My Constipated Life

moving out!

2010-02-17T20:56:00.001+08:00

I've moved to wordpress!

http://pinayinsg.wordpress.com

2010-01-08T16:51:00.003+08:00

During Santiago's cremation, my mom whispered to him: "Santiago, please help your Tito Jun and Tita Chie have a baby."

A month after, I learned I'm pregnant.

We love you, Santiago. Thank you.

waiting to be bored

2009-12-07T00:51:00.003+08:00

Just like what I've gone through with other social networking sites, I am waiting to get bored with Facebook.

But that might take awhile because I love the way it keeps me in touch with my close friends and (most especially) my sisters.

I used to blog a lot, not because I want others to ready my thoughts, but because I've always found it therapeutic to write down what I feel and document mundane things that I do. But lately, I've been on hiatus. I still have my offline journal, but this pinayinsg journal has been inactive for the longest time. And the same thing goes for my other "outlets":

I haven't read a decent book in awhile.
I still haven't started on my "next chapter" scrapbook.
I don't write e-mails and snail mails to people I love the way I used to before.

And because I've always believed in not making "work" your "world", I have decided that, before the year ends, I shall:

Start the ball rolling on my scrapbooking project.
Read and finish a decent book.
Write some stuff on this blog.
Do some spring cleaning in my hard drive.
Go on a local tour (i.e. Duck Tours or something)
Go out and shoot with hubby.
Send out Christmas cards this week!

Although the greatest challenge would be some of my new projects at work and some other stuff for the Paddle-side, I vow to do all those in the list.

Busy, busy! I like!

Image taken from here.

Something I learned in 2009

2009-09-05T19:26:00.001+08:00

Sometimes, the best thing you can do for other people, is to stay out of their business.

in that haze between sleep and dreams

2009-08-31T23:16:00.000+08:00

Oftentimes, just when I am about to go into a deep slumber, I open my eyes a bit and I see you sleeping soundly beside me. Suddenly--despite all the arguments that day brought us--in the haze between my sleep and my dreams, I try to remember whether I've told you today that I love you. And just to be sure, I hug you and whisper my sleep-induced words of "I love you".

You probably don't remember it anymore when you wake up. But just so you know, in that haze between your sleep and dreams, you always manage to answer "I love you, too, Honie."

And that is how my day would officially end.

blogging hiatus

2009-08-24T22:39:00.000+08:00

This has got to be my longest blogging hiatus thus far!

I still write in my personal journal but I suddenly miss blogging! I think now that I'm kinda getting tired with FB, I'll go back to blogging again :)

Gosh, ang tahimik sa multiply!!!

Stay With Me

2009-07-29T07:42:00.000+08:00

Should my heart not be humble, should my eyes fail to see,

Should my feet sometimes stumble on the way, stay with me.

Like the lamb that in springtime wanders far from fold,

Comes the darkness and the frost, I get lost, I grow cold.

I grow cold, I grow weary, and I know I have sinned,

And I go seeking shelter and I cry in the wind,

And though I grope and I blunder and I kneel and I'm wrong,

Though the rose buckles under where I walk, walk along

Till I find to my wonder every task least to see,

Or that I can do it, pray, stay with me.

Stay with me.

- Main theme from The Cardinal

21 UTOS NI BOB ONG

2009-07-24T16:03:00.000+08:00

So which one/s do you agree with?

21 UTOS NI BOB ONG

1. "Kung hindi mo mahal ang isang tao, wag ka nang magpakita ng motibo para mahalin ka niya."

2. "Huwag mong bitawan ang bagay na hindi mo kayang makitang hawak ng iba."

3. "Huwag mong hawakan kung alam mong bibitawan mo lang."

4. "Huwag na huwag kang hahawak kapag alam mong may hawak ka na."

5.. "Parang elevator lang yan eh, bakit mo pagsisiksikan ung sarili mo kung walang pwesto para sayo. Eh meron naman hagdan, ayaw mo lang pansinin."

6. "Kung maghihintay ka nang lalandi sayo, walang mangyayari sa buhay mo...Dapat lumandi ka din."

7. "Pag may mahal ka at ayaw sayo, hayaan mo. malay mo sa mga susunod na araw ayaw mo na din sa kanya, naunahan ka lang."

8. "Hiwalayan na kung di ka na masaya. Walang gamot sa tanga kundi pagkukusa."

9. "Pag hindi ka mahal ng mahal mo wag ka magreklamo. Kasi may mga tao rin na hindi mo mahal pero mahal ka.. Kaya quits lang."

10. "Kung dalawa ang mahal mo, piliin mo ung pangalawa. Kasi hindi ka naman magmamahal ng iba kung mahal mo talaga ung una."

11. "Hindi porke't madalas mong ka-chat, kausap sa telepono, kasama sa mga lakad o ka-text ng wantusawa eh may gusto sayo at magkakatuluyan kayo. Meron lang talagang mga taong sadyang friendly, sweet, flirt, malandi, pa-fall o paasa."

12. "Huwag magmadali sa babae o lalaki. Tatlo, lima, sampung taon, mag-iiba ang pamantayan mo at maiisip mong hindi pala tamang pumili ng kapareha dahil lang maganda o nakakalibog ito. Totoong mas mahalaga ang kalooban ng tao higit sa anuman. Sa paglipas ng panahon, maging ang mga crush ng bayan nagmumukha ding pandesal, maniwala ka."

13. "Minsan kahit ikaw ang nakaschedule, kailangan mo pa rin maghintay, kasi hindi ikaw ang priority."

14. "Mahirap pumapel sa buhay ng tao. Lalo na kung hindi ikaw ung bida sa script na pinili niya."

15. "Alam mo ba kung gaano kalayo ang pagitan ng dalawang tao pag nagtalikuran na sila? Kailangan mong libutin ang buong mundo para lang makaharap ulit ang taong tinalikuran mo."

16. "Mas mabuting mabigo sa paggawa ng isang bagay kesa magtagumpay sa paggawa ng wala."

17. "Hindi lahat ng kaya mong intindihin ay katotohanan, at hindi lahat ng hindi mo kayang intindihin ay kasinungalingan."

18. "Kung nagmahal ka ng taong di dapat at nasaktan ka, huwag mong sisihin ang puso mo. Tumitibok lang yan para mag-supply ng dugo sa katawan mo.
Ngayon, kung magaling ka sa anatomy at ang sisisihin mo naman ay ang hypothalamus mo na kumokontrol ng emotions mo, mali ka pa rin! Bakit?
Utang na loob! Wag mong isisi sa body organs mo ang mga sama ng loob mo sa buhay! Tandaan mo: magiging masaya ka lang kung matututo kang tanggapin na hindi ang puso, utak, atay o bituka mo ang may kasalanan sa lahat ng nangyari sayo, kundi IKAW mismo!"

19. "Pakawalan mo ung mga bagay na nakakasakit sayo kahit na pinasasaya ka nito. Wag mong hintayin ang araw na sakit na lang ang nararamdaman mo at iniwan ka na ng kasiyahan mo."

20. "Gamitin ang puso para alagaan ang mga taong malalapit sayo. Gamitin ang utak para alagaan ang sarili mo."

21. "Ang pag-ibig parang imburnal...nakakatakot mahulog...at kapag nahulog ka, it's either by accident or talagang tanga ka.

To all preggers and new mommies

2009-07-04T21:47:00.000+08:00

Hi mommies and mommies to be. Nikki, pakiforward to kay Abbie, I don't know her email ad e.

I was reminded of this issue when I read one of DOP's recent posts and I wanted to share them with you because I know you are preparing for your baby's stuff.

It's about this BPA issue, it was proven toxic and is commonly found in baby stuff like mga feeding bottles. In fact, it has been banned from some countries na. In the Philippines ata, it is not yet banned. I am not sure lang if it's banned na in Singapore. So if it's not banned, you may probably be buying things that has BPA in it :(

Daphne mentioned (and she IS a reliable source) that Philips-Avent is not releasing BPA-Free bottles and breast pumps markets except in North America!!!

Here's an excerpt from her blog:

Most people in the Western world don't have to worry about BPA in their children's plastic bottles. BPA is bisphenol-a found in clear hard plastics like baby bottles. BPA has estrogenic properties and has been found to cause the following problems (and more):

- prostate and breast cancer
- uro-genital abnormalities in male babies
- early onset of puberty in girls
- metabolic disorders including insulin-resistant (Type 2) diabetes
- obesity
- neurobehavioral problems such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Canada took the lead in banning BPA in baby bottles. The industry responded. Most baby-product companies developed BPA-free baby bottles. Some retailers offered refunds for old BPA Bottles. I wrote about the BPA issue last year.

Technically, I can give birth safely in four weeks. I had been preparing the little details. I don't need much - no baby gadgets and toys. This is my third baby. But I do need newborn clothes and a whole new system of breast pumps and bottles. All my old bottles had BPA, so they went out the window last year.

I wasn't going to mention it but I will. Philips Avent, as a company, sucks big time. They are not releasing BPA-Free bottles and breast pumps markets other than North America. While North American babies can be assured of safety, our babies will have to use up all the old stock toxic bottles. So those of us who want to still use Avent will have to order through relatives in the US or Canada. Or through some enterprising "importers" and resellers in Multiply or Ebay. Or as my friend Ingrid and I found out (the hard way), you can buy it at Baby and Co -- for P1799 for two 5oz bottles... that's USD 37 for two small bottles.

I've used the Avent manual breast pump for both kids. It worked fine for me. I can't the say the same for Medela electric. I went all out during my second baby and bought a double electric. It ended up giving me mastitis. I almost had to have breast surgery during that time. So I went back to manual. I was looking for BPA-free Avent manual pumps here. They're not being sold by the official distributors because of that awful policy of Philips Avent. So I had to be resourceful and order it directly from the US.

What the local market lacks in non-toxic Avent bottles, it gains in this new product called Tommee Tippee. I got a few bottles. I looove the shape and design. The teats are wider and softer. It seems more "natural" than the other brands. And... the price is friendlier. I'm getting more for sure.

You may want to read the rest of the entry, because Daphne suggested some sources where you can buy BPA-free products.

http://daphneosena.livejournal.com/88083.html

Hope this helps!

There are still some studies and press releases supporting the safety of this chemical, that it is not considered toxic. But those are still just draft assessments. Plus the fact that when marketing and profits are concerned, some companies don't lay down the whole truth to their consumers. In my opinion, it is better not to take that risk. If there is a better and safer alternative, then I'd go for that alternative.

Hope you have a safe delivery! And for some of you, enjoy your new-found momminess. Sana ako rin soon na :)

Blogging Hiatus

2009-06-25T00:58:00.004+08:00

Blogging hiatus. I blame it on FB. I haven't blogged as often as I used to because I'm too busy answering quizzes, writing on others' walls, updating my status, writing senseless comments, etc.

Nikki's new accessory. Hubby bought a new accessory for his toy (Nikki). An external flash. About $350. Really makes a big difference to our shots. But I do hope he gets the hell out and start shooting again. I noticed all he does lately is just tinker with his gadgets. (Yes, I do name my favorite things).

Our move. We've settled in our new place already. All bags and boxes have been emptied. Stuff has been put in their proper places. Just a little bit more organising and I guess we're all set to organise a housewarming.

New kitchen. I'm settling into my new kitchen as well. I am still adjusting though because it is smaller than our previous flats'. When we were at Ikea the other day, I told him we should buy the kitchen trolley already so I can at least clear up some countertop space. Instead of following his wife's advice, he proceeded to buy the futton frame instead. I DID NOT like him at all at that moment.

New phone. After having to swear that I will not leave my phone unattended while the whole office is moving to a new location and that I will not put my phone into washing machines (or indirectly do anything that will make other people put it into any kind of household appliances), Hubby finally got me a new phone. Initially, I wanted a Nokia E71, but after waiting almost two weeks for the color that I want to arrive, I changed my mind and decided to go for an iPhone instead.

iPhone convert. I didn’t like iPhone when it first came out. I even called it ‘a snobbish phone’—hello, you can’t forward messages then. However, now that I have mine, plus with the recent upgrade, I totally totally love it, mainly because I get to download cool applications. Hehe.

Cooking for two. Been cooking everyday since we moved to our new place, and I’m starting to enjoy it again. Masarap magbaon, eh. Iba pa rin ang lutong bahay. Once again, I’m discovering the joys of cooking for my husband and discovering some nice simple dishes. Or how to make them more yummy—like what a few drops of calamansi can do to your sweet & sour pork, or how mushroom soup from scratch is so much better than the canned version.

Lister. Some things on my list now—go to the driving range with hubby at least once a week to practice my swing, cook and master some new dishes, go to mass every Sunday (we are facing so many challenges now but God has been good to us, I don’t want to miss Sunday masses na so I can properly thank him), do my HHA (guess what this is) at least thrice a week, fix our home office and organize my accessories and knick knacks, learn how to mix some cocktails, finish my childhood scrapbook, and also miko and nixxie’s scrapbooks, and finally, WORK HARDER (I feel I am so petiks at times, lol).

Yun lang pow. Baboosh. Lol.

Bye Bye Holland V!!

2009-06-15T16:41:00.000+08:00

It was good and fun while it lasted.

See you in Marine Parade!!!

From west to east

2009-06-01T20:43:00.003+08:00

I haven’t blogged for a looong time. So it’s just right that I write a long entry about our house-hunting this year. So this is going to be quite a long read…

Because our contract for our Holland Close flat is expiring in June, we already contemplated as early as January whether we should renew the contract or not. For one thing, our housemates will be moving out already and unless the owner is willing to meet our price range, then we’d have to move and find another flat.

As we had expected, the owner (more like the agent, I think) did not bulge to our tawad. The agents that we had then, let’s call her “Agent L”, talked to us about finding a new place by June. We told her our requirements (budget, location, interiors, etc) but she was quite negative (i.e. Ay naku, wala kayong mahahanap na okay sa ganyang price range!), and I didn’t like it one bit. She kept telling us our budget is not enough and we won’t be able to find a place within that range. We didn’t believe her because we’ve done our research and we know that our price range is just reasonable for a studio or a one-bedroom flat. Plus the fact that property rates went down this year. And so, I told my husband I didn’t want to have her as our agent anymore because I don’t like dealing with negative people. I believed that the reason she didn’t like our budget was because, the lower our budget, the lower her fee would be (In Singapore, you need to pay your agent half of one month’s rental rate for a year of their services).

So who became our agent? Eian, wife of one of my paddle-side brothers here, is a property agent and so we asked her to be our agent. She’s really good because she understands what we want, what we need, and how much we can really afford. In fact, there were times during our viewings that I was about to make an offer already, but she would be my “voice of conscience” and ask me “Sure ka, Mitch, okay na sa’yo to?”. (Jun, who had higher standards than me, was away on vacation a few weeks ago, I was the only one who went with my agent for the first two viewing sessions. Thus, the low standards and low expectations hehe)

When I viewed the first few studios, I thought “Yikes, our things won’t fit in here.” I also noticed that most studios here in Singapore are in private apartments/buildings. Most of the studio units in HDBs are allocated to older people without any families. And because most studios are not in HDBs, their locations are a bit far from the MRT or bus stations. If you look at the city lay out of Singapore, you’d notice that government-owned properties (e.g. HDBs) are the ones near the MRT and bus interchanges.

Here are the units that I have shiortlisted after four sessions of viewings, which spanned two weekends:

@Tanah Merah

The first place I “shortlisted” was a studio apartment in Tanah Merah. It is actually a landed property converted into a number of studio apartments. The house has its own small elevator! Nice! It’s not an open-space studio concept—which means that there is some sort of a dividing wall that separates the living area from the bedroom. It was really cute (literally cute actually, because it was so small). I can see the potential of the place in spite of the messy unit that we viewed (there was still a tenant occupying it during our viewing). The downside is, it’s far from the MRT station. There are also no buses because it’s a road of “landed properties” which means that people staying there have cars so the government probably thought “Oh we don’t need it to be a part of the bus routes then.” How much is the rent? It’s priced at $1500 (negotiable).

And so I e-mailed the pics to my hubby (who was in Manila that time):

My hubby’s verdict: Not good enough. He said it’s too far from the MRT (which means I will end up complaining to him everyday about the walk). It’s too small and cramped. Plus, Tanah Merah is too far from the city. And there are no nearby convenience stores, etc. The $1500 is just not worth it.

