The Cab Driver

"One of my favorite encounters on this book tour was my driver in San
Francisco.

As you can see he was very elegant and practically oozed self-confidence,
dignity and pride in his work.

I love people who show pride in their work, regardless of the job.

This man's car was spotless, his shoes were shined and he knew exactly
where he was going. He wasn't dressed like that for me, he had no idea
who I was, this was just another day and just another ride done in his
own stylish way.

I've said this so many times before, and recently in the intro of my book.
Even though this blog is about fashion I don't really think about fashion
when I look at this photo. I think about how he is communicating his sense
of pride and self-worth; not by how expensive his clothes are but by how
he wears his clothes, his posture and his politeness. This man is pure style."

~ The Sartorialist - October 26, 2009


I was rather impressed with the driver in this picture!

Kudos to all who do ordinary things extraordinarily well!

Refund for Baby Einstein Products

I've long heard that children under the age of 2 should not be
allowed to watch t.v. Of course, each parent has their own
opinion on this.

I for one do not agree that a baby should be allowed to watch
t.v. (educational or otherwise)... I'm currently a fan of the
Glenn Doman books. The "Teach Your Baby..." activities
encourage a lot of interaction between the parents and the baby.
No time for t.v. watching here... But let me give the final verdict
on this AFTER the baby has arrived hehehe...

Then there are those who think highly of the Baby Einstein
series. For those who like the products, you may want to
read this bit of news I got from The New York Times
regarding the refund Walt Disney Co. is offering
for Baby Einstein videos...

As they say, there are no instruction manuals for parenting.
There are no shortcuts to it either. And if it seems too good
to be true, it usually is.

What can you do with a paper clip?

A few eons ago, I came across this question in a “psych” test. It was
supposed to be an exercise at creativity. Due to my lack of time – or
imagination??? – I didn’t get to list down much.

Here are some interesting uses for a paper clip: homemade compass,
flashlight part and camera tripod...

Pretty mundane right? Except that someone used a red paper clip to get
his dream house.

Moral of the story: Sometimes, with a little creativity, the impossible
can suddenly become possible.

Waiting for Typhoon Pepeng

As I go about today's activities, I can't help but feel dread over the
coming hours and days ahead... The thought of no electricity and/
or no water and/or more floods is making me antsy...

The country has not yet recovered from Typhoon Ondoy. But we
must brace ourselves as Typhoon Pepeng (International Name:
Typhoon Parma) is already on it's way.

The Catholic Church has encouraged the public to pray the Oratio
Imperata for Deliverance from Calamities:

“Almighty Father, we raise our hearts to You in gratitude for
the wonders of creation of which we are part, for Your providence
in sustaining us in our needs, and for Your wisdom that guides
the course of the universe.

We acknowledge our sins against You and the rest of creation.

We have not been good stewards of Nature.

We have confused Your command to subdue the earth.

The environment is made to suffer our wrongdoing, and now
we reap the harvest of our abuse and indifference.

Global warming is upon us. Typhoons, floods, volcanic eruption,
and other natural calamities occur in increasing number and
intensity.

We turn to You, our loving Father, and beg forgiveness for our
sins.

We ask that we, our loved ones and our hard earned possessions
be spared from the threat of calamities, natural and man-made.

We beseech You to inspire us all to grow into responsible stewards
of Your creation, and generous neighbors to those in need.

Amen.”

For now, all we can do is prepare, pray and wait...

Typhoon Ondoy

We rarely go to the North; our life pretty much revolves
around the South of Manila. Unfortunately, we had a
commitment to be in Cubao. Who would have known that
Typhoon Ondoy (aka Tropical Storm Ketsana) would bring
about one of the worst floods in Metro Manila history?

Basically, it took us the whole day to get back home.
And we're one of the luckier ones. Countless others are
still trying to recover from the floods.

There are numerous relief centers out there. Do take the
time to help out.

My 090909 Day

Day to day life has it's regular rhythm and pace. Okay, that's a nice
way of saying that life can be one big routine. But routines are good,
they provide us with some semblance of order. However, every once
in awhile, doing something different can do one some good.

Yesterday was 090909. It was an auspicious date for some. Fo me, it
was a chance to check off something from the 101 Things to Do in
1001 Days List. 090909 was a chance for me to look for something
extraordinary from an otherwise ordinary day.

The day started where the previous day ended. H decided to work until
really late. At around 1:45am, H decided it was time to hit the sack.
Oh man, I had to get up as I was "resting". I had to do my night routine
as I was too lazy to have brushed my teeth earlier. Then I noticed that
the toilet did not want to flush; no problem, it just needed a minor fix.
And then, our roof started to leak from the heavy rain; no problem,
nothing paper towels couldnt fix. So before you know, it was 2:45am.
Okay, this day was not turning out the way I was expecting it to.

H and I were celebrating a birthday so we decided to take the day off.
We were supposed to just pass by the office. "Passing by" rarely or
never happens. So, I was not surprised to find ourselves there until
lunch time. For lunch, we decided to try the new Jollibee Chicken
Barbeque. Not bad. I have to hand it to Jollibee, they're R&D is pretty
good.

Tsk tsk tsk, half of the day had already gone by. We decided to spend
the rest of the day doing what needed to get done. Unfortunately, my
doctor did not pass by the clinic. H, on the other hand, couldn't have
his haircut as the guy had his day off. So, H worked on his paper. I
then decided to just kill the next few hours searching for a new baby
book. Before you know it, it was 6pm and we were off to mass.

Our day ended with a nice dinner at Crustasia. Boohoo, I forgot my
camera. We had Tom Yum Soup, Shrimp Pancakes, Singaporean
Chili Crab (Wow! Was that crab huge!) and Pad Thai (complimentary).
Yum yum.

As a whole, I'd say nothing extraordinary really happened in 090909.
But as a whole, it was a good day. H and I are in great shape. Sure, we
have our fair share of joys and "challenges/opportunities". But at the
end of the day, I'm glad everything is under His control.

Things to do this September

Today is September 1, 2009. In the Philippines, the start of the
"BER" months used to signify the start of the Christmas Season.
However, due to more financially difficult times, the Christmas
Season now starts at around November or December; depending
on whether it's a good year or a bad year.

Last year, I started preparing for Christmas as early as September.
It was our first Christmas as a couple. Suddenly, I had to learn
how to shop for 2! Of course, I had to make a "career" out of it!

As serendipity would have it, the 2008 Ramadan Season started
on the 1st of September. It was a Legal Holiday and I decided to
grab the chance to check out department stores in Makati.

I can still vividly remember the Christmas displays at Rustan's!
The Christmas decors just lifted my spirits and put me in a
holiday mood.

In the end, I made the right decision as I was on bed rest the
entire month of December. By that time, I was already done
with my shopping and was not stressed out over Christmas
preparations.

Here are a few things I picked up from last year's experience.
Spoiler Warning: this is not for those who enjoy the adrenaline
rush that comes when doing things last minute!

Things to do this September:

1) Start your "Spring Cleaning".

Spring Cleaning is not really a part of Philippine Culture. The
closest thing we have is the tradition of cleaning up the house
before Christmas and/or New Year's.

