walis tambo

Merry Christmas Mula sa North Cambridge Condominium

2011-12-10T08:48:00.003+08:00

For inquiries, you may email to jts1925@gmail.com or you may leave your questions at the "Comments" corner. Maligayang Pasko po!

Affordable Lots in Baguio City: Regalo sa Pasko

2011-12-09T13:10:00.006+08:00

Para sa ating mga Pinoy, isang napakahalagang bagay ang mabigyan ng maayos na tirahan ang ating pamilya. Isa sa pinagsisikapan natin ay ang makapundar ng bahay. Ang pagkakaroon ng bahay ang maituturing nating napakalaking yaman na maaring maipamana sa ating mga anak. Kaya, sa aking mga kababayan, gusto kong ibahagi sa inyo ang pagkakataon na matupad din ang inyong pangarap na magkaroon ng sariling tahanan. Sa pamamagitan ng Goshen Land Capital maaari nating matupad ang ating dakilang pangarap.

If you are interested or if you have questions, you may email me @ jts1925@gmail.com. Or feel free to leave your questions at the "comments" corner. :)

Earn Cash...BIG, BIG Cash! (Part 3)

2011-11-20T23:48:00.000+08:00

Earn Cash...BIG, BIG Cash! (Part 2)

2011-11-20T23:29:00.000+08:00

Earn Cash...BIG, BIG Cash! (Part 1)

2011-11-05T16:59:00.003+08:00

Calling all sales oriented individuals! Goshen Land has something bigger and better for you.

Goshen Land Capital, the fastest - growing real estate company in Baguio City has already made its mark in the real estate industry, not only in Baguio City, but also in Northern and Central Luzon. With more projects coming, Goshen Land would like to give better compensation benefits and incentives to its hardworking agents and partners. A BIGGER and BETTER compensation plan is now offered to Goshen Land's sales representatives.

How would you like to earn extra cash of Php30,000 to Php70,000 or $750 to $2,000 a month with no capital or membership fee required?

Knowing that we all need extra source of income to meet the needs of our growing families we realize that our salaries are not enough. Real estate selling is the only business nowadays that doesn't need capital to start it up. All you need to do is REFER to us a family or friend who is looking for a property to invest in. Our trained sales staff will do the rest from complete product presentation, coordination of tripping, computations, closing the sale and even follow-up. Once the sale you have referred has been successfully closed, the commission and incentives will be given to you in full.

The detailed compensation plan on my next post. In the meantime, you can leave a comment or send me an email if you have questions.

Tooth Fairy

2011-05-10T19:33:00.006+08:00

Soon as I entered the house last night, I was welcomed by my daughter's bursting about her Kuya having a loose tooth. My daughter, mindless of my wet clothes and umbrella dripping on the floor, pulled me near her Kuya to check on the tooth. My son, looking so anxious, was nodding his head sideways, not wanting to show me his tooth so soon, afraid I might decide to pull his tooth off right there and then.

Anyway, after changing to my dry clothes, I was ready for my Dr. Quack role...I got a piece of thread, tied a knot on my son's loose tooth, and without much effort, pulled the tooth off.

Then, the excitement in the house once again began...my daughter, who had been so eager the moment she learned that Kuya has a loose tooth, was clapping cheerfully, "Yehey, magkakatoothfairy si Kuya!" The cheer replaced Kuya's pained expression to a grin. He looked for his tooth, coated it in a cotton ball, and hid it under his pillow. And said, "Mommy, di ba ako ang nakakita sa iniwan ng tooth fairy na 20pesos noon kay Rain? Pero mas maliit ang ngipin nya, mas malaki ang ngipin ko ngayon. Magkano kaya ang ibibigay ng tooth fairy...." And my kids went on with their past experience of Rain's tooth gone under the pillow and found money instead, of how magical tooth fairy can come and leave money without them noticing it...blah...blah. They even asked me, if I've ever seen tooth fairy come, to which I answered no, hiding a smile on my face.

Well, not known to my kids, "I" saw Tooth Fairy early this morning when "I" woke up at 5am. And "I" actually saw Tooth Fairy took the tooth under the pillow and replaced it with a 20 peso bill. But "I" wouldn't tell...bwahahaha!

Why the Tooth Fairy belief? I guess, like any other Mom, I'd like my kids to believe in something fun, exciting and magical while they are still KIDS. "Minsan lang sila maging bata", goes a line, and I want them to have it. It is not, for me, creating a delusion. Instead, it is creating a happy childhood experience. Santa Claus makes them happy every Christmas even if they don't see him leave gifts in their socks at 12midnight. And that's the same feeling Tooth Fairy gives them whenever they loose a tooth and hide it under their pillow. I wouldn't deprive my kids that simple childhood joy.

Panagbenga Princess 2011

2011-02-21T11:47:00.002+08:00

Yesterday was one of Rain's most anticipated days...she'd been counting the days for the past 2 weeks. And finally, it was the Search for Panagbenga Princess, the day Rain would be judged on her wit, talent, grace and charm. Well, it was a day worth waiting for. Rain was declared the 1st Panagbenga Princess 2011... yehey!!! She also won Best in Talent with her Taekwondo forms (low blue) and a sparring exhibition with her Kuya Jacq. And, she got s special award for being the Most Punctual. She was often the first to arrive during practices and rehearsals, thus the most punctual award.

As a Mom who had stayed almost every minute by her side during the entire pageant (except of course while she was on stage,hehehe), I admired my daughter's confidence and enthusiasm. The fact that I could feel butterflies in my stomach soon as I woke up in the morning until the awarding ceremony, I couldn't help but really admire Rain's relaxed and easy way of taking the event. She is indeed a daughter I can be proud of. (Mana sa ina ang ganda...echos!)

Introduction Number

Taekwondo with Kuya Jacq...got her the Best Talent Award

Fainted for the First Time

2011-01-24T09:09:00.000+08:00

It was one of the most anticipated days yesterday...we'd go swimming and kids were just overwhelmed with the idea. It was Jack's birthday celebration...we were not able to celebrate it last wednesday, the 19th coz there's work and school, so we had it set on a Sunday (original plan was Saturday, but I had to work...sigh).

Our destination was Itogon, Benguet. Jack heard about a hot spring so popularly visited at the area, so he suggested we try it. With less than an hour drive, we arrived the place. At ayun...sobrang saya ng mga bata, hindi magkandaugaga sa pagpalit ng swim wear para makaligo kaagad.

I wanted to try the hot spring..may area kasi don na as in ang init ng tubig, pwdeng magbabad. With the idea na nakakagamot ang pagbabad sa mainit na tubig, hot spring at that...kaya niyaya ko si Jack na samahan ako. Gusto ko ibabad ang likod ko, coz i've been having back aches, baka sakaling ma-ease or mawala ang pananakit.

I stayed there ng mga 15 minutes, lubog ang katawan up to the neck. Then, parang nakakaantok so nagyaya na akong umahon. Siguro mga 20-30 seconds after i stood, i felt my heart palpitate so fast...ambilis at nakakabingi...then, parang umikot na ang paningin ko sa paligid ko. I stopped and found a place to sit down...napag-iwanan na ako ni Jack at ng Sis nya..but Nanay was with me. So I asked her to call Jack back kasi nahihilo ako. Even when i said that, i actually didn't know if Nanay heard me, or if my voice was clear enough to convey the message, I felt so dizzy na arang bibigay na ang katawan ko. But i waited for Jack to come to me...nadadyahe naman daw ako na himatayin na lang sa gilid, hehehe.