@Balestier

I viewed this unit twice—first time, it was just me; then second time, I was with hubby. It’s a private building with studio units inside; walking distance to Novena MRT station. Jun and I liked it because all the fixtures and furnishings were new and of good quality. It’s priced at $1400 inclusive of PUB, Cable TV and internet. Not bad, huh. The downside is, it’s an open-concept studio and we don’t think that our stuff would fit in that space. After viewing it with Jun, we decided that if we really cannot find anything for the next two weeks, then we would make an offer already for this place. In the event that we stay at this studio, we’d have to think of some way to keep (or dispose) some of our bulky stuff).

If you are a couple (pwede ring single) and you are just starting it out here in SG, I highly recommend this to you. Most probably you don’t have your own furniture and appliances yet so this set up is just right for you. The fact that the rental price is inclusive of PUB, Cable TV and internet is really a good deal. They have different studio layouts, so you can choose which one you prefer. Took some photos of the studio unit:

@Guillemard

A little backgrounder: Our soon-to-be-ex-housemates will be moving to a 2-bedroom private apartment in a building called Guillemard View. It’s located at the “quieter” side of Geylang, adjacent to Guillemard Road. Like other private apartments, the layout was spacious. And so, when Mommy Eian told me that there is a unit up for rent in that same building, with the same layout, and is within our budget, I got really excited!

When I first viewed the Guillemard unit, I was shocked because it looked so different from what I expected. It was a bit run down, and the owners had too many furniture that they didn’t want to move out. So the “spacious layout” that I had expected, became very cramped and baduy. I told myself that maybe when Jun sees it for himself, he’d decide that the price of $1500 is worth it because of the space and the location (it was walking distance to my office) and that we’d just fix the place up.

On my second viewing of the Guillemard unit, this time with Jun, he took one look and he didn’t like it. It was not “magaan sa loob”. He always believed that once you step inside a unit, you’d know if you will like it or not once you feel that it is “magaan sa loob”. I was already panicking a bit because nothing seems to be within our requirements. I wanted to settle with the Guillemard unit (thinking that it was worth it because of the size and location).

@Marine Terrace

By this time, we have already viewed the flat at Marine Terrace, and it was out of our budget. But since we really liked the Marine Terrace unit, we made an offer for $1500 (vs owner’s price of $1800). I told Jun that it is most unlikely that the owner will give way (yes, I was being nega at this time because I was too scared we might not be able to find a flat in time for our Holland unit contract’s expiration). Our offer was $300 below the rental price! We made the offer around 6pm and we didn’t get any reply from the owner’s agent at all. We thought, maybe it wasn’t really for us, then. But lo and behold, Jun woke me up the following day with very good news: Mommy Eian called him to inform him that the owner accepted our offer. Woohoo!

Why did the owner accept our (low) offer? It must have been our charm! Haha. Actually, the other prospective tenants had higher offers than us. But the owner thought that we would be able to take care of the flat better, and it’s just the two of us so there won’t be much wear and tear. She’d rather rent it out at a cheaper price than spend a lot for the renovations/repairs when the tenants move out.

So here is our new home w.e.f. 13 Jun 2009. The pros and cons:

PROs – $1500 for 2 bedrooms; corner flat; super well-maintained as the owner is always abroad; we are the first tenants; renovated; owner seems nice; nice view of the sea and trees; near restaus and bars at East Coast; there’s a direct bus going to my workplace and Jun’s workplace; quiet neighborhood; walking distance to a food court and market; toilet and bath is in good condition—very clean, no stains, etc; near the airport; playground (for my future babies), badminton and basketball court just beside our building; CCTV cameras in the lift and other common areas (not all HDBs have this—it’s a special installation because GCT is the MP in this area; and finally, Goh Chock Tong is the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for this constituency—yay!

CONs – it’s not near an MRT station; no supermarket (like CS or NTUC) nearby; the unit is not on a high floor (it’s just on the fifth floor); travel time taking the direct bus to city (Suntec/Orchard etc) is more than 30 minutes; other CONs shall be discovered as we go along but hopefully it won’t be a lot.

So here’s a sneak peak of the next Tuloy ang Ligaya residence:

from his goodbye girl

2009-05-23T01:37:00.000+08:00

“Sometimes, we need to be apart to see the wonderful things we have together”

--

The longest time that we were apart was nine months. When we finally got together and started living under one roof, we told each other: We will never be apart. Where one goes, the other goes. For whatever reason it may be. When we need to travel, we travel together.

A week after we said that, I had to leave him for a two-week business trip to East Malaysia.

Huh! Such sweet words that only newly-married couples can utter. When reality bites, you learn that there are some things that you have to do alone, that there are times when you need to be away from your partner.

It’s no big deal for most people, I guess. What’s one- or two weeks’ away from each other, right? Some would even see each other every two years.

This past week that he was away, I felt that there was nothing to look forward to everyday because I know I wouldn’t see him when I wake up nor would I see him after work. And at 29 years old, it is actually a new feeling for me. Yes, I’ve been into other serious relationships before I got married, but I was NEVER dependent on a man. I am happy with or without them. It was like my own personal adage: “Never put your happiness in the hands of one person. You have to learn to be happy on your own, before you can be happy with someone.”

Not that I am miserable without him. Okay, I do feel miserable without him. I didn’t know I was actually capable of missing someone this much. And we’ve been friends, best friends, lovers, etc for more than a decade!

So this week, and probably for the rest of my life, I specifically thanked God for this chapter in our life in which we are away from our old friends and family. I don’t think we would be as close and bonded as we are now if not for our situation. Like other loving couples, we become each other’s strength, our problems make us stronger (or for other couples, break ‘em up), we learn each other’s importance at once, we see each other’s bad side but the acceptance is always there (albeit the arguments and interrogations). The difference, I guess, is that those things are more magnified.

I believe this is yet again another confirmation that I married the one I truly, madly, deeply love. And that the one I married truly, madly, deeply loves me too. I just know. Because despite all my mood swings, long-term PMSing and other neurotic tendencies, illogical demands, radical views and some other unpleasant changes in me, he still makes me feel like a 15-year old girl, experiencing love for the first time. No partner is perfect, but if we’re blessed, we find the perfect partner for us.

A week or two before he left, I got mad at him. I was so mad at him that I thought, upon waking up one morning, I couldn’t feel the magic anymore. You see, although I am crazy when it comes to love, I do not wear rose-colored glasses in my relationship. I love deeply but I have no ambitions to become martyr. In as much as I shout to the world that I love someone, I also shout it out to the world when I am hurt.

For me, magic comes and goes. It’s just up to us to bring it back when troubles & hurt steal it away from us. And as for me and my one great love, the magic is definitely back.

Here at SM! Here at SM! Weee gaaat iiit ol por youu!

2009-05-15T22:24:00.001+08:00

It's all because of Chuvaness! Haha. I suddenly felt homesick because of all these SM talk at CVS' site. Got worse when I saw this. Huhuhu!!! I want to have this as my ring tone!!! I miss SM, really!!! The theme song reminds me of my mom, especially when my sisters and I were still kids and we'd have our weekly trips to SM, Cinderella, and the old "outdoor" Glorietta (after my Saturday ballet class--yes, I took up ballet haha). My mom is an SM fanatic. I miss SM. I miss my mom-my Super Mom. Wahhh!

Watch this, ang galing. I wish my piano teacher didn't walk out on me.

Because It's A Mom's Thing (Cha)

2009-05-09T16:15:00.001+08:00

This is my sister Cha's story, in her own words.

---

I was a semester away from graduating when I got pregnant with my daughter. Since it was your typical pregnancy out of wedlock, my boyfriend that time (and now my husband) and I were at a loss as to how we are going to break the news to my mom. My dad was abroad, as usual, so it was my mom that we had to talk to first. And knowing my mom, I was a hundred percent sure that she would go ballistic.

I can still clearly remember that night. My mom was in her room watching TV and Nicco and I were standing outside the bedroom door, prompting each other when to enter the room.

“When the show goes on a commercial break, let’s go inside na ha!” I told him.

“Pwede bang next commercial na lang?”, my then future husband bargained.

It took a dozen or so commercials when we finally decided, “Let’s go, para matapos na ‘to.”

And so finally, we went inside and broke the news to my mom. Surprisingly, she didn’t go ballistic as I had expected. She just asked us calmly: “So what are your plans?”. I knew those questions would come and we were ready to give our answers. I breathed a sigh of relief and a glimpse of happiness that night—I felt everything would be okay.

But that was just, as they say, the calm before the storm. Three days after, my mom knocked on my bedroom door and just went crazy—shouted, threw things. I knew my mom could raise hell when she’s mad but little did I know she’s capable of doing those things that night. I was shocked because I thought everything was fine. But I was wrong. Thinking about it now, maybe the reality of the situation didn’t sink in immediately. It was a classic case of delayed reaction for my mom, I guess.

Before that day ended, I packed my things and left our house.

Early morning the following day, I received a text message from her asking me to go home. I didn’t want to because I was still hurting. It took me a week before I finally went back home.

And when I finally did come home, I went straight to my room… and I found a maternity dress and a box of prenatal milk on my bed. I cried so hard. My mom was never the type who will shower you with hugs and sweet words. So that gesture meant something big—that she has already accepted my situation and that no matter what decisions I make or whatever crazy thing I do, she will always love me and accept me wholeheartedly.

And it would be the same thing I would do for my daughter…no matter what. Now I understand. It’s a mom’s thing J

Unconditional Love:

from a married friend

2009-05-08T09:17:00.000+08:00

Shared by a once-happily-married friend:

"It doesn't matter where the husband gets his appetite, as long as he eats at home."

Thoughts?

Hahaha!

love 'em veggies

2009-05-08T09:02:00.000+08:00

I've been really sad lately. And it's all because I've decided to abstain from rice. Two weeks (and counting) of no rice. Can you imagine--me not eating rice! Sacrilege! And the depressing part here, I didn't even lose a single pound. Well, at least, not yet. Maybe it's because I don't even exercise hehe.

I played badminton last night with hubby, and I only lasted for ten minutes because my chest hurts already. Damn those cigarette sticks.

Last week, I tried this Fat-Burning Soup diet. It's supposed to be for seven days. More info about it next time when I get to say that it's really effective. Because the thing is, I only came up to Day 3 and I couldn't tahan it anymore! I'll probably try doing it again next month. No rice it is for now.

So now, I stick to veggies and fish and chicken. It's so hard to lose weight if your husband is trying to gain weight. Hay.

This one's my fave salad for now. I used to go gaga over Flinder's salad, but I'm over it now 'cus eating it everyday is just so boring.

My sister in law made this veg salad before and I really liked it. It's just sitaw, sigarillas (i think), vinegar (or vinegrette), pepper, tomatoes, some quail eggs and dried basil. So I eat this always and I just tweaked it a bit by adding atchara.

I don't know about you, but I love my veggies so I totally like this salad.

(a repost of my favorite essay)

2009-04-30T20:45:00.000+08:00

One Love, One Lifetime

by Quickmelt

(as published in PDI's YoungBlood section, circa 1990s)

In the sixteenth summer of my life I fell in love for the first time. Naturally, I had no idea what I was getting into. Youth, for all its freshness and vigor, does not have the wisdom of past experience. And so it was that I was very ill-equipped when Cupid's arrows first struck. I still had fairy-tale notions of love: Boy likes girl, girl likes boy, boy and girl pledge undying love for each other, and they live happily ever after. I only had to find my Prince Charming, and everything would be smooth sailing. I was young and invincible. No sadness could touch me, especially in the arena of romance.

To young people finding themselves drawn to someone for the first time, everthing is wonderful and new. I once read that love is like God's finger on your shoulder. Every beautiful thing in the world feels like it was made solely for your enjoyment, like a gift chosen with only you in mind. Perhaps the greatest of all these gifts is the sound of your heart catching in your throat at the sight of a boy smiling at you as though you, too, were a gift he cannot quite thank God enough for.

When I look back athe days when I was all giddy with that first discovery of love, I find that the grass was greener, the air was fresher and even the sun was kinder, not sending its rays down to punish my back on sweltering afternoons, like it does now, but bathing me in its radiance so that I had the morning sunshine in my smile. The splendor of creation, the marvel of life -- I had never tasted them more fully than when I had a heart grateful for the first touch of love. It felt like I had the whole world in my hands, the power to do whatever I pleased, in my own sweet time as soon as I had finished attending to greater things at hand, such as the business of love. My prince had come on his white charger, to rescue me from my ordinary, solitary existence. Suddenly, I had someone to hold my hand. It was bliss. It was ecstasy. I was madly, deeply, truly in love.

I thought my happiness was without end. I thought that since we had naturally gravitated toward each other, it would be a simple thing to get together and be sweethearts until our hearts gave out in our golden years. Of natural causes, not of exhaustion, like I don't feel like loving you anymore. Of a coronary disease, maybe, not some mysterious happenstance, like where is the love we used to know?

Where did it go? I don't know. Maybe it was too beautiful to last. Maybe the deities who bestowed this wondrous gift on me decided they could not extend their generosity any further. Maybe it wasn't love at all. Maybe it was merely a sweet but insignificant friendship, that in my romantic delusion I had exaggerated into a grand love affair. Years of sleepless nights, countless tears and endless soul searching have given me no answers.

But if it wasn't love, what could it possibly have been? What was it that made me feel his present like no other, day after day, month after month, year after year? He would walk into a room and my attention would immediately be riveted to him, like an oarsman in the dead of night fixing his eyes on a lighthouse miles and miles away. I would see him come out of a building, and my eyes would light up like incandescent bulbs. He would smile at me and I'd melt, quicker than you can say quickmelt. He would grant me the privilege of his company, and like a kitten I would purr contentedly in my master's lap. I would see him over the weekend, and no amount of stress could ruin my happiness for two weeks thereafter. He would talk to me for a while, and I'd panic for lack of something appropriate to say, and my toungue would fall back in my throat and stay there for the rest of the conversation almost asphyxiating me. He would narrate some anecdote, and I could recite it from memory many months after everyone else had forgotten it. He would crack one of his numerous jokes and I'd laugh like a hyena, loving the sound of his voice, more than the sound of my own laughter. He would open his mouth to say something, and I would hear the loveliest music and feel my face glow with intense satisfaction, like when my father used to take me to the supermarket to pick as many Dole pineapple juice an off the shelves as I cared.

Even to this day, when I have successfully convinced myself and unsuccessfully convinced my friends that I have fallen out of love with him, I cannot help but cast one last glance in his direction every time he says goodbye and starts to walk away to an existence entirely separate from my own. I keep my eyes on his until the last hair on his head is out of sight, trying to preserve every detail of his appearance oin my memory until the time I will see him again.

I loved his smile most of all. It must have been the same smile Noah had upon seeing the rainbow after the Great Flood. Swirling masses of dark clouds and slowly, one by one, little fingers of light coalesce to reveal a brilliant arc of colored light in the sky. I remember how he used to smile at me when we'd pass each other in the school corridors. Reflexively I'd smile back, grinning like silly, my meager dimples stretched up to my ears, my face dangerously close to splitting. He'd give me that dazzling smile of his and everything would stop just like that. It was as if the world had cesed to exist; it was nly me and him: his glistening retainers the vertiginous dance of my heart. When they said money can't buy happiness, they must have meant the happiness that comes with first love.

He gave me the greatest happiness as well as the greatest sadness of my young life. The times when he made me feel most loved will always be like commemorative gold coins in mint condition in my mind. When you hear your beat in unison with another even for the most fleeting moment, that's one moment you will never forget.

I fell apart when it finally became clear that we weren't getting anywhere, at least not together and that our great love affair was only being carried on in my imagination. Love is a woman's existence, and mine became totally disordered. I could not sleep. I could not eat. I could not study. I could not do anyhting but think of him. I cannot imagine it now, but there was a time when my every thought was of him. I would be praying and I'd think of him, and then I'd pray, "Please God, I love him. Please let him love me again." I would be eating, and then I'd recall somemeal we had taken together in some restaurant I cannot enter now without him beside me again. I would be studying, and I'd remember mechanically doing my homework. I would be sleeping, and if I so much as dreamt of his shadow, I'd be sleepless for days afterward. I would be looking at the stars in thesky, and then I'd recite that childhood rhyme: Starlight, star bight/ first, second, third, ad infinitum star I saw tonight, please grant me his love anew. I would be living my life in the present, then I'd think of him and suddenly I'd want to live the past all over again. Once I nearly tore off the tuning knob from the radio, switching stations because one song kept on playing on the airwaves, telling this is your story, when I was desperately trying to put a semblance of normality in my life (and trying to cram for my finals).