Starting this early will give you ample time to really assess your
home environment. Something you will not be able to properly
do if you start on December.

Do yourself a favor. Don't just do some cleaning. Go do some
clearing! If it doesn't work, doesn't fit, will never get used, etc
do dispose of it! If it is still in a decent condition, donate it to
family, friends or a charitable institution. Otherwise, throw
it away! Don't unnecessarily burden other people with your
junk!

2) Finalize your Christmas Shopping List.

Last year's Christmas Shopping was a breeze. It didn't feel as
"painful" as previous years. Firstly, my expenses were spread
out over a period of 3 - 4 months. Also, instead of buying things
at regular price, I was able to wait for sale events and bought
things at sale price.

I also had a "tea box" theme for a few relatives and friends. I
found a bazaar stall, with reasonable prices, to buy quite a
number of items from. This worked to my advantage as I was
able to bargain for wholesale prices.

3) Work on THAT SCRAPBOOK.

I have a few scrapbooks that I need to get done before the baby
comes. They're scrapbooks on stuff H and I did together. I'm
sure if I don't get these done within the year, these scrapbooks
will never see the light of day.

Each year has its own fair share of memories. You may want to
work on "documenting" this year's precious moments within
THE YEAR. Trust me, next year, you too will find yourself too
busy with other "more important" things to do. And do count
on next year to have its own share of adventures and
misadventures, wanting to be documented.

Let me know how things work out for you...

I hope these tips will help you experience the Holidays in a
a more enjoyable way!


I love lists... There have been so many that I can't
recall them all...

This is my ode to the humble list...

Outdated Tech Terms

Tsk, tsk, tsk... Sorry, that I haven't really had time to update the blog...

I found an interesting article in Yahoo on outdated tech terms... I wonder
how things will be in the next 10 years... Here are excerpts of the article:

"12 Words You Can Never Say in the Office
by Carolyn Duffy Marsan

We've put together a list of outdated tech terms, phrases that you shouldn't
be using at work anymore because they will make you seem old. This is especially true if you're looking for a new job.

1. Intranet

Today, every private network runs IP. So you can just use the term virtual
private network or VPN to describe a private IP-based network.

2. Extranet

Today, companies provide suppliers, resellers and other members of their
supply chain with access to their VPNs.

3. Web Surfing

When is the last time you heard someone talk about surfing the Web? You
know the term is out of date when your kids don't know what it means. To
teens and tweens, the Internet and the World Wide Web are one and the
same thing. So it's better to use the term "browsing" the Web if you want
to be understood.

4. Push Technology

Push technology evolved into RSS feeds, which remain the preferred
method for publishing information to subscribers of the Internet. RSS
stands for Really Simple Syndication.

5. Application Service Provider (ASP)

During this decade, the term "Application Service Provider" evolved into
"Software-as-a-Service." Both terms refer to a vendor hosting a software
application and providing access to it over the Web. Customers buy the
software on a subscription basis, rather than having to own and operate
it themselves. ASP was a hot term prior to the dot-com bust. Then it was
replaced by "SaaS." Now it's cool to talk about "cloud computing."

6. Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)

Today, the preferred generic term for a handheld like a Blackberry or an
iPhone is a "smartphone".

7. Internet Telephony

You need to purge the term "Internet telephony" from your vocabulary
and switch to VoIP, for Voice over IP. Even the term VoIP is getting
old-fashioned because pretty soon all telephone calls will be routed
over the Internet rather than the Public Switched Telephone Network.
It's probably time to stop referring to the PSTN, too, because it is
headed for the history books as all voice, data and video traffic is
carried on the Internet.

8. Weblog

A blog is a shortened version of "Weblog,"... It spawned many words still
in use such as "blogger" and "blogosphere." Nowadays, few people have
time to blog so they are "microblogging," which is another word that's
heading out the door as people turn Twitter into a generic term for
blasting out 140-character observations or opinions.

9. Thin Client

You have to give Larry Ellison credit for seeing many of the flaws in
the client/server computing architecture and for popularizing the term
"thin client" to refer to Oracle's alternative terminal-like approach.
In 1993, Ellison was touting thin clients as a way for large organizations
to improve network security and manageability. Although thin clients
never replaced PCs, the concept is similar to "virtual desktops" that
are gaining popularity today as a way of supporting mobile workers.

10. Rboc

In 1984, the U.S. government forced AT&T to split up into seven Regional
Bell Operating Companies [RBOCs] also known as Baby Bells. Customers
bought local service from RBOCs and long-distance service from carriers
such as AT&T. Telecom industry mergers over the last 15 years have formed
integrated local- and long-distance carriers such as AT&T, Verizon and
Qwest. This makes not only the term RBOC obsolete, but also the terms
ILEC for Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier [i.e., GTE] and CLEC for
Competitive Local Exchange Carrier [i.e., MFS].

11. Long-Distance Call

Thanks to flat-rate calling plans available from carriers for at least five
years, nobody needs to distinguish between local and long-distance calls
anymore. Similarly, you don't need to distinguish between terrestrial and
wireless calls because so many people use only wireless services. Like
pay phones, long-distance calls -- and their premium prices -- are relics
of a past without national and unlimited calling plans.

12. World Wide Web

Nobody talks about the "World Wide Web" anymore, or the "Information
Superhighway," for that matter... Nothing dates you more than pulling
out one of those old-fashioned ways of referring to the Internet such
as "infobahn" or "electronic highway.""

Remembering Cory Aquino

After a brave fight with cancer, Corazon C. Aquino, passed away
last August 1, 2009. Tita Cory, as she was fondly called, is known
as The Mother of Philippine Democracy. The multitude of Filipinos
who showed up in streets to participate in her funeral march is an
indicator of the great respect the Filipino people have for her.

"Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino (Jan 25, 1933 –
Aug 1,2009) was the 11th President of the Philippines and the
"Mother of Democracy", serving from 1986 to 1992. She was
the first female president of the Philippines and the first
female president of any country in Asia.

A self-proclaimed "plain housewife", Aquino was married to
Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., a leading figure in the political
opposition against the autocratic rule of President Ferdinand
Marcos. After her husband was assassinated upon his return
from exile in the United States on August 21, 1983, Aquino,
who had no prior political experience, became a focal point
and unifying force of the opposition against Marcos. She was
drafted to run against Marcos in the 1986 snap presidential
elections. After Marcos was proclaimed the winner despite
widespread reports of electoral fraud, Aquino was installed
as President by the peaceful 1986 People Power Revolution.

Aquino's presidency saw the restoration of democratic institutions
in the Philippines, through the enactment of a new Constitution
which limited the powers of the presidency, restored the bicameral
Congress, and renewed emphasis on civil liberties." - Wikipedia

Her achievement in Philippine and world politics made her
Time Magazine's Woman of the Year

Rest in peace Tita Cory!

The Tinkering School

I came across the The Tinkering School while browsing through TED.
I'm not sure if a similar concept is available here. I hope to either find
something similar or TRY to recreate the experience for our child someday.

Happy Viewing!

