Help for the victims of Typhoon Sendong

Another typhoon has wreaked havoc in the Philippines particularly in the southern part--Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities were greatly affected plus part of Dumaguete. Volunteer workers and donations in cash or in kind are needed. Here are a few links to other blogs that I am following who already made lists of where or how you can help:


Where to SEND HELP for Victims of Typhoon Washi (Sendong) - Pinay Mommy Online


Help for the Typhoon Sendong Victims in Iligan City - Mommy Fleur


Sendong Aftermath: Let's All Help! - Drowning Equilibriums


help CDO and ILIGAN! - Of Limes and Lemons


They and other bloggers also have posted some images of the said devastation to let us all know the extent of the damages to lives of people, pets, animals and plants. Act now and HELP!


Let us also offer our PRAYERS to those who have departed and to the families left behind who are in grief.

Gagay's Page Rank and Birthday Giveaway

I know it's a bit late already but who can blame me it's really hard to blog without your own computer anyways now that i have the very limited time to blog, i won't let this opportunity to pass to share with you a birthday giveaway...

...with very generous sponsors:

AirForce Blogger | Best of Riyadh Saudi Arabia | Brenna Speaks | Cee of Every Thought Counts | Cooking Games | Cooking Games for Girls | cooking games for girls | Cosmo Girl | Credit Card Informations | Culture Medley | Daily Snippets | Diamond Rings | Dinampo Family | Earning Online Moolah | Eat, Drink, Blog | Engineering Vault | Essay Paradise | Eye for Fashion | Fashion and Technology | Feeling Traveler Aketch | Fishy Talks | Food and Style Online | Foodies Galore | FREE Travels and Tours | Gagay.MD | Genny Speaks | GEORYL | Hands Full of Life | Hearts content of a mama | Help Articles | Here, there and everywhere | His and Hers Tech | Impulsive Shopper | IMRIZ.connected | It's all about me, Mommy Kat | Jefrox News | Joeyboy | Kwento Ni Toto blog | Life According to Me | Live The Green LifeToday | Love home grow garden | LOVEs Haven | Make Money Online | Make More Money Online | Maxi Trips and Tips | Me the Woman | Mommy Gagay | Money Talks | musings on meanderings | My Little Angels in America |My Piece of Mind | My Thoughts & Ideas | Nerisa Farm | Oh Gosh Gulay | Our Love Story | Pinay Mommy Online | Pink Cigars | Pink Memoirs | Pinoy.MD | Praise And WorshipSong Lyrics and Chords | Proud Mommy of Three | Rainydazeee| Raya in Thailand | Samut-Sari | Shengkayful's Fashion and Lifestyle | Simple Happy Life | Stylish Voyager | Solitary Wanderer | Solid Hosting | Stay at Home Wife and Mother's Corner | Tech At Hand SEO Tips | The Coffee Chic | The Hippie Mum | The jolly toes | The Misis Chronicles | The Packrat Wifey | The Philippine Travelogue | These and Those | Tinkerputt's Turf | Travels and Leisures | Travels Here and There | Travels, Trips & Vacations | Travel Photolog | Travel Yums | WalkingNews Paper | Web Strategy | Weighty Matters | What's Inside Joahna's Heart

Up for grabs are: 10 Page Rank Shirts, A total of $360 PayPal cash (1 winner – $100, 2 winners – $50 each, 4 winners – $25 each, 4 winners – $15 each) and 5 1-year Domain Hosting.


Now here's the catch, contest ends on December 15 and there's only a few days to join so hurry hurry hurry now and click here for the full mechanics and other contest details. I'm just sad i was  not able to make it to the first ten to post about this to get a page rank shirt but still, Good luck to us and of course Happy Birthday to Ms. Gagay! :)

I want to go SHOPPING

This is my entry to the Week 21 of the Techie She Lucky Blogger Weekly Giveaways. This week’s prize is $10 Paypal credits from Shydub of Impulsive Shopper.


We're more than halfway through the Christmas countdown and some folks are also halfway through their Christmas shopping... some just window shopping... others still making their Christmas wish lists. Me, I actually couldn't remember when actually was the last time I went shopping for wants and not just needs! Even without shopping money, i am still thinking of making my own Christmas (along with my Birthday) wish list. I am positive that one day my family will get through this monetary hardship and we can finally go on a shopping spree :) Good luck to me and my family. Enjoy your shopping!

Giveaway Alert: Win a free Shirt!

Tatak Lokal will be giving away three customized shirts with the URL of your blog as the print.

