Happy Mom's Day!

Today is Mother's Day and like always I planned to do something special for my mom on this day. I planned to have lunch with her today and probably have a massage with her at the spa, or even go shopping. I also wanted to give her some time away from her worries and her daily chores. I wanted her to feel like a queen, even if it were for just a day. And I guess I was also secretly hoping, hubby had something planned for little-old-me!

About three days ago, my husband's aunt died. She was someone close to him, to us. She was the one who gave him away on our wedding day because hubby's mom and dad have passed away already. He had to help take care of some loose ends, his uncle was working in South America so it will take sometime for him to get home. I did not mind that he had to help out. His cousins were all girls and they were still young and innocent about these things, having had some experience when his own mom died he knew what needed to be done. So we ended up spending most of our weekend at the funeral and at the kitchen cooking up food for some guests and family members.

I felt a little sad because we were not together today - as a family and I was not able to treat my mom out on her special day. Nothing happened as I planned. Today I prepared a meal for 16 people for lunch and for dinner. I gave my kids a bath and dressed them up. I made sure that things were running smoothly in the house as we had unexpected visitors coming in and out from the wake. Hubby's uncle arrived today, he had to go to the airport to pick him up. I cleaned the extra room to have them temporarily stay there for the duration of the funeral.

All in all, what I did today...is what I do best...mothering! Ooooops forgot to mention, out of the so many things I planned that did push through? I had lunch with my mom - one on one, in her kitchen, nothing formal...just me and her talking about nonsensical things while she does what she does best also...fuzz and take care of me.

I love you Mom, happy mother's day to you!

Happy mother's day also to all the moms in my blogroll and also to those dad's who act as both mom and dad. I salute all of you!

Beach Time!

It's summertime here and I am probably as excited as my daughters at the prospect of going swimming, whether in the beach or in a pool! LOL! In the shops you'll see all sorts of swim gear displayed, swimsuits, floaters, sunscreen. My country is known to have some of the best beaches in the world! We have 7,107 islands, so no wonder I love water so much hehe.

I also love this time of the year because I get to have some bonding time with the family. I would always plan swimming activities all throughout the summer. The sun shining down on your well-oiled skin while you are sipping a tall lemonade and just simply dipping your toes in the water.

I remembered I learned how to swim when I was four. My cousins and I got tired of waiting in the sidelines, we wanted to immerse in the cool blue waters. I knew I probably drank about a pool of water (LOL!) but geez I was pretty determined. I wanted to learn to swim that day and I didn't want to go home without actually learning. And I did! My mom was pretty amazed and scared at how determined I was to learn. By the end of the day I was plunging in and out of the water and I would never forget how good that felt.

Here's a video of some of the cool places and the best beaches here in my country. I hope you will enjoy this as much as I did. And out of the 7,107 islands sadly I was only able to visit around 3 or 4. But I am planning to see more and more each year.



MABUHAY! as we say it here.

Have a great summer guys!

A Gift

Today is Earth Day and I thought I could give something back by sharing this wonderful message I got from reading the book The Secret by Rhonda Byrne.

It's a video of daily affirmations that could help you get some positive things into your life. Some find it a waste of time but personally I think it's one of the best gifts life has to offer...and it's free! All you need is an open mind.

Today is the beginning of my new life
I am starting over today
All good things are coming to me today

I am grateful to be alive
I see beauty all around me
I live with passion and purpose

I take time to laugh and play everyday
I am awake, energized and alive
I focus on all good things in life
and give thanks for them

I am free at peace and one with everything
I feel the love, the joy, the abundance

I am free to be myself
I am magnificence in human form
I am the perfection of life
I am grateful to be...
ME.

Today is the best day of my life!




It's not to say that we have ignore the bad times we experience in our lives, because I also believe that it is getting through these times that helps mold us into better and stronger persons.

However good or bad a situation is, it will change...and if you want to keep it better all the time then choose to make it so.

Love life...it's the only one you've got!

Wait No More

Opportunities wait for no one - not if you're busy, not if you're absent, and certainly not if you're afraid. - The Philippine Star

As I was growing up I certainly had a lot of influences in many aspects of my life. My mom and dad were my teachers in the School of Life. I was taught that life's opportunities are not handed to you in a platter, it is up to you to make things happen.