Two years down the line, I discovered tennis and took out my frustration on the hapless, fuzzy, yellow balls. In no time at all, I had an excellent serve, but alas, I could not master the groundstrokes.

I pined for him until I could pine no longer. I kept my life empty for the longest time so that he could freely re-enter anytime he wished. Now I realize that this was a great disservice to myself. In my great, tragic love for this person I had forgotten to love myself and became a victim of my own neglect. Buth then in the anguished lives the young lead, they need drama commensurate to their hormonal levels, and my drama was wasting away for a boy I had lost, I guess, to college education.

Through it all I loved him very much. I love him so much that, as the cliche goes, I could not deny him his happiness. If he was happier with someone else, so be it. If he was happier with me as only friend, so be it. Though it sometimes felt like I had a wound in my heart, it didn't matter, I loved him anyway. After a while, it didn't matter that he didn't love me in return, I loved him anyway. When he'd wonder if there was a girl out there for him, I could scarcely stop myself from screaming, "Here I am, you doofus, no need to go far." When he did ask me for any favors to my inconvenience, I would whine inside but my brain would be in a frenzy cancelling appointments so I could be at his beck and call. I loved him so much I felt it was such a massive injustice, tyranny even, that I could have have him, when I was probably the one who loved him most, after his mother. I would never let any harm come to him. Touch a hair on his head and I'd metamorphose into the Incredible Hulk and kill you.

Call it stupidity, call it insanity, call it obsession, call it infatuation, call it whatever you want, it was love, sweet bittersweet love. With love, as with faith, if you believe that's justification enough, no explanation is necessary. If you do not, no explanation is possible. When you are blessed enough to love, it will change you in so many ways you can never be the same again.

Love means different things to different people, different things at different times. LIke everything, it changes. It waxes and wanes like the moon.

In all my years of loving one boy with all the love my heart could hold, I learned that no matter where I went, no matter what I did, no matter who I was with, there was only one person for me, no matter if he long ago ceased to feel the same way. It was not his fault that I was so unhappy for so long, it was simply my misfortune, my cross to carry. In spite of everything, I am a better person, and I will forever be indebted to him for teaching me how it is to love. Never mind that his teaching was done mostly in absentia. I madly, deeply, truly loved him. I hope never to dishonor that love by engaging in cheap flings with whoever catches my fancy at the moment.

To me love is not a conquest, much less one conquest after another. Conquest denotes subjugation, a submission to a more powerful will. You do not make a person submit to your will and mold him as you see fit to make him more lovable in your eyes. You love him for what he is. You do not gloss over his imperfections, you learn to live with his flaws. You do not brag to your friends that he is yours for the taking, there is no place for braggadocio in love. You wait instead anxiously for the next time he tells you he loves you, no matter if it may never happen and in the meantime the uncertainty is making you miserable. You do not lead him on with empty displays of affection. You do not boost his ego with false praises, only to give him the ultimate put-down by taking him for a fool. You find yourself sppechless with admiration and fear that the slightest touch will betray the depth of your emotion. You do not cry foul when you see that the course of love has not gone according to your fervent wishes. You do not bawl at him, "How dare you tell me you love, take my heart, and then disappear from my life." You do not demand the return of glorious days long past. You do not blame him for your shattered illusions and waylaid dreams and least of all for your broken heart. Even in the lowest troughs of self-pity and despair, you cannot bring youself to cause him the slightest grief. You would rather die than give him the slightest hint that he has anything to do with your unhappiness. Love bears all-- maybe not always with a smile that's big enough for all the world to see, but just one that's brave enough to tell him it's okay, you'll live so he doesn't have to feel bad.

It is never easy to lay open the door to your heart, because love and rejection get in the same way. Love is not for the faint-hearted. I loved once, and years later I am still reeling from it. Having survived one heartbreak has not lessened my fear of going through another. Thus I envy people who can plunge headlong into relationships after but just some tentative attempts at getting to know antoher person. I envy people who can meet strangers and shortly afterward declare that they were meant for each other. I envy those who are not afraid to go after their happiness and damn the consequences. I envy people who can go from conquest to conquest without feeling diminished by it.

I can never be like them. I don't think like them. Once you've tasted manna from heaven, why bother with bread from the baker? Nothing compares with it.

Until God sends me my angel on earth to love and to cherish forever, I will be content to be alone. I have learned to swallow my loneliness like a bitter pill, hoping that my good behavior will make fate smile at me and say, "Here is the one for you. Live happily ever after, your name is written on his heart."

One love, one lifetime -- that is my hope. Not one conquest after another. As Sting says, that's not the shape of my heart.

Fungus

2009-04-29T08:20:00.000+08:00

I am the pus that infects the mucus that cruds up the fungus that feeds on the pond scum.

That is how I feel right now. I am a horrible person.

I hope someday, when we're old and with gray hair, or maybe even in our afterlife, you'll find it in your heart to forgive me.

HB is for High Blood

2009-04-28T08:45:00.000+08:00

Have I mentioned that I'm teaching some businesses classes now? My students are in their early 20s of different nationalities--some are local, some are foreigners. I don't have any problems teaching the part-time students (meaning they are working students) because they are mature and hardworking. But this is not the case for the full-time students. Ayy sakit ng ulo sa kakulitan at katamaran! Ang VIP ko pa naman lately. As in Very Irritable Person.

My age seems to be catching up on me because I seem to be so HB these days.

---

Me: Are yoiu familiar with 's products, ?

Student: Ms Michelle, I cannot think because I am cold.

Me: Then why do you keep sitting near the AC? I keep reminding you to bring a jacket. (to the class) Do I have to take care of all of you? You are not children and I am definitely not your mother!

---

Student's handphone rings.

Me: How many times do I have to tell you not to answer your calls in class and to put your phones on silent mode?!?! The only one who can answer her phone in class is ME, ME, ME!!!! (evil laugh)

---

Two students sitting on the 3rd row keep chatting, and it's definitely not about the lesson.

Me:

---

On the third week of the Financial Accounting class.

Me: (asking a particular student) What's the final answer?

Student: (looks around for someone to lend him a calculator)

Me: How come I still see some of you without a calculator? It's the third week of our Finance class!!! How can you study this subject and NOT have a calculator? Are you THAT smart?

---

Matutuyuan ako ng dugo sa mga batang to!

macaroons!

2009-04-24T19:53:00.001+08:00

Because of a friend's text last week about macaroons, I started craving for this coconut dessert once again.

Today, after being bored from staying home all day because I wasn't feeling well, I finally decided to make some. I followed pinoycook's recipe which is, as always, super easy to follow.

I bought a local brand of dessicated coconut for less than $2. I had the rest of the ingredients in my pantry--eggs, butter, condensed milk.

Oops, I think I made too many. I can't finish all these by myself so I gave some to Jun so he can munch on it while at work (he's on night shift today), then I'll bring some when I come back to work tomorrow.

Guess what I'm craving for now? Dinuguan! OMG I am so PG!

QLC (hmm...)

2009-04-22T20:11:00.002+08:00

Characteristics of quarter-life crisis may include:

feeling "not good enough" because one can't find a job that is at one's academic/intellectual level
frustration with relationships, the working world, and finding a suitable job or career
confusion of identity
insecurity regarding the near future
insecurity concerning long-term plans, life goals
insecurity regarding present accomplishments
re-evaluation of close interpersonal relationships
disappointment with one's job
nostalgia for university, college, high school or elementary school life
tendency to hold stronger opinions
boredom with social interactions
loss of closeness to high school and college friends
financially-rooted stress (overwhelming college loans, unanticipatedly high cost of living, etc.)
loneliness
desire to have children
a sense that everyone is, somehow, doing better than you

Source: Wikipedia

unlearning

2009-04-18T11:03:00.000+08:00

Is it possible to unlearn things that are not beneficial to us anymore? When it comes to love and relationships, is unlearning just as important as learning?

open relationships

2009-04-18T09:42:00.003+08:00

Overheard (actually, over"read"--if there is such a thing):

In my mind, an open relationship consists of two people who are too naive to realize that there isn't such a thing as an "open relationship". The "open relationship" agreement is an attempt to side-step the difficulties involved in a commitment. It actually is a workable arrangement--if you're both six years old in elementary school.

- from someone whose name I cannot reveal here.

*RF Image from Getty Images

2009-04-18T03:42:00.001+08:00

Suicide is man’s way of telling God, “You can’t fire me - I quit.”
~Bill Maher

:(

*RF Image from Getty Images

Live the fourth

2009-04-11T01:06:00.001+08:00

Hi....Puwede ka bang istorbohin? Puwede bang makaamot ng isang sandali man lang sa panahong ginugugol mo sa mundo? Sorry ha? Alam ko kasing busy ka. There's so much todo and to be preoccupied within the world. Alam ko yan.

But I've been longing to let you know something. Alam mo, you're so precious to me. Walang halong bola 'to. Mahal kita. Kaya nga pinilit kong mabuhay sa lupa ng tulad mo. Para habulin ka. Kaya nga lang minsan,napakabilis ng lakad mo. Hindi kita masabayan. Hindi kita mahabol.

Pag katabi kita, KSPng-KSP ako.... Kulang sa pansin.Gustong-gusto kitang masarili. Hindi kita mahabol kasi masakit at makirot pa ang mga paa ko. May mga butas pa kasi. May mga sugat. Ibig kitang haplusin pero nahihiya ako. Duguan ang mga palad ko. Pero kung hindi ka maselan tanggapin mo sana ang mga palad ko. Ibig kitang mahawakan. Ibig kong maglakad sa tabi mo.

I don't want to walk behind you . Hindi ko kaya ang pacing mo. I don't want to walk in front of you, tinatakbuhan mo ako. I want to walk with you.

I want you to be my friend. Ikaw ang dahilan kung bakit may mga sugat ako. Ikaw ang dahilan kung bakit naghirap at namatay ako. But please don't get me wrong. Hindi kita sinusumbatan. After all you deserve this love. And I deserve this fate. Basta para sa iyo okey lang. Mahal kita kaibigan. I'm always most willing to be of help. You want a shoulder to cry on? Narito humimlay ka sa balikat ko. Nakahanda akong makinig sa litanya ng mga problema mo. Hindi ako mabo-bore. Makikinig ako. I'll be most willing to listen to you. I'm your friend and I'll forever be.

You've been away from me. You hardly remember me. How I longed to listen to you. But you seldom spend time with me. I feel so lonely when I have to wait in vain for your words. Buti pa pag may problema ka, naaalala mo ako.Pero pag wala na, wala na rin ako sa iyo. Pero okey lang. At least nakakaalala ka pa.

Would it be so selfish of me if I would ask you to remain in me? I can offer you a lasting relationship. Isang pakikipagkaibigang hindi saklaw ng panahon at pagkakataon. I'll be a loyal committed partner. Maaring takbuhan ka ng mga kaibigan mong inaakala mong tapat sa iyo habang buhay. Tatalikdan ka rin ng taong napipisil mong mahalin. Ako na iyong kaibigan ay laging handa na tumanggap sa iyo.

Have you forgotten that I have died for you? If I need a thousand more deaths, I'll be most willing to offer my life if only to make you feel that I LOVE YOU. Isa lang naman ang hinihiling ko sa iyo. Konting pagtingin lang. Yan, I sounded like KSP na naman. Pero anong magagawa ko? Talagang MAHAL KITA!

Can we be partners for life? And I assure you, you'll never be lonely, you'll never be alone. I'll never get tired of saying I LOVE YOU. And I mean it. Hindi pa ba sapat na pruweba ang magagawa ko para sa iyo? Will you spend some time now thinking of me? I have died for you, will you live for me?

JESS
--
Hi

HT kahapon. Asa trabaho ko. Hanggang mga alas otso ng gabi. Hindi pa kita nabibisita. Naalala ko pa nung una kong namulat sa kahulugan ng araw na yun. Naalala ko rin nung una kitang makasama sa Disco. Batch 27 pa yun. Una kitang sinagot. :) Ang tanda ko na pala noh? Parang ang tagal na nun. Minsan naman, ang pakiramdam ko, parang kahapon lang yung mga araw na yun.

Sorry ha alam kong matagal na kitang hindi nabibisita. Matagal na rin akong hindi bumalik sa Disco. Alam mo naman, bihira na ko umuwi. Minsan, gusto kong bumalik para mabahagi ko rin sa ibang mas nakababata sa kin kung pano kita nakilala. Kaya lang...hay, puro kaya lang.
Ang dami kong palusot, noh? Ang daming dapat gawin. Ang dami kong dapat asikasuhin. Pero alam mo naman siguro na sa mga huling sandali bago ko matulog sa gabi, ikaw ang iniisip ko. At sa umaga, pagnamulat ako, kahit gaano ko kasungit, naiisip ko na binigyan mo na naman ako ng isang pang araw.

Ang dami kong problema ngayon. Pati problema ng ibang tao, nagiging problema ko na rin. Sabi ko nga sa asawa ko minsan, pagod na kong maglider-lideran. Minsan gusto ko na lang lumutang. Alam mo yung pag nagbaback float ka sa isang malaking malaking swimming pool. Tapos ramdam mo ang init ng araw sa mukha mo. Gusto ko ganon na lang. Pero tuloy ang laban. At sa mga panahong akala ko hindi ko na kaya, pag naiiyak na lang ako, naiisip kita. Alam mo ba yun? Iniisip ko na lang na hindi mo naman ako papabayaan eh.

At never mo kong binigo. Hindi mo ko pinabayaan. Sa mga panahong akala ko lubog na ko sa problema at wala nang solusyon, bigla mo kong bibigyan ng isang himala. Meron pala talagang himala noh. Maraming salamat sa mga himalang patuloy mong binigay mo sa kin.

Marami nang nagbago. Mga iba kong kaibigan, nawala na. Pero meron ding mga bago. Meron ding hindi nawala. At isa ka dun. Kahit kailan alam kong andiyan ka lang. Nagtatyaga sa 'kin.

Salamat. Salamat sa lahat. Basta Ikaw, Mahal na Mahal Kita.

MICHELLE

The FIRST Lechon Stall in Singapore (plus isaw, adidas, etc)

2009-04-07T20:06:00.002+08:00

Got this e-mail today. Will try it out next week, and I'll let you know kung masarap ba sha anot (singlish hehe). I am so craving for lechon everything--baboy, liempo, bbq, pati gulay gusto ko lechonin hehehe. Can't wait!

Here's me, auditioning for Mang Kiko's Lechon mascot: Bagay ba?

Mang Kiko's Lechon - Singapore

The first LECHON stall in Singapore that offers a wide variety of Lechon - Baboy, Manok, Liempo, BBQ and more.

Business will start on 13 April ’09 (Monday)

Address : Stall 27, 18 Raffles Quay, Lau Pa Sat Festival Market
Store Hours : 10:am – 10pm Daily (Mon - Sun)

M E N U

Roasted Pig (Lechon Baboy)
Roasted Chicken (Lechon Manok)
Roasted Pork Belly (Lechon Liempo)
Pork Barbecue (on a stick)
Chicken Barbecue (on a stick)
Grilled Squid (Pusit)
Grilled Fish (Bangus/Tilapia)
Grilled Eggplant (Talong)

At pag Biyernes at Sabado, mag Fiesta tayo sa mga street food na nami-miss nyo. Tulad ng isaw, adidas, atay, baticulon (gizzard), corazon (chicken heart) at helmet (chicken head).

Contact : kiko_tikoy@yahoo. com / (+65)97436545

In case you're not familiar with the area, you may try to go by my preferred route to Lau Pa Sat:

To go to Lau Pa Sat (and taste not only Mang Kiko's Lechon but also Jolly V and also other Pinoy food stalls), take the MRT (EW or NS line) then get off at Raffles station. Then walk towards Robinson Road. If you hate walking a long distance (like me hehe), the best way is to take Exit I then walk towards Cross Street.