With very easy mechanics to join, just click on the image above to bring you to the contest page.

MBCS: Weekend Blog Follower Caravan # 25

It's time for another Weekend Blog Follower Caravan and this time it's Google Friend Connect. All you have to do is follow all the participants thru Google Friend Connect. Mine is on the sidebar :) Thanks to this week's sponsors: Techie She and GEORYL: Welcome to Our World. Visit OnlineBiz and Resources or click on the image below for the complete mechanics.

Weekend Blog Follower Caravan is a simple online blogger-helping-blogger weekly meme. It was designed for bloggers to help each other in terms of blog followers either through Google Friend Connect and email subscribers.

I wish to earn from blogging too

This is my entry to Techie She’s Lucky Blogger Weekly Giveaways Week 18. This week’s prize is $10 paypal credits from WAHWM of Work at Home Wife and Mother.


If only I have I known about earning from blogging many years ago, I think I am already earning from my blogs now. Back then, I am already posting blog/journal entries but only on Friendster blogs and  on Multiply. I am also busy with playing online games and surfing that I didn't know that blogging could can possibly make me earn some extra money.


So there, one of the reasons why I continued blogging (I just did it on another platform and added things to monetize) is for me to earn extra money for myself and my family. So far, no earnings yet but I am hoping one day I'll earn too.


Buy still my primary reasons are because it makes me feel happy when I blog and to share my experiences to everyone who takes time to read my blogs here, here, here and of course here. Thank you for dropping by :)

pearls

I am not much into jewelry and / or accessories. I only wear my casio watch to work, no necklace, no earings, no bracelets. But once in a while as a woman I also want to feel beautiful sometimes not only for myself but also for my loved ones most specially for my husband that's why I am joining beauty and fashion diva will blog for pearls giveaway. Of course I also want to look good specially at work.  

Image from beauty and fashion diva

You can have a chance to win a classy pearl necklace and bracelet set. All you have to do is follow the steps on the contest page, click here for details. 

Weekend Blog Follower Caravan # 22

Wow! This is my first time to join this caravan. I really wanted to join when I saw this months ago but the thought that I could not follow the mechanics at first stopped me from joining then.

But now specially when I saw that the main task is to follow the twitter accounts of the participants, I did not hesitate at all to create a post right away. I am so joining this week.


Follow me on twitter  I am jackie_canuto.


I now realized that the mechanics are easy, hope I can keep up for the following weeks too. This week's sponsors for the Weekend Blog Follower Caravan #22 are Mom Shares and Green Home Elements.Check out OnlineBiz and Resources, the caravan's mastermind for the complete mechanics.

Wandering Thoughts: Mini Giveaway

Mommy Rubz have just put up her new journal, newest of her many blogs :) --Wandering Thoughts. She actually thought of a wonderful way to welcome her blog's new followers by hosting a mini giveaway. Not one but three bloggers can win $10 each only by doing two very easy steps: 1) blog about her giveaway and 2) follow her through Google Friend Connect.

So what are you waiting for? Click on the contest link here.

Congratulations on your newest blog Mommy Rubz! :)

please help me keep my hopes up

This is my horocope for last Saturday, September 03 and so sad it fits my situation. I was not well that day...

Yes! I believe in horoscopes. Sometimes its true, sometimes not. Depends. 

When someone sent me a letter back in 1997, its in my horoscope. The letter came from a guy who at first I didn't know was actually my neighbor. He is now my husband.

I also believe that our future do not actually depend on what's written on our horoscope, it is just our guide and so I will use this guide to feel better and not dwell on what had happened. I can move on. I will move on. And as my horoscope said, i need to find a way to keep my hope alive and so I WILL. With friends and family, nothing's impossible, i know. Thank you. :)

One of the few things that will keep me going--Mia is now better, we stayed again at the hospital for 5 days due to acute bronchitis last last week. That's one reason also why I wasn't able to post on any of my blogs. Thank goodness not pneumonia again but if we're not too quick it will end up with pneumonia again. Medicard and Philhealth covered almost all of our hospital bills so that is one great relief too. Last Satuday, she was given her anti Pneumonia shot so she'll be protected against the virus that made us stay at the hospital for one week in every six months for the last one and a half year.

Now I feel better. Wish me luck! Be safe and happy everyone. Have a nice Monday morning :)

i miss you!