Well it was not always easy for me to do that, in fact, up to now I still am not so aggresively pursuing the things I want in life. For a long time, I was only a spectator in my life. I was guilty of leaving things to fate. But life has taught me otherwise. If I wanted to make things happen, I have to move...and move NOW!

A few days ago my daughters performed in their school's elementary graduation ceremony. Eventhough my kids were not among those who were going to graduate I couldn't help but feel teary eyed when the graduation March started to play and the young graduates walked along the aisle. It was as if I was suddenly transported back in time. I was reminded of my own graduation.

I remembered feeling euphoric and so ready to take on the world. I wanted to become a doctor and having been accepted in the best Med School in the country was really mind-boggling! I thought I was on the right track, my life was in sync with my goals. But towards my pre-med course graduation my life turned around. I realized becoming a doctor might not be for me. It entailed time and dedication and you have to be in the best of health. I went on 24-hours duty in the hospital.When I was doing my intership at various hospitals I got sick...almost all the time. But at least I was still in the same field of helping people get well. I took the next best thing.

I was lost after that, the path that I have chosen for myself as young as 3 years old suddenly toppled over. I had to find my way back again. Since I psyched myself to work in the hospital, I had a hard time envisioning myself doing something different. I thought I was going to fail myself and my family. Miserably.

Not! I decided that I could either mope around jobless for the rest of my life or find something I could be good at aside from becoming a doctor and actually get paid! Well it did not happen immediately, like in the movies. But what was more important was IT did happen! It took a lot of my time, a lot of my patience - not to mention my mom and dad's hehe - but it happened. I discovered I could be good at something totally different - like officework and actually excel at it!

As to becoming a doctor, well I play that role a lot of times with my kids and sometimes to my mom and dad. I make sure that they are in good health 100% of the time and I take good care of them when they get sick 24/7. And getting "thank yous and i love yous" in return was surely worth more than money could ever buy.

Interestingly our company's battle cry this year is very interesting and inspiring. Just five words but it could change the way you see your life.

OUR TIME IS NOW. BELIEVE.

It's up to you.

To be a Woman

There is eminence in being a woman. And this trait is propelled by her desire to live her life to the fullest, setting her goals while being mindful of her surroundings; achieving her dreams without abandoning an attitude of just taking care of herself.

To be a woman is to recognize success with humility, to face challenges with generosity of spirit, to conquer the world with magnanimity.

In her everyday endeavor, a woman uses her heart to discern what is best for her and for the people she loves; her mind, to pre-gauge the impact of her choice; and her soul, to keep her afloat with all the things life has to offer. ~ Bum D. Tenorio Jr

Don't you think that was a pretty good description of us women? I don't think I could add anymore to that.

This is my salute to all the wonderful women of the world. I salute all my women friends, my grandmothers, my sister and most of all my mom.

I postpone death by living, by suffering, by error, by risking, by giving, by loving. ~ Anais Nin

Holy Week

This Holy Week I was once again immersed in our family tradition of the "Pabasa" (the Passion of Christ is sang by believers). Here's a picture of our Nazareno (Jesus carrying the cross). The Nazareno, "Mamong" as we so fondly call him was owned by my family for more than 150 years already. It was passed on from generation after generation and we still continue to do this tradition until today.

It starts Holy Wednesday when we would prepare the Karosa where the statue of the Nazareno is held together with Simon carrying a big black cross. A "live" station of the Cross is commemorated along the streets.

When I was much younger the whole clan, mostly the female ones, would be busy in the kitchen cutting away vegetables, peeling potatos, washing plates and kitchen utensils. The kids would be assigned to put sampaguitas in long sticks for the karosa. The male members of the family would be busy preparing the sound system and the altar where it will all happen. Everyone has a role to play, no one was left out, even the little ones. I remembered looking forward to this time of the year because it was also a time where I would meet my cousins again and we would have a great time.

Many people would come over my grandmother's house. Mostly people from the church, our parish priest, bishops, nuns and yup even politicians.