Loves it!

2009-04-03T20:52:00.000+08:00

Just Dance with an edge!

Relationships are imperfect

2009-04-03T19:07:00.001+08:00

I am not a big fan of local ads, but there are two TVCs that has touched my heart. Both TVCs were done by an award winning local film maker.

First is this TVC touched me because I am married to a man who is a LOOUUDD snorer. And although it irritates me to no end, I must admit, it is and will always be music to my ears. Watch:

This one reminds me of my dad who is probably the most selfless human being on the planet. Unfortunately, he is also the no. 1 alaskador. And even at 29 years old, I still get pikon with him and would walk out on him (with matching tears) whenever he teases me about stuff. No "sad stories" tonight, though. Just watch:

The story behind the two TVCs:

RELATIONSHIPS are imperfect and a $1.25 million ad campaign by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), starting on Sunday, aims to convey that.

It broaches a taboo theme - a funeral, where a widow talks about her late husband's flaws and what it means to her. It also features an inter-racial relationship.

The inspiration for the ad, produced by advertising veteran and award-winning film director Yasmin Ahmad, 51, comes from her relationship with her husband. The imperfection she likes about her husband: his crooked teeth.

The ad is a move to get singles here to go beyond waiting for the perfect partner, a finding from a 2006 survey.

Said MCYS director of communications and international relations Richard Tan on Friday: 'The strength of family and family bonding is important but if you don't have family, you can't talk about strength of family and family bonding.

'And where do we get family from? We got to get young people to get married.'

He added: 'More importantly, it's to tell people that in any relationship, there will always be flaws, there will always be imperfections but you can build on a relationship without this imperfection affecting it.'

The ad garnered positive reactions at a preview screening for media and invited bloggers on Friday. Said paper designer and blogger Aida Haron, 45, of the ad: 'It's not rah-rah. It's more realistic. It features tragedy, sadness, humour and uplifting feelings.'

To reach out to the internet generation, the ad will also go on Youtube. The English version of an earlier MCYS family commercial about the relationship of a young woman and her father, by the same director, has garnered about 26,000 hits on the video sharing site.

It also won the recent MediaCorp's Viewers' Choice 2008 award in the local category.

--
Oh yes, they actually have a campaign, a $1.25M campaign at that, to encourage people to get married and have kids.

Thanks Shaf for sharing the links, and I do hope you get married soon. Puh-lease.

Toomba Toomba

2009-04-03T13:30:00.000+08:00

It's still there.

Same place. Same balcony. Same house.

Kaka-miss.

"A nation of public servants"

2009-04-01T21:38:00.001+08:00

You've probably heard/read by now about Chip Tsao's infamous article "The War at Home". Here's an excerpt (I don't know how to enlarge hehe):

I want to give my ten cents about the issue, but I'd rather read about instead. Here are the list of my favorite reads about it:

A copy of the article here: http://asia.cnet.com/blogs/infochat/post.htm?id=63009834&scid=hm_bl

Ms Veneracion's column in Manila Standard and her blog:

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=connieVeneracion_mar31_2009

The Professional Heckler's heckling

http://professionalheckler.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/sensya-na-tsao-lang/

I love The P-Heckler (naks parang P-Diddy), he is so funny and sarcastic. One of his posts goes:

The Professional Heckler believes that blasting China or its people just because one Chinese columnist bullied his Filipina helper and lambasted the Philippines is not the right thing to do since it won’t resolve any issue. Doing so would make us no less different from him. Huwag maging Chip! But yes, I join millions of Filipinos worldwide in condemning the bigotry of this Mr. Tsao.

The latest: Asia City Publishing Group, publisher of the HK Magazine’s print and online editions, where Chip Tsao’s article “The War at Home” was printed has apologized.

But the writer has not. So to you Mr. Chip Tsao a.k.a. To Kit: “Leche ka! Hindi mo kami nakikilala? Punyeta ka! Hindi kami si Boyet Fajardo! Kami ay mga Pilipino! A tapang na tao and we want you fired!”

More here: http://professionalheckler.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/ang-chip-mo/

The apology here http://www.gmanews.tv/story/154832/HK-Mag-Sorry-for-maid-country-remark-on-RP

This is not the first time that Tsao has put Filipinos and the Philippines on a bad light. Late last year, amidst the controversy of "contaminated milk" from China, he wrote an article at dinamay na naman nya ang Pinas. Read this http://hk-magazine.com/feature/politically-incorrect-chip-tsao-vintage-year

Tell me what you think. 2000-word essay on my desk tomorrow, on or before 5pm. Class dismissed! Hahaha.

$348

2009-03-27T14:20:00.000+08:00

The first quarter of the year is about to end. It's time to re-evaluate what the hell happened in the past three months. What have I accomplished? What have I done the past three months? What new problems have come up. Ooohh serious much?

As hubby and I were talking about "restructuring" our budget (read: magtipid), we computed all our expenses again. As in all our expenses. I listed down all my expenses, including my facial treatment. But I forgot to include our yosi budget. So I was like......let's see, we buy a pack a day, and we are able to share it between us...so that's $11.60 a day times 30 days in a month. So that's $348...this doesn't even include those times that we get to puff extra because we're out or having some drinks (or just too stressed).

Wait. What???? $348?

$348???

Holy guacamole! That's enough to cover a maid's monthly levy. And we kept thinking that the levy is such a burden in the pocket, when we can actually just quit smoking and use the money to fork out the levy for our (future) kids' yaya...

Not only that.

$348 is also enough money to cover two months' worth of facial treatments and eyebrow waxing...

$348 is enough money to buy around 6 pairs of shoes at Charles and Keith...

$348 is enough dough to cover airfare tickets to Manila.

$348 is enough to cover our PUB bills (and maybe even our internet and cable bills)

$348 would be enough to buy a new handphone, or a branded wallet or purse.

I want to feel worse... so let me see... since we've lived in Singapore for about four years and three moths...that's fifty one months in total...and let's say, for uniformity's sake, we just use the current retail price of a pack, which is $11.60...then that means, we have spent an estimated amount $17,748 on freakin' cigarettes alone.

$17,748! That's about Php530,000 !!!

Am I correct anot?

Parang gusto ko biglang mag quit.

Teka nga, napayosi ako sa pagcocompute ko. Hehehe.

Shet.

I promise to cut down. Seriously.

last saturday

2009-03-23T21:50:00.000+08:00

After teaching two classes in the morning, I went to Tita Drin's to have a pedi...

Then nag-tapao ng Palabok and Hotdog from Jolly-V (really tastes like the real thing! hay naubusan na naman ako ng chicken.)

Then had dinner at the newly-opened Bonifacio restau with Kendz and Lui...

My (condensed) take on the restau: Food was masarap naman but the servings were really small for its price (a bit ex because of the small servings). It looked like a gourmet dish where the servings were really small. Eh shempre pag pinoy food dapat maramihan ang kain hehehe. But the interiors are nice. Great for having quiet chitchats with friends and colleagues. We ordered Lumpiang Sariwa and Chicken BBQ. Nasarapan ako. Kendz & Lui ordered a lot (they came before us and ordered na): Sisig, Inasal, and also Lumpiang Sariwa.

Then Jun and I went to Orchard to buy some some stuff (nah, not the real LV. LV lang as in LeVis hehe)

Then quality time at home with honie.

Livin' the mellow life. Steady lang :)

random

2009-03-23T12:05:00.000+08:00

It's been years since I last munched on this. Ang sarap pa rin pala.

What's a draghtman?

Prown? Why are you prowning? May problema ba?

La lang.

Living below your means

2009-03-20T19:33:00.000+08:00

I have some definite (and secret) goals that I want to achieve before this year ends. Unfortunately, the fact that companies are kuripot nowadays in giving bonuses this year doesn't help. So my objective is to live below my means. My mom (and Lica) would always remind me to live WITHIN my means, but times are tougher now so we must try harder and live BELOW our means.

So this is my guideline when I'm thinking of buying something:

1. Can I afford it?
2. Do I really need it?
3. Do I need it now?
4. Do I have something like it already?
5. Can I find a cheaper substitute?
6. Is this the best deal?

Hopefully, I can follow this. God help me. Maybe I can. Just this weekend, I bought four pairs of shoes from Charles & Keith's sale for just $70. Not bad, eh. Just got lucky though--most of the stuff in the sale, as expected, are mostly outdated and don't have my size.

Hey, just a thought--I can also use this 6 questions when it comes to planning for a baby! Hehehe. Like--Can I afford a baby? Do I really need a baby? Do I have something like a baby already? Can I find a cheaper substitute for a baby? Is a child the best deal? Hahaha. I remember this ex-colleague of mine who has actually computed the costs of having a baby--from pregnancy costs to education to sending the kid to the uni, etc. Duh! He and his wife decided not to have a baby. No, he is not Pinoy. Pinoys (generally) loooove having kids.

DL

2009-03-20T19:11:00.000+08:00

Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

-from Dalai Lama's Instructions for Life

Bonifacio: The newest Pinoy restau in SG

2009-03-19T08:01:00.000+08:00

Got word that Bonifacio's opening is on Saturday.

The e-flyer looks good. I hope it's a decent Pinoy restau with really good chibog at reasonable prices. God knows we need something like that here in Singapore. There's one at Marina Square but it doesn't really have the "umph" that I was expecting. And there's another pinoy restau in the east (not sure if it's still there though) that "changes appearance" at night, so you gotta go there before 9pm lest you be mistaken for a "seedy character". And let's not even talk about those Pinoy nooks at TP (Tanjong Pagar). We all know Pinoys who frequent the area don't really go there for the Pinoy cuisine, if you get what I mean. (What I meant was, they go there for the CHEAP BEER. Hahah.) And of course, those in LP (Lucky Plaza)--who would want to hangout in a carinderia in LP, right? You just go there for a quick fix, to answer your pinoy taste buds' craving for that leche flan or diniguan, and nothing more.

I'm familiar with the area where Bonifacio is located. It's kinda near Chinatown area. Oh, I can actually take any bus that goes to Eu Tong Sen, then I can just get off at or opposite Pearl Centre, then walk all the way up to Kreta Ayer. I wonder if the restau is way up Kreta Ayer and if it would pass my "walking distance" standard. I really hate walking, and Kreta Ayer is kinda "slopey" pa. Wth, I bet magtataxi naman ako nyan.

Maybe hubby and I can go there this weekend, been a while since we explored a new restau, anyway.

i crash you

2009-03-16T12:31:00.003+08:00

Received an e-mail from my sister Cha this morning. I'm sad, wawa naman si Car (I named our car, Car. hehe.). Gamit na gamit na saming tatlong magkakapatid.

Apps is a relatively new driver--she only started to take the car alone for about three months. Cha also had a bad car crash during her DLSU days, as in bad talaga. But she came out fine naman. Fortunately, ako wala namang serious. Just some gasgas here and there. I think the worst one (two pala) was when I bumbed the streest sign which caused a BIIIG dimple at the side door; and when a taxi bumped my rear lights at 3am in Sucat--and it was because I followed the goddamn traffic lights at 3 in the morning. If I hadn't followed it, the taxi wouldn't bump me. I think he expected me na to beat the red light--oh well, sometimes, we just have to think that TRAFFIC RULES IN THE PHILIPPINES ARE MERE SUGGESTIONS.

I'm just happy Apps is okay. Lagot sha kay Mama. I hope she learns from this and be like her Ate Chie (that's me) who's a super defensive driver hahaha. But as my dad always say: Hindi ka driver kung hindi ka pa nababangga. Which my mom refutes, of course.

So this was the e-mail (in verbatim) that greeted me this morning. The subject heading goes: I CRASH YOU.

car crash courtesy of apps. ano ba tlga nangyari?

a. nawalan tlga ng brake?
b. nakatulog si apps? (accdg to mama)
c. nakainom si apps? (accdg to mama )
d. nalito siya akala niya brake pero gas ang tinatapakan nya?

hehe.wawa naman.

photos taken on 03/16/2009.

cute ni nixxie.

my answer is D--nalito sya, dahil siguro nakainom na nman yang Apple na yan at bumagal ang reflexes.

Ay naku, masermonan nga ang little sister ko about responsible driving! Pramis, sesermonan ko talaga sha!!!

Upcoming SALES in SG (Mark your calendars, SG People!)

2009-03-11T11:26:00.000+08:00

I am not normally a big fan of Sale Promotions because of all the standing up and queueing up that we need to do. Tiangges, I love, because I still have the luxury of taking my time to walk around. But Sale, not really, because it's mostly like being in a competition with a hundred other shoppers.

But times are tough nowadays. Must learn to save and be practical. As one of Emtee told me last night, recession time is all about going back to the basics. It's about learning how to spend your money wisely. But that doesn't mean we can't shop our hearts out. Thank God for warehouse sales and expos :)

So mark your calendars for the following hunts:

Burberry Sale
11 - 14 March
10am - 9pm
Suntec Convention Hall 303-305

Body Shop Warehouse Sale
Up to 70% savings; FREE Gift with purchases above $50 or more (Valid for the first 3,000 customers only)
11 - 14 March
11am - 8pm
Suntec Convention Level 3 Gallery West (near Pearl River)

Charles & Keith Warehouse Sale
Up to 70% off
12 - 15 March
10am - 8pm
21 Tai Seng St

Crazy Warehouse Sale
Renoma, Goldlion, BUM, The Cocoa Trees etc; Ladies/Men's wear, Undergarments, Kidswear, Accessories, Chocolates etc; Prices from $3
12 - 15 March
10am - 10pm
Suntec Convention Rm 202

Jean Perry Home Linen Fair
Special Buys from $1; Discounts up to 80%
12 - 15 March
11am - 9pm
Suntec Convention Rm 201

I.T. Show @ Suntec
12 - 15 March
Suntec Convention Levels 1-4 & 6
12pm - 9pm

The Lingerie Shop - Knock-out Sale
Up to 90% Ladies & mens
Till 16 March
Mon-Sat 11am - 7.30pm
Sun 12pm - 5pm
B1-07 Palais Renaissance

1-for-1 lunch @ all Swensens
Order any food item from ala carte menu & get another free
Valid till 30 June 09
11am - 2pm on weekdays

Today...

2009-03-06T10:51:00.001+08:00

"Our Kaleidoscope World has lost one of its brightest colors".

He was an icon of my generation. A perfect example to show that God allows u-turns.

Francis learned about his condition almost at the same time that Nana learned about hers. During Nana's healing period, I would show her photos from Francis' blog while telling her how strong and happy he is despite his very tough chemo sessions. So I was updated with his battle, and other people's "battles" as well, because I was also taking care of Nana during her own battle. Nana is free of cancer now. Francis...well, he is in a happier place now.

My new baby

2009-03-04T18:38:00.000+08:00

I've always wanted a lappie that's light and portable, something small and can easily fit inside a girl's handbag.

I got my wish last night. Hubby bought me a new lappie--an HP Mini 2140. So here's my new baby, Hippie:

(Borrow muna ng pics ha, di ko pa napipicturan si Hippie eh.)

I love how small and light it is. And the keyboard (which I'm very pihikan with) is not so bad too. I can't wait to get a new skin for Hippie! Like this maybe:

Or maybe this:

I wonder if I can ask the skin to customise Hippie's skin, using some of my fave pics maybe?

Thanks honie. I love it but I love you more honie, of course.

Traffic Moments

2009-03-03T19:29:00.000+08:00

Reading from Chico's blog made me miss traffic in Manila. Corny ang traffic jam dito sa Singapore--sisiw for a Pinay like me. Lam mo ung usad ng mga kotse pagpapasok (or palabas) ka ng parking sa isang mall sa tin on a WEEKDAY? Traffic na sa knila yun. I guess that's one thing I like about Singapore, transportation systems are so efficient--you don't have time to get pissed.

Some of my unforgettable traffic moments in Manila:

A GIRL'S GOTTA DO WHAT A GIRL'S GOTTA DO. Around 2000, Jun and I were dating each other again (after a five-year break up period). On one of those dates, we were supposed to go to Side A's concert at Araneta. It was sometime July 2000 so maulan. We got stuck sa Edsa (Guadalupe part). Lubog ang kotse sa baha! As in lubog pati headlights.Hindi gumagalaw ang traffic. Si Jun busy sa pagconcentrate para hindi kami mamatayan sa gitna ng baha. Ihing-ihi na ako! La ko choice kasi talga. I found a plastic bag somewhere sa car. Pumunta ko sa back seat and there I relieved myself! dyahe! nagpapacute pa naman ako sa mga panahong yun kay tutuy!