Let's Talk About Money

"Oh, here’s another reason why I talk about money: I believe that
Christianity isn’t just about going to Heaven, but about bringing
Heaven down to earth—especially to those who are experiencing hell
in this world—the poor, the oppressed, and those far from God.

So I don’t want you to play small. Dream big. Be the best that you
can be. Reach your highest potential. Earn as much as you can so you
can give as much as you can! I believe that there’s nothing wrong
with having money—as long as money doesn’t have you."
- Bo Sanchez

Thanks Bro. Bo for the affirmation!

One of the "causes" dear to my heart is Financial Freedom / Financial
Success for everyone. I am just an average Pinay so the everyone here
is no grand audience. It is generally composed of people I encounter
in my everyday life.

I know some people don't get it. Sometimes people mistake this passion
for a "love of money". But to me, it's just a case of wanting to be blessed
more so that I can use the blessings to help others and serve others more.

It is quite sad that the Philippines, the only Christian nation in Asia,
has the majority of its population living in poverty. I'm sure there is
no easy solution to this problem. But I do believe that our God is a
generous God. With His grace and with human cooperation (I'm a
firm believer that sometimes this is the problem in one too many
circumstances... but that's another story), I'm sure things will one
day be better.

"Cross-functional" Information

I briefly told L that my family and I recently had an animated discussion
on the future education of the baby. She was mildly amused as my family
had all these ideas. She thinks we're all excited as the baby is the first
grand child in my family.

She and her husband are a bit more relaxed when it comes to bringing up Z.
I am the type to make a "career" out of things. So naturally, I am doing the
same with the baby hahaha...

I really just want what's best for our child. I think every loving parent does.
We all just have different ways of going about things. We all have different
personalities, attitudes, cultures, information, experiences, upbringing etc.
I guess all these factors will play a role in how we will be as parents. No
right or wrong here. All we can do is try our best.

I still consider myself as a student of sorts. No I do not currently study in
a school (except I do take Mandarin lessons in a language center). What I
am is a student of life. I've been like this probably since my grade school
days. People have different ways of dealing with information that come their
way. I get a kick out of discovering information that have "cross-functional"
applications in life. I'm such a nerd! hehehe...


Today, I'd like to share 3 "cross-functional" examples with you:

a. Always bring a notebook with you.

It has been said that writers always have a notebook with them. One never
knows when inspiration will strike.

I decided to adopt the practice. But my notebook is not just for ideas. I also
use it to jot down facts, information, questions, quotations, computations,
recipes, etc. Anything and everything that MIGHT be useful. I emphasized
MIGHT because it's possible something in there might not get used. But
that's okay. What's more important to me is that the information is there in
case I have a need for it.

In the beginning, I only had one notebook. Now, I have one for my day to day
activities, one for the pregnancy, one for recipes I pick up here and there, and
one for my blogs. I'm sure I'll one day have a notebook dedicated to the baby.

The multi-notebook system just helps me organize my life better. The day to
day notebook is always with me. The others are by my bedside and get brought
around on a "as needed" basis.

Just a side note. I used the pregnancy notebook for both pregnancies. As both
pregnancies have been delicate ones, the information from the first pregnancy
helped me manage this pregnancy better.

b. Failing to plan is planning to fail.

Planning activities are part and parcel of corporate life. You plan for strategies,
budgets, targets, policies, events, activities, etc.

I feel it is equally important that we make plans for our life. H and I have an
annual goal setting activity of sorts. We also discuss our personal and project
budgets. On our fridge you will find our list of goals, list of expenses, menu
plans, shopping lists, etc.

This year, I also made a 2 year Calendar of Activities. I am anticipating a
busier life when the baby is around. I have planned to do some things earlier
than usual for them to be accomplished on time.

Planning has also come in handy in our community service. We have been
involved in the different activities of CFC. Sometimes we're just attendees, but
sometimes we help organize things. As such, the general principles on planning
still apply.

c. Measure to manage.

Schools have report cards. Companies have progress reports. We too can make
our own report of sorts.

There are different ways of going about this. Our personal reports vary; it
depends on what it is we're trying to measure.

The personal "business" is under Project Management. It has a budget, gantt
chart plus plus. For this, H and R check if we're on budget and on schedule.
There is a database for expenses related to this. In this area, I just take note
of the "executive summary".

For budgets, H and I generally discuss a) are we up or down, b) by what
percent, and c) the justification for variances.

For certain tasks, I make tables. The first column contains the tasks I am
tracking. The other columns contain the time periods. I then put a tick mark
when a task is accomplished. A blank spot or an "x" signifies that the task
was not done.

For other tasks, a simple to do list will suffice.


As you can see. I am not the type to just take things easy. I sometimes have to
make a conscious effort to stop and relax. I have also learned that sometimes
things will not go my way. Sometimes, God has better plans. At the end of the
day, what's important to me is that I know I did my best. Sometimes, life reminds
me that I need to practice faith; "to let God and to let go." If I did my best, then
it's easier to let things be.

The Truth is the Truth

An interesting thing occurred in the office. We are currently in the
process of fine tuning a "database" of sorts. One advantage of the
said database is that it can automatically generate certain reports.

We did a test run for one report. It just so happens that the report
generated seemed too good to be true. There were mixed reactions
from the group. Some were all too happy that the results were high.
Some were doubtful but figured, someone will discover the mistake
if there were one. Some decided, okay let's review the process and
double check. We backtracked a bit and realized that some of the
data encoded were incomplete. Thus, corrections will be made and
a new report will again be generated.

It's funny how people have the same reactions in real life. What do
we do when we are faced with a situation that seems doubtful? Do
we just remain indifferent and hope things turn out well? Or do we
become proactive and try to discover what is true and real?

“The truth is the truth. You are better off knowing the truth than
not knowing it. And once you know, you can do something about
it.” - The Success Principles, Jack Canfield

One thing that people don’t realize is that “not paying attention”
can turn into a “bad habit”. You may decide, “Oh, I guess this
will do for now.” And before you know it, one too many things
are mediocre or just so so.

Excellence is not a one time thing. It is the product of constantly
and consistently aiming for the best and doing what is right.

Staycation is now an official word!

It's official! Staycation is now included in the latest edition of the
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

What is a staycation?

"The word "staycation" is a portmanteau of stay (meaning stay-at-
home) and vacation. a period of time in which an individual or family
stays at home and relaxes at home or takes day trips from their home
to area attractions. Staycations have achieved high popularity in
current hard economic times in which unemployment levels and gas
prices are high." ~ Wikipedia

I must say, it never occurred to me to go on a staycation. If I couldn't
afford to go on a vacation, I simply didn't go on one. OR I would save
up until I could afford one. Naturally, I am intrigued by the concept.
May be we could try having one in the future?!?

Here are some tips on How to Have a Great Staycation from ABC
News:

a. Schedule start and end dates.
Just as you would with a vacation, schedule a beginning and ending
for your staycation to make it feel like an official vacation. Otherwise,
it runs the risk of feeling like just another string of nights in front of
the tube.

b. Pack that time with activities.
Plan a daily activity, and make sure something takes you out of the
house — for fun — every day.

c. Declare a "choratorium."
That means no chores! Don't make the bed, vacuum, clean out the
closets, pull weeds — nothing. You're on vacation!

d. Take staycation photos or videos, just as you would if you
went away from home for your vacation.