This is my entry to Techie She Lucky Blogger Weekly Giveaways Week 10. This week’s prize is $10 Cash via Paypal from Mel Cole of Hearts Content of a Mama.


wow! it's been like weeks again since I last written a post here and to my other blogs as well. now i'm trying to post at least one here so that you'll all know that in my heart and in my mind, i am still here and that i miss all of you and i miss dropping cards, adgitizing, commenting, blog hopping and most of all reading other blogger's blogs. what happened to me? well, i kinda got a little busy here and there and getting home tired made me sleep earlier at times than i usually do. i'll make it up with you guys (to post an entry at least once in two weeks) and i hope if not all, at least some of you still drop by and visit this and my other blogs. thank you!

pink bag from the Bag Hag

Last December 2010, I joined the Bag Hag's twitter contest and fortunately I became one of her winners. Only a month after the contest was I able to claim my prize at the Accessory Lab in Rockwell/Powerplant Mall. I was so happy when I saw the tote bag and it's PINK! I told thebaghag, I love it! By the way, if you are into bags or if you just want another blog to follow, check out her site, The Bag Hag Diaries. She also have travel and food posts which you will enjoy and yes she does contests once in a while on her site and in twitter.

my pink tote bag

And since we really don't have a diaper bag for Mia's things, we use this bag when we go out. It fits lots of Mia's and my stuff whenever we go for a stroll or to the church on Sundays, only it doesn't have a zipper but it's just right, you can easily get the things in and out of the bag.

going out for a stroll

this is my entry #2 for
 

my little photographer

At 2 years and 3 months, I now have a photographer :)

She likes to grab the camera from her titas and clicks to her delight--we actually dont know if she's amazed with the flash it makes or the sound or whatever. She doesn't even look at the preview of the image she's taking. There are times that she also borrows my cellphone just to take our pictures. As of now, I don't have a copy yet of the pictures that she took but once I get the files, I'll share them to you so stay tuned...

pretending to be looking through the view finder but obviously not :)

This is one of the pictures taken during the Nuffamily Day. I picked the picture above because I like that she's wearing pink (which i think looks good on her) and she looks like a professional photographer :)

the outfit details: pink shirt that I bought from the recently concluded bazaar held at our office, black leggings with pink ribbon-like detail at the bottom part (from one of her lolas) and offshore rubber shoes bought at SM Department Store.

this is my first entry for

First Nuffamily Day at Crosswinds Tagaytay

It was a first time for us (me, my husband and mia) to be in Tagaytay. Together with my tito Flor, tita Lily, tatay Lando and my sisters Jen and Jona, we joined Nuffnang's first ever Nuffamily Day held at Crosswinds in Tagaytay.

Crosswinds, Tagaytay

my family

participants at the top of the hill

The event was held at the area which I heard they call the helipad. It's at the top of a hill and most of it is covered with grass which is perfect for picnics and kite flying.

 
It was a fun-filled afternoon with lots of food, games and prizes. We even joined the Paper Folding Stop Dance game. We didn't expect that we'd reach the final two because of all the groups that joined, we were the only group that didn't have a child member--we're all adults in our group. But at the final battle we lost but its fine we enjoyed the game :)

The only thing I wasn't able to do that day was to meet other bloggers just as I wrote on my previous post because I literally treated the day a family day. Well, it's a first time for us to be out of town as a family.

my sisters getting ready for their lantern's lifting

Before the event ended, we all had the chance to light our own lanterns. I just didn't have a picture of us actually lifting the lanterns. Just like in the animated movie Tangled, the modern version of the fairy tale Rapunzel, the lanterns are a beautiful sight specially on a beautiful night sky. I just wondered at the end, where would the lanterns land after their lights go out--just a thought...

the lanterns in flight

Thank you Nuffnang and the sponsors for the exciting and fun-filled Nuffamily Day! Unfortunately, nanay Bel was not able to come with us then because she was not feeling well that day but we brought home lots of food for her to enjoy :)

Camera Crazy

Lots of people are joining the photography craze nowadays, even non-professional photographers own high end cameras now (I don't mean to offend anyone with this okay).

I do like to take pictures but I don't own a camera. I use my sister's camera instead or take advantage of my mobile phone's camera which just said goodbye to me yesterday--i'll write a separate post about that. The first and only camera that I bought back in 2008 got broken at exactly 2 weeks after I've purchased it {sob}(due to things that happen beyond our control, I could not blame anyone I just had to accept the fact that I already lost my camera then and there) and I never got to buy a new one until now.

But just now while I was browsing through my mails, these things caught my attention and who wouldn't want to have one when the price are way below than the actual price of an SLR or a DSLR camera.