WHY SEATBELTS REMIND ME OF ECHO. Jun and I were stuck sa isang interchange along C5. I saw this red F150 on the lane next to us. We were smoking so down-windows kami. i noticed the driver. omg, it was jericho! mind you, this was the time na he was still smokin' hot and not pa-soshal. I poked my head out a bit and asked him: "Jericho, isdatchu?" (ang bakya ko shet). He gave me (us pala) a big smile, waved a hand and said: "Hi!". Then the traffic light turned green, and before he sped off, he waved at me (us pala) and shouted: "Ingat!". And, when he saw us make a turn to the gas station, he gave us the mandatory-parang-kabarkada honk. Jun said, starstruck: "Shet, binusinahan nya ko! Tropa na kami!" Ako naman, I fastened my seat belt kasi sabi nya "ingat" daw ako e. Haha mga feeling eh no?

LOCK JAW PRINCESS. When I was a kid, up until my teenage years, I would always get "lock-jawed". It was really bad to the point that I 'd get really scared opeing my mouth, especially if I want to yawn. One time, when I was around 13 years old, super traffic sa SLEX. Then out of the blue, I got lockjawed na naman. My sister Cha thought I was joking around so she just kept laughing. And they're so used with my lock jaw episopdes, they think kaya ko naman uli "ibalik" yung panga ko. My dad finally noticed na serious na talaga kasi hindi na ko makahinga at yung laway ko tulo na ng tulo! As in basang basa na ung panyo at kamay ko. So this was like from Bicutan hanggang Nicols hanggang Edsa-Baclaran. My dad insisted on bringing me to his personal doctor kaya sa Pasay pa ko napagamot. Akala ko mamatay na ko! Ang hirap huminga at di ko malunok laway ko! Shet! When we arrived at my dad's doctor's house, tinapat nya lang ako sa pader, and using his own HANDS, attempted to put back my jaw in place. And it took him THREE FUCKING TIMES to finally get it right. Kala ko madudrog na panga ko shet! Whew!

Here's Morning Rush's "August 26, 2008 → The Top Ten Traffic Moments - Astroboy"

Homer - My lolo was one lucky person. He was stuck in traffic in the northbound lane on the SLEX. Right next to the airport, an airplane overshot the runway and settled on the highway. He was the last car missed by the plane.
Kirei - During traffic along EDSA, my best friend and I found ourselves behind a military truck. I waved at the soldiers, smiled, and blew them a kiss. A couple of soldiers waved back while the others smiled. Sobrang hiya ng best friend ko. So I told her, kahit sa ganung paraan man lang, mapabaunan ko sila ng konting saya bago sila sumabak sa digmaan.
Specialist - I was along c5 on my way to the office. After the Katipunan flyover, I saw a plastic bag thrown from the shanties. It almost hit the car in front of me. It splattered and I saw that it was filled with human poop.
Riverbanks - Our car and the car in front of us were flagged down by an MMDA person each. The car in front sped off after talking to the MMDA, then that guy talked to our MMDA. Apparently, the girl in front was Kris Aquino, and she told the MMDA that we were with her. If that was really her, then thanks, Ms. Kris!
Dru - I was listening to my ipod as I crossed the street. Then this truck almost ran me over. When I looked up, it was a truck of condoms!
XtraRice - As I was making sabit sa likod ng jeep (I’m a girl), the car right behind me started honking. When I looked, who should it be? My crush.
SC - I was stuck in trafic 0n a jeep somewhere in Blumentritt, when a w0man suddenly screamed, her ear bleeding. Apparently may humabl0t ng earrings niya, a guy 0n a bike.
Astroboy - I saw this car sticker on a car in fr0nt of me in traffic: “WARNING: children playng outside the car can cause accidents and adults playing inside the car can cause children!”
Carlo - When we were stuck in traffic in Cavite, we decided to ask a jeepney driver what was causing the congestion. The driver replied,”Kasi may umano sa ano diyan sa may ano eh.”
Marcus - One rainy August afternoon in 1998, I left the office in Pasig at 4:30pm and reached Alabang at 5am the next. We spent the whole night crawling in traffic along SLEX.
Racer - An MMDA flagged down a friend who was on a motorcycle. My friend said, “Ano pong violation?” The MMDA answered, “Wala naman, pa-angkas lang. Trafik eh.”
SC - While stuck in traffic in a taxi who happened to be listening to RX, I texted you guys to tell manong driver na pakilakasan ang aircon kasi nagmamantika na ko sa likod. Without talking, he did.
SPY Shadow - Our military vicar was apprehended by a highway patrol for beating the red light. But the officer, who was a Catholic, let him go when he recognized the priest, and said “Father, ingat na lang kayo doon sa next intersection kasi hindi po mga Katoliko ang mga assigned doon!”
Astroboy - One night, my sister had to take a taxi h0me. Nung malapit na siya, she tapped the driver’s sh0ulder then he screamed! He said after, “Pasensiya na po, 25 years kasi ak0ng driver sa punerarya. Di ako sanay na kinakalabit ng pasahero.”
Na name - While stuck in traffic on a bridge, may dad suddenly screamed, “May tumalon!” Apparently a lady committed suicide by jumping off.
Sayuri - We were not moving along Roxas blvd, when suddenly a motorcade on the other lane stopped right alongside of us. My son rolled down his window to see the commotion, then the limo that the police were escorting rolled down the windows, and who should peek out — Michael Jackson! He handed his sampaguita necklace to my son.
Jose de vengenge - One time in a bus, the conductor shouted, “O sige, pasok lang, maluwag yan kasi laging ginagamit!”

when kids have kids

2009-02-26T23:06:00.003+08:00

My brother, who I love very very much, turned 14 today. Although he's really getting taller by the day and his voice is starting to have this manly pitch, I still see him as my baby brother. I guess it will always be like that for me. Just like how I feel Biggie will always be my little sister, even if she's not so little anymore.

So when I thought about Alfie, a 13-year old kid who is now the youngest father in the UK, I was like, omfg. What in the world is happening? So he fathered the child when he was, like, 12 years old? (I shall ask my hubby later if it's really possible to be, ermmm what's the word, sexually-able at that age.)

Last time I checked, there are several other boys (a 14-year old and a 16-year old) also claiming that the baby is theirs, but Alfie is still sure that the child is his. He is also assured by the 15-year old mom that the baby is his. I am not sure about the latest developments, though. They will probably have a paternity test or something.

This baby-faced kid is sure lucky to get laid at 12 years old. At least he won't have an "American Pie" dilemma. Okay, I'm saying that just to humour things up. But this is really serious stuff. I mean, is the economy really bad that kids nowadays can't afford to buy a condom? Okay, I'm saying that again just to ermm, humour things up.

But you know what, at least they didn't abort the baby. I think the consequences haven't really dawned on them--Alfie doesn't even know what the word "financially" means (see video). He looks like a freakin' 7-year old kid. At least Alfie and Chontell (who should have known better because she's already 15 years old) have that courage--the source of which may be the mere ignorance of what really lies ahead of them--but it's still courage. Blinded courage, maybe? Ignorant courage, maybe? Is there such a thing?

I guess things are really simple in the eyes of a child. That includes things like having a baby and owning up to it.

Basilio?!? Crispin?!?

2009-02-26T21:43:00.001+08:00

I decided to take a "study break" for a few minutes. I clicked on a link I stumbled upon last week.

Na-stress ako. Nag-review na lang ako uli.

Oscar Hangover: Why I was rooting for Kate

2009-02-25T07:59:00.000+08:00

I guess Ms C.V. and I had the same thoughts so I am re-posting this from her site:

So, I missed the live telecast of the 81st Academy Awards. I had to work, what can I say? It would have been nice to say, “Play now, work later” but newspapers don’t move their deadlines so that columnists can watch TV before writing their articles. But within a minute after hitting the “Send” button, I was running to the Blue Room to turn on the TV. Not that I didn’t know the results already. I was checking my feeds while writing my column and I already knew who won.

What’s the big deal? I’m not a celebrity watcher, definitely. But this year’s different. I was rooting for Kate Winslet. I wanted her to win. And not just win but win for her performance in The Reader. After six previous nominations, I thought that The Reader was finally the perfect vehicle for her victory. I do love Meryl Streep but Doubt was not a strong vehicle for her.

But it was really more than rooting for one actress over other contenders. I wanted Kate Winslet to win because a victory meant more visibility and people would start straining a little harder to hear what she has to say. Kate Winslet is one of those few celebrities who feels great about herself and her self image. She is well known for not allowing Hollywood to dictate her weight, her style and her priorities (she declined Woody Allen’s Match Point to spend more time with her children). Remember how GQ magazine issued an apology to her after airbrushing her cover photo in 2003? Most women will gush about how much better they look after the airbrushed weight loss but not Kate Winslet who complained that that wasn’t how she really looked. Probably a little hard to understand for women who think that faked good looks are better than what’s real.

And Kate Winslet’s idea about her goals is different from most. She chose art house films (Hideous Kinky, Holy Smoke!) in favor of commercial movies (Shakespeare In Love, Anna and the King) and that, I think, says a lot about her character.

So, I suppose I like Kate Winslet because I have respect for her as an actress and as a woman.

STO, no mo'

2009-02-21T19:41:00.001+08:00

Llast friday, I signed my name as usual in one of the "corres". And that would be the last time I sign my name as an officer for IRAS. So as a remembrance, I took a photo.

I felt like taking a photo of the sunset as viewed from the 20th level of RH. Sunsets meant the end of another day, just like this was the end of another job for me.

And here's a snapshot of my futile attempt to be organised:

Some things I'd miss in IRAS: working with my team, my fave girl sunitha, the five-day work week, my work station and the (almost) thousand-dollar chair. oh and the coffee and tea at level 5.

Some things I won't miss in IRAS: the very inconvenient smoking area, the irate taxpayers, the need to stay back after work to finish stuff, the job itself (haha). and the frustration.

Before and After

Before:

and after packing:

Why?

IRAS is a good place to work in. A lot of people asked me why I'd want to leave a government job when it's one of the most stable positions in Singapore. And my only answer: "I'm not happy because it's not just for me. It's not something I'd want to do for the rest of my life. I can stay, but I would just be a floater." I felt like recording those lines and have them played when someone asks me the "why's" of moving on. i can never be happy in a job if I am just a mediocre at it. Because I hate mediocrity. There, i said it. whew.

I didn't want to waste my time doing something that I realised I did't love. So when opportunity came, I grabbed it. I'm looking forward to my new job. I think it will be more fulfilling and fun. Can't wait to start. :)

Proud to be Pinoy

On my last day, I wore a LOVE MANILA shirt. Oh and as a souvenir, I gave my team a CD compilation of songs by pinoy artists (both original and covers)--mostly love songs. Someone said it was one of the most unique "goodbye" gifts she received. While I was burning the songs on a CD, i realised that the best pinoy songs are the tagalog ones pala.

14.02.2009

2009-02-21T19:07:00.000+08:00

i received this from him:

and he woke up seeing this (guess what it stands for):

and we had a midnight cap with them:

If your relationship is ok right now, why do you want to get married?

2009-02-18T21:42:00.000+08:00

And you can quote him on that!

2009-02-17T21:14:00.000+08:00

It can now be said that of all the whole roasted pigs I've had all over the world, the slow roasted lechon I had on Cebu was the best. This puts the standings in the Hierarchy of Pork as follows:

#1. Philippines

#2. Bali

#3. Puerto Rico

- Anthony Bourdain

***

Gusto ko ng lechon now. now. now na.

here's mine

2009-02-02T21:24:00.000+08:00

I've never answered tags/memes thrown my way--me too lazy to do it. But I am succumbing to this one, looks innneresting. So I am no longer a meme/tag virgin (devirginized by Steph? haha)

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this in Facebook, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click)

___

1. Some people, especially my bros and sisters on the paddle side, call me "Kosa".

2. I love going on trips. I always aim to go overseas at least once a year with hubby. (New in a relationship? You want to get to know your partner? Go on a trip. Travel with him/her. You will know his REAL attitude when you travel with your partner.)

3. I love all things sweet: chocolates, ice cream, cream puffs, cakes. Even my fave cocktail drinks are sweet, like Chocolate Martini!

4. I do not "specialize" in any field. A jack of all trades, master of none. Almost literally.

5. My personal wasteland: Bookstores and its stationery/arts&crafts section. I carry at least two notebooks in my bag, plus my pens. Gifts of books, nice notebooks, pens, artsy-craftsy stuff are always a hit on my list.

6. I like to smoke my Marlboro Lights while sucking on sweets/mint/chocolate. Or while drinking tea or coffee. Dental nightmare, uh-huh.

7. I cringe when someone doesn't know how to differentiate "your" from "you're" and "its" from "it's". Some people identify others with the clothes they wear; mine is based on the way they speak and write English. Ang sa 'kin lang, WAG KANG MAG-INARTE AT MAGMARUNONG KUNG BOBO KA MAG-INGLES. MAG TAGALOG KA NA LANG. LETYE.

8. I had a nasty pimple/blemish attack last year. I'm finally free of them, thanks to Tita Drin. (To my SG buddies, I highly recommend her!)

9. I started trying out diet pills in 3rd year high school, continued throughout college and my first few years of working, even though I wasn't big then. Now, diet pills won't work anymore, I'm officially fat. Fat and happy :) hahaha!

10. I am a junkie--I have medicines for all types of aches and pains. And I depend on my medicines if something, even a tiny bit, is wrong. I think I almost OD'd recently on pain relievers, I didn't know I took too much, to the point that I felt numb all over. No, I don't have any subconcious/secret attempts of suicide--Life is beautiful despite all its shit.

11. I have sleeping problems. I find it very difficult to sleep, but I can sleep the whole day if there's nothing to do. And I can also NOT sleep for 50 hours straight. I have seriously considered checking myself into SGH's Sleep Disorder Unit.

12. I love to write stuff (mostly non-sense). One of the greatest tragedies of my HS/College life is losing my beloved file-o, with all my lists, thoughts, info etc. Now, I just maintain a blog.

13. My husband (just for the lack of something to talk about, i'm sure) once asked me the sino-ang-sasagipin-mo-kung-pareho-kaming-nalulunod hypothetical question. The choices were him and my little brother (Miguel). Without batting an eyelash, I answered: SI MIGS. My heart overflows with love for my brother (yea yea mushy). His name in my phone's contact list: Miko-Love.

14. My worst habit: ningas kugon.

15. Although I am not an exceptionally good cook, I love to cook. It is my therapy. I think of my loved ones when I cook.

16. One of my favorite phrases: mutual memories. Thus, my multiply ID.

17. I want to leave Singapore already, but I don't necessarily want to go back to the Philippines (yet).

18. I always need to have a "reading material" with me when I go to the bathroom to do the number 2.

19. My favorite MSOffice application is Excel.

20. I am really excited to be a MOTHER. I don't yearn for any promotion, financial gains or what have you's. I want to be a MOM. But maybe I'm not ready yet? :(

21. I surf a lot. I meant internet surfing, duh. My daily light reading includes chuvaness and the professional heckler.

22. I am not an outdoor-type of person, but I love the beach.

23. I stopped drinking beer when I started working. I now only drink wine & hard liquor (except for those few times that I have no choice but to drink beer). Oh, and I drink water, too! Haha.

24. I love pens. I have a pencilcase in my everyday bag. Inside my pencilcase now are: my gel-pens in pink, purple, light blue and green; a blue ball point pen and 2 black sign pens--all retractable; a Swarovski retractable pen; a .5 mechanical pencil; purple, pink and green color felt-tip drawing markers in .5 and 1.2; and finally, red and blue whiteboard markers.

25. I believe in the power of prayers.

the king of wedgie wins

2009-02-02T17:01:00.000+08:00

Hubby was so happy his manok won this year's australian open.

And I continue to be bothered by his wedgie.

who am i to complain?