Share your Favorite Cartoon with your Child

Activity #8 - Share your Favorite Cartoon with Your Child

Do you have a favorite childhood cartoon? I can't quite recall which one was
mine. I mostly watched Sesame Street. But I loved the Peanuts cartoons my
younger brothers watched.

A funny thing happened a week or so ago. For some weird reason, I couldn't
quite spell HAPPINESS right. I kept on repeating the word and double
checking the spelling. H was amused and played "Happiness". The song
popularized by Lea Salonga but originally from "You're a Good Man, Charlie
Brown".

That was nice. The song gave me warm fuzzy feelings. I do look forward to
watching this with the baby when he/she is old enough for tv.

Click on the links to hear the respective versions. Here are the lyrics of the
Charlie Brown version for those who want to sing along:

"Happiness" from "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"

Charlie: Happiness is finding a pencil
Sally: Knowing a secret
Linus: Telling the time
Schroeder: Happiness is learning to whistle
Linus: Tying your shoe for the very first time
Sally: Happiness is playing the drum in your own school band
Linus: And happiness is walking hand in hand

Charlie: Happiness is two kinds of ice cream
Snoopy: Pizza with sausage
Schroeder: Climbing a tree
Charlie: Happiness is 5 different crayons
Sally: Catching a firefly
Linus: Setting him free
Charlie: Happiness is being alone every now and then
Gang: And happiness is coming home again

Charlie: Happiness is morning and evening,
Day time and night time too
For happiness is anyone and anything at all
That's loved by you

Linus: Happiness is having a sister
Lucy: Sharing a sandwich
Linus and Lucy: Getting along
All: Happiness is singing together when day is through
And happiness is those who sing with you

All: Happiness is morning and evening, day time and night time too
For happiness is anyone and anything at all
That's loved by you

How was the first half of YOUR 2009?

It is now July 2009. How was the first half of YOUR year? By now, your
New Year's Resolutions are most likely nowhere to be found. But since half
a year has gone by, you might have some regrets that you did not do this or
you did not do that.

Have no fear! I just found a great solution from Rookie Moms. It's called
the Did-Do List:

"If you’re getting sick of your “to do” list getting longer and not shorter
and wondering where the heck is all your time going, try writing a
“did do” list..."

If you're thinking along the lines of "What's the point of making a Did-do
List? AND/OR I don't need a poor excuse for not getting things done."
Then, you are missing the point. The Did-do list is a conscious pause. It is
a celebration of what one has accomplished thus far. But mostly, it is an
opportunity to reflect, assess and strategize for the second half of the year.

My Did-Do List:
1. "Survived" a miscarriage
2. Rebonded my hair
3. Moved house
4. Got pregnant again
5. Updated my blog
6. Set up our common file system
7. Updated the family budget
8. Helped organize a talk on Entrepreneurship
9. Attended the Bo Sanchez Lenten Retreat
10. Invited friends over at our place (household)
11. Completed a 3k run
12. Helped organize the Singles Engagement Retreat
13. Finished my 101 things in 1001 days list
14. Finished my bed rest for the current pregnancy
15. FINALLY got our camera back!


I love lists... There have been so many that I can't
recall them all...

This is my ode to the humble list...

Inspired by Michelle Obama

As I was waiting for H at the dentist's office, I read through the Time
Magazine article on Michelle Obama. It was a good read; something
that left me inspired and eager to face anew life's challenges.

I must say I am a fan of the Obamas. No, I do not necessarily share ALL
their religious, ethical, political, etc views. But I do admire what they
have achieved thus far in their lives. They, to me, are the epitome of the
American Dream; one can be all one can be if one really works hard.

I'm sure Michelle Obama has a lot on her plate. But somehow, she has
managed to do a very good balancing act. She is doing a great job of
being a role model to men and women of this generation and the next.
I hope that she and President Obama get to accomplish all that they had
set out to do when they aspired for the White House. And that they leave
the political arena in the same high note that they entered it.

Here are some excerpts from the online version of the Time Magazine
article...

On being Michelle Obama:

The great-great-granddaughter of slaves now occupies a house built
by them, one of the most professionally accomplished First Ladies ever
cheerfully chooses to call herself Mom in Chief, and the South Side girl
whose motivation often came from defying people who tried to stop
her now gets to write her own set of rules.

Michelle O on making choices:

The one thing that I said in one of the interviews, which is one of my
personal philosophies... is that in life you've got to make choices
that make sense for you, because there's always going to be
somebody who'll think you should do something differently.

So you might as well start with what you like and what you
care about, what your passions are, what makes sense. That's
my message to women, if anything, over the course of this, is, find your
space. Find your spot. Wear what you love. Choose the careers that may
have meaning to you, because there's always somebody who will say,
"I wouldn't have worn that color, or why didn't you work at that job."

But if you're comfortable in the choice and it resonates with
you, then all that other stuff ... it's just conversation. People
have the right to have conversations. But I think that's one thing we
as women sometimes do; we don't make choices that have meaning to
us. And then when those things fall apart, you have to have yourself
to fall back on. You have to own the choices that you make,
and hopefully they're yours to begin with.

Michelle O on counting one's blessings:

So when you grow up in communities where you see, where you're
surrounded by, and you grow up with really bright, talented kids
and you slowly see people slipping through the cracks, you know
that there but for the grace of God.

What is TED?

I had a few interesting reactions to the TED talk "Don't Eat the
Marshmallow Yet" by Joachim de Posada...

Some people were wondering if the Marshmallow Experiment
were some urban legend created for a feel good effect. Just to
clear the air, one such experiment was conducted in the 1960s
by Stanford University Psychology professors. The test subjects
were then tracked through the years to validate the initial results.
You can read more on that here.

I thus realized that I should give a proper introduction on TED.
You see, I feel privileged that I can easily access the TED talks.
It is not everyday that one gets the opportunity to listen to the
great minds of our time. My current life, though eventful in its
own way, does not merit an invitation to a TED Conference.
No problem! I am quite content with watching the talks in the
comforts of my home.

"TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design -- three
broad subject areas that are, collectively, shaping our future.
And in fact, the event is broader still, showcasing ideas that
matter in any discipline. The format is fast paced: 50+ talks
over the course of four days (to say nothing of the morning
and evening events)...

Attendance at TED is by invitation only, and the attendees --
CEOs, scientists, designers, intellectuals -- are as extraordinary
as the speakers, who in 2007 included former US Pres Bill
Clinton, author Isabel Allende, legendary biologist EO Wilson,
designer Phillipe Starck, and Virgin CEO Richard Branson;
in 2008, speakers included brain expert Jill Bolte Taylor,
physicist Stephen Hawking and undersea explorer Robert
Ballard. Indeed, TED's success is based on the extraordinary
effect of bringing together 1,000 of the world's most remarkable
people. The result? Unexpected connections. Extraordinary
insights. Powerful inspiration.