Presenting, the things that you can buy instead if you fancy a camera but couln't afford at the moment...



have your daily dose of coffee on a camera lens mug

  

hug a camera lens



save your extra coins on this camera bank



Aren't they cute? I want to have one :)

Photo credits: Geeky Gadgets

bye bye my phones

The two mobile phones that I'm currently using just died last Friday. Apparently, while I was sleeping last Wednesday, Mia gave those two phones a generous milk bath and that happened while I was sleeping (I work on graveyard shift/night shift).


When I woke up these two phones were soaking wet with milk. Sorry I didn't have the actual picture of the phones because a) I don't have a camera and b) I'm using my phone's camera which unfortunately got broken so instead I borrowed pictures from GSMArena.

I learned my lesson: do not leave your things within reach of your children specially toddlers who would spill any liquid on anything or dunk anything on a container with liquid inside.


Now, to find and have a new phone because I need it primarily for work and for communicating with my family at home and of course with my friends. Not to mention that the above mentioned broken phones were just borrowed from my dad and my sister :( I need to find funds to replace them and to buy a new one...  

my best friend's wedding

More than a month ago my college best friend Eunice tied the knot with her fiance Paul. Eunice is my college best friend, we met on the first day of our college life and we've been friends since then. And being Eunice' best friend, she got me as her matron of honor.

I will not talk about the wedding per se because we all know what happens during a wedding ceremony and at the reception, instead, here are my favorites during that day:

The Bride's Dresses. She doesn't just have one but three dresses. She wore the peach dress during the preparations at the hotel. Then her wedding gown which was so simple but elegant looking. At the latter part of the reception she then changed into another white dress with a belt with flower detail. 

By the way, her mother made these two dresses below all the way from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Eunice only sent her measurements thru email and they fit her well during her wedding. 

The Flower Girl's Bear. Honestly, this is the first time i've seen such unique way of having a teddy bear with flowers instead of the usual bouquet or basket with flowers for the cute little girls. 

Friends. For years, I haven't seen my college friends because of being busy with work, family and all other stuff. Good thing we were all assigned on the same table number and it's just beside the newly wed's table.

We also had a few shots from the photo booth :) 

We all had fun that day. May I also commend JFR Events for making sure everything is on time and in order. Paul and Eunice wrapped up the program with a dance number which delighted all the guests.

LG Optimus Black: This is what I call Brilliance

"If it wasn't for Thomas Alva Edison, we'd all be watching TV to the light of a candle."

The modern world is an electrified world. The light bulb, in particular, profoundly changed human existence by illuminating the night and making it hospitable to a wide range of human activity. The electric light, one of the everyday conveniences that most affects our lives, was invented in 1879 by Thomas Alva Edison. He was neither the first nor the only person trying to invent an incandescent light bulb.

The invention of electric light, is absolutely genius.

my happiness!

I just want to share with you who makes me HAPPY in every second of my life--my FAMILY!



Mia, Ipe and me



taken at Crosswinds Tagaytay



This is my entry for Daddy Yashiro's Journal's 3rd Blogoversary Contest: A BLOG A BABY. Come and join there are lots of prizes to be won.

A BIG THANK YOU to all the sponsors! For the participants take time to visit them.

Be A Life Saver of Goodness, My Online Journeys, Yashirokuru Online!, A Blogger in Japan

 Life Can't Wait, My Simple Life, Blogging Park,  Fashion Is My Passion

 My Quality Day, Real Men Wear Aprons, Life And Then Some, Pinay Mom, Cheap Travel and Tours, Home Remedies, Pop Ups of My Mind, Treat your Palate, My Pink Blog, Pepper Mayo, Home Ramblings, Pink Nimble, What the Fat?!, Lakwatsa.Net, Grab Shell Dude!, Kwento ni Toto

about to blog

I am supposed to blog about what happened a few weeks ago until now but then I was so busy with work and too tired already when I finally reach home. Then we also had intermittent internet connection at home that's why I wasn't able to upload pictures for this and my three other blogs. I am so sorry my readers for that okay.

Now that the internet is up and stable again, in a few days I will be able to post again in fact I already did on my food blog yesterday. I thank you my dear readers for understanding. Watch out for my posts in the coming days.

Have a great week ahead everyone! :)

Nuffamily Day

As soon as knew that this would be a lantern lighting activity, I thought of really wanting to join the first Nuffamily Day!

First, because my baby Mia loves the movie Tangled and in that movie there are scenes where they light paper lanterns that go high up in the sky, surely she will love to see it happening before her eyes. Second, it will be held in Crosswinds, Tagaytay where me and my family have never ever been to. It would be a first time for me and my family. Third, it's a Nuffnang event! I have never been to a Nuffnang event ever, it would be a first time for me (crossing my fingers--if i'd be given a chance).