2009-01-30T21:16:00.000+08:00

After watching this short clip about Nick Vujicic, I felt that I had no right to complain and be complacent in my life. I am now about to start another chapter in my life (more kuwento next time), and this is just the pep talk that I needed.

vegetarians have better sex*

2009-01-30T20:26:00.001+08:00

the controversial PETA ad that was banned by nbc--t'was supposed to be shown on Super Bowl.

hindi ako vegetarian, pero mahilig ako sa gulay :) favorite ko ay okra.

*how true kaya eto?

please send your good vibes...

2009-01-28T14:57:00.000+08:00

...to my mom.

She fell down the stairs and fractured her arm. She's now at the Asian Hospital and just finished the operation. The doctors had to put a metal thingie to support the healing.

I kept making kulit my sisters to take care of my mom well etc etc. It's so hard to be away from home when one of your loved ones is sick! I guess this is the hardest part of being away-- knowing someone needs you beside them but you're miles away from them.

I hope I can go back this month or next so I can personally take care of my mom. I believe that healing is faster when one is surrounded by love and care. And of course, prayers.

Hope you can include her in your prayers. Thank you.

Time flies

2009-01-25T23:25:00.001+08:00

The last time I saw them was in 2006, when Jun and I went back for our church wedding.

So imagine how awed I was when I went back for New Year. Miguel was so tall na and Nixxie's a little girl na. Sure, I'd see them in photos that my sisters would send but I was still surprised when I finally saw them again!

Question

2009-01-19T17:54:00.001+08:00

Would you rather be

a big fish in a small pond

a small fish in a big pond?

If These Walls Could Talk (a walking tour of Intramuros led by Carlos Celdran)

2009-01-18T02:16:00.011+08:00

Highly Recommended!

I've been hearing and reading raves about Carlos Celdran's tours since last year. Finally, I was able to go on one of them. I am so happy I brainwashed Carlo (and wife Ry) to join me (and treat me hehe) for this tour! It's a great way of rediscovering our beloved Manila. I can't wait to join the other tours (the Imeldific tour, the Escolta/Quiapo tours etc) when I come home again in December (and/or August).

So whether you are a foreigner, a Manileño, a balikbayan or a bum/tambay, go for this tour. This is a theatrical tour, mind you (Carlos Celdran is, apart from being one of the best guides in the Philippines, a performing artist as well). Even if you are not a history enthusiast, you will still find this tour interesting--just keep an open mind and don't leave your brains at home. The tour is fast paced and you need to keep your ears tuned to the many facts and stories you will hear from Carlos.

Don't expect any typical "on your right, you will see bla bla bla" stuff. It's more like going through your history class but in a more colorful, humorous and dramatic way. I promise, there are some controversial stuff in store for you.The things you will learn are things that were mostly left out of our history books. Carlos is one passionate lad who will make this tour fun and informative--he'll make you love and appreciate Manila for all its glory and gory :)

Carlo was the one who booked us for the tour. He just texted the contact number in the site and got a confirmation message that we are booked for the 4 Jan tour session. Celdran tours didn't even ask for a payment. As Carlos said when he started the tour: "Payment will be made after the tour. If you did not like the tour, then don't pay." Everyone paid, everyone finished the tour. No one left at all.

The original site of Ateneo de Manila. T'was mentioned that there are restoration plans going on.

Meeting place for the tour group was in front of Manila Cathedral at 3pm. There were a lot of people in the area, especially since there was a wedding (as usual) that Sunday afternoon. I kept telling Ca that we might miss Carlos. But who would miss a man who is in full costume: he wore a top hat, loose black pants, leather sandals, and an 1800s-inspired white shirt – with an intricate gold tambourine necklace around his neck. He looked like he stepped out of a history book! (I heard that Carlos is always in costume during his tours like he'd wear bell bottoms for his Imeldific tour since it's about Manila in the 70s).

I was spellbounded by his story telling that I wasn't able to shoot many photos. A visit to the crypt gave me the chills. The way Carlos retold the story of how the glory of Manila was destroyed by World War II gave me the goosebumps! But Carlos promised after his spiel: "The tour will be fun again, don't worry."

Carlos had this black folder that contains many intriguing and unique illustrations and photos. All his props are inside that messenger bag. Aliw!

I was planning to write a full account of the tour but I don't want to spoil the fun for you. You must experience it!!! The drama, the intrigues, the darkness, the humour! Please, go and sign up for his tour. I assure you that it's so worth it! Imagine, ME, a person who hates walking, actually loved this WALKING tour and I actually didn't mind it AT ALL!!! I didn't even notice that we walked from Manila Cathedral to Intramuros Walls, to the old Ateneo de Manila Campus to San Agustin to Plaza San Luis.

To know more about Carlos and his tours, visit his blog or click here for the tour descriptions.

Carlos famous line: "I can’t change the way Manila looks, but I can change the way you look at Manila".

He has indeed changed the way I looked at Manila. He will change yours too.

For the nth time, let me just say: Can't wait to go back and go for his other tours.

my newest favorite dish

2009-01-15T20:49:00.002+08:00

Since I am still lazy to post pics and tell you about my Manila vacay, let me just share with you my newest favorite dish.

Ate Ella shared with me how to make this very simple dish. It's so simple that you only need two ingredients: enoki mushrooms and bacon (your preferred brand). Teriyaki Boy sells this bacon-wrapped enoki mushrooms. But Ate Ella showed me how simple it is to make. (Note: Ate Ella and I are certified bacon lovers.)

So anyway, look at the picture and you probably know now how to make it. Just cut off the mushrooms from the roots, then wrap them in thinly sliced bacon (tip: use toothpicks to secure them while frying in very little oil). I don't even season with salt or pepper because it's great as it is, especially if you use really good bacon.

It's so yummy! I'm planning to make it my ulam (pde ring fingerfood) everyday for the next two weeks. Hahaha! It's so yummy, that my hubby--who doesn't like bacon at all--found it delicious when I cooked some for him the other day. My family and relatives loved it too when I prepared them during our get together on my last weekend in Manila.

And preparing it here in Singapore is cheap, because a pack of 100g of enoki is just around 50 cents, and there are many varieties of bacon you can choose from, depending on your budget and taste. I'm planning to prepare some for my Muslim friends, but using turkey bacon.

Happy eating :)

Aaawww!!!

2009-01-15T20:32:00.001+08:00

Every love story is beautiful and unique in its own way. But there are those that are just so unique and so kilig, they just make you go "aaawww!!!". Here's one:

"True story of my tita. She was so heartbroken because she was pregnant & her boyfriend didn’t marry her. She decided to go to the US to start anew. She kept crying on the plane, & her seatmate helped her not only to get through the flight, but also her life. They’ve been married for more than 40 years now." - from one of C&D's top 10

More to come...antok na ko...

back to lah lah lah land

2009-01-14T10:54:00.001+08:00

i'm back from my 15-day vacation in the philippines. it's only been 15 hours since i landed in singapore, but i super miss my family already. especially Miguel. i will post pics soon.

as i type this, hubby is snoring away because he was on nightshift yesterday. i am still on leave today because i didn't want to go back to work straight away. i just had my lunch alone, watched some TV in the living room, then got lonely because no one was with me to watch it, so i went back to the bedroom to type away my homesickness.

back to regular programming, indeed.

Crazy.Sira Ulo.Loko-loko.May Topak, Abnormal.Kringkring.Lokaret...Ayup.

2008-12-29T23:25:00.001+08:00

http://vicissitude-decidido.blogspot.com/2008/12/world-is-fucked-up.html

You might have heard about it by now. If not, then go and read it and be ready to admit that yes, the world is indeed fucked up.

News item here: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20081227-180232/DAR-chiefs-son-tagged-in-golf-attack

And the Mayor tells his side here: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/141561/DOJ-told-to-probe-DAR-chief-son-over-golf-course-scuffle

(Thanks, Allan, for sharing.)

Ilang oras na lang

2008-12-27T14:02:00.001+08:00

...uuwi na ko. Woohoooo!!!!

Top 10 things I'm looking forward to for my two-and-a-half week vacay.

Miguel and Nixxie.
My sisters and parents.
Tina and Chinky and the rest of my old girlfriends.
Eating my favorite streetfood like kwek-kwek, isaw etc.
Eating the following: Red Ribbon cakes, Maty's Tapa, Goto, Pancit Palabok, etc.
Shoemart! Hahaha.
Lechon! (It really has to have its own category!)
New Year's Eve Celebration
Maging homebody.
The sight, sound and pollution and everything that's annoying and loveable in the Philippines!!!

After two years of not going home, finally, uuwi na ko! Woohoooo!!!

holland villagers wishlist

2008-12-21T19:10:00.000+08:00

Maligayang Pasko mula saming mga Holland Villagers! hehe.

Nagdecide kami magexchange gift ngayong taon. Nagbunutan kami mga two weeks ago. Sa two weeks na yun, kanya-kanyang diskarte para malaman kung sino ang nakabunot sa kanya. Mababa pala talaga ang EQ ng mga kasama ko sa bahay. Hmf. Sinulat na namen ang aming mga hiling sa wishlist na naka-post sa ref. Merong mga nagtatamper ng listahan--dahil nakita ko nlng na may nakalagay na "strainer" sa ilalim ng pangalan ko kahit hindi ko naman winiwish magka-strainer (sira na kasi ang strainer namen dito sa bahay--walang gustong mag-atubili na bumili.) At sa ilalim naman ng pangalan ni Jun, eh may nagsulat nang "Turbo Broiler".

Patapos na rin akong mag-christmas shopping. Pero kaunti lang. Ramdam ko ang recession, aray ko. Karamihan ng aking mga binili ay para sa pamilya at mga inaanak na aking makikita sa pag-uwi ko para sa bagong taon. Yehey. After two long years--este, matapas ang dalawang taon--na hindi pag-uwi, sa wakas eh uuwi rin ako!!!

not my cuppa?

2008-12-11T00:01:00.008+08:00

One thing about working in company that consists of 95% local Singaporeans is that my name stands out. I don't have the "binte" (daughter of) in the middle of my name to signify that I am of Malay heritage, and neither do I put my surname first like most Chinese. My surname is not even of Filipino heritage. It is actually a name of a place in Spain, which is probably known for having the oldest university in that country.

So anyway, I think that having a name that stands out amidst all other locals' names makes me a target of random picking for various company-initiated things--like random audits, the interview for ISO, or the pre-test for the organisational climate survey.

An organisational climate survey is usually done by companies to learn how employees feel about the company. Now, whether the company actually uses the findings to improve employee relations and job satisfaction is another story. Since I was randomly picked to be one of the first to answer the survey (and give feedback whether the questions are confusing or not), the questions made me think whether I really want to stay in this company or not.

With the help of the survey questions, I was able to come up with some definitive factors why we choose to stay or choose to leave a company.

Why stay?

Better benefits
Working relationships with peers
Working relationships with supervisor
Nature of work
Opportunities for training
Better pay
Better career prospects
Good work-life balance
Job security
Organisational culture

My top reason for wanting to stay in this organisation is probably no. 6. And because times are tough these days, no. 6 fits into my picture also.

Why leave?

Personal or health reasons
Change of career
Want to try working in the private sector
Better career prospects outside
Better salary outside
Better benefits outside
Excessive workload
Working relationship with supervisor and peers
Job security
Working hours

My top reason for wanting to leave is probably no. 7 (and a bit of no. 2). Maybe this thing is just not my cuppa. When you're giving it your best, but you still feel that you're not good at it, maybe it's just not your cup of tea (or coffee).

Isip, isip...

I texted my friend L recently: "What do I love to do ba?"

I told my husband the other day: "I don't know anymore what it is that I really want to do. I think I'm having a mid-life crisis." His response: "Wala ka pa ngang thirty, mid-life crisis ka na."

Well then, e di I'm having a mid-mid life crisis OR maybe I'm just gonna live until I'm sixty so that's why it's just high time that I have my mid-life crisis now.

groaning pains

2008-12-04T22:12:00.005+08:00

Lately, I've been groaning while sleeping. How do I know? Because I wake up when it happens. And don't mistake it for snoring. According to my research, snoring (technically) happens when you inhale, while groaning happens when you exhale.

And it bothers me 'cuz when I suddenly wake up because of it, I get this anxious feeling--like my heart is palpitating and I feel like I drank 5 cups of coffee in one hour. You know that feeling when someone tells you: "I need to tell you something, but please don't be angry, okay?" Then you get all praning and anxious about that person's news.

I thought it was just a case of nocturnal groaning or catathrenia. But it doesn't just happen at night. It also happens whenever I am about to go into a deep sleep--whether I am in my office's lounge (catching a power nap) or in the bus (dyahe sa katabi ko hehe), it really doesn't matter. I will just suddenly wake up when I realise I am groaning.

And it's not a "seductive" way of groaning. It's more like a "hmmm"--in a tone like "Hmmm baket? Ano kailangan mo?" Hehe. It bothers me because my sleep gets disrupted. And you know how difficult it is for me to go to sleep so I don't like it when I suddenly wake up when I'm just about to go into a deep one.

I think I should really check myself into SGH's Sleep Disorder Unit. Let me find out if it's covered by my CPF account. I wonder what they will do to me there. Maybe it's even like a spa experience! Cool!

Come to think of it, I've been having sleeping problems since high school so maybe it's high time I do something about it. I want to wake up early, sleep less and live more. I've tried these things but didn't really work for me. And now I have this groaning problem that interrupts my sleep. No wonder I am always grouchy when I wake up!

The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.

2008-11-30T00:38:00.003+08:00

Yup, that's the line I learned from Mrs Ponce's typing class back in high school. Had to type out the freaking line with a paper bag covering my entire head.

And so everytime I use a keyboard for the first time, that's the line I type out to test how comfortable I feel using the keys.

Thanks honie for replacing the old wireless keyboard with a new one. (God, I hate using a really lousy keyboard.) And I didn't even ask him to buy a new one. I just told him that I'd rather use the old wired keyboard, but instead he bought a new one, without me asking. Woah, galante. Hehe.

it is not a good day today

2008-11-24T21:29:00.002+08:00

you will survive

2008-11-19T22:35:00.001+08:00

"It doesn’t matter how many new haircuts you get, or gyms you join, or how many glasses of chardonnay you drink with your girlfriends… you still go to bed every night going over every detail and wonder what you did wrong or how you could have misunderstood. And how in the hell for that brief moment you could think that you were that happy. And sometimes you can even convince yourself that he’ll see the light and show up at your door. And after all that, however long all that may be, you’ll go somewhere new and you’ll meet people who make you feel worthwhile again. And little peices of your soul will finally come back. And all that fuzzy stuff, those years of your life that you wasted, that will eventually begin to fade."

-Iris (portrayed by Kate Winslet in the movie The Holiday)

i'm on a roll! (Pantry Magic and Laine's Papeterie)

2008-11-17T23:46:00.005+08:00

...On a blog-roll, that is. I miss Nana and I have to take my mind off from missing her, so I need to type type type away.

Hubby and I, ever since we were still mag-syota (eewww wataword), would play this Dream Q&A that goes: "What's your dream closet?" Then there would be categories like, local brands, or foreign labels, etc.

Well, when I was still in high school, I would say, "Uhmmm, I think Blued." (Uso pa Blued 'nun e.)

Then when I was a newbie in the labour market (read: aliping sanggigilid. translation: corporate slave), I answered, "Ahh, Sari-sari and Maldita!" (Buhay pa ba mga shops na to? I dunno hehe)

But these past few years, now that I am slowly, very slowly blossoming into a homemaker (full time housewife is now my greatest ambition in life, just second to lead singer in a band), the question "What's your dream closet?" is now "What's your dream kitchen?". And I would, in turn, ask Jun "What's your dream bedroom?" and "What's your dream living room?"

I discovered this shop, which is just a couple of blocks away from our flat, and it is my "dream kitchen". Most of the stuff at Pantry Magic are high-end (don't ever compare to Ikea prices) and comes from the best suppliers. Eyelovet! What an (kitchen) orgasmic experience! Hehe.

And because our dream house contains a nook-slash-study room for my creative (and nerdy) side, this shop located at Wheelock Place is my dream nook. Look at all those scrapbooking stuff! And I'm talking about hard core paper scrapbooking, beb! Not the shortcut digital scrapbooking (which I love too, but lately have been taking for granted). Whenever I am in Laine's Papeterie, I feel like I am in scrapbooking nirvana!