After the karosa has been decorated and the 14 miniature crosses distributed to other houses after the mass our family will be hosting the yearly "live" Station of the Cross along the streets. Before we walked barefoot along the streets as a form of sacrifice. But I guess things have changed a lot as well.



It was was more real to me back then, His passion and His pains. The Holy Week when I was little was more holier than it is now. I remember my grandmother and my aunts teaching us, mostly six-year-olds how to cook, cut vegetables and become very helpful in the kitchen. We were taught not to play, not to laugh so much and be very quiet mostly all throughout the week - as a form of sacrifice.

Today I saw the week as a respite from work, when I could clean the house, remove stuff from the refrigerator, spend time with my family and catch up on some reading and probably watch some DVDs. If my grandma and aunts would see us now they would probably turn in their graves at the way we spend the "HOLY Week". But then for me being with the family is a Holy time. It's a time where I remember that this is the reason why I am alive, the very reason I breath and the very reason why I want to wake up and face the day again tomorrow.

"It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing."

Hope you guys have a peaceful Holy Week.

Simple Truths

Life is rather like a tin of sardines - we're all of us looking for the key. ~ Alan Bennett

Got this from my sister and thought I should share them with you.

I Believe ...

That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

That just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

That you can keep going, long after you think you can't.

That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

That no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn't stop for your grief.

That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

That two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

That the people you care about most in life are taken from you much too soon.

That life is more precious than money will ever be able to be.

“Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.” ~ James Dean

Away from Home

It's 2:44am. I have been tossing and turning in my hotel bed for the past four hours. I have been sitting up, fluffing my pillows, pulling up the bedsheets, pulling down the bedsheets, getting into various angles and position but I just can't seem to find the perfect spot. It's not happening. Arrrggggh I give up! I just can't sleep. Why oh why didn't I bring my laptop with me? I am soooooo longing to be in my bed right now. I miss my disorganized room, those familiar homey sounds, I miss my daughters, I miss my honey, I miss home.

I stood outside the small verandah in my room overlooking the streets. The city looked quiet and sleepy. Boy! how I long to be asleep myself. Maybe it was the capuccino I had earlier in the evening at Candy's Resto. As pretty and huge as my hotel room may seem, it only makes me long more and more to be in mine (sigh). It's hard enough being away from my kids over night and since my flight was cancelled due to bad weather I had to stay here another day. Poof! Don't get me wrong this is not really a bad place to be. On the contrary it was surprisingly a very happening place.

I had the best two nights in the city. The first night our host took us out to dinner at this place called Sentro 1850. It was a cozy restaurant, nice ambience and the food was delicious! Not to mention affordable too! I felt bad not having brought any camera with me and I was a little too shy to take pics of our food for my blog using my cellphone. I ordered this shrimp chili pasta and I loved it! They had huge servings. We also had baked mussels with melted cheese on top, crunchy squid and this huge crab salad with mango and wasabe dressing. After that, we were taken to Cafe Berde at the Mallberry Suites, I had espresso macchiato con tsokolate. It was simply the best!

Espresso Macchiato

Crab Salad in Wasabe Dressing

On the second day, since our flight was cancelled we had to stay in our branch office and become useful and err productive. We were not on vacation and having our flight cancelled does not give us the liberty to become tourists. We were there to work. But when the evening came it was time to have fun again. We were again invited for dinner. We had a great time at this chinese restaurant called East Wok, eat-all-you can chinese cuisine and then we had dessert and coffee at Candy's. I had this most delicious capuccino with a dash of cinnamon and this amazing cake called Tartufo - the outer part was chocolate and inside there was ice cream and nuts. Heaven was all I can recall feeling and tasting. Here are some pics I got from the web as I was not able to take some of my own.

Tartufo

Capuccino with a dash of cinammon

Apart from missing my family sooo sooo much it was not such a bad time to be away from home.

"To get away from one's working environment is, in a sense, to get away from one's self; and this is often the chief advantage of travel and change." ~ Charles Horton Cooley

Sunday Mornings

I was supposed to watch the Maroon 5 concert come Wednesday (March 5) at the Araneta Coliseum. I have waited for months for my favorite boy band to visit my country, but sadly I have to go out of town on a business trip on the day of their concert (sigh). So I guess I would have to bid Adam, James, Jesse, Mickey and Matt good luck and I am very sure they will rock on that day!