I LOVE Nuffnang because it gives me a lot of opportunities not just to earn some money (even though it's not yet that big for me--at least I know little by little i'm able to earn) and earn friends too from the online community. If I'd be given a chance to join the first ever Nuffamily Day, i'd be able to meet Nuffnangers/Nuffies plus their families and friends too, in the flesh!

If I would be given the chance to join the first ever Nuffamily Day, I would like to bring with me my husband Ipe, our baby Mia, my two sisters--Jen and Jona, and my nanay Belinda and tatay Lando. We would love to join the fun and ride the nuffbus if we'd be allowed too given the number of people i'd be bringing with me but if not, I think we can just ride our humble owner type jeep to bring us to the venue and back home. What matters most is the fun that we'll have and the memories we'll all cherish after the event which would not be possible without the help of these generous sponsors:

Thank you so much to all of you! Hope you'll let us join in the fun. Thanks again!

Images from the Nuffnang Philippines blog.

Siesta

I saw these outside the office window one lazy Wednesday afternoon...

On a hot afternoon, two doves resting on the very limited space left for them on the window.

thanks to twitter

[As posted last April 11, 2011 on Tumblr]

I finally got my shoes from Crocs that I won from Smart Parenting and it won’t be possible without the help of twitter. So I guess having a twitter account is also worth it because it’s not just for joining contests, following the tweets of celebrities and known personalities but also for getting help like this. I actually followed Crocs Philippines’ twitter account some time ago and remembered to tweet them about my shoe vouchers one month before they actually expire. I was happy that they were able to answer my questions. Even if I wasn’t able to get the actual designs as stated on the shoe vouchers. At least Mia and I were able to get our first pair of Crocs. Photos of the shoes and the rest of the story at my other blog.

Giveaway Alert: $50.00 cash thru Paypal

Of course I wouldn't let an opportunity to win $50.00 in cash straight to my paypal account pass. I joined Miso Glamorous Beauty Blog's contest right away and this blog entry that i've written is just one way to score bonus entries to the contest. All you have to do is to subscribe to the blog via email for you to have a valid entry. That easy!



Head on to the link or click on the badge above to gain a chance to win money money money. Contest ends on May 10, 2011.

not yet over it

[As posted last April 03, 2011 on Tumblr]


Almost five or six months have already passed since the bus holdup incident but still I couldn’t find the courage to travel through the same route on a bus again. I thought I am over it already but I guess I’m still not. On top of the emotional stress it has caused me, it also costs me a lot just for me to go to work or to my destination through an alternative way—through a taxi. Until I find the courage to ride a bus or a jeepney through that place again, for now, I can ride the LRT but then it is still closed. I still have MRT but beyond its operating hours, I guess I’ll just have to continue taking a taxi or face that fear that’s still in me.

                  

I know it can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime but that one incident really made me fearful of such incidents. Deep inside of me, I know it will pass but it will take time and God will help me with that.

still closed

[As posted last March 30, 2011 on Tumblr]


Today is the last day of March 2011. It’s almost 2 months already since the train collision incident and yet the LRT Roosevelt station is still closed. I’m guessing it’s the same with the Balintawak station since they closed both stations after the said incident.

A few days or weeks ago (sorry, I cant remember exactly) after the LRT administration opened the Roosevelt station, I’ve been one of the loyal passengers from that station since it’s nearest our home compared to MRT North Avenue station despite the slight increase in fare and longer travel time.

I have been waiting for the reopening of the LRT Roosevelt station and i heard that it’s scheduled to reopen come second week of April but then yesterday and last Monday, there had been technical problems with the trains of LRT again. Now I am a little doubtful if i should ride the LRT by then. Will it be safe for me to ride the LRT? Well, some years ago I have been riding LRT regularly and i’ve also encountered a couple of times where i had to wait for minutes and had to be late for work because a train on another station had technical problems. When will these problems last? No one knows.

power blogging

[As posted last March 12, 2011 on Tumblr]


been absent from the blogging world for a long time AGAIN. how does one power blog? have lots of posts within a day or even just have one blog entry per week?

lotsa things have happened… AND i have nothing to blog about?? well actually there are but during those times when there are topics going on in my mind, i dont have my handy dandy notebook with me :(

i actually dont have it with me now, im typing fresh from my thoughts.