Anyway, Jack, my knight in the shining batuta, came to my rescue. He was still limping kasi nirarayuma sya (kaya nga hot spring pinuntahan namin para maibabad nya paa nya na isang linggo nang nirarayuma). Siguro akala ni Papa nagdadrama-dramahan lang ako, he still asked me to walk with him...pero sabi ko nahihilo na ako tlaga..when i stood kasi, sobrang umiikot na ang paningin ko, though i tried so much na maglakad pa at makarating sa cottage namin. But with just a few steps, bumigay na ako...dead to the world!

Ayun...first time that i have ever fainted! Kakahiya...the idea na pinagtutulungan ka ng madaming tao, ehehe.

A Mother's Voice (Notre Dame University Graduation 1999)

2010-09-06T11:09:00.012+08:00

This article is actually long overdue already, I know that the author of this (who happen to be my mother) has been waiting anxiously when I am going to finally post her article/speech ( Nanay took an effort to retype her speech and send it to me by email...I know she already thought that I had forgotten about it or had simply ignored it) . To say that I have been veeeery busy may not be reason enough why posting this has been delayed. I guess, it is just because I haven't had my mind set about writing or blogging again...can't get my mind into writing when Nanay asked me to update our - her kids, current status...it's been 11 years after all.

Well, here below is a heartily written speech Nanay wrote and delivered 11 years ago during my youngest sister's graduation. Nanay was one of the awardees of the Most Outstanding Parents of the Year on that day, being an alumna of the school - Notre Dame University,where all 5 of us children also graduated. And it was an honor really that she was chosen to give a speech in behalf of all the parent awardees. ( I guess it was because the school took consideration about her and my Tatay having sent 5 kids to the school...a really long time of struggle, and of kaliwa't kanang utang to compensate the school expenses.)

I have read her speech a number of times already since she has sent it to me...and everytime I read it I can't help but feel thankful and proud of the great effort my mother and father had done for all of us...posting it here is my simple way of thanking Nanay and Tatay (wherever he may be) for being great parents. That even with the hardest of times we all had experienced way back, we all still survived...we managed to become what we are today...and that's all because of you, Nay...Tay.

NANAY'S SPEECH: Delivered at Notre Dame University Gymnasium on March 1999

Allow me to start with the first 3 lines of Freddie Aguilar's song "ANAK'.

'Nang isilang kasa mundong ito,

Laking tuwa ng magulang mo,

At ang kamay nila ang iyong ilaw'

Reverend Father President, members of the faculty and staff, my co-awardees, parents of the graduates, graduates, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

Notre Dame College, now Notre Dame University, witnessed the memorable events of my life. First, this is where I met my partner in life, both in joy and in pain; second, this is where I acquired my Bachelor of Science in Education degree, major in General Science in 1968; and third being a recipient of this award as Outstanding Parents of the Year, which symbolizes our sacrifices, the need to survive so as to attain our dreams for our children.

In behalf of my co-awardees and the parents of the graduates 1999 I would like to express our emotions being the proud parents. Mabuhay tayong mga magulang! To send our children to college is a great sacrifice. Sending three college students at the same time is not a joke. Both parents and children need teamwork for survival. What with a minimal income, how would we be able to let both ends meet? To the graduates, be proud of your parents, whatever or whoever they are. You must be thankful to have parents like them. Remember, it's not only you who sacrifice on a limited allowance. As parents we feel your longing to many things, that you wanted so much but then you cannot. It is like a dagger struck into our hearts.

Being a mother, I experienced talking with my children of our financial status, I had witnessed how they shed tears, giving up, losing hope because of insufficient allowance. Through our guidance, my husband's and mine, our children never gave up. They climbed the mountain of success. They have triumphed! My heart cries for my children, but I held on, clung to the Father almighty. He gave us more courage, strength and good health in order to overcome those trials. We know after all, that we will be gifted.

Fellow parents, when we sent our children to study in this institution, questions arose. Living a hundred kilometers away from Cotabato City, "why in Cotabato City? Why at Notre Dame University?" We have our college in our town, why in a far and critical place? Our response was condensed into one sentence; we would like to develop in our children the values of responsibility, trust and confidence. Responsible in the sense that, they would learn to spend their allowance wisely and live independently away from Nanay and Tatay. They would be earning and running their own life in the future, so this will serve as a training. Trust and confidence because these are values that we want them to bear in mind and heart, that we sent them to Notre dame University to do good, study and acquire a diploma and no other else. Luckily, after graduation, my children did not encounter difficulties in landing job, and we are proud of them. As one after the other finished college and landed a job, they helped us support the younger ones to the extent of giving up some of their personal welfare just to lessen Tatay and Nanay's burden to the younger ones.

In this occasion, fellow parents and the graduates, I am very, very proud to inform you that I have 5 children who were able to acquire their diplomas in this institution plus an alumnus added to the family. My children with their respective titles: Mary Jane,BSN,RN, employed at South Cotabato Provincial Hospital; Jonathan, BSCE, employed at Better Homes appliance Center, Koronadal Branch; Juvee, BSA, employed at Prudential Bank, Cotabato City and married to Emmanuel Panaguiton, BSME,an alumnus of Notre Dame University, Joanne, BSE, presently connected with this institution and Zenith, who will receive her title this afternoon in BSA. Seventeen years from now we will be sending our 6th child at NDU again.

Ladies and gentlemen, these are the fruits of our labor, Mr.Juanito Tan's and mine. We owe all these gifts to God Almighty, who is always at our side in times of near surrendering. Thank you dear Lord, thank you Notre dame University, our Alma mater. To our children and the graduates 1999, thank you, thank you and Mabuhay!

And that's the end of her speech...at present, my eldest sister Mary Jane (Neneng) is working as a nurse in Coventry, United Kingdom with her husband Kuya Jun and two British speaking kids. My brother Jonathan (Toto) is working as a Civil Engineer in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Toto is married to Ate Norma and also has two bubbly and cheerful kids; the eldest, Nikki excels in ballroom dancing. My Ate Juvee (Bibing) has moved to Marbel and works as a bank officer at Allied Bank. She is married to Kuya Man and with two enormous kids. My youngest sister Zenith (Tata) is in Dubai, UAE working as an accounts clerk at Corus Middle East. And with God's will, she and her BFF Eva will be off to Canada early next year. And my youngest brother Jade is now in 4th year highschool...and has remained Nanay's companion at home. And finally, there's me...I still teach at the moment, after taking a break from teaching for 2 years when I tried my luck in Dubai. I'm married to Jack, a Police Chief Inspector (hopefully he gets another promotion a year from now). I also have two kids who are just so wonderful despite their kakulitan.

And what about Nanay? Nanay has already reached her retirement age. She turned 62 last month...and is back to teaching again...that which keeps her busy these days along with her uma (farm) that was generously bought to her by Tata. Other than rearing and looking after Jade, teaching at Mary Mount High School Inc. has somehow brought Nanay reason to wake up each day and look forward for the day ahead...that is after some dull, melodramatic years after Tatay's departure and on after her retirement from KNCHS two years back.

Nanay, despite the distance, is always there to offer comforting words, pieces of advice, a bunch of prayer, and a loving heart to each of us her kids. We can never be grateful enough for all that she has done for us.

P.S.