If I do get to splurge on these shops, then I would have reached my nirvana and achieved multiple O's. Haha!!!

it will take 6 weeks to get my new passport

2008-11-17T22:24:00.006+08:00

Last month, we went to Indonesia for a much deserved R&R in Bintan and as I went through the usual customs check, the immigrations officer reminded me: "You need to renew your passport already."

And so I was reminded that my passport will expire in April 2009. And since we generally can't travel if one's passport is less than six months valid, I need to renew mine asap.

So last Sunday, I went to the Philippine Embassy here in SG to submit the requirements for my passport renewal.

In my four years (and counting) of staying here, I've only been there for about two or three times, sometime in 2004 and 2005. The first time, I went there because I had to sign up to be a an OWA member (mabuhay ang mga bagong bayani). The second (or third) time was to get my OEC, which would allow travel tax exemption for OFWs (again, mabuhay ang bagong bayani). But since we gained our Permanent Residency status in 2006, there was really no reason to go there anymore.

And in the two years that I didn't go there, nothing much has changed, except that there are more people in line, because of the influx of Pinoys coming to Singapore to work.

It is a bit frustrating to wait while standing up with only a simple roof to cover you from the sun. You see, they make you wait outside, in this garage-type waiting area. Not too bad actually, if you don't mind naman. But it would help if there was a proper waiting area. At least the, errmm, bagong bayanis can see even just a bit of their contribution to the Philippine government. Magkano lang naman ang orocan chairs di ba? Kesa naman nagkakandungan while waiting for so long. Buti na lang, I only had to wait for about an hour and a half in total (uuuy, I've changed--I'm so patient na noh? hehe). But I heard the others were waiting for a longer time pa.

The Philippine Embassy in Singapore looks like a house, IMO, less grander than the other embassies, even if you compare it to the Indonesia and Thai embassies.

Thai Embassy

Indonesian Embassy

Philippine Embassy

The saving grace is that the service level was of reasonable standards and the staff are generally helpful and warm. There seems to be some system in place, which I think is the most important thing anyway.

I'm not writing this para mang-okray. Just to vent out that hopefully, our government can still improve on their services to Pinoys who bring in the dough through their remittances. Even through simple needs like the freakin' Orocan chairs. Don't get me wrong, I do love the Philippines and I haven't lost hope in us, unlike other Pinoys. It's just that sometimes, you can't help but feel frustrated, na even if you're on foreign soil, you still directly feel the incompetence of the government.

It will take six weeks to get my new passport, but one of the friendly staff (konting chikahan upon learing that I work in the Singapore government) said that I can check on the fourth week--maybe it will be ready by then. I just hope I get my new passie in time for my departure on 30th December, otherwise, magwawala talaga ako!!!

it's ok to be depressed today

2008-11-17T21:54:00.003+08:00

Nana went back to Manila today. She decided to retire and maybe set up a small business in the Philippines.

I went to see her off at the airport this morning. How I hate seeing friends and family off. It makes me cry buckets of tears. I hate goodbyes. Even if (as the song goes) goodbye "doesn't mean forever" and it "doesn't mean we'll never be together again". (Yes, it is one of my favourite songs.)

On the surface, I may be sad because she left, but really, I'm happy for her because she'll finally be home. Really happy. I prayed that she be enlightened that it is indeed time for her to go back.

Without Nana here, my life here in Singapore will not be the same again. I will miss her so, but I shall see her whenever I go back to Manila.

As I left the airport to go to the office, I told myself: "I will never make hatid sa airport ever again!" I know I can't live up to what I just said, but really, I hate saying goodbyes--fleeting or not, it still means things will not be the same again.

So I'm depressed today, as my friend L told me today: "Give yourself today to be depressed." And I did, and I still have about two hours to be so.

never argue with a woman who reads

2008-11-15T15:11:00.006+08:00

I seldom open forwarded e-mails. Except if it's from those sensible and witty people like my friend L. She forwarded this to me yesterday and I'd like to share it with my girlfriends who luuurve to read.

***

One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.

Along comes a Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, 'Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?'

'Reading a book,' she replies, (thinking, 'Isn't it obvious?')

'You're in a Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her.

'I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading,' she replies.

To which he replies, 'Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.'

'For reading a book?,' she replies.

'You're in a Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her again.

'I'm sorry, officer, but I am not fishing. I am reading,' she replies, again.

Again he says, 'Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.'

'If you do that, I'll have to charge you with Sexual assault,' says the woman.

'But I haven't even touched you,' says the game warden.

And she replies, 'That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment.'

'Have a nice day ma'am,' and he left.

MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.

Catch me if you can!!!

2008-11-10T19:55:00.008+08:00

Woohoo!!!

It's been one year+ten months+one day (as of today) of not inhaling Philippine air! Lo and behold, I'll be home soon!!!! Can you just imagine how homesick I am, even if Singapore is just a mere three hours away from my beloved Pinas?

It's gonna be a short vacay...so catch me if you can!

The pre-school downstairs and my school bus days in St Scho

2008-11-10T19:34:00.005+08:00

There's a PAP pre-school at the ground floor of our flat. On most mornings, I would see parents hurriedly bringing their kids to school. Last Saturday, I think they had some sort of a program because they were wearing these colourful costumes. Here's some of the pics I took:

And oftentimes, Jun and I would have conversations starting with "Siguro kung may anak na tayo, diyan din sha magpepre-school."

And I would answer hubby: "Ay naku, magrereklamo yun bakit ang lapit lang ng school nya. Bababa lang sha ng ground floor, school na nya! Hindi exciting."

I guess this reaction is just natural for me who spent my grade school and high school days in St Scho taking the school bus (ermm, actually it's more of a "Fiera" than a bus)--Mang Joe during my grade school years, and Mang Goody during my high school years. It was then that I formed friendships, friendships that until now--though we are millions of miles away with separate lives of our own--are still alive.

Realities are much simpler then. You only need to know that the good seats--the ones near the door or in front--are reserved for the seniors. That you HAVE to buy snacks before going back, such as hilaw na mangga with bagoong or Cheese Tortilla and Melon Juice from Manang (who was able to send all her kids to college from the fruits of selling snacks outside Gate 6. That it's so fun to write and pass notes to each other inside the bus (ermm, fiera) even though you're just seating beside each other. And that you feel so mature when you are allowed to go back late and you can say: "Mang Goody, second trip po ako ha." That the best stories--tsismis, horror stories, love stories--are shared within the hot confines of Mang Goody's service.

Then as you step into your junior and senior years in high school, you develop different interests--some into boys, some into books, some into barkadas. Sometimes, you would even skip riding the bus anymore because you'd rather carpool that day or you would rather commute with your friends (Manang, pakisabi kay Mang Goody di ako sasabay.). But when you do decide to take the bus that day (Mang Goody, sasabay po ako ha!), you are still the same person that has boarded the bus (fierra pala) every morning, for more than ten years of your life.

And if life is indeed a "one great ride", like what most people say, then my ride would be my school bus ride. And no matter how long it arrives or no matter how many rounds it takes, no matter how I look or how I act outside of it... it will still bring me safe home, amidst the bumps, the tiriks, the heat (hindi sha aircon, shet), and sometimes even the smell (if the Don Bosco grade school boys share the bus with us, yuck amoy pawis!).

And when I reach home, I'll still be the same person that I am, only wiser, stronger, and many pounds heavier now.

Heinie with Love

2008-11-10T18:46:00.002+08:00

Guess whose hands?

Calven Klain

2008-11-09T23:13:00.005+08:00

Found this in a tiangge near Sheng Shong at Commonwealth MRT station.

Cereal Chicken Cutlet

2008-10-21T15:03:00.004+08:00

There's this nasi padang stall that I frequent to during lunchtime. Nasi padang, if translated literally, means "rice field"-- rice (nasi) field (padang). But in local lingo, it refers to a food stall. A nasi padang food stall is like a Malay version of a Pinoy's turo-turo. Different dishes are in front of you and you literally point out which ones you like to have on your plate.

One of my favorites there is their chicken cutlet. It's crispy and more chewy and a bit sweet. I've always wondered where this sweet taste came from. It couldn't be sugar, because it's not "sugary sweet". It's more like "milky or creamy sweet". Then I thought maybe they derived it from the recipe of Cereal Prawn. So I thought, maybe, instead of the usual bread crumbs as breading to cover the meat, they actually used oatmeal or cereal.

And I think I was right. I was surfing Kubiertos' site and I found this recipe. I will try it this weekend and hopefully, it will taste like that nasi padang's chicken cutlet.

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo chicken breast fillets (or you can use thigh fillets)
1 pack of Kelloggs frosted cornflakes (I'm planning to use cereals)
1 cup of milk1 egg, beaten
salt and pepper

Procedure:

Cut the fillets into 1 and a half inch pieces. Rub some salt and pepper for seasoning. Combine the egg with the milk and mix well. Put a lot of vegetable oil in a frying pan and put on high heat. Dip the seasoned chicken fingers in the milk and egg mixture then cover with corn flakes. Place in frying pan and cook until golden brown. Take the chicken out of the oil and place on paper towels so that it can absorb the excess oil. Serve with steaming white rice or garlic mashed potatoes. Enjoy plain or with gravy .

photo and recipe from Kubiertos

Help!!! Do you know any child psychiatrist?

2008-10-21T11:51:00.000+08:00

Hi guys

Please, if you can recommend a child psychiatrist, please PM me ASAP. It's really urgent. I'm not sure if my brother needs a CHILD psychiatrist because he's already 13 years old, but since previous diagnosis showed that his learning and thinking is way behind his normal age, then it must mean he still thinks like a child.

So if you can recommend a pyschiatrist, I'd really appreciate it if you can let me know. Thanks so much.

Mitchie :(

Pink Ribbon

2008-10-17T21:33:00.007+08:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

A few days ago, I attended a symposium on breast cancer awareness organised by the Breast Cancer Foundation of Singapore. The symposium aims to empower women to do regular breast self-examination (BSE) and to be aware of breast cancer symptoms. Click here to know more about BSE.

I've always known the steps on how to do BSE but I don't really know what to look for. In the symposium, they had this "dummy breast" with lumps inside and they made us touch it so we know what the lumps feel like when we do our own BSEs.

In the early stages of breast cancer, there is usually no pain and there may be no symptoms at all. As the cancer grows, the following symptoms could appear:

Breast cancer has overtaken lung and colorectal cancers as the top cancer-killer in Singapore. But the earlier you detect it, the higher chance you have of surviving it.

Although a healthy lifestyle helps prevent any kind of disease, we all know that cancer--more so, breast cancer--is like a traitor who can hit anyone.

Let's help spread the message, support and understand those who are fighting breast cancer, and help in our own little way in breast cancer research. One such way is by getting your Pink Ribbon--proceeds will go to the Breast Cancer Foundation of Singapore. Here's mine:

And by the way, Nana had her last chemo session today. Thank you to those who prayed and encouraged us during this difficult time. Please help me continue to pray for her as she goes on her road to recovery.

The Vomit Bowl

2008-10-17T21:28:00.006+08:00

Taken at National Cancer Centre of Singapore, at their chemotherapy section.

It's my first time to see a "vomit bowl". Cool huh.

Bintan, Indonesia

2008-10-16T17:51:00.009+08:00

Hubby turned 31 last 11 Oct and we celebrated it by having a 3-day holiday at Bintan, Indonesia. It's the quickest beach getaway from Singapore that we could think of.

Since it was a last-minute booking, our travel agent said that most of the resorts are fully-booked already. She recommended the Beach Club inside Nirwana but she told us not to expect too much since it only had basic accommodation and nothing fancy. I told her I'd discuss with my husband first. Hubby and I decided to just go for it since all we wanted was to get away from Singapore even just for a few days. But when I called back the travel agent, the beach club was full already. Fortunately, she was able to find a spot for us at Mayang Sari (in Nirwana also), but at a higher price. It was ok with us and we when we got to Mayang Sari, we were so happy with our decision because we really liked the place. It was spacious, clean, private, beautiful and quiet.

Mayang Sari is located inside Nirwana Gardens. Inside Nirwana are: Nirwana Resort Hotel, Mayang Sari Beach Resort, Nirwana Beach Club, Banyu Biru Villas, and Indra Maya Villas.

The cottage was beautiful, clean and maluwag. It had that endearing "parang probinsya" scent. Aircon was functioning properly. Everything was provided--from toothbrush to incense to insect repellants. Even though we were not able to get one of the Sea View cottages, ok pa rin cuz it was still very near the beach. Food in the hotel and restau was so-so. But we were not able to try the other restaus, I think they serve good food there naman. Staff were all friendly--very typical Indonesians--always ready to smile and have small chats.

I'd say I can recommend Mayang Sari to you guys who want a quick getaway from Singapore. Thinking of going to Bintan? Try Mayang Sari. Click here to view more of the pics we took of Mayang Sari.

Everything went great on this trip. That's what's nice about getting travel packages, because everything has been arranged for you already. I guess the only thing that I can complain about was that we waited more than 30 minutes for the shuttle bus (transfer from Bintan ferry terminal to Nirwana) to leave. But even that wasn't so bad. Everything just fell into place--even my period stopped earlier than expected.

It was like God telling us, "Okay, you two have been working pretty hard this past two years so let me give you a perfect holiday."

So what did we do on this vacay? Nothing. As in nothing. Okay, there was something that we did--we took photos heheh. Of course, our baby Nikki was with us and it scared the sh*t out of me when hubby said that he thinks an insect was in the lens. Click here to see more of these random shots.

We left Singapore at 5pm via Bintan Resort Ferries at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and we arrived in Singapore on Sunday evening. The downside of travelling as a couple is no one would be there to take (decent) photos of the two of you. Hehehe. The great thing about travelling as a couple is you can do whatever you want without thinking about other people.

Indonesia is an hour behind Singapore so we were "added" one hour when we got to Bintan. We had dinner in Mayang Sari on Friday night, and chilled out at the beach and our cottage afterwards. Then had buffet breakfast. Swam and swam and swam some more. If it was time for me to get out of the water, I was just lying there reading Kramer vs Kramer (I'm now in my books-turned-into-movies phase).

For Saturday's lunch we went to Pasar Oleh Oleh. I didn't really like it. I felt it was too touristy. A bit staged and not authentic. But food was cheap, so that makes the place okay after all. Ahh basta, I don't like the place, it looked depressing. I don't like to see shops kasi na parang walang bumibili, nadedepress akoh!!!

After Saturday's lunch at Cafe Helo Helo, we went back to our cottage to relax a bit. Then we went to the main hotel of Nirwana. It was too crowded and noisy for our taste (haha ang tanda na namen). It had this busy atmosphere that I felt I was back in the city again. It was probably because KPMG employees were having their teambuilding or something so there were so many people there.

For Saturday's dinner, we had room service na lang. We wanted to relax in our cottage's balcony before heading to the beach for an evening stroll. And believe it or not, we were in bed by 10.30pm! I was snoring before it even hit 11pm!!! Vice and the housemates were calling us at 11.30pm to check on us, but we didn't even answer because we were in deep sleep na. We really had a good rest.

The whole of Sunday morning was spent swimming in the clear waters of Mayang Sari. After the breakfast buffet, we headed straight to our spot in the beach, set up our towels and stuff and dove in! By 10.30am, Jun had to shout out at me to get out of the water because I was starting to look like a roasted pig. Mang Tomas na lang ang kulang.

We had to check out by 12noon even though our ferry back to Singapore is still at 3pm. So after checking out, we rented a buggy and drove around the island resort. After that, we had drinks and merienda at the bar near the beach.

Click here to see pics of us na nagtatampisaw sa tubig. heheh.

And before we knew it, it was time to board the shuttle bus to the ferry terminal. Back to reality na uli. Hay.

But it was a great weekend. A really great weekend with my one great love.

blogthings.com

2008-10-16T17:20:00.002+08:00

Who am I in High School?

All American Kid

Popular but not plastic. Athletic but not a jock. Smart but not a brain.

You were well rounded and well liked in high school.

What retro girl am I?

Your Inner Retro Girl Is

1960s City Girl

What font am I?

You Are Impact

You are very unique and quite striking. You are forceful and aggressive.

You never go unnoticed, and people recognize your power instantly.

While you make your presence known, your message is a bit fuzzy.

You are not the easiest person to understand, and you're not one for details.