i need inspirationS! for me to continue blogging and i also need a computer or even a cellphone where i can blog directly from and internet connection and money haha.

now i have to have another notebook (any generous souls out there? just joking!), i actually realized i couldnt find my notebook. and from there, ill write things that are going on in my mind to post them here again… till next entry! thanks for dropping by :)

Goals for 2011

[As posted last February 03, 2011 on Tumblr]

It’s already the second month of the year but hey, today is the Chinese New Year! Happy Chinese New Year everyone! With that, I am sharing with you my goals for this year and I’m trying to make my goals realistic and attainable before the year ends though some might still sound unrealistic just please let me list them here for maybe someday, they’d still come true :)

Drink more water (and limit intake of iced tea and softdrinks). Anyone who knew me years back, knows that I’m more into iced teas, well not much of softdrinks (its more of occasional) and I think I’m not hitting the eight glasses of water a day quota. This year, I’m really targeting to exceed that quota per day. Actually, these past few weeks, I’ve been drinking lots of water because I have cough and I have to get rid of that by flushing it with the help of water water water—so yes, this one is a keeper, not just for this year but moving forward.

Eat strawberries. I’ve never tasted even one piece of strawberry ever in my life. This is my chance now. All the while I’m thinking the fruit is of sour nature (I like sour fruits too but I’m a very picky one) others say they’re sweet so I think I’ll give it a try.

Eat cotton candy. It’s been long (years) since I last ate a whole cotton candy. Shallow me.

Ride the ferriswheel. This one will be a first too! I still have to gather all the courage there is for me to ride.

Walk more (everyday). This one is to hopefully help me shed the pounds and the inches, etc. Though I walk a lot already going to and from work, I think I need to add more kilometers to achieve the shedding part.

Read at least 5 books. Since I gave birth, I haven’t held on to a book again. I’m reading magazines nowadays (Good Housekeeping, Smart Parenting and the like) but not books. I still have books that I haven’t finished reading so I guess I have to go back to where I’ve left and even start reading up on some more books… And hopefully increase this number in the coming years.

These are just a few things, I might add some more in the future. Good luck to me!

New Year, A new beginning

[As posted last January 19, 2011 on Tumblr]

It’s still January and I believe I’m still entitled to post my Christmas and New Year posts all in one :)

December 25, 2010. With just twenty pesos left for our budget, we (me, my husband and our baby) just spent our Christmas at our apartment with more than half of the day sleeping and when we woke up, we just had some sliced bread and ham and matched it with coffee. We actually did not go anywhere else that day, just literally stayed home. Boring much…

December 31, 2010. I had work that day. The original plan was that we (me, my husband and our baby) are just going to stay and celebrate New Year’s Eve in our apartment and expose ourselves to so much noise and smoke in the middle of metro manila. But just before I left home for work, we then decided that we really wanted to celebrate new year’s eve at the province with our relatives and also because we didn’t get to celebrate Christmas with them. Off they (my husband and our baby with my parents) went to the province before or after lunch—I didn’t bothered to ask anymore.

Me, I only worked for a few hours but hey I still need to travel at least 3-5 hours and I don’t want to celebrate New Year’s Eve on a jeepney or a van while traveling. It was almost five in the afternoon when I left the office so I braved the rush and found myself at the end of the line of people waiting for commuter vans. Luckily, I was able to chance a jeepney waiting for passengers. I left the line and boarded the jeepney we only waited for a few minutes before the jeepney got full and left the terminal. Traffic was moderate to fast moving, except for a certain portion in Cainta where a flock of sidewalk vendors (selling fruits and fireworks) and consumers occupied almost half of the two lane road. I reached home a few minutes after nine in the evening. Hubby bonded with his barkada (which he missed so much) while me and our baby stayed with my parents and titas while we watched fireworks from afar. The display of lights and not so loud noise only lasted for a few minutes unlike from the past years where fifteen minutes before countdown you would already hear fireworks exploding from all directions.

January 01, 2011. I am 29. Yes, I woke up with the usual greeting during the morning of January 1 “Happy Birthday!” from everyone in our house. Nothing so special, we just cooked and ate spaghetti, that’s all. And no gifts too L Well, I’m already used to that. I’m 29 anyways. What matters to me most now is that I’m with my family and we’re happy and together and we have a New Year to face with all the positivity i’m feeling for this year.