Don't worry boys...I Won't Go Home Without You.

This is also re-post of a previous article I wrote way back in 2007.




I love Sunday mornings. It's lazy, it's lethargic and absolutely fantastic. It gives me a brief respite from the hustle and bustle of motherhood. I get to have a late breakfast, linger over my coffee, and wonder how I'll spend my sunday afternoon. Probably tinker away in my laptop and update my blog.


This particular song by Maroon 5 is from the album "Songs about Jane" pretty much describe how today feels.

Here's the lyrics of the song, you might want to sing along.

Sunday morning rain is falling
Steal some covers share some skin
Clouds are shrouding us in moments unforgettable
You twist to fit the mold that I am in
But things just get so crazy living life gets hard to do
And I would gladly hit the road get up and go if I knew
That someday it would lead me back to you
That someday it would lead me back to you

That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on Sunday morning
And I never want to leave

Fingers trace your every outline
Paint a picture with my hands
Back and forth we sway like branches in a storm
Change the weather still together when it ends

That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on Sunday morning
And I never want to leave

But things just get so crazy living life gets hard to do
Sunday morning rain is falling and I'm calling out to you
Singing someday it'll bring me back to you
Find a way to bring myself back home to you

And you may not know
That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow…

Lovely jamming with yah guys! Will catch you another time.

The Talk

A suburban mother's role is to deliver children obstetrically once and by car forever after. ~ Peter De Vries

Okay, so I guess it's inevitable and yup the moment finally came. I felt all gooey and antsy inside. It felt like a million butterflies suddenly decided to take up a rent-controlled lease at the upper east-side of my tummy. Did I look green? Probably. Were my palms sweaty? Leaking, dear. Can I do it? Doubt it. Should I? There is no better time than the here and now. Was I going to faint? Ahhh, most likely. It felt like I was going to deliver the most important speech of my life and dear me, I think I'm going to puke!

It was the moment moms and dads are dreading. It was time to talk the talk. About the birds and the bees and err if kissing could make you cough up babies. My nine-year-old daughter was looking at me strangely with raised brows, as if saying, "Well?". I swallowed hard.

I remembered the very same talk I had with my mom way back then. I thought she was going to faint too! She looked so uncomfortable and green that I wanted to spare her the trouble. You see for the longest time I thought I was err a-sexual (neither a boy nor a girl) but my mom thought it was time for me to realize that I was different from my brother and cousins. And that it was not appropriate for girls to outrun the male members of my family in a race and that it was totally unbecoming of a young lady to be better in skateboard and go-carts and yup even archery! No no no! It just wasn't done.

So I had to sweat it out in that wooden chair while my mom, struggled, ever so poorly to explain to me the wonders of the female body. When I told her, " I got it covered mom, you don't have to tell me anymore." She looked relieved and yes dear folks, scared! I looked at her eyes and read her every thought. How come she knows already? Who taught her? Does she--? Did she--? LOL! And before she suffers a heart attack, I told her "Mom, our science teacher told us about it. Don't worry I'm cool with it." It was only then that she breathed a sigh of relief. "Well okay, just let me know if you have any questions okay dear?". She kissed my forehead and ruffled my long black hair. Ahhh it was over.

"Mom?" my daughter's voice brought me out of my reverie. Here goes nothing! So I proceeded to tell her about er the wonders of the female body and her eyes were growing bigger by the moment. Nope, I did not tell her specifics. I just told her how to take better care of herself in case the time comes. And as I was talking to her, in a level that she will understand I begin to feel comfortable. My great love for her, took over. I wanted her to know as much as her little nine-year-old mind could fathom because I wanted her to be safe and ready for anything. Armed with information, well not too much information, but valuable ones. It was done I made it! LOL! And I did not faint.

I hugged her tight and she hugged me back. Awwwww! My little girl is growing into a young lady. And all of a sudden I feel sooooooo old and ancient.

A little girl was asked where her home was, she replied, "where mother is." ~ Keith L. Brooks

I love you mom!