TED was first held in 1984, and featured early demos of the
Macintosh computer and the Sony compact disc.... No longer
just an annual event, TED now encompasses a sister conference,
TEDGlobal, held biannually in different cities around the world,
and a simulcast event, which allows even more people to enjoy
the TED Conference's content and connections."

Don't Eat the Marshmallow Yet

Here's a little food for thought I picked up from TED... Patience is a virtue!
Happy Viewing =D

Be a Superstar!

One of the things I look forward to is my weekly newsletter from Bo Sanchez.
For those who don't know him, Bo Sanchez is a Filipino Catholic Lay Preacher.
He is a gifted writer and speaker. His approach has always been simple and
pragmatic. His articles just never fail to inspire me!

This week, Bo encourages us to BE A SUPERSTAR!

"Friends, the world needs Superstars.
You owe it to the universe to become one.
No one benefits if you play small."
Click here to read the entire article...

This week's article was a refreshing read! You see, Filipinos are usually NOT
the type to want to shine out. The average Filipino is content with just blending
in with the background. I believe this is part of the "damaged culture" we've
acquired due to hundreds of years of colonization.

But that happened ages ago! How much longer are we going to live with this
excuse?!?

No, I do not mean for us to be mayabang (boastful). What I mean is that
we, as a people, should stop settling for mediocrity. I do believe our country
would not be in the sorry state that it were in if we took a little more pride in ourselves.

We, as a people, need to improve our skills. We, as a people, need to strengthen
our spirits. We, as a people, need to be superstars. And we need to do these in
all aspects of our lives - in our homes, in our workplace, in our organizations
and in our communities.

The task at hand is not easy. We may be met with fear and criticism by those
who are not ready for change. We may be misunderstood. We may make
mistakes. I believe it is not about being perfect. I believe it is about trying
until one succeeds. I believe the Lord has many blessings in store for us WHEN
we are ready to receive them.

Let me end with this affirming quotation:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?'
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."
~ Marianne Williamson

101 Things to Do in 1001 Days

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the Day Zero Project. Back then, it was
"something nice to do". Nothing I needed to take seriously. Boy, did I change
my mind when I got around to making my list.

I have been on bed rest for about a month now. Today is my first official
"normal day". However, my ob-gyn has advised me to take things easy.
The last thing we'd want is for me to end up doing bed rest again. After
six months, H and I are expecting the arrival of the baby.

I have to emphasize now that this is our first baby. As such, we have to
prepare everything from scratch. We will have to clear out tons of our own
stuff to make room for the baby. We will have to buy the baby's things. And
of course, we will have to learn how to have a baby-friendly life.

All these we have to accomplish before the six months. As I see it, I need
to get most of the baby preparation part done by November. Otherwise, we
will be overwhelmed by the Christmas activities we usually attend.

Some realizations:
- Some ideas were inspirations I got from others. I hope my list will inspire
others as well.
- I left a just in case portion. I don't know what life will be like in the next
six months. I think I deserve an allowance hehehe...
- I have to finish H and my "first year together" scrapbooks/albums. I'm sure
these will take a back seat to the baby projects. Better to get them done now
while I still have the time.
- Cooking is something I really do. In fact, I tend to "make a career" out of
it. Sooo, I consciously want to follow the weekly menu instead of doing something
creative or different.
- How I wish I had a decent oven. Then I could have listed some baking projects.
- Traveling is something H and I enjoy doing together. However, I had to put
less of this. I highly doubt we will be traveling much while the baby is this
young.
- I always had the baby in mind. Some activities will have to wait until the baby
is older. I guess that's part and parcel of being a parent.

My 101 List

Start date: August 1, 2009
End date: April 28, 2012

Solo flight
1. Fix my personal files
2. Fix our common files
3. Make the directory
4. Finish the birthday list
5. Get rid of clothes I no longer wear
6. Make an emergency kit
7. Read 5 classics (0/5)
8. Learn Morse Code
9. Brush up on Philippine History
10. Practice Mandarin 30minutes daily for 1 month straight (0/31)
11. Watch 30 TED talks (0/30)
12. Take a class
13. Master 5 skills from 75 Things Every Woman should Master (0/5)
14. Have a reunion with the old gang
15. Have someone else cut/style my hair
16. Have a "fabulous" day - mani + pedi + outfit
17. Wear a "look for less" outfit
18. Wear a dress
19. Buy new clothes (post-pregnancy)
20. Sleep by 11:30pm for 7days straight (0/7)
21. Be aware of and have good posture for 3 weeks straight (0/21)
22. Do a 5K
23. Do a 10K
24. Make a will
25. Do Assignment 51 of Learning to Love You More
26. Write a letter to myself to be opened in 1 year
27. Write a letter to myself to be opened in 5 years

H and I
1. Do an annual review of our goals
2. Learn a new language (French?? or Spanish??)
3. Experience the Manila Bay Sunset
4. Repair the wedding ring
5. Buy a jumper cable
6. Take a first aid course
7. Finish Verdana1 GK Project
8. Finish Verdana2 GK Project
9. Give away the good stuff we dont use/dont have space for
10. Have a fantastic all white theme for the bed (think Martha Stewart)

Artsy Fartsy
1. Wedding Scrapbook
2. Honeymoon Scrapbook
3. Hong Kong Scrapbook
4. Make 10 homemade gifts (0/10)
5. Read the camera manual
6. Do 5 projects from Keri Smith's 100 ideas (0/5)
7. Do 1 A Day in the Life project
8. Do 1 Q & A : The Photographic Interview project
9. Take head shots/portraits of family members
10. Do a photo series on the color red
11. Make a 2010 Christmas Journal
(inspired by Ali Edwards and Molly Irwin)
12. Document 09/09/09, 10/10/10, 11/11/11 (0/3)
13. Calendar Project
14. Make a collage
15. Make a beautiful floral arrangement
16. Make 30 entries in my food blog (0/30)
17. Dress up for Halloween
18. Do 1 sewing project for myself

Yummy
1. Faithfully follow a 1 week menu (0/7)
2. Faithfully follow a 2 week menu (0/14)
3. Make a bento meal
4. Make an okonomiyaki
5. Make a scallion pancake aka cong you bing
6. Make bread from scratch
7. Make pizza from scratch
8. Make sangria
9. Make a gingerbread house
10. Make bread pudding
11. Make a romantic meal for H
12. Buy Kulinarya and make something
13. Make a fantastic Filipino meal
14. Make a fantastic Filipino dessert/merienda
15. Make a soft copy of my recipe notebooks (important recipes only)
16. Try 10 new desserts (0/10)
17. Try 10 new tea flavors (0/10)
19. Try 10 new ice cream flavors (0/10)
20. Try 10 new coffee blends (0/10)

Moolah
1. Discuss with H our year end financial report
2. Read 5 new finance books (0/5)
3. Complete Jomar's Internet assignments
4. Get an online project/work
5. Finish 1 ebook

Our Baby
1. Do a 365 Project (0/365)
2. Do a The Year I was Born project
3. Teach baby "Baby Signs"
4. Get baby at least 10 Dr. Seuss / Berenstain Bears books (0/10)
5. Make reading flashcards for baby
6. Make something wearable for baby
7. Make something edible for baby's 1st birthday

I heart God
1. Read the bible from cover to cover
2. Go on a retreat
3. Pray the Rosary for 30 days straight (0/30)
4. Distribute 1000 copies of religious booklets/prayers/etc (0/1000)
5. Forgive
6. Let go
7. Have a thanksgiving mass and party for THE answered prayer

Where in the world is...
1. Hong Kong
2. Singapore
3. *Secret*
4. Beach
5. Food trip

Just in case
1. TBD
2. TBD
3. TBD

Wish me luck!