So there, that’s my Christmas 2010 and my New Year. How about you, how did you celebrate your Holidays?

so affected

[As posted last January 12, 2011 on Tumblr]


Have you ever been affected with the tv show that you’re watching? I don’t. Not until I watched the Grey’s Anatomy episode where there’s a shooter in the hospital (the episode Derek Sheppard (spelling?) was shot). I was shaking the whole time i’m watching that episode. I’ve never felt like that before. I was so affected that I had difficulty sleeping because every time I would close my eyes, I can see the faces of the people whom the shooter shot. Oh well, that’s how effective Grey’s Anatomy is for me. My sister actually introduced me to that show and looked forward to every new season since then. I even watched the previous seasons while I’m pregnant with my Mia. Actually, not just Grey’s but also Smallville and a little bit of Private Practice. I like these tv shows, they’re so close to reality, you wouldn’t think the scenes are scripted.

There, those are just two make it three of my favorite tv shows… just wanted to share :)

GH Moms’ Meet-up at Salt and Pepper Restaurant

[As posted last November 28, 2010 on Tumblr]

Last Thursday, November 25, me and my youngest sister Jona were lucky to be invited to a moms’ meet-up by Good Housekeeping Philippines. The event took place at Salt and Pepper Casual Dining Restaurant in Mandaluyong. Fortunately it was my sister’s off that day so she was able to come while I on the other hand came there straight from night duty. We came there just before eleven in the morning and a number of participants have already registered and starting to get acquainted with each other.

After registration, we sat on a table meant for six people where we met Evelyn, Dy-Ann, Ting and Joyce.



L to R: Jona, me, Evelyn, Joyce, Dy-Ann and Ting

 

commuters beware

[As posted last November 10, 2010 on Tumblr]

Just wanted to drop a quick post for the sake of relieving myself from the stress it caused me and for the people who’ll read this to be informed and forewarned…

I am still a bit shaken but very much thankful to God for protecting me from harm and bad elements. Earlier this evening as I was boarded on an ordinary bus (via EDSA) commuting to go to work at around eleven o’ clock, the flow of traffic was slowing down a bit because of the bottle neck road and the ongoing road work (Maynilad pipeline laying) on I think they call the place Cabrera in Pasay City a group of at least four or five young men boarded the bus. Suddenly there was a commotion and at first I thought the men were fighting then I realized it was actually a HOLD UP. I actually heard one or two saying “wala nang papalag”. Then in less than a minute they decided to get off the bus. I was in shock. The whole time the hold up was happening, my mind was blank, all i can remember during that time i was thinking of what IFs: what if they try to get my things, what if something wrong happens, what would i do?

With all the stress i already have in my life and the financial problems i am currently into, God sent me an angel to protect and to shield from harm. I am blessed. Nothing bad happened to any of us on the bus, no one got hurt. I still have my bag and all. I did not dare look into the faces and the eyes of the bad guys for i thought they might prompt their attention to me so I have no memory of their faces nor voices. After that, I only heard stories from behind me, the bad guys carried knives or sharp objects, they got the necklace of a guy and bags of two ladies who are all one or two seats behind me. I am actually sleepy during that trip but during and after what happened, all I ever thought of was to thank God and prayed to protect me from those kinds of people until I reach the office. Thankfully, I reached the office safely.

As the holidays are fast approching, bad elements are actively roaming around everywhere. Just last week, one of my officemates became a victim of the Ketchup Gang. I still haven’t heard of her story because she’s on day shift while i’m on night shift. I’ll try to get her story and share for everyone to be aware.

Let us all be careful and watchful of our surroundings. If possible do not bring valuables whenever unnecessary. Pray.

tweet tweet tweet

[As posted last October 22, 2010 on Tumblr]

“Follow me on twitter… Its twitter.com/<user name>”

This is what you’ll usually hear from celebrities during their guestings or closing spiels. I am not a celebrity but I have a twitter account too! Yes I have one.

I joined twitter a few months ago as a requirement in joining an online contest. I have to follow the twitter acount of the contest host and retweet the contest rules, etc. So there, what other uses do I have for owning a twitter account? Whenever I have access to twitter just like when I’m home and was able to borrow my sister’s laptop, here are the things I do: I get to follow the celebrities and people I admire. I get updates from groups, organizations, even government agencies. I still use it for joining contests. I also follow friends who have twitter accounts too. I retweet important announcements coming of course from the people I follow.
Now, if I only have an IPhone, a blackberry or a cellphone where I can access twitter and other internet sites :( sigh… #wishfulthingking

a series of unfortunate events

[As posted last October 21, 2010 on Tumblr]


I have been on and off the blogging world for weeks now actually for months already. A lot of things have happened and they’re sort of why i’m not blogging during those days, just blog-hopping and reading and sometimes, leaving comments…