What our family lacked most before was only financial needs, but I can honestly say, that the lack of money had not hindered us to enjoy life and become good-natured persons. Life may not be entirely a bed of roses for us now, we can't simply sit and wait for graces to come to us. We all still have to work to provide for our needs, but I can say that we have better lives now. =)

Baguio Flower Festival

2010-03-01T20:36:00.014+08:00

It was in 2001 that I first witnessed the Panagbenga Festival here in Baguio, more popularly known as the Flower Festival. Even then, I was already amazed at how creative the people from this place are to come up with floats made of flowers, with various artistic designs. Though for the following years afterwards, I just chose to stay out of the streets during the festival's street dancing and float parades because of the so many people crowding the streets (not to mention the traffic), I have never missed watching the parade of flower floats on television. Each year gives me awe to see all the wonderful flower floats, artistically and skillfully designed.

Castle float...one of my favorites

And for this year's Panagbenga, I took an effort to again witness (on the streets) this very much sought after festival here in Baguio. With my husband Jack, and our two kids, we trudged the city's main streets to get a glimpse of the floats paraded on the streets....but really, the crowd was just too much, we couldn't sacrifice the safety of the kids (and ours too...). That we had to stop every now and then and wait till there's air and space to walk through the crowd. And despite the long and tiring walk under the heat of the sun, we were all able to get better views of the floats...and of course, I was able to take pictures of them too. :)

Coca-cola's entry....OBVIOUSLY!

My favorite...SM's tiger float

Looks like a real one...:)

PNP's entry...float guarded by police officers in traditional bahag

Jollibee's entry

Crowd of people...di mahulugang karayom...all wanting to get a view of the flower floats.

The ending.....after the loooong walk....dust powdered feet.

First Gold

2010-02-01T21:01:00.001+08:00

It was the kids' first tournament to join today. As always, I was both anxious and excited. And I was a proud mother when finally, Rain was able to conquer her opponent and got Gold medal, and Jacq ended up with a silver.

It was a well deserved award for both of them having given their very best on their first ever tournament.

Sponged Room for the New Year

2010-01-04T17:30:00.001+08:00

Today (27Dec09), we are finally done repainting our room. Hubby and I were just supposed to look for a new plain paint to replace our room's paint color, but as we were roaming around the paint store the other day, we saw a sample painted wall. It looked like paint was sponged on the wall, and we thought we'd try it to our room too. So we ended up buying 2 different paint colors instead of just one as originally planned. And, yesterday we started repainting...errrr..sponging our room with paint.

On the base paint which is a dirty white, we applied/sponged Elmo's Fire color. It's like a red orange color, but Ace paints termed it as Elmo's Fire. Then, we applied the second color which is the Honey Pot, it's a light yellow color. After we have applied both colors here's how our wall looked like:

Then, hubby and I thought we messed up, coz it didn't look like the one we saw at the store...so we decided to add another color. He went to buy a light blue color to sponge over the red and yellow colors we have already applied, and it turned out this way:

The funny thing after we have applied the third color was that hubby and I thought having only the red and yellow color was better than with the blue color...and then, after looking at the room again and again we both told each other that the room just looked good with the sponged paint...lol.

The kids are actually happy with the new paint color we have coz they joined in painting the room. The room now looks more like a play room than a bedroom with its paint...still we all love it. The sponged paint looks like a wallpaper rather than a paint which makes it beautiful to look at now. And I guess, it's the joy of working together that made the room more beautiful than its paint.

(One corner of the room at Jacq's bed - the upper deck of the kids' double deck bed.)

Stuffed Stuffs

2009-12-14T18:10:00.014+08:00

I haven't been writing (for article submission) for a while now...took a break from it to get some mind rest. I just felt like my mind's getting drained already with too much writing and thinking what and how to write the articles I needed to submit. BUT...I have my hands busy with other stuffs - making stuffed toys. I didn't realize that it can really be fun making stuffed toys until I started making one. Good thing I ran across some helpful sites that provide patterns for stuffed animals. And I am proud to share my three lovely, personally-made stuffed toys.

This is my stuffed doggie. This is the very first one I made. I made use of some used clothes to come up with this one. I just followed the instructions provided at eHow.com's How to Make a Stuffed Animal, and here it is!

My second achievement - elephant stuffed toy. This has become my two kids' favorite among the three toys I made. This elephant's pattern is available at Karen's Variety website. The pattern was easy to follow, and again I just made use of used, old clothes to come up with this. And for this one, I had my hubby's shirt (lol).

And finally, I made a stuffed camel. I know that it doesn't look so much of a camel for some (though it DOES to me, hehehe) coz when I was done with it, I showed it to my kids. And when I asked my 6-year old daughter what she thought it was, she said it was a lizard. While my 8-year old son said, it was a dinosaur. Urghh! I made the pattern myself (maybe that's the reason why my kids didn't see it as a camel, lol), I just based it from the patterns I used with the two previous toys I made. And viola, I have a stuffed camel! (ummmm.... lizard..errr...dinosaur... whatever!)

Kick 'n Punch

2009-12-13T01:13:00.004+08:00

A month ago, we enrolled the kids in a Taekwondo class. My son Jacq wanted to be in it so much, so instead of waiting til summer vacation to enroll him to the class, my hubby decided that we already have him enrolled. Jacq got so excited to finally learn taekwondo that his sister, Rain, who was supposed to enroll in a ballet class decided to be in Taekwondo as well. So, both our kids joined Taekwondo.

Personally, I am not much into sending my kids to any Taekwondo, Karate or Martial Arts stuff. I can't imagine seeing my kids being kicked and punched during sparring which is inevitable in activities such as those. But my husband, who is a police officer and now a Police Chief Inspector, finds it necessary that our children learn Martial Arts. According to him, it is something that the kids can use for self-defense as they grow up, and more importatly, Teakwondo will teach them discipline. Not that my kids have no discipline, they are disciplined and polite kids, but them being in a Taekwondo class, according to my husband, will help develop more of discipline.

My kids' first day in class proved to be really fun for them, yet soooo tiring! And as a mother who was just a spectator while my kids did the basics (I mean, the warm up exercises which I found difficult for my daughter to do...lol), I felt like pulling my daughter (Rain who is aged 6) out of it. I could see difficulty on her face. But I could only keep texting and calling my husband and tell him how my kids were doing from my point of view outside the glass-walled room. Of course, my husband would tell me that the reactions I saw from my kids were normal since it was only their first day, soon, he said they'll be able to adjust and get used to it. And true enough, as the kids regularly attend their two-day weekly sessions, they got used to the warm-up exercises. They, especially my daughter, can already do the exercises without showing pain or difficulty on her face. And it really pleases me now to see my kids improve their kicks and punches.

And today, after a month and a week of training, they were into their first "promotional" exam. If my kids pass the "promotional", they'll get a new belt - a yellow belt. I am confident that they did pass the exam...hahaha! I was just as excited as my kids today, waiting for them perform. And again I was watching my kids with anxiety, feeling very stage mother (lol). I kept praying while watching them. I know for some, it wasn't much to be anticipated for. Some may even say that it ain't something major. But for me, as a mother of two adorable kids, anything they do is major. And I'll always be by my kids' side in their endeavors. Since today is their first ever promotional exam, it is a major event for us. Soon as they were done, I kissed and hugged them tightly. I was so proud of them having performed well and to have finally finished the first stage of their Taekwondo class.