I love lists... There have been so many that I can't
recall them all...

This is my ode to the humble list...

Happy Independence Day

Today, June 12, 2009, is the 111th Independence Day of the Philippines.

As I am no expert in history, I did some research and discovered an
interesting tidbit about the Philippine Independence Day. My apologies
to my past history teachers for not paying attention in class hehehe...

"The Philippine Declaration of Independence occurred on June 12, 1898
in the Philippines, where Filipino revolutionary forces under Gen Emilio
Aguinaldo (later to become the Philippines' first Republican President)
proclaimed the sovereignty and independence of the Philippine Islands
from the colonial rule of Spain...

The declaration, however, was not recognized by the United States or
Spain, as the Spanish government ceded the Philippines to the United
States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris...

The United States recognized Philippine independence on July 4, 1946
in the Treaty of Manila. Independence Day was observed in the Philippines
on the July 4 anniversary of this event until, upon the advice of
historians and at the urging of nationalist politicians, Pres. Diosdado
Macapagal signed Republic Act No. 4166 into law on August 4, 1964,
designating June 12, which had previously been observed as Flag Day,
as the country's Independence Day." - Wikipedia

Here are some simple ways to celebrate Independence Day with your family:
1. Display the Philippine Flag outside your home.
2. Join the Independence Day activities in your village, baranggay or
municipality.
3. Proudly wear a Filipiniana attire.
4. Invite family and friends over for an Independence Day breakfast/lunch/
merienda/dinner. Remember to serve only Filipino food!
5. Skip the Frap. Instead, have a cup of Batangas barako or tsokolate.
6. Play sungka, piko, patintero, tumbang preso, or other Filipino games
with your kids.
7. Read a book by a local author.
8. Watch a local movie.
9. Stay in town and visit a local destination.
10. Buy local.
11. Say a prayer for the country.

Happy Independence Day to everyone!


I love lists... There have been so many that I can't
recall them all...

This is my ode to the humble list...

The Family Budget

In my last two posts, I included some Tips on Preparing the Family Budget.

I hope I was able to impart the message that budgeting is not just a matter
of zeroes and ones.

Here you will find a Family Budget Sample. It is meant to serve as a mere
guide. I am not a guru nor do I have a PhD in business. As I have mentioned,
there are many systems out there. I cannot emphasize enough the need for
you to research and research until you find a system that works for you.
Always, always, always, use your better judgment when making financial
decisions.

The Zero-based Budget

One system used for budgeting is known as the “Zero-based Budget”.
It uses the basic principle that: income – expenses = zero.

“Income” refers to all money coming in.
“Expenses” refers to all money going out.

No, it does not mean that you will spend it all.

What it does mean is that every peso, dollar, euro, yen, etc that comes
in is allocated and accounted for.

Income (Php net)
Salary - 15,000
Bonus
Gift from abroad (in Php)
Total - 15,000

Expenses (Php, net)
Tithe - 1,500
Savings - 1,500
Savings – Retirement Plan - 1,500
Amortization – House - 2,000
Utilities - 1,000
Food - 2,500
Transportation - 2,500
Sports and Vitamins - 1,000
Clothing - 1,000
Emergency Fund - 500
Total - 15,000

Although this is a monthly budget, H and I have a spreadsheet for the
entire year. It has a monthly budget vs monthly actual set-up. I prefer
to update the file weekly. We TRY to discuss the status every 15th and
31st of the month. Again, we too are a work in progress.

Tips on Preparing the Family Budget continuation

As I mentioned in my previous post, H and I are helping out with the
Singles Engagement Retreat. In the last retreat, we got a request for
tips on budgeting.

This is the continuation of List #2 - Tips on Preparing the Family Budget

6. Decide to tithe. Tithing means allotting the first 10% of your earnings
to your church and/or religious community. It serves as a reminder that
the family’s wealth is first and foremost a gift. Everything is just “icing on
the cake”.
7. Decide to set aside 20% or more of your earnings for savings
and investments. Yes, you have a right to enjoy the fruits of your hard
work. However, you must remember that additions to the family, the
education of children, sickness, retirement and emergencies are all facts
of life. It would be wise for your family to prepare for all these. Banks,
insurance companies, mutual fund companies, the stock market,
entrepreneurship, franchising, etc are some of the ways you can maximize
your savings. How much do you expect to earn? How soon can you expect
your earnings? What are the risks involved? How long will your money be
“tied” to the investment? What are your options if you need the money
sooner? Are you comfortable with the terms and conditions? Etc etc etc.
Again, do your research. A friendly warning, if it seems too good to be true,
it usually is.
8. Eliminate bad debts. Credit cards are okay but be sure to pay for
the entire bill on or before the due date. The interest can put you in a
serious debt hole. If you must borrow, do so because it is for an investment,
you are happy with the potential returns and more importantly, you’re sure
you can pay for the loan if things don’t work out. Avoid borrowing for a
“splurge item.” Save up for it. Or better yet, allocate earnings from an
investment. In this way, you can be sure that the “splurge item” is something
you can afford.
9. Avoid lending money to others. It has been said that when you lend
money to a friend, you risk losing both your money and your friend. If you
must lend, consider the possibility that you will never get your money back.
Instead of lending money, others have chosen to donate instead. This is with
the consideration that there is an emergency and you have money to spare.
What to do with people who’ve developed an unnecessary financial dependency
on you? “Tough love” is needed when a person is capable of earning but has
just chosen not to do so. You are doing yourself, your family and the other
person a favor by encouraging them to be financially independent.
10. Last but not the least, trust each other and make all financial
decisions together. No secret bank accounts please. It says a lot when you
cannot trust your spouse with your money. Bear in mind that more important
decisions might need to be made in the future. If you are not yet at that level,
now would be a good time to start working things out.

There are no guarantees in life. The probability of success is simply greater
when God, the husband and the wife work together.

I'm putting the sample budget in my next post. See you there!

Tips on Preparing the Family Budget

We are currently preparing for the SFC Singles Engagement Retreat.
This is actually an enjoyable service for H and I. It's a chance to give
back to others, the gift which we had once received.

Most couples will prepare for the perfect wedding day. Sadly, some
are ill-prepared for the marriage that happens after. The Singles
Engagement Retreat is an opportunuty for engaged couples to get
to know each other better. It is a chance to discuss likes, dislikes and
non-negotiables. The retreat's main goal is to better prepare couples
for the challenges and joys of married life.

We got a request from a participant of the last Singles Engagement
Retreat; could we provide tips on budgeting? Hmm, this is a tricky
subject. There are no hard and fast rules. Different couples use
different systems. Also, you may be using a system now but you
may decide to just replace it in the future. H and I can attest to this.

