Weekend Blast

Last weekend was a blast. The author of my fave book, Tuesdays With Morrie had his first Philippine tour. When I received his new book The Fist Phone Call From Heaven as X'mas gift from my family, there's a coupon for the tour. OMG, I was so excited. I had to be there!!!

And last Saturday was the day! Book signing was scheduled at 2PM. I arrived 12 noon and the number I got was 1,150. My book was signed 9PM. Not cool huh? But two of my books were signed and I got this fab picture with Mitch Albom! Yey!!!

San Jose, Occ. Mindoro...revisited

When Caloi asked me to join their group, 1-Aalalay, in their sortie in Occidental Mindoro, I am much willing to go. It's my chance to revisit the place...my first job assignment. You see I was born and raised on the other side of Mindoro Island.

Oriental, my place, and Occidental is divided by Mt. Halcon. Before, we need to travel first to Batangas or Manila to ride a roro boat going to San Jose (SJ) or Abra de Ilog in Occidental. If you're rich enough, you can take a fokker plane from Manila which had 2 flights per week.

Today, there are 2 airlines flying the route daily. You can now travel by land passing Mt. Halcon from Bulalacao in Oriental to Magsaysay town in Occidental. Roads were cemented and it only takes 5 hours from Calapan City to San Jose.

How time flies...25 years ago, there was no television coverage. TV programs were recorded in Manila in betamax tapes by enterprising individuals and then sold or rented in the province. There were stores renting any kinds of pocket books, Mills & Boons, Agatha Christie's, Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew's, Ludlum's, etc.

This is where our office used to be. We rented the 3rd floor.

Entertainment in those days were the local basketball league in the plaza, eating fishballs and other chichirias also in the plaza and of course swimming. Worst was the electricity because there's always brown-out...and sad to say, it's still the same today. How sad!!!

I traded slices of water melon for this photo.

Children were very willing to pose for my cam. :-)

TMR Top 10

I got copy of the book yesterday and had a big laugh in a restaurant. I'm all alone and as expected almost everyone stared at me. LOL :D It's ok and I didn't mind...I had a wonderful time reading. Can't wait for the next Top 10 book!

Google translation...really???

I don't know what's happening with my browser. Everytime I open a site the translation function opens. Most of the time it automatically translates the texts in my native Filipino language. I will not mind if the translation is accurate, but unfortunately, it's not! It just change the words which does not give correct grammar, meaning, etc.

It's so annoying!!!

On Bert & Ernie

I was born in the late 60's. Although at first, we don't have television, I remembered watching some shows in our neighbor's house. Our favorite series were, Streets of San Francisco, Hawaii Five-O, Six Million Dollar Man, Wonder Woman and Charlie's Angels. These were prime time series, the only time our neighbor allowed us to view with them.

Early 70's my parents got us a black and white one. There I watched Sesame Street which of course aired in the morning. Some of our sandos or tops were printed with the shows characters. Those were the cheap ones bought from the market. Some notebook covers also have these characters. These items introduced me to Ernie, Bert, Big Bird, Count, Cookie Monster and Elmo with colors.

When I read the petition from gay community to marry Bert & Ernie, I felt somewhat uneasy. You see I watched them as real friends, best friends, and to put malice on that closeness is somehow disturbing.

If I'm to decide, I'll let these popular characters live together as best friends even with their differences and bickering. Let's leave it that way please!

My Prayer

Ariane's cellphones were stolen yesterday. A super bad fellow (or fellows???), took it from her bag while she's walking on an overpass. We called the numbers and a male voice answered...the nerve... he even maximized the use of the free load. Ang kapal din naman!!!

Of course we are very angry but on my part, I don't want to hold on to this negative feeling. I just want to think that he may be in dire need. So I pray to The Great Divine to get this man's soul (bahala na Sya kung san nya ilalagay), so that he will not experience any sorrow...and so that he will not inflict any harm and danger to others anymore. Amen!

"the reminder of one of her stolen phones" :-(

A Not So Regular Weekend

Busy day for me. Andrei's first quarterly exam starts Wednesday and we reviewed the whole day. My only break was cooking the rooster which I intended to be our pet but ended up as a meal. Apparently, my husband really planned to have it as our weekend "ulam".

Vina preparing the "chicken meal" while Andrei observes closely .

Chicken Tinola

Chicken Adobo sa Gata

In the afternoon I had a big time headache. I need a breather. And what could it be?... Facebook and a nap. I woke up refreshed and energized to go for a movie with my daughter. I'm glad it's not a serious indie film. I can't handle another headache. Not for now please.