I know, there'll be more to await for. There's still blue, red, brown and black belts to aim for. But today, we are just so happy and contented that finally they are to get their yellow belts and become members of the prestigious UFC- Baguio Taekwondo.

Dahil Ikaw Ay Pinoy

2009-12-04T10:04:00.001+08:00

While waiting for my daughter's dismissal yesterday, I got hold of our local newspaper - Baguio Midland Courier, and ran across an article that has somehow touched my sensibility as a Filipino. Good thing, the article is also published on the net so I could easily access a copy of it coz I really can't help but post the article here. This could just be something petty for some, but then, petty as it may seem, I'm sure any Filipino would agree with the author (as I do) that there is nothing wrong in taking pride with whatever victory one Filipino has achieved. Indeed, "only if you are a Filipino" will you understand why Filipinos value so much every victory and recognition. I posted the article not because I am a fanatic of Pacquiao, but because I agree with the author's opinion and how he has touched the "pusong pinoy" in me.

Only if you are a Filipino

by Guillermo Bandonill Jr.

Because of his sensational and spectacular victory over Miguel Cotto two weeks back, Manny Pacquiao was paraded in the major cities of the country. To further stress the recognition given to him by an adoring nation, he was conferred some of the highest government awards that only dignitaries can dream of. With this victory, he was practically immortalized.

I am not just about to make a rehash of Pacquiao’s win over the Puerto Rican champion. All of that had already been said and done. Truth is, over the past weeks or so following the fight, people had been talking about Pacquiao. Not only about his victory but all other sidelights and insights pertaining to his life, his wife and his other activities – if you know what I mean.

I chose to talk about Pacquiao in this column because of a painful comment I heard from a foreigner friend last Wednesday. I will not divulge his name though because, he may be indicted for libeling a national treasure and may be subjected to deportation proceedings. Said my friend from the comfort of his cellphone: “I cannot understand why the Filipinos give so much attention to an ordinary fighter who is expected to conquer his foe inside the ring?” He further added during our conversation that: “I am amazed at the accolade being conferred to a prized fighter, who, being paid by millions of dollars, is raised to the category of a hero.”

My friend may not have understood the import of his words and the impact it may have on the Filipino people. He was probably talking as an outsider—a man who does not appreciate the sport of boxing. Just for this reason, I have forgiven him. Yet, I must also acquit the emotions of majority of the Filipinos, including me, for praising and loving Pacquiao for what he has done. I owe it not only to myself but to all boxing patrons who believe that in boxing, Pacquiao has glorified the Philippines and given pride to all Filipinos.

First, Pacquiao is no ordinary fighter. He is considered as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today. Some experts even attest that Pacquiao may rank among the best fighters of all time. He has performed beyond what other boxers have achieved. Seven world titles in seven different weight divisions. This is not the achievement of an ordinary boxer.

Still, why will all of these achievements by a single man glorify and give hope to our country? You have to be a Filipino to understand.

Our people have been stereotyped by other nations as a country of slaves. At times, a country of domestic helpers and laborers. We cannot even rank highly in survey when it comes to our trustworthiness as a people. Our race and nationality have been maligned not only twice but several times in blogs.

How many times did our government need to interpose a formal diplomatic protest over foreign shows depicting our Maria Claras as worthless workers? It is even very painful to see our people being painted as prostitutes and mail order brides. The victory of Pacquiao over his foreign opponents has given us pride. It has removed our race from being branded as a second class or even third class people. With the victory of Pacquiao, we parade him and cheer for him because for a moment we feel superior over other races. For a time, we are proud that the stereotyping characteristic cast upon us by other people is not true. We jubilate over Pacquiao’s victories because it is the only time when we, Filipinos, can dream of dominating the world. That is why it means so much to us that Pacquiao wins his fights.

Indeed, one man makes a difference. Pacquiao does make a difference in our lives. He unites our country every time he fights. It is only during his fights that the country lives in a peaceful state. No crime, no criminal. There are only Filipinos cheering for a countryman who fights for his country and for his people. That is why we idolize him so much. It does not matter that he earns millions for himself. He deserves it. If the states of America parade their teams every time they win a major tournament, why can’t we parade a man who, in behalf of the Filipino, conquers the world every time he fights? My friend may have totally missed the analogy. I cannot blame him though because he is not a Filipino.

Only by being a Filipino can one understand the anxiety of waiting for Pacquiao and the indescribable joy of being a Filipino.

(The article was published in Baguio Midland Courier dated November 29, 2009.)

Got My First Pay!!!

2009-11-16T17:08:00.000+08:00

I got my first pay...wohoo!!! After months of being idle, I found an online job. I write articles for them and they pay me for that. And today, i just got my first pay deposited directly to my bank account. It ain't a big amount, yet it gave me a feeling of self-worth. That somehow, even if i chose to stay at home attending my kids, i am still able to find means to help my husband financially.

Having been just at home with an internet access made me still able to find resources. Right now, I am also into cellphone loading. Though my constant customer is just my husband, it still has helped. Coz he loads his cellphone a lot, with me already selling load, he gets to buy load from me. And i am now earning from it. It was good that I found LOAD.COM.PH. Wit its system i am able to load smart, talk n text, globe, touch mobile, and sun cellular phones. It's an all-in-one loading system, and it's really very convenient.

Pride of a Mother

2009-10-28T21:54:00.002+08:00

Today, my kids had their United Nation's Day Celebration at SLU. And since UN is a celebration of different countries, the students were asked to wear a costume representing one of the UN countries. Naturally, I was a busy mother since Monday (that was soon as I learned that the kids are to wear a costume...yeah, right...the teachers announced about the costume only last Monday which leaves me only a day and a half to prepare for the kids' attire.)

After, Rain's class last Monday I strolled around the malls, department stores and ukay-ukay stalls searching for a costume. I found Rain's dress at SM...was able to buy it in a much lesser price than those sold at Maharlika. I got her a Mexican attire. And yesterday, I busied myself looking for add-ons to her attire. Fortunately, I found a bunch of soft plastic flowers sold at ukay-ukay. I bought it coz the colors matched the dress...used the flowers as decorative to the fan, flower band for the arms, and props on the hair. All my efforts didn't go to waste, Rain was chosen to be Best in Costume in her class...I was so happy and excited and proud.

Why Women Cry

2009-10-25T09:24:00.004+08:00

I got this article from an email sent by a friend, Ma'am Mel. While reading this, I felt so proud to be a woman...and it made me feel so special. I can't resist the urge to post here this beautiful writing about how special a woman is.

A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?"
"Because I'm a woman," she told him.

"I don't understand," he said.
His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"
"All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry...Finally he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do women cry so easily?"

God said, "When I made the woman she had to be special.I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world,yet gentle enough to give comfort.

I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.

I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.

And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed."

"You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides."

A Child's Prayer

2009-10-20T22:00:00.007+08:00

It's storm signal no.1 AGAIN in Benguet! It was the latest update about the storm Ramil at 7:00pm today. When we've hardly breathe and recovered yet after the devastation brought by Ondoy and Pepeng, here comes another storm again. I know my kids and I are safe at home, and we were fortunate enough to be unaffected by flood and landslides during the storm surge of typhoon Pepeng. But we were not left unperturbed...the thought of another storm coming that may result to more damages and destruction to lives and property is already ghastly.