H and I are still a work in progress. In the meantime, this is what
we're working on...

Let me start off with List #2 - Tips on Preparing the Family Budget

Here are some things to consider when preparing the family budget:
1. Have an abundance mentality. Focus on your blessings.
Trust that God has already provided for all your needs.
2. Pray for guidance and the right mindset. Some couples
consider budgeting as a burdensome task. Instead, think of it as
a tool in managing your family’s finances. A positive outlook will
make budgeting a more enjoyable task.
3. Research on the different systems that are out there.
Read books. Attend seminars. Check the internet. Ask tips from
trusted family and friends. Will you use a software or will you use
old fashioned pen and paper? Try and try until you find a system
that works for you.
4. Decide on who will manage the family finances. This
includes making the budget, tracking the expenses, paying the
bills, filing the receipts, and ensuring that matters, related to the
family’s finances, are in order.
5. Include in your schedules time to discuss the family’s
budget and financial goals. Anything important is worth
setting aside time for. Don’t just compute. Use the time to discuss
your reality, your fears, your hopes and your aspirations. Goals
may vary according to the family’s needs, lifestyle, stage in life,
etc. Remember that it is okay to dream for your family. Whatever
the outcome, agree to head towards the same direction.

Hmm, that may already be a lot to chew on. I'll continue this in
my next post.


I love lists... There have been so many that I can't
recall them all...

This is my ode to the humble list...

Is that a photo project I see on the horizon???

Glass half empty. Glass half full.

Bed rest can be a nerve-wracking experience! But if you play your cards
right, you can use the time to dream and plan for your next big adventure.

Like most first time parents, H and I are excited about having our first
baby. I have been researching on things we can do with the baby once
he/she is out in the world.

Yes, we live a simple life. But no, we do not live a boring life, or we at least
try not to hahaha... Instead, we've TRIED to focus our time, energy and
resources on things that matter to us.

On my to do list: A tradition that H, the baby and I can start as a family.
No, it does not mean skipping traditions that we already celebrate together
with our families. It will be more like having or starting a tradition of our
own.

We haven't quite decided on what this first tradition will be. The current
flavor of the month involves a photo project with the baby. Here are 3
inspiring "traditions" that are on the mood board:

a) The Arrow of Time - Since 1976, Diego Goldberg and family have had
individual portraits taken every 17th of June. The result is a time capsule
of the past 30plus years of their lives.

b) Project 365 - This project involves taking one photo, daily for one year.
Choose one topic: yourself, your kids, the neighborhood, your work, etc etc
etc and watch what unfolds in the ensuing year. One year does seem like a
long time. Imagine doing this with a Polaroid for two decades.

c) The '76s and Sveinn Birkir - You will only be born once... Project 1976
is Sveinn's audio/visual anthology for his birth year. Here you'll find photos
and audios of important and mundane matters pertaining to that year.


What are your favorite family traditions? I'd love to hear what works for your family!

Day Zero Project

What do you plan to do with the next 2-3 years of your life?

As luck would have it, I stumbled upon the Day Zero Project
website which will inspire you to ask yourself that question...


The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with
a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks
must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount
of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple
goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating
procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days
(about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because
it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is
better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas
trips or outdoor activities.


I'm quite excited at the prospect of coming up with my own
list. Ahhh, patience patience patience... At this stage in my life,
getting an "out of bed pass" is temptingly on the top of my list.


I love lists... There have been so many that I can't
recall them all...

This is my ode to the humble list...

On being an ate

Here's my reply to R's interesting email....

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi R,

This is so funny!

I grew up "OC" so I can't relate to the fishballs, dirty ice cream and
water from the poso bit hahaha... But I did build a tiny playhouse,
ride the bike, play patintero and piko, make mudpies...

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? My family is much bigger
than H's... Anyway, he noticed that it was too quiet in one family
gathering... We decided to check out the kids... Guess what we saw
--> all the kids quietly playing with their PSPs... They were playing
together but using their PSPs... It kinda looked like a parent's dream
come true --- all the parents were busy chit chatting and they didn't
have to worry about their kids running around... Sadly, it seemed like
the most normal thing in the world... Sadly, because it has been said
that the kids of today have poor social skills... Plus, the cousins didn't
get to interact with each other...

But of course, I was ever the "ATE"... Last Christmas, I had some
games for the kids... I couldn't be a proper emcee as I was supposed
to be on bed rest... And my brothers were not exactly the best emcees
hahaha... Plus, we lacked prizes... I forgot that you need a lot --- even
if it's just a token, so long as the kids get a consolation prize... It was
short but fun while it lasted... My aunt was thrilled because they were
balikbayans and they were able to get a nice video of the kids at play...

It ended when the kids had to do their "program" ---> with a cash prize
for singing to the granddads and grandmoms... Eh pera yon di ba hahaha...

And so, it seems that's how it's going to be... If you think it's important,
you will have to do something... Otherwise, the adults will just chitchat
and the kids will just play their PSPs... As for me, I hope to pull off
something better this Christmas... I can't help it, I'll always be ATE
hahaha...

* Ate - the Filipino word for eldest or older sister

To all the kids born in the 50's to early 80's

R emailed this to me today. I had a blast reading it! I sent her a reply ~ I'll put that
in a separate post.

The article has been going around the internet for quite some time so I don't really
know who wrote it. If you do, kindly send me a note so I can acknowledge the writer.
Thanks!

Happy Reading!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN
in the 1950's, 60' s, 70's even early 80's !!

First,
some of us survived
being born to mothers
who did not have an OB-Gyne
and drank San Miguel Beer
while they carried us.

While pregnant,
they took cold or cough medicine,
ate isaw, and didn't worry
about diabetes.

Then after all that trauma,
our baby cribs were made of hard wood
covered with lead-based paints,
pati na yung walker natin,
matigas na kahoy din
at wala pang gulong.

We had no soft cushy cribs
that play music,
no disposable diapers (lampin lang),
and when we rode our bikes,
we had no helmets, no kneepads,
sometimes wala pang preno yung bisikleta.

As children, we would ride in
hot un-airconditioned buses with wooden seats
(yung JD bus na pula),
or cars with no airconditioning
& no seat belts
(ngayon lahat may aircon na!)

Riding on the back of a carabao
on a breezy summer day
was considered a treat.
(ngayon hindi na nakakakita
ng kalabaw ang mga bata)

We drank water
from the garden hose
and NOT from a bottle
purchased from 711
(minsan straight from
the faucet or poso)

We shared one soft drink bottle
with four of our friends,
and NO ONE actually died from this.
Or contracted hepatitis.

We ate rice with star margarine,
ate raw eggs straight from the shell,
and drank softdrinks with real sugar
(hindi coke zero),
and we weren't sick or overweight kasi nga......

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!

We would leave home
in the morning
and play all day,
and get back when
the streetlights came on.

Sarap mag patintero,
tumbang preso,
habulan at taguan.

No one was able to reach us all day
(di uso ang cellphone
at walang beepers).
And yes,
we were O.K.

