh gosh, you can't imagine how I missed my 2 little princesses, my king and ------------ steamed RICE!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Food Meme
Thanks to another blogger Wifely Steps (http://toni.marikit.net/), I would be able to share part of myself through this...try it, I'm sure you'll enjoy too.
How do you like your eggs? "Ginulo" you achieve this by dropping the egg (yolk and white) into a heated pan then instead of making a sunny side up, beat the yolk and the white until both are cooked. Sarap with banana ketchup
(Mafran to be exact).
How do you take your coffee/tea:
Coffee: Freshly brewed with soymilk. @Starbucks - Soy latte
Tea: Plain. Sometimes with soymilk or cream.
Dean & Deluca's green tea is the best and the Organic Chamomile Tea from Trader Joes.
Favorite breakfast foods: Fried garlic rice, my "ginulo" egg, daing (smoked fish) dipped in mayonnaise.
Peanut butter: smooth or crunchy? Definitely smooth!
What kind of dressing on your salad? I love Macaroni Grill's italian. Asian Chicken would be good. But my all time fave, thousand island (only my Mom's or my own version).
Coke or Pepsi? Diet Coke.
You’re feeling lazy. What do you make? Pandesal with Jack and Jill potato chips. (This reminds me of my trips to Batangas long time ago when I was involved in a youth group with so much energy and optism for life.)
You’re feeling really lazy. What kind of pizza do you order? Cheese pizza
You feel like cooking. What do you make? Pasta, this rejuvenates me!
Do any foods bring back good memories? Yes, my dad's pork in soysauce, but I guess we can replace it with chicken breast now that I'm not a pork eater anymore. The taste brings a lot of memorable breakfasts and happy days back home.
Do any foods bring back bad memories? Japanese cup-o-noodles, I had this for the first time and I had a bad tummy ache, couldn't stop throwing up! I wouldn't eat that to this day.
Do any foods remind you of someone? Bacon eaten with rice swimming in sweet Batangas coffee reminds me of no other than my only brother! Ice cream reminds me of my Dad and kaldereta reminds me of my mom (even if she doesn't eat that, but she cooks the best kaldereta!)
Is there a food you refuse to eat? Kambing (goat)
What was your favorite food as a child? Balat ng (skin)fried chicken with ketchup.
Is there a food that you hated as a child but now love? Broccolli.
Is there a food that you loved as a child but now hate? Nope.
Favorite fruit & vegetable: I like them all! But okay let’s go with grapes for fruits and sitaw (string beans) for vegetables.
Favorite junk food: Clover chips
Favorite between meal snack: Skyflakes
Do you have any weird food habits: I dip my chicken tinola in ketchup, and of course my smoked fish with mayonnaise (the best with fried rice/sinangag).
You’re on a diet. What food(s) do you fill up on? Fruits (melon or grapes).
How spicy do you order Indian/Thai? Spicy - between mild to hot!
Can I get you a drink? Sure. Vodka-Sprite, Strawberry Margarita, White Zinfandel, or anything from V Sattui.
Red wine or white? Love white but learning to love red as it's good for the heart
We only have beer: San Mig light
Favorite dessert? Mmm… old fashioned cheesecake
The perfect nightcap? Ice cream on bread.
How do you like your eggs? "Ginulo" you achieve this by dropping the egg (yolk and white) into a heated pan then instead of making a sunny side up, beat the yolk and the white until both are cooked. Sarap with banana ketchup
(Mafran to be exact).
How do you take your coffee/tea:
Coffee: Freshly brewed with soymilk. @Starbucks - Soy latte
Tea: Plain. Sometimes with soymilk or cream.
Dean & Deluca's green tea is the best and the Organic Chamomile Tea from Trader Joes.
Favorite breakfast foods: Fried garlic rice, my "ginulo" egg, daing (smoked fish) dipped in mayonnaise.
Peanut butter: smooth or crunchy? Definitely smooth!
What kind of dressing on your salad? I love Macaroni Grill's italian. Asian Chicken would be good. But my all time fave, thousand island (only my Mom's or my own version).
Coke or Pepsi? Diet Coke.
You’re feeling lazy. What do you make? Pandesal with Jack and Jill potato chips. (This reminds me of my trips to Batangas long time ago when I was involved in a youth group with so much energy and optism for life.)