Andrei answering his reviewer.


We came home relaxed...then I saw my hubby watching Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, for the nth time...and who says she can't have another headache? LOL :D

Warm Day

After being so elusive for almost 3 weeks, the sun shines today. It's a great relief. We we're able to dry clothes which were washed last Saturday. Even our love birds got so bored that they chewed the tarpaulin cover of their cage. Things that are so happy on this monsoon season are the weeds and grasses. They really grow fast with rain.

Another good thing was we find time to play outside with dogs. And we also welcome a temporary addition to our list of pets, a rooster. Our friend gave it for "tinola" but we want to keep it. Hopefully, hubby will allow and then I'll buy a hen.

What's On My Mind

Since I have nothing much to do last week, well of course except for the household chores :-), I thought of viewing some old pictures from my files. What am I going to do with these photos? Some were already printed and posted in my scrapbooks and album, but most were just in the CDs. I came up with the idea of posting a photo a day with quotes on my Facebook wall. So there, I already posted 6 photos. These are my photo quotes for the week... enjoy! ♥♥♥

Birthday Lunch

Ariane celebrated her 16th birthday yesterday. Although I went in her university to ask her to sign some documents, we didn't have time to dine out. She had classes so I celebrated her bday alone. :-( I had lunch at Banana Leaf with my favorite Hainanese Chicken (with dips of ginger, chili & oyster sauce), Spicy Kangkong, dessert of Thai pudding of pandan and sago, and pandan juice for my beverage.

Pero mas masarap sana kung kasama ang buong pamilya!

BTW, I posted here the link of Banana Leaf's menu. I frequented their SM North (The Block) branch.

bananaleaf

Our Fledgling

Another school year started last Tuesday. Ariane left for her college studies. How time flies! It seems not so long ago when I brought her to De La Salle in Level 1. Anxiety attacked me. Can she cope in the big school? Can she get along with her teachers and classmates? Well, apparently she did and made it with flying colors.

Now living alone in the big city and studying in a state university, our fears (me and my husband's) are that many. But not letting her study in that university was never an option. As parents, we should let go so our kids will have a better future. Even if sometimes, there were sleepless nights, hoping and praying that everything will go well for her.

Empty nest syndrome they say? No, not yet, because we still have one with us and still in his elementary level... but then maybe yes. And who cares what do you call this feeling? Nothing is more important than securing your nestling and fledgling. Making sure they'll be safe no matter what...that's what mother and father birds should be.

To Be Fit

Life is what you make it. Kung gusto mo sumaya, tumawa ka! Kung gusto mo pumangit, sumimangot ka! Kung gusto mo pumayat, mag-exercise ka! Argggh! Ito ang line na ayaw ko. Wala ba namang instant?

Like something safe na inumin then after an hour, ok that's OA...a month or maybe months, I'll be fit and sexier agad. I know I'm so tamad. I can't sustain the early morning walks with my husband. I'm insomniac and sleeps for 4 or 3 hours only, tapos gigising pa ng maaga para maglakad???

Sabi nga nila, pag ayaw, parati may dahilan, pag gusto may paraan! And, because I want to be leaner and fit (chos! ^_^). I started playing badminton...again! I've been playing for 2 days now. I swear I'll do it more often. Hopefully it can reduce my bulges...o minimum lang ang goal ko ha. Achievable. Saka ko na pangarapin ang maximum, which is ma-eliminate ang mga pohtang bilbil ito! ahihihi

All for the sake of beauty

After all the traveling that I've done in the last two months, I observed that my skin seems so dull. SOS derma...I visited my derm clinic and had my facial. After almost two weeks... mirror, mirror on the wall... duh! it's back on the same dullness. So, even though, I still have the trauma of my previous facial treatment, I bravely called the clinic for appointment.

I had my 3rd session last Monday and it was so painful that I cried. The dermatologist increased the intensity and there was no anesthesia. I went home with a red hot face that even cold compress can't ease the pain...how I sacrificed for this one. I just hope the effect will be great. Otherwise, I'll declare war with my dermatologist!!!! :D

Stupidity

Last weekend my husband and I bought chocolate bars from Chocolate Lovers. It's a castle like building in Cubao, selling chocolate bars and baking supplies. I used to come in that store 14 years ago. I made chocolate lollipops and baked cookies and brownies. My sisters were my selling agents. hahaha

Christmas was the best time to sell those goodies. My nieces and nephews got tonsillitis tasting the sweets. Oh, I missed those days...