What condiment am I?

You Are Barbeque Sauce

You are a social person. You enjoy cooking for other people.

You are both skillful and competitive. You enjoy mastering hard tasks.

You appreciate complexity more than simplicity.

Your taste in food tends to lean toward interesting flavors.

You appreciate exotic spice combinations. You tend to like cutting edge, fusion cuisine.

You get along with all personalities from a distance. Except salsa personalities, who always seem to annoy you.

Got nothing to do? Try it here.

Mid-week blues: I am so TTTired!!!

2008-10-15T22:34:00.003+08:00

I need a vacation...

after my vacation.

-jun and chie were here-

2008-10-12T19:55:00.001+08:00

To celebrate hubby's 31st birthday, we went to Bintan, Indonesia for three days. It was really, really, really great to leave all the worries and stress back in Singapore. We stayed at Mayang Sari (inside Nirwana Resort) and we loved the place. And that's saying a lot ha! Like most Filipinos, my standards are high when it comes to beaches.

More pics to come!

our public bar is not open because it is closed. (ANO DAW??)

2008-10-10T01:13:00.003+08:00

Click here for more laughs.

The professional heckler

2008-10-09T00:17:00.007+08:00

I love The Professional Heckler!!! I believe he won in one of the categories in this year's Philippine Blog Awards. He (or she? I'm not sure) injects good ol' comic relief to Philippine politics and current events. I just hope that his political "targets" actually read his entries so they'll know what a joke they are for continuing to mess up our country!

The Professional Heckler is like Chikatime on a more intelligent level. Hahah!

However, some people may not appreciate the way he writes. Specifically those who don't know how to separate fact from sarcasm from satire.

My favorite "hecklings" for today:

On the Teehankee Clemency: Anders Hultman, Maureen Hultman’s adoptive father has slammed President Arroyo’s granting of an executive clemency to Claudio Teehankee Jr., the man convicted of the killing of Maureen and her companion in 1991. In an email sent to the Inquirer, Anders said, “Why this president does this only God knows,” to which President Arroyo said, “Don’t drag an innocent being into the controversy. I haven’t talked to Him for a long time.”

On the demand for oil price rollback: Oil companies refused to implement a price rollback despite a huge drop in world crude costs citing the “still, fluid situation.” But the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan demands an “immediate, substantial oil price rollback” insisting that the drastic drop in oil prices worldwide “undoubtedly” warrants a pump price reduction of at least 7 pesos per liter for diesel, 2 pesos and 30 cents for gasoline, and 8 pesos for kerosene. Gathering those figures was a remarkable effort on the part of Bayan… considering the fact that most of its members actually spend more time marching than getting a ride.

Pati away ni Cristy and Nadia pinatulan (haha!): Gossip columnist and libel convict Cristy Fermin has revealed that Nadia Montenegro gave birth not only to five children as she has claimed but to six kids. The Asistios called it a shame. Showbiz columnists described it as a shocker. The Catholic Church wants Nadia to be their spokesperson against the Reproductive Health Bill.

Oh yes, I haven't gone home for almost two years but I am still updated. :)

Delayed post :)

2008-10-08T23:28:00.009+08:00

Click here to see more of hubby's take of the race track and those amazzzing caroos that zoom through 'em.

And click here to see more scenes off the track.

I want to bring my younger bro, Miguel, to next year's race. Hope to see you there, too (especially Tins!)!

Now, here's what a so-so F1 fan (that's me) can say about this weekend:

1. If you are not an F1 fan, don't bother to even go. The loud sound of the F1 cars will amaze you when you first hear them. But after a few laps, they will all just be noise to your ears.

2. If you are an F1 fan, mangutang ka para lang makapanood hehehe! You will really appreciate the great engineering and hard work that goes to this sport if you see it with your naked eyes. I, a so-so F1 fan, am really impressed and maybe I can say, I am now a convert hehehe.

Our seats

3. You don't need to go for the expensive seats. I think even the walkabout tickets will do, if your legs have the strength of a horse. A lot of spectators didn't stay put in their seats and would rather go around and find a nice spot. Especially if you want to shoot some nice pics.

4. It helps to have a husband who can explain the technicalities to you :)

Still about the F1 Night Race

2008-10-06T15:57:00.005+08:00

When you first saw the trophy for Singapore's F1 Night Race, what did you think about it? Honestly, at first glance, I couldn't appreciate it. Maybe I got so used to the traditional trophies. Someone even commented that it looked like a broom upside down.

photo: Singtel

The FIA requires Grand Prix promoters to present trophies "in the form of traditional cups." And award-winning Singaporean artist Zulkifle Mahmod followed the strict guidelines and designed the trophies in line with the tagline by the title sponsor Singtel: "Come Shape the Future of Racing".

It really looked weird at first glance, but when I read what James wrote, I started to appreciate it too. On closer inspection, James said, we could see the steering wheel at the base of the trophy and the individual stylised petals in black and red looks like a chequered flag. It looks good, in an unconventional sort of way.

PS. Have you seen this video about the first ever F1 race? Nice!

For hubby's 31st birthday...

2008-10-06T14:28:00.010+08:00

...we will be spending it here.

(that is, if everything goes through as planned.)

photo: Roro Fernandez

Bintan is probably the fastest beach getaway from Singapore. We cannot really consider Sentosa or the nearby Malaysia beaches as getaways because they're not so nice. And as a Filipino, your beach standards are kind of higher compared to other people.

Hubby will be turning 31 this Saturday. He made a clear point that he did not want any parties. But I still want to celebrate his birthday so a week before his birthday, I decided to ask around whether it would be good to go to Bintan on that weekend. Unfortunately, the resort that we wanted to stay in is fully booked already, so we'll just go for the Nirwana resort in Bintan. At least we still get to runaway for the weekend.

I'll be booking the cottage tomorrow. Ida of BRF Holidays Pte Ltd will be the one taking care of our package. I'm not expecting a lot from Nirwana resort because I know it ain't the best in Bintan. I just hope it's not bad enough to ruin our vacation.

Believe it or not, I haven't had a decent holiday in almost two years! Except for the occasional trips to Malaysia, but that's not even considered a holiday at all.

photo: Candy Chu-Chao

So I can't wait to feel the sand between my toes (sand at the East Coast is NOT considered sand!It's more of cement!). There's a chance that it might rain on those days but I don't care! No rain will ruin my parade heheh.

a dream come true...

2008-10-03T21:31:00.000+08:00

...for hubby.

He's such an F1 fanatic, so when we watched the first ever F1 night race here in Singapore, he was in seventh heaven! He was almost as happy as he was on our wedding day (errmm, should I be insulted?)

Pics taken with our baby Nikki and her cousin Nicco and their playmates Nikkor 18-200mm VR and 300 f2.8. Heheheh.

More pics to come!!!

Pahabol: Third world represent!!! Woohoo:)

Rock on, Nana!

2008-10-03T20:29:00.000+08:00

There are good days and there are bad days.

Here's us on one of those good days...

Let me know if it works

2008-09-29T12:25:00.005+08:00

Got an e-mail today from P with the subject heading "stressed?"

Here's an excerpt...

Hmmm...innnnneresting....

Tapos na ang maliligayang araw mo!

2008-09-25T12:38:00.003+08:00

Re: SDPC-marking on Every Stick of Cigarette

With effect from 1 January 2009, all duty-paid cigarettes sold in Singapore will be legally required to be marked with the letters “SDPC” (which stands for Singapore Duty-Paid Cigarettes).

All cigarettes will continue to be sold in packets bearing the graphic health warning lables as stipulated by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

The SDPC will be marked on every individual stick of cigarettes.

Here's how it will look like:

What about smokers returning to Singapore from overseas? How will their packet of cigarettes be treated at the checkpoint?

There are no duty-free concessions or GST relief for cigarettes and other tobacco products in Singapore since 1991. Persons arriving in Singapore who bring in cigarettes or tobacco products are required to declare them for payment of duty and GST.

Arriving travellers and returning Singaporeans who have brought in cigarettes from overseas for their own consumption and have paid duty are advised to reproduce their receipts as proof of payment of duty and GST when checked by Customs officers.

For other FAQs and more info, click here.

does our work really define us?

2008-09-08T20:46:00.011+08:00

It seems like whatever position and whatever company I get into, I always manage to be stressed about it. Hah! That's such a positive way to translate: Ano ba yan, kahit anong trabaho pasukan ko e tambak pa rin ang trabaho! (Okay, since one of my distinct traits is my optimism, I shall stick to the English translation instead.)

When I launch my tirade about work, my husband would give me the following replies: (1) You can't finish everything in one day. (2) Workaholic ka kasi. (3) Manage your time.

I agree with him on number 1: It gives me unnecessary stress just thinking of that there are things that I have yet to finish.

I disagree with him on number 2: I am not a workaholic (anymore). I recovered from my work addiction on the day I set foot in Singapore.

And number 3 makes me ponder: Do I really know how to manage my time? Do I use it wisely?

It's sad to think that most of the time, our work defines us. When we meet someone for the first time, one of the first questions we ask is "What do you do?" And we answer by telling him what kind of work we do, which company we work for, who are clients are, etc.

I totally agree with what The Unsettled Woman wrote in her blog:

When did this happen? Why is work suddenly the center of my universe?

I understand the whole idea of loving your job, doing your best and
making yourself and your company proud. But when it comes to a point where it
seems as if you just live and breathe work, that everything else around you
comes into neglect --- your family, your friends, your health, even yourself ---
doesn't that make for a sad little life?

Me thinks: Isn't it sad when our work is the centre of our life?

Not only workaholics have their work as the centre of their lives. Even regular working people do. When your boss breathes down on your neck, or when something bad at work happens, your whole day is destroyed already. On the other hand, if something really good happens at work, it's enough for you to celebrate by having a round of drinks or by being in a good mood throughout the week.

Nothing is wrong with that, but I do hope I am more passionate with the more important things in life--like my family, friends, my health, my interests...

I remember this quote I read somewhere when I was still in high school. Something about the Five Balls of Life. Briad Dyson, CEO of Coca-Cola talked about these five balls when he delivered the Commencement Address in one of Georgia Tech's graduation ceremony. He spoke of the relation of work to one's other commitments:

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air.
You name them work, family, health, friends and spirit and you’re
keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball.

If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls--family, health, friends and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same.
You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.
How?
Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.
Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.
Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as they would be your life, for without them, life is meaningless.
Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life.
Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us to each together.
Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be
brave.
Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give it; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been, but also where you are going.
Don’t forget, a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.
Don’t be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.
Don’t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved. Life is not a race, but
a journey to be savored each step of the way.
Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery and Today is a gift: that’s why we call it ‘The Present’.

when life gets in the way

2008-09-08T20:06:00.004+08:00

I haven't blogged for almost a month now. Things have been really, really hectic at work. Plus looking after Nana. And oh, did I mention that it has been really hectic at work?

I just want to curl up in bed and sleep for 17 hours straight. But there are so many things to do, things to accomplish, money to earn, errands to run, conflicts to settle.

Shivering before I drift to sleep is a sign of fatigue for me. These past few nights, whenever I am starting to float into my own dreamland, I shiver. Another confirmation that it was a tiring day for me.

Now, I am nursing a flu. Since Thursday. At times like these, I just want to go back home where there will always be people to take care of me.

Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.

So as much as I want to relax and do the things I love, I can't for now. Sadly, that's what happens when life gets in the way.

Jenn's Birthday Gift

2008-08-14T21:56:00.001+08:00

Here's how Jenn gave me my birthday gift.

--Jenn's YM shoutout: "I trust my LifeVerse"--

mitchiegirl: ano ung Life Verse?

jenn pinon: matthew 6:26
jenn pinon: parang fave verse mo sa bible
mitchiegirl: ay talaga
mitchiegirl: ako may favorite ako
jenn pinon: anu )
jenn pinon:
mitchiegirl: "...and my God shall provide my needs according to his will..."
mitchiegirl: hmmm ano na nga bang verse un...
jenn pinon: hahaha diko alam eh
mitchiegirl: lagi un ang nakadisplay sa workstations ko. tapos nung naglipat ako, nawala ung papel,
jenn pinon: verse mo un eh supposed to be alam mo teehee
jenn pinon: hahahahaaha
mitchiegirl: di ko tuloy alam kung anong book ba hahaha
mitchiegirl: e alam mo naman ako, di ako nagbabible study
jenn pinon: heheheheh
mitchiegirl: hanapin mo naman for me please
mitchiegirl: bday gift mo na sakin
jenn pinon: hahahah wait

mitchiegirl: bsta im not sure kung ano ung exact words
mitchiegirl: kasi ung last phrase ata is "...according to his riches" ata
mitchiegirl: basta na remember ko lang "my god shall provide (or supply) my needs..."
jenn pinon:
jenn pinon: nakakaloka
jenn pinon: hahaha
jenn pinon: wait hanap ko

mitchiegirl: My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
mitchiegirl: Phillipians
jenn pinon: phil 4.19

mitchiegirl: yup tama!
mitchiegirl: yan i wont forget my life verse ever
jenn pinon: teehee
jenn pinon: yan
jenn pinon: bday gift ko
mitchiegirl: hahaha
mitchiegirl: thanks baby

So because of Jen and her birthday gift, I will never forget my LifeVerse. Although I was never good in these things-- the lowest grade I ever received in High School was in our Religion subject (a 78--can you believe it? Nakakahiya! Scholastican pa naman ako na tumuloy sa pagiging Lasallista), I have this verse that I always hang on to when times are rough, and even more so, when times are good. And as one of my best friends always tell me: Chie, God will provide.

"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19

Waiting to exhale

2008-08-14T21:05:00.003+08:00

Waiting to exhale--this probably sums up what I feel and what I'm doing right now. I am holding my breath and waiting to exhale, and I shall be this way until I finally make up my mind about my next step...

Actually, I am almost LITERALLY waiting to exhale. Let me describe to you how I'm feeling for almost a month now: I feel like my heart will burst from the uncertainty. I feel my heart beating, almost palpitating, for the most part of the day. I feel my shoulders tense up, as in literally hardens like a rock, when I start thinking or doing my tasks at work. And when I finally go home and rest and start to think that tomorrow will be another working day, my head hurts like it's about to explode.

These past two weeks, events and signs just keep popping everywhere. Events and signs that are probably telling me that I have to make another important decision.

Clearly, I'm not happy with what I'm doing. Should I really go back to teaching, which is what I think I love to do? But it means giving up the stability and financial security of working in the government.

Another thing is, I am thinking of working part-time for a month or two. I just want to take a break from all the pressures. I want to have a more flexible schedule so I can be with Nana while she undergoes her chemotherapy for the next three months... I want to take a break, and cliche' as it may sound, I want to do some soul searching. I didn't realise how confused I am, until one night, I googled "how to do soul searching". Am I crazy? Is this a sign of depression? Or is it just a lack of alcohol that's making me think too much?

You see, if I do decide to resign from my job now, it could mean giving up the fat bonus that the governement usually give in December.

But I am so unhappy that even the fat bonus which we will reportedly receive in December has stopped motivating me. And if I am not motivated, it results to being unproductive, to the point of not being able to do my projects and tasks well. And if I don't do my projects and tasks well, I feel incompetent and bosses will start breathing down my neck. And when I start feeling this way, I end up not wanting to go to work at all. Haaay, talk about applying The Multiplier Effect concept.

So here I am, waiting to exhale while considering my options. I'm giving myself two weeks to see whether I can still be motivated in my job. And a month or so to see whether the part-time schedule and compensation that the two schools are offering me would be worth it. And then another month or so to see whether I can find a full-time job that really interests me and which will, hopefully, put back the fire in this working girl's tired-but-still-beating (and recently, palpitating) heart.

One of the most painful things to say to your loved one

2008-08-14T20:34:00.000+08:00

"May the woman you deserve finally find you."

Question of the day

2008-08-14T18:19:00.002+08:00

Do you love what you do for a living?

Love what you're doing, and money will follow. Is this true or is this just the view of a person who sees life through rose-colored glasses?

Tutuy's countdown begins

2008-08-05T20:13:00.002+08:00

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I was commissioned by my loving husband to blog about this.

A month ago, his F1 tickets arrived. And boy, was he thrilled. Almost as thrilled as he was on our wedding day. Azar noh!