My kids, like any other kids with television, have seen the devastating effect of the two recent typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. And the latter was very much felt here in Baguio. This brought us to just keep praying, asking dear God to stay amongst us and to those who were affected. Now that there is a threat of another typhoon, I remembered my seven-year old son's prayer which he wrote one of those stormy nights. I thought I'd share it here. The prayer was short and so simple but I was touched at how sincere his prayer was for those who were affected, for his father (who was at that time busy rescuing), and for us at home.

My son's letter to God. He wrote it during one of the stormy Pepeng days. It says:

Lord, please let those who were flooded be saved and be given food. I hope that the typhoon will already leave so that nobody will die anymore. I hope that Papa is safe at his work and may we be safe here too. Amen.

Back Online

2009-10-18T22:40:00.000+08:00

I haven't blogged for more than a month already. Well, we lost our internet connection for quite a while. Then, my laptop was damaged because of some lightning that seemed to have blown my laptop's modem or network adapter (i don't know how exactly it is called...but it is that thing where you plug the cable to connect to the internet). i had to resort to using the desktop computer which is just too slow...so i only get online to check my emails. and there came the storm Pepeng that stayed in Northern Luzon for more than a week, maybe it was because of that that we cannot connect to the net (i think so! or it must be just that old desktop computer...hmmm).

But finally, i got to buy a wireless router, yay! And i get to use my laptop for internet now wherever inside the house, harharhar! I'm back online.

Unwell

2009-10-18T22:03:00.000+08:00

I woke up with a stomach pain...it's the 2nd day of my period. i haven't had dysmenorrhea for so long that i was wondering why i have this pain again, ugh!

I haven't been feeling well the past days. Just last Tuesday night I woke up at 11pm having an almost unbearable pain at my back; it left me unable to sleep for the rest of the night. So the following day, i just had to go to the doctor...i wouldn't bear another night having that pain. i went to SLU hospital, had an x-ray which turned out clear. According to the doctor, the back pain was due to the dry cough (i've had for 2 days already). The coughing affects the back muscle. I was prescibed a lot of meds...oh, how i hate taking pills! But i have no choice...if i want to get well i better take those meds. Good enough, the back pain was almost gone before i went to sleep on Wednesday night...and, there was no more pain at all when i woke up in the morning. The cough is still there though, that's why my voice hasn't been sounding good for several days now since i had my cough.

I hope when i wake up tomorrow, this stomach pain will already be gone. I want to feel well, being sick makes me feel soooo helpless. :-(

Buhay Dubai

2009-09-06T23:37:00.015+08:00

Note: This article was sent to me through email while I was still in Dubai. I ran through my emails and found this. This made me smile once more, as this relates so much of the life most Pinoys have in Dubai. Happy reading, Kabayan! :-)

HAY BUHAY ABROAD TALAGA
A friend named "Maeng Ni" posted this.
Lahat ng sinabi niya nakakatuwa at totoo, tiyak makakarelate ka.

Akala ng mga tao na nasa Pilipinas kapag nasa DUBAI ka akala nila madami ka ng pera ng langis. Ang totoo, madami kang utang, dahil credit card lahat ang gamit mo sa pagbili mo ng mga gamit mo. Kailangan mo gumamit ng credit card Kasi naubus na ang cash pinadala sa pinas, kase pag hindi ka nagpadala, iisipin nila nakalimutan mo na sila.

Akala nila mayaman ka at marami kang pera kasi buwan-buwan libo-libo padala mo walang palya at kapag pumalya iisipin nila baka nagbisyo ka na o may sinusustentuhang iba. Hindi nila alam food allowance na lang ang natitira sayo at pag kinulang pa umuutang pa at lista muna sa malapit na bakala.

Pag may okasyon sa pinas birthday, fiesta, anniversary, pasko, new year, at iba pa, padala ka agad panghanda sarap ng kainan nila, di nila alam ikaw tiyaga sa budget meal, kapsa, noodles o de lata at itlog na nakakabutlig na ng balat, hay naku!

Akala ni Tatay, Nanay, Ate, Kuya, anak, mga pamangkin at iba pa namumulot ka ng pera sa Dubai kada may problema text kaagad, kumusta sa una sa bandang huli kelangan ng ng pera! Hay naku…nakaka-alergic na ang text sa roaming puro gastos…minsan padala ka pa ng load! Load mo nga utang pa Pana! Hay naku bakit ba nauso pa yan dagdag gastos lang talaga at pag di ka pa reply aawayin ka pa!

Akala nila masarap maging OFW at tinatawag na bagong bayani….naku mas masarap pa yong nasa pinas na sa katas ni bagong bayani ay syang umaani! Utang sa DUBAI lalong dumarami.

Akala nila masarap sa DUBAI di nila alam di ka na nga makauwi kasi roundtrip tiket kina-cash pa mapadala lang at ibayad sa utang.

Akala nila sosyal ka na kulay ng buhok mo uso pa at naka-highlight pa, di nila alam buhok mo namumuti na sa stress at problema at pag minalas pa nalalagas pa!

Akala nila masarap sa DUBAI kasi pag-uwi mo mestiso ka, maputi at mamula-mula ang balat mo, di nila alam babad ka sa opisina at kulong sa bahay mo dahil no choice ka, mga kapit bahay mo di mo kaano-ano, walang paki-alaman at kung lalabas ka sunog ang balat mo, init ng araw sobra!

Akala nila mayaman ka na kase may kotse ka na. Di nila alam hulugan pa ito!

Ang totoo, kapag hindi ka bumili ng kotse sa Dubai maglalakad ka ng milya-milya sa ilalim ng init ng araw o kaya sa winter na kasama ang asawa mo dito sa dubai .. O kaya naman tiyaga kang mag –abang ng RTA Bus or Coaster na ubod ng babaho ng mga pasahero at pagbaba mo amoy putok ka na rin, grabe! Walang jeepney, tricycle o padyak sa dubai .. madami mga indianao, Bangladesh na driver na ubod ng baho. Pag minalas ka paskitani na taxi driver na manggagahasa pa!

Akala nila masaya ka kase nagpadala ka ng picture mo sa Burj Al Arab, Desert Safari, mall of emirates, Atlantis, Al Mamzar Beach, at iba pang attractions. Ang totoo, kailangan mo ngumiti kase minsan minsan ka lang makakapicture para mapadala mo sa mga mahal mo sa buhay.

Akala nila malaki na ang kinikita mo kase dirham na sweldo mo. Ang totoo, medyo malaki pagpinalit mo ng peso, perodirham din ang gastos mo sa dubai . Ibig sabihin ang dirham mong kinita sa presyong dirham mo din gagastusin. Ang P15.00 na sardinas sa Pilipinas AED3.00 sa Dubai , ang isang pakete ng sigarilyo sa pilipinas P40.00, saDubai AED 6.50, alangan namang puro cafeteria food ang kakainin mo aba mamatay ka sa highblood o heap nyan kasi nga umaapaw na sa mantika madumi pa! Mga kadiri , kaya lang pag naubusan ka ng pera no choice you have to take the risk .

Akala nila buhay milyonaryo ka na kase ang ganda ng bahay at kotse mo.nag pa-lypo kay calayan at nagparetoke kay vicky belo, Ang totoo nag loan ka lang sa Mashreq ,HSBC o CITIbank na huhulugan mo ng limang taon. Ibig sabihin, alipin ka ng bahay at kotse mo at ng luho mo at ng bansang ito !!kasi nga magloan ba naman dahil sa luho bwahahaha!