This time I bought choco bars for Ariane's graduation party. Ate San brought mini-choco fountain from Europe for the kids. Ok, I said let's try.

The chocolates should be melted first. I put chopped white chocolate in an aluminum bowl in the microwave oven...(stupidity #1) aluminum and stainless are no-no in a microwave. The result was fine, it melted with good consistency. Next, I put regular choco in a ceramic bowl and in less than a minute..."ay ate ang oven umaapoy!!!" It flared up. For sure, it's still the effect of previously using aluminum.

I thought, "fine, end of project!", then I remembered we had a spare microwave. It was a gift for my husband last X'mas. (Bigla ko lang naisip, bakit niregaluhan ng oven ang asawa ko??) But anyway, thank you whoever you are. I'm glad I didn't include it in our annual raffle. :o)

So again I put the choco, but it didn't melt. Another minute and the oil separated. Hay, (stupidity #2) I tried the consistency with my left index finger..." ahhhhh, shit kumapit ang chocolate!!! Pathetic! :-(

We made four boxes

choco leaves

choco shells

the rejected ones

my burned finger :D

Razon's

I officially started my "summer", as if we have 4 seasons in the Philippines, hehehe...pagbigyan na for lack of term! :) with my indulgence of Razon's halo-halo and pancit luglug this afternoon in Alabang. Superb!

Mega dinner

I usually skip my carbs during dinner but last night was super exception. I had rice with nilagang baka with saging na saba at pechay, sinaing na isda, ensaladang kamatis, sibuyas tagalog at paho (small variety of mango endemic to Batangas). Gosh, I almost forgot what dieting means. hahaha :D

My Longest Ride

...the date was March 8, 2006...It's 8 in the evening and I'm busy preparing my visuals for the 2nd day of our training when my phone rang. It's my brother on the other line..."wala na ang Tatay!" When you hear these words and you're not with your family or worst you're miles and miles way from home, believe me, it's harder.

This was what I experienced when Tatay died. I was in M'lang, North Cotabato in Mindanao when he passed away. I cried for a while but forced myself to compose. I need to make arrangements...call airlines for rebooking (I have to leave the next day), call my husband to fetch me at the airport, contact my coordinator, discuss with the other trainer the topics that I'm suppose to tackle and leave to her the conduct of the training workshop for the next couple of days.

I can't sleep...wondering what's happening in our house back in the province. The feeling was terrible...no one can console you in those moments...

I got up early to catch the bus to Gen.San airport. It took me 45minutes to get that bus. I can't imagine how I composed myself infront of the small store waiting to get a ride. When I was inside the bus and the plane, my tears rolled. I'm not sobbing, no sound at all. Passengers were staring at me. I didn't mind.

That was the longest journey I ever had.

Additions

A month ago we started a project for our living room. It was a "cupboard project". I thought space under the stairs needs to be maximized. The concept would be, drawers in front and a small table at the side. I asked our resident carpenter nyehehe...actually he's Karding, one of our laborers when we constructed our house, who's now waiting for his visa to work in Saudi.

He finished the project yesterday. I'm excited to move my scrapbook supplies. I'm planning to do my scrapbook project there. Luv it<3!

this is the base...neighbors thought we're making a float for a parade! lol

the display stand

the long drawers

the finish project

The small table is behind the display rack. I'll post a picture next time. I need to organize it first.lol

Thank you po!

There are days that I am so thankful to the Lord and this day is one of them. I had a colonoscopy this morning and the result is good. There's no abnormal growth or something to be afraid of. The sudden change of my B.movement could be diet or maybe psychological.

The procedure was just for 15 minutes. I was sedated and when I woke up after 2 hours I didn't feel anything. It's as if I just had a nice and sound sleep.

Thank you again for this day! Now I have nothing to worry about except for the change in my diet...more fiber, veggies, fruits and grains.

My 2010 fave photos

Feeling bored after almost 2 years of being a stay-at-home mom, I gave myself a DLSR cam for my birthday in November 2009. My previous digital cam was Canon IXUS 55. It was user friendly but I thought I need a high tech one. I googled and decided to buy Nikon D3000, not because of the specifications. Actually, I don't understand them. I bought it because that was what my budget can afford. I've no regrets. It serves me well.

I'm a beginner and not afraid to try and experiment. I brought my new cam in my travels...sometimes I got good photos and sometimes not! Nothing to loose coz it's digital. The only setback was the space that those blurred photos occupied in my memory