You’re feeling really lazy. What kind of pizza do you order? Cheese pizza
You feel like cooking. What do you make? Pasta, this rejuvenates me!
Do any foods bring back good memories? Yes, my dad's pork in soysauce, but I guess we can replace it with chicken breast now that I'm not a pork eater anymore. The taste brings a lot of memorable breakfasts and happy days back home.
Do any foods bring back bad memories? Japanese cup-o-noodles, I had this for the first time and I had a bad tummy ache, couldn't stop throwing up! I wouldn't eat that to this day.
Do any foods remind you of someone? Bacon eaten with rice swimming in sweet Batangas coffee reminds me of no other than my only brother! Ice cream reminds me of my Dad and kaldereta reminds me of my mom (even if she doesn't eat that, but she cooks the best kaldereta!)
Is there a food you refuse to eat? Kambing (goat)
What was your favorite food as a child? Balat ng (skin)fried chicken with ketchup.
Is there a food that you hated as a child but now love? Broccolli.
Is there a food that you loved as a child but now hate? Nope.
Favorite fruit & vegetable: I like them all! But okay let’s go with grapes for fruits and sitaw (string beans) for vegetables.
Favorite junk food: Clover chips
Favorite between meal snack: Skyflakes
Do you have any weird food habits: I dip my chicken tinola in ketchup, and of course my smoked fish with mayonnaise (the best with fried rice/sinangag).
You’re on a diet. What food(s) do you fill up on? Fruits (melon or grapes).
How spicy do you order Indian/Thai? Spicy - between mild to hot!
Can I get you a drink? Sure. Vodka-Sprite, Strawberry Margarita, White Zinfandel, or anything from V Sattui.
Red wine or white? Love white but learning to love red as it's good for the heart
We only have beer: San Mig light
Favorite dessert? Mmm… old fashioned cheesecake
The perfect nightcap? Ice cream on bread.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
What have I (already) done in my life?
Since I am about to celebrate my __ th birthday 34 days from now... let's recollect...
I just saw this 150-List from another blogger and I copied it here. Those that I've done are in bold characters.
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a BMW for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said 'I love you' and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on tequila
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was shXX faced
42. Had amazing friends -- and still have
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an "expert"
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Had a one-night stand
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship -- just a dinner cruise
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone's life
I just saw this 150-List from another blogger and I copied it here. Those that I've done are in bold characters.
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a BMW for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said 'I love you' and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on tequila
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was shXX faced
42. Had amazing friends -- and still have
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an "expert"
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Had a one-night stand
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship -- just a dinner cruise
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone's life
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Busy
What is this that I've been so busy that I haven't been able to blog? Well, for one, we decided as a family to better in our schedules. We want to get up early in the morning so we can avoid the morning "rush". Rush would mean, rushing to get up, rushing to prepare baon, rushing to take a bath, rushing to eat, rushing to get out of the house... the effect, STRESS and ACID REFLUX! Yes, I have always had acid reflux, the most recent of which brought me to the emergency.. remember? I hate getting stressed because I get miserable after. I get miserable because stress only has bad effects. I end up getting upset with the kids if they don't follow me and then I get upset with myself for getting upset. Oh my!
The real thing is, we just want to make better in our schedules by preparing in advance of the things that we need in the morning. That way, if we are able to prepare at night, even having to give the kids a bath at night, we are able to have a nice morning together. We get to have fun having our eldest get ready for school while the youngest can enjoy her favorite breakfast, then my husband and I can enjoy our coffee together. End result, we are get to work early too.
The real thing is, we just want to make better in our schedules by preparing in advance of the things that we need in the morning. That way, if we are able to prepare at night, even having to give the kids a bath at night, we are able to have a nice morning together. We get to have fun having our eldest get ready for school while the youngest can enjoy her favorite breakfast, then my husband and I can enjoy our coffee together. End result, we are get to work early too.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Ideas
It's lunch time and I wanted to relax, thanks to another blog, it gave me an idea... or ideas...