Madaming naghahangad na makarating sa Dubai . Lalo na mga nurses at mga medsec at eto pa pati cleaners, mahirap maging normal na manggagawa sa Pilipinas. Madalas pagod ka sa trabaho. Pag dating ng sweldo mo, kulang pa sa pagkain mo. Pero ganun din sa ibang bansa katulad lalo na kaya sa Dubai madaming outlet ng stress mo !kasi walang bawal!!! .

Hindi ibig sabihin dirham na angsweldo mo, yayaman ka na, kailangan mo ding magbanat ng buto para mabuhay ka sa ibang bansa.

Isang malaking sakripisyo ang pag alis mo sa bansangpinagsilangan at malungkot iwanan ang mga mahal mo sa buhay.Hindi pinupulot ang pera dito o pinipitas o iniigib. Hindi ako naninira ng pangarap, gusto ko lang buksan ang bintana ng katotohanan.

Mahirap mangibang bayan…sino ba ang may kasalanan na iwan sariling bayan?

Manilbihan sa dayuhan at malayo sa pamilya ay may kahirapan.

Hangga’t may pinay DH na nangingibang bayan na simbolo ng ating kahirapan, kawawang bayan ni Juan patuloy na mapag-iiwanan.

Kaya Juan iwan ka ng pera para sayo, para sa kinabukasan mo!

32 Blog Paying Sites

2009-08-24T14:09:00.037+08:00

A month ago, a friend named Sheila introduced me to this so called Blogosphere. She's been blogging for quite a while now and said she’s earning a few bucks through it, so I might want to try it too. I got really interested. I do enjoy writing, and to learn that I can earn something out of it is already an added bonus.

Not only did I get curious, I was, at the same time, excited how I can earn something from blogging…(as if my writing is worth some cash..lol). Sheila was kind enough to teach me how to start a blog, she provided me the sites I could visit and use. And obviously, I am now using Blogger and I just started a new one with Wordpress. I think these two are the most popularly used blog sites so far.

I did my homework of finding out how really does one earn some cash out of blogging. I was amazed to discover that a lot of people already have made money out of it ( and as of this writing, I wish I would too). Found out that there are certain sites on the net that pay bloggers for writing about companies and/or websites on their blog. I compiled a list of those sites I've stumbled upon (Thanks to 26 Sites That Pay You To Blog and to Get Paid to Blog). Unfortunately for me, most of these sites require that a blog be at least 90 days old before a blogger can register with them. I found 40+ sites but with very bad comments and reviews I read about the rest, I kept only 32 on my list. And I don't guarantee the credibility of these sites because, so far, I have registered with only one. But I sure will try to register in most of these once my blog reaches its ninetieth day old. That is to find out myself if they DO pay, hmmmmm…

Anyways, my sweeping through the internet about blogging or making money online made me come up with a conclusion, that unlike what most online schemes and scams tell us, no one gets rich overnight with this online thing...that it still requires patience, perseverance and hardwork to earn money, even with blogging (as if we don't know it yet).

That's all folks! Now, here's what I've got. :-)

1. About.com's Be a Guide

2. b5media

3. Blogvertise

4. Blog To Profit

5. Blogitive

6. Blog Her Ads

7. Blogging Ads

8. Blogger Jobs

9. Blog Distributor

10. Blog Burner

11. Blog Advertising Store

12. Blog Republic

13. Blog It

14. Creative Weblogging

15. Craft Gossip

16. Digital Journal

17. Get Paid From Us

18. Know More Media

19. Loud Launch

20. Link Worth's Link Post

21. Quickjump Network

22. PayU2Blog

23. Pay Per Post

24. Pay Me To Blog About You

25. Review Me

26. Sponsored Reviews

27. Social Spark

28. Smorty

29. Shvoong

30. Wise Bread

31. Weblogs, Inc.

32. 451Press

*** THE END ***

What A Child Can Do

2009-08-23T22:54:00.011+08:00

I was browsing our photo album and found this picture of my husband and my son at the beach. This particular photo, along with three others - shot on the same spot at the same time, was especially separated and captioned in the album.

What makes this special? Believe it or not, this is the first photo ever taken (well, as far as I am concerned) with my husband smiling at the camera. Don’t get me wrong, my husband, Jack, DOES smile. He isn’t some freak or any cold-blooded mammal who never learned the advantages of face-and-mouth-muscle-exercise of smiling and laughing. But he’s sort of camera shy or camera conscious (however you call it ). Or maybe he had a bad experience with some camera man back in his childhood days that made him kind of piqued whenever a camera gets near him. (lol)

Anyways, on a serious note (oh, really!), Jack spent years of training in a police academy. I assumed that it is his occupation that makes him draw that stern, unsmiling, dignified look whenever a camera is focused on him. When I just love to make all funny faces possible or give my widest grin whenever there’s a camera, Jack just does the opposite. Until, that time at the beach…and since then, we’d already see him smile at the camera more often, especially if he is to take pictures with his kids. (Or he must have realized that he looks a lot better in pictures when he smiles.)

Anyhow, that photo is so special to me. For me, Jack’s smile illuminates his joy of being a father…of having a son. Whenever I look at this picture, there’s always this tinge of warmth that touches my heart, seeing how fondly and lovingly he cuddled our son. He is a picture of a man who has embraced the world of fatherhood with love and pleasure. And it gives me pride that to this moment, Jack has remained the loving father he always has been to our children. What joy can a child bring to his/her parents is nothing comparable to any happiness there is in this world. Such a joy brings splendour and delight to any parent’s heart. That’s what a child can do.

Pointing Finger

2009-08-22T15:37:00.020+08:00

As persons, none of us is ever perfect. Flaws just flow all over our veins, in our thoughts, through our words and by our actions. But that doesn’t mean that we just have to leave it that way. Despite our imperfections, we have to strive to become better… to commit fewer flaws.

By “not leaving it that way” doesn’t mean you cleanse or minimize your flaws at the expense of other people. It is true that other people may have somehow caused the errors in your actions… other people may be the reasons why you lacked the knowledge to do something…but such a defense is one of a loser’s…it is an egoistic way of saving one’s face out of adversity.

As a person, learned and educated, you should know how to find your way out of new, unfamiliar and complex situations, not by putting blames onto someone else. Instead, you study and learn, and more importantly you LISTEN. Pay attention NOT TO YOURSELF ALONE, but to what others say about you and about what you do or should do.

One never learns when one doesn’t listen! How can you say if something is being taught to you or not, when you don’t even know how to listen? How would you know if what you do is appropriate or not, right or wrong when you simply hear what other people say, and not listen to what they say? Or if you only listen to the good things others say about you, and shut your ears up to any not-so-good things they say?

Moreover, one never learns if one doesn’t put into practice what he/she has learned. How can you say that you know how to cook rice when you never dared to cook rice?…When you always leave the cooking to someone else? A task, simple or difficult it may be, can be learned if you involve yourself into doing it. Any work, taught or not, can be learned if you engage in doing it. And it requires just an initiative to start doing things.

It shows, therefore, HOW COWARDLY IT IS TO REASON THAT YOUR IMPERFECTIONS AND LACK OF KNOWLEDGE IN DOING THINGS ARE DUE TO WHAT OTHERS WERE NOT ABLE TO DO FOR YOU. And that’s not only cowardice; it is hypocrisy, conceit and arrogance rolled into one.

Imperfections are normal, but bravery it is to stand to your faults and failures without pointing your fingers to someone else’s misdoings. And dignity arises only when you can accept criticism (in its meanest) with open-mindedness, and make change for the better.