We would spend hours
building our wooden trolleys
(yung bearing ang gulong)
or plywood slides out of scraps
and then ride down the street,
only to find out we forgot the brakes!
After hitting the sidewalk
or falling into a canal
(sewerage channel) a few times,
we learned to solve the problem ourselves
with our bare & dirty hands.

We did not have Playstations,
PSP's Nintendos, X-boxes,
no video games at all,
no 100 channels on cable,
no DVD movies,
no surround stereo,
no IPOD's,
no cell phones,
no computers,
no Internet,
no chat rooms,
no Friendster,
no YouTube,
no multiply....

WE HAD REAL FRIENDS
and we went outside
to actually talk and play with them!

We fell out of trees,
got cut, broken bones and teeth
and there were no stupid lawsuits
from these accidents.

The only rubbing we get
is from our friends with the words..
masakit ba?

Pero pag galit yung kalaro mo,
ang sasabihin sa iyo..
beh buti nga !

We played marbles (jolens) in the dirt ,
washed our hands just a little
and ate dirty ice cream & fish balls.
We were not afraid
of getting germs in our stomachs.

We had to live
with homemade guns..
gawa sa kahoy,
tinali ng rubberband,
sumpit, tirador at
kung ano-ano pa
na puedeng makasakitan.

Pero masaya pa rin ang lahat.

We made up games
with sticks (syatong),
and cans (tumbang preso)
and although we were told
they were dangerous,
wala naman tayong binulag o napatay.

Paminsan-minsan
may nabubukulan lang.

We walked,
rode bikes, or took tricycles
to a friend's house
and knocked on the door
or rang the bell,
or just yelled for them
to jump out the window!

Mini basketball teams had tryouts
and not everyone made the team.
Those who didn't pass
had to learn to deal
with the disappointment.

Wala yang mga childhood depression
at damaged self esteem ek-ek na yan.
Ang pikon, talo.

Ang magulang ay nandoon lang
para tignan kung ayos lang ang mga bata,
hindi para makialam
at makipag-away sa ibang parents.

That generation of ours
has produced some of the best risk-takers,
problem solvers, creative thinkers
and successful professionals ever!
They are the CEO's, Engineers, Doctors
and Military Generals of today.

The past 50 years
have been an explosion
of innovation and new ideas.

We had failure, success,
and responsibility.
We learned from our mistakes
the hard way.

You might want
to share this with others
who've had the luck to grow up
as real kids.
We were lucky indeed!

And if you like,
forward it to your kids too,
so they will know how brave
their parents were..

It kind of makes you
wanna go out and climb a tree,
doesn't it?!

Why we live simply

Around a week ago, H and I had a few friends over. It was
great fun! Our first time to have people over. I kept thinking,
"are we all going to fit in here?" Well fit we did and I must say
it was a nice night for us all.

At the start of the evening J pleasantly remarked, "Wow,
do all your clothes really fit in that cabinet?" The answer is
a resounding yes. You see, Hubby and I are trying to master
the art of living comfortably with precious few.

Okay, I admit, we are somewhat cheating. We still have things
with my wonderful in-laws. They're mostly wedding gifts which
we do not have the heart to part with, some clothes (for when we
visit) and books. But for our day to day living, we have managed
to pare things down to the bare necessities.

We live in a studio type apartment. The main room is our
bedroom and home office. We have a bed, a clothes cabinet,
a bookshelf and 2 slim tables. We have a small adjoining area
for our kitchenette. We have there a folding table. And right
beside the kitchenette is the bathroom. That's pretty much it.

Why do we choose to live simply?

Firstly, because we are happy living this way. We try to let go
of the desire to acquire things that we don't need. Too many
things can clutter one's physical space. People do not realize
that this physical clutter can cause unnecessary emotional and
mental strain.

Secondly, because H and I are dreamers. There are many things
we'd like to do and many places we'd like to go. There is the
quality of education we'd like for our future children. There
is the small business that we are growing. There are the future
businesses we'd like to have. There is also the quality of life
we'd like to have in our retirement. In the older days, this was
known as delayed gratification. We know that we cannot possibly
achieve all these if we did not put aside enough today. Oh yes,
we also like to plan for the "unexpected guests". The emergencies
that could show up when we least expect them.

Lastly, because we believe that it's the right thing to do. Our
money is not just for us. We believe in tithing. We also believe
in helping those in need. We are not a big fan of dole outs. What
we do is support organizations that provide opportunities for
the poor to make sustainable changes in their lives.

If you notice, I used the word "choose". Living simply is very
much an active decision. There will always be the temptation to
buy buy buy. We are human too. But if you have the right whys,
it's much easier to stick it out.

I think I'm pregnant again

The pregnancy test revealed two stripes. H and I were anxious
and excited all over again! Unfortunately, it was too early in the
pregnancy for the ultrasound to detect the baby. Soooo,
we're back to praying, hoping and waiting... for 2 more
weeks... The baby should show up in the ultrasound by then...

In the meantime, I'm on bed rest again. And on Duphaston
again. There was some mild spotting a few days ago. Basically,
Dr. D wants me to take the necessary precautions to give the
baby a fighting chance.

Unlike the first pregnancy, I feel good ~ physically and mentally.
I'm hopeful and optimistic that things will go well this time
around.

We lost the baby

Waaaaaah!

I was in shock when I first found out. The December 23 ultrasound showed that the baby was fine. Except for the wrong ageing, which we thought was just a fluke -– the baby might be on his side or something -– we were looking forward to having our bundle of joy in 2009!

Christmas and New Year's came and went. And everything was fine...

Then came January 5, my first ultrasound date for 2009. The first thing I asked was for the baby's age to be checked. The first thing I was told was that the baby had no heartbeat... Huh?!? What?!? How could this be?!? After 3 minutes, the doctor confirmed that the baby officially had no hearbeat...

Whaaaaaaaaah! I was not expecting this! No warning that the baby was already gone! And then my next question was, “What do I do now?”

In a nutshell, I opted to wait a week for the baby to “pass out” of my body. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Sooooo, I had a d&c done. The wait was nerve wracking! Many thanks to everyone for assuring me that this was a normal procedure and that I need not worry! Of course I was scared! With God's help, I was pretty calm on the day of the procedure. And I thank the Lord that the d&c went well! The procedure itself was painless. And, I claim that my recovery is going well!!!

The long and short of bed rest...

A lot of people have asked, what exactly does one do while
on bed rest? To the clueless, bed rest does sound like a
legitimate word for slacking off. But that's one thing it definitely
isn't.

Most days, I surf the net, watch t.v., read and pray... On bad
days, I just lie down. I literally have to pace myself for fear that
too much activity will affect the baby. Eat then lie down, shower
then lie down, you get the picture. And the days just come and go...

But I can't complain... This baby is a blessing! God's blessing to
hubby and I... You see, I have friends who're attempting to get
pregnant... I have friends who've had miscarriages... I have friends
who've spent a fortune on fertility treatments that have yet to be
met with success... This pregnancy may medically be “over
budget” but that's okay... So long as our baby is happy and healthy!

So, if you have a friend who's glum because they too are on bed
rest, tell her to hang in there! This too shall pass!

Happy 2009 to all!