Last week of August, Mia was hospitalized and was diagnosed of pneumonia which occurred along with her asthma :( We were at Cardinal Santos Medical Center for four full days. To think it started with just cough and colds, we didn’t think it would become something worse like that the next day with fever of 38 to 38.8. In the wee hours of the morning actually around one in the morning of August 25, we packed Mia’s and our things (just in case she’ll be admitted for confinement) and headed to the hospital. Because the first two hospitals that we went to were full, at around 2:30 - 4am, we ended up at Cardinal Santos Hospital. After a few interviews with the doctors, tests and waiting for results, we were admitted. At 5am, we were at our room already. The room for Mia’s medicard plan is semi-private but because all the other rooms were occupied, we were given the private room. I was carrying Mia almost the whole time, and most of the time we were at the couch not the hospital bed because Mia doesn’t want to be put down :( and she just wants to be with her mommy…

There were also good things that lightened my burden during that ordeal: medicard covered almost all of our hospital bills except for the excess fees (incremental costs, etc.) for the room rate and the doctor’s professional fee since we opted not to transfer into another room anymore after two days for our convenience since we have more than 2 visitors each day; we had more than enough hands who helped us, my mom, my dad, my sisters Jen and Jona, my tita Lucy and tita Lily.

First Monday of September, while i was checking on the stats of my site, i landed on something that offended me (i could not go into details yet for this one as this is still a pending issue and awaiting resolution—will try to blog about this once i have the results—hopefully better results for me), which also made me uneasy and vulnerable for about two to three weeks… but that didn’t stop me from doing what i am usually doing. It also made me re-assess / re-evaluate myself. If there are things that I learned from this, that would be: you can not trust even the one you thought you could trust and that you really really can not please everybody—whether the things you do are good or bad, still someone would say something not good towards you. Just ignore if you think you’e on the right side.

Second week of September, I found out from my mom and my aunt that my grandmother had on and off fever for several days. A week after, they told us that she’s not eating anything anymore and could not even turn from her lying position in bed. She could not drink even a drop of water as she chokes everytime they had her try. My mom and dad together with my sisters already went home to help my aunts and uncles and everyone else back home taking care of our grandmother. I wasnt able to come with them because I already used up my leave credits before and during Mia’s hospitalization. That was one of the sad part :(

Last September 21, I am on graveyard / night shift by the way, I received a text from my sister that our grandmother already joined our Lord in heaven. I still went to work the night after I received that then filed for a three days leave without pay. We went home for the wake and the burial then spent the rest of the week with our relatives. We are thankful that our grandmother did not suffer and just peacefully slept.

Currently, can say that i was made stronger by each of above mentioned events. I also learned that with every ordeal, it is your family and true friends that chooses to stay close and help lighten up things for us. Thank you for all the help and the prayers. Thank you Lord!

prayers for my inang

[As posted last September 21, 2010 on Tumblr]

i believe i said to myself that i am ready even from the time that i heard that she’s not fine. that i am just waiting for a text or a call. but when i finally received a text saying that now is the time at around 2:30 in the morning, tears started falling from my eyes. i felt sad. i cried.

inang, we will miss you. i know you will now be one with God in heaven. you’ll be in His paradise. you’ll be together again with tata. thank you for all the things that you’ve taught us. specially to us, your grand children. i know you loved us all so much although during the last few years while you’re little by little losing your memories and hearing and eye sight, you obviously had favoritism but we understood that that was because you’re getting old.

few of my memories of inang Eling:

- she would let me count the duck eggs to be sold to the balut maker.

- she would carry a basket full of tomatoes (already in separate plastic bags containing a kilo each) with me in tow to sell them to our neighbors

- we were at their house, inang, tata, jeff, jenny, jona and me—we shared a dinner of rice, sardines in can (w/tomato sauce) and pineapple slices (in can with 4 slices in it) as our dessert. she even made the pineapple slices into tidbits for us to have equal parts

- she was the first who taught us how to cook rice on wooden fire

- she would tell us “dalas” which meant faster when we’re going to their house specially when its starting to get dark already

- she cooks the best “pinugot”. a shrimp dish with kamias.

- she made us experience how to use a hand powered “stone” grain grinder whenever we would make kutchinta or dila-dila or ginataang bilo-bilo

- i could not remember one, i think she never raised her voice on us and never ever scolded any of us, her grandchildren.

When I was still a kid, I remember her as a tireless woman who’ll gets sick if she stops working even for a moment. that was my inang. goodbye inang. i love you!