Babies no More!

2009-08-20T11:43:00.024+08:00

I was (again) doing my household chores this morning (a broom and a piece of rag at either hands), when I came across our old photos. Found pictures of my kids when they were younger. I couldn't help but smile and mumble to myself, "how time flies so fast... my kids aren't babies anymore!"

Rain at age 2 and at 5

Rain at 1 and now at 6

Jacq at age 1 and now at 7

Jacq at 2 and at 6

Piece of a Puzzle

2009-08-07T05:38:00.008+08:00

And the final piece goes to....Jac-jac!

After hours of looking for the missing piece of the puzzle (Kids must have misplaced it or swept it out of the room, coz Jac found it right outside the door.), we finally completed and formed the thousand pieces puzzle that I brought home.

The puzzle was supposed to be my pasalubong for Jac-jac, coz my boy just enjoys doing puzzles a lot. But as it turned out, the puzzle became not only Jac's but of the whole family's past time for at least a week.

It was fun. All four of us helped out in putting together all 1000 pieces of the puzzle. Jac was overwhelmed by the number of pieces there was, and Rain who is actually not into puzzles, was encouraged to join her kuya, especially because the puzzle was of Disney characters. And Papa, who started out just watching Jac, Rain and me doing the puzzle, finally gave in and joined us put the puzzles together.

It felt good to see all four of us playing. And somehow, deep inside me, I can feel that my family - my husband and my kids... each of them makes up a piece of the puzzle that completes me.

Rain trying to position the finished puzzle

Jac putting the last piece of the puzzle in place

Buo na ang puzzle kaya posing na!

Bagyong Baguio

2009-08-06T12:31:00.001+08:00

We woke up very early coz it's school day again (after yesterday's special holiday - Cory's burial)..and I can hear the rain outside, pabugso-bugso. As I gathered from the weather news, typhoon Kiko is back thus the wind and the rain outside.

I was waiting for the news about the suspension of classes but there wasn't any until we reached the "kanto" to which we walked for 15 or 20 minutes...whew! (I was wondering where the hell were the taxis on this foggy, rainy morning...we couldn't get one, so we got to walk on the wet, slippery road.)

very foggy morning...view from our terrace just before we left for school.

And so, we headed back the house...dripping!

Our way back to our house on top of the mountains...lol. Kids still looked ecstatic despite the long walk and the rain, not because they have no classes but because they get photographed under the rain, hehehe.

Baguio City really stands to its name. "Bagyo" or no "bagyo" it just keeps raining here. And I swear, this non-stop raining is already getting into my nerves!

I cannot deny the fact that Baguio (without the rain) really has the nicest climate in the Philippines. In a sunny day, you will still be refreshed with its cool breeze. But my goodness gracious, I cannot stand the continuous pouring of the rain over here. Been back here for almost month now and there was never a day without rain since I was back! There were days when the sun would appear but later in the day it would start raining again. :(

Must have been missing the Dubai sun..hmmmm.

City of Gold

2009-07-29T06:35:00.001+08:00

It's been 2 weeks and 4 days now since I've been back from Dubai...Dubai, the City of Gold.

I can't help but think how anxious I was the first time I stepped my foot on the place. But such a feeling was soon replaced by so much awe when the day after I got there, my sister (who had been there for 2 years already during that time) took me to this place in Dubai called Gold Souk (gold market). And true to its name, it is indeed a market selling gold like it is the most ordinary thing to sell in the world.

I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing! Gold was everywhere. Oh, well...can't blame me for getting so mesmerized...not only that I haven't seen that much gold in my life, but also that back here in the Philippines (and I'll bet one of my fingers for it...lol), "bad men" will crash into stores with that much gold sold and displayed.

And since it was my first time to be in the market, I went inside the stores and got to see and hold those gold stuffs...and mind you, I got to see some real gold coins ! It's normal and ordinary to see gold jewelries anywhere, but gold coins...rarely. And for someone like me who only got to see coins made of bronze and silver (that's where Philippines coins are made of, with some zinc, nickel or steel in them.) seeing real gold coins was something. It ain't something you'd like to spend though. :-)

I was overwhelmed with soooo much gold there was...gold ring, gold necklace, gold coins, gold bars..name it and you'll find it there... displayed and selling like pancakes!

Another thing that amazes me in that gold market is that when you buy, say a ring, the salesguy would weigh it right infront of you and tell you the price based on the predetermined price of gold for that day plus it's price for craftmanship, or they call it "the making." And you can even calculate it yourself to see if the sales guy is showing you the correct price or not. That means you can borrow the salesman's calculator, paper and pen...it's normal there. The salesman wouldn't find offense about you borrowing those stuff and calculating the price yourself.

Well, that now is a memory I have of Dubai...of its gold market, and it's quite an experience...being there the first time.

Get Some Break with PRISON BREAK

2009-07-28T21:53:00.000+08:00

Quite late for the hype? I could just care less. As far as I am concerned I am oh-so-hooked with the story and can't wait to play the DVD ( bought one with the complete series) again for the 3rd series.

Prison Break is just so full of excitement and suspense that makes you keep looking forward for the next scenes, and OMG Wentworth Miller a.k.a. Michael Scofield is one hell of a hunk!!!

The cast did play their roles well and the show had a great story line. Can't wait to finish watching! But wait, I can't go without posting "Scofield's" photos here. :-)

Hmmmm.....

Have Fun with Russell Peters

2009-07-24T13:49:00.000+08:00

I was in tears laughing so hard having watched a video of Russell Peters' act. It was hilarious!

Some may not be familiar with the name, but Russell Peters has become pretty popular already as a stage comic performer. He is Indian by descent but was born and raised in Canada. Man, the guy is amazing! It's so amusing how he can make fun of his own race and yet still be proud of being one.

And I swear, I had the laugh of my life watching his act. I was so thankful to my friend who sent me a copy of one of Russell Peters' show. I'd be happy to share it to anybody who'd like to watch it and who'd fancy a good laugh. But here right now is a link I got from YouTube for a taste of Russell Peters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwIlTYG8j24

Other than being an Asian, which is one of the most joked about race (Indian being in the top of the list) Peters use in his acts, I guess the reason why I really find his performance hilarious is the fact that I had been in Dubai, a place very much populated by Indians. So, somehow I know (and I can prove too) that Peters' jokes about his own kind are true and are just too funny when underlined as he did in his acts.

Try watching and have a good laugh, pal!

Morning Dew

2009-07-23T22:14:00.002+08:00

Brought kids to school today…was just glad that it wasn’t raining this morning as it had been the past days. We got to school pretty early today, so after dropping the kids I went straight to the Baguio Cathedral, waited for the morning mass.

(Baguio Cathedral...just before i went inside the church.)

I wandered outside the Church for a little while before getting inside. It was the first time I’ve been here again since I arrived from Dubai more than a week ago. (Not that I haven’t been to church since I came back…hubby wanted us to go to Pink Sister’s Monastery last Sunday, so we were there instead of the Cathedral.)

It was a very cool morning with traces of last night’s on-and-off rain. Couldn’t help but take some snapshots of the morning dews.

(Well, I am no expert in taking pictures...I am just happy with whatever my tiny Sony digicam can do for me.)

(The sun was up this morning, yehey!)