1. My uncle once: told me never to stutter when I'm on the microphone (yes I used to host all our family's parties, birthdays, weddings etc etc
2. Never in my life: have i tried drugs
3. When I was five: i accompanied my teenage cousin to Makati (I told her how to get to where we were going)
4. High School is: a learning experience, funny to remember
5. My parents are: wonderful people that have taught me how to be a good person.
6. I already met: my soul mate (he's my hubby now)
7. There's this girl I know who: got so drunk she got on the ledge, danced as much as she could until yes, her halter gave way! no, wasn't me..........but i was there.
8. Once, at a bar: my pal M came up to Ruffa Gutierrez and just casually talked to her and said, "you're so pretty!", but damn, my pal was so drunk!
9. Last night: my hubby and i cuddled and kissed, and kissed, and kissed and it was soooooooooo romantic
10. Next time I go to church: i know exactly what to pray for
11. When I turn my head left, I see: my daughter's drawing evolution
12. When I turn my head right, I see: my other daughter's drawing evolution
13. How many days until my birthday?: 30, 60, 90, hay, 4 months still!
14. If I was a character written by Shakespeare I'd be: Eponine
15. By this time next year: B & I will have been married almost 8 years (WOW!)
16. A name I've always wanted to have would be: Christine. But I did not name any of my children that. Maybe you know why.
17. I have a hard time understanding: ppl living in OUR country who just depend on dole-outs. everyone needs to learn that you need to earn a buck before spending it.
18. If I ever go back to school I: will obviously be insane.
19. You know I like you if: i call you all the time
20. If I won an award, the first person I'd thank would be: mommy and daddy
21. Take my advice: tell the ppl you love how you feel about them. NOW!
22. My ideal breakfast is: anything cooked and served by someone else
23. If you visit my hometown: you'll love it
24. Why won't someone: tell those ppl begging on the streets to find a job
25. If you spend the night at my house: you're welcome to anything i have.
26. I'd stop getting old: for nothing!! i know that with age comes wisdom. you just need to make sure you age with grace.
27. The world could do without: war and hate
28. I'd rather stay home than go to the mall and come home empty handed.
29. Paper clips are more useful than: pencil erasers.
30. If I do anything well, it is: love my husband and our children than i could have ever imagined.
1. My uncle once: told me never to stutter when I'm on the microphone (yes I used to host all our family's parties, birthdays, weddings etc etc
2. Never in my life: have i tried drugs
3. When I was five: i accompanied my teenage cousin to Makati (I told her how to get to where we were going)
4. High School is: a learning experience, funny to remember
5. My parents are: wonderful people that have taught me how to be a good person.
6. I already met: my soul mate (he's my hubby now)
7. There's this girl I know who: got so drunk she got on the ledge, danced as much as she could until yes, her halter gave way! no, wasn't me..........but i was there.
8. Once, at a bar: my pal M came up to Ruffa Gutierrez and just casually talked to her and said, "you're so pretty!", but damn, my pal was so drunk!
9. Last night: my hubby and i cuddled and kissed, and kissed, and kissed and it was soooooooooo romantic
10. Next time I go to church: i know exactly what to pray for
11. When I turn my head left, I see: my daughter's drawing evolution
12. When I turn my head right, I see: my other daughter's drawing evolution
13. How many days until my birthday?: 30, 60, 90, hay, 4 months still!
14. If I was a character written by Shakespeare I'd be: Eponine
15. By this time next year: B & I will have been married almost 8 years (WOW!)
16. A name I've always wanted to have would be: Christine. But I did not name any of my children that. Maybe you know why.
17. I have a hard time understanding: ppl living in OUR country who just depend on dole-outs. everyone needs to learn that you need to earn a buck before spending it.
18. If I ever go back to school I: will obviously be insane.
19. You know I like you if: i call you all the time
20. If I won an award, the first person I'd thank would be: mommy and daddy
21. Take my advice: tell the ppl you love how you feel about them. NOW!
22. My ideal breakfast is: anything cooked and served by someone else
23. If you visit my hometown: you'll love it
24. Why won't someone: tell those ppl begging on the streets to find a job
25. If you spend the night at my house: you're welcome to anything i have.
26. I'd stop getting old: for nothing!! i know that with age comes wisdom. you just need to make sure you age with grace.
27. The world could do without: war and hate
28. I'd rather stay home than go to the mall and come home empty handed.
29. Paper clips are more useful than: pencil erasers.
30. If I do anything well, it is: love my husband and our children than i could have ever imagined.
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