Buhay Abroad

2009-07-19T22:45:00.000+08:00

Akala ng marami kapag nag-aabroad ka madami ka nang pera at madali na ang pera. Yon bang parang pinupulot mo na lang ang pera, kasi nga nasa abroad ka. Na kapag kakailanganin nila ng pera at hihiram sa’yo wala kang dahilan para tumanggi kasi nasa abroad ka. At kapag sinabi mong wala kang maipapahiram, hindi nila paniniwalaang wala kang pera, kundi nagmamaramot ka lang, kesyo lumaki na ang ulo mo dahil nakapag-abroad ka na.

It is a funny but annoying reality that we have in the Philippines. Pinoys have built that kind of concept of people who work abroad. Truth is, I once have that same concept until I worked abroad.

It is true that most pinoys who work abroad earn far better salaries than what they get in the Philippines. (Say, in my case, my one month salary in Dubai would take me 8 months to get with the job I left in the Philippines before going to Dubai.) But let us not forget the fact that while we earn dollars or pounds or dirhams or yen, we also spend in the same currency. We have apartments to pay, transportation, food, and clothes (well, I’d love to have something new to wear every now and then). And we aren’t spending in pesos.

That’s the biggest misconception most of our kababayans ( lalo na ang mga kamag-anak) has back here in the Philippines. Hindi nga ba’t ang sinasahod ng kamag-anak nating nasa abroad ay ikino-convert na natin sa pesos kaya tuwang-tuwa tayo dahil anlaki pala ng kinikita kapag sa abroad nagtatrabaho. Nakakalimutan natin na sa singkwenta mil pesos na converted money, libo-libong pesos din ang nakakaltas don parambayad sa personal at monthly expenses ng kamag-anak nating nasa abroad. Totoong malaki ang halaga ng perang kinita sa abroad, iyon ay kapag ipinalit sa pera natin sa Pilipinas.

At some point during my days abroad, friends tried to borrow money and most of those times I refused. What would you expect from someone who just started earning abroad? I had my own bills to settle, debts to pay (oh yeah, I left debts so I can go and work abroad!), kids’ school to prioritize, not to mention hubby's hospitalization/operation which caused more than a hundred thousand pesos. There wasn’t much that I could spare yet. And I had to keep something for myself, for my family. But having refused to lend money wasn’t pagmamaramot, only that I was just starting (Well, I am jobless now, after having just started. ..crap!). Would I have been more stable, would I have been richer…I’d never refuse a soul who's in need.

But you know what's more absurd when you try to refuse? Mas ikaw pa ang nahihiya na hindi ka makakapagpahiram dahil inaalala mo ang mararamdaman nila kapag tumanggi ka.

Anyways, those friends survived without my financial help….they don’t need me that much at all. lol

Torn Between Choices

2009-07-17T00:03:00.001+08:00

I just came back from Dubai…been there for one and a half years.

I couldn’t believe how difficult it was for me to decide whether to come back home or stay there and get another job. It was the same dilemma I faced before I decided to leave Philippines to “find a greener pasture” in the UAE.

Before I left for Dubai, I was crying my heart out coz I couldn’t almost bear to leave my kids and be away from them for I-don’t-know-how-long. Yet, I chose to leave and contained the feeling of loneliness being far from my family, my kids especially. And recently, with our company being dissolved, I was left with two choices, to stay in Dubai and get another job OR to go home and be with my family for good again.

I felt so torn between those choices, half of me wanted to stay coz unquestionably, I get a far better pay there in Dubai than with any work here in the Philippines. And it was something I couldn’t seem to give up yet after having enjoyed it for the past 18 months. But another half of me wanted to go home coz at the moment, there was no work contract that held me to stay, so I could finally be with my kids. It’s something I have always wished everyday and every night that I was away from them.

But here I was, still torn. I took a friend’s advice to help me with my dilemma. I was told to list my reasons why I want to stay there and reasons why I want to go home. Whichever gets more reasons, that’s what I have to decide to do. So I listed and tallied. Got five reasons why I wanted to stay in Dubai, and I only got ONE reason why I wanted to go home.

And yet, I’m home now. Why? Coz my one reason was more than enough reason why I should go home – I want to be with my family. I know it took me time to think coz there are things I am not yet ready to give up by staying in Dubai. But my kids need me…that is reason enough to make me come home.

Remembering Tatay

2009-07-16T22:42:00.002+08:00

(This article was written a year after Tatay's death. I just came out of it out of the blue. Thought of posting it here...as a start and to share to those who had once been part of Tatay's days.)

One short breath…a few more seconds a long breath came out --- his final breath. Tatay was gone.

It took me time to really accept the reality that Tatay is gone for good now. Since that afternoon of October 16, 2003, at the time when Tatay was supposed to listen to his favorite 3 o’clock prayer, I was in denial that he finally had to leave us. Though part of me was telling that it was better for him to go than suffer some more, still the pain was almost unbearable.

I know it was most painful for Nanay, who had been with him for more than 30 years of her life; more painful for Neneng, who had unselfishly sent money to provide for Tatay’s medication and who took time to come home from her work abroad only to be welcomed by Tatay’s death; more painful for Tata, who had been with Tatay at the hospital during the entire confinement up to his death; more painful for Toto and Ate, who had witnessed several dying moments of Tatay at the hospital; and for me…some may say that I hardly felt a pain of Tatay’s departure. Because after his burial, I had never shown tears again. I’d just smile and laugh off his death, and would say “it’s where we all would go anyway.” But in my solitude, I’d think of Tatay, and tears just kept falling…until I’d start sobbing...and couldn't almost stop from crying.

Deep inside me, I feel emptiness…I feel regret. Emptiness because Tatay is nowhere to be found now except in the four-walled rectangular cement at the Memorial. Emptiness because there isn’t anymore a sight of Tatay who’s almost always drunk. Emptiness because there isn’t anymore him who’d crumple himself down the sofa and watch television in most of his free time and always before bed at night. Emptiness because there isn’t anymore Tatay who’d willingly come and visit me to share with my petty talks, listen to my problems, and to see how I had been doing living away from home. Emptiness because never again will I hear him say, “Palangga man kita, Anak ba.” or “Paborito ko yan, si Putot!”. Emptiness because I’d never hear him call me Putot ever again…the name only Tatay had used to call me. Emptiness because I’d never hear his sentiments again on why he kept drinking --- “Mag-inom kay mingaw man. Sana kung andito kayo lahat magkapatid para masaya ang bahay.” And so, we’d all come home with hope that it would solve his drunkenness. But he’d get drunk still, and say, “Syempre masaya kasi andito kayo lahat, kaya mag-inom.” That’s Tatay, alright!

I feel emptiness because I just miss Tatay so much.

And missing Tatay makes me regret for a number of things I wasn’t able to do for him. Though I had said my sorry’s and thank you’s to him before he finally passed away, I feel it wasn’t enough. I feel regret because I wasn’t able to give Tatay a more convenient lifestyle. I feel regret because I had been mean to him during his “drunken days”. I feel regret because despite the desire to hug him, upon seeing him in his hospital bed, I never did – even up to his death. I regret so much, not being able to hold him tight, and just make him feel…without words, that everything was alright…though nothing was, when everybody just knew that he’d eventually just pass away.

Only if I can turn back time…only if Tatay was given another chance…only if Tatay is still alive…so many only if’s. But I know, behind all these, behind missing Tatay and behind all my regrets, is the fact that I feel the pain for the loss of one very important person in my life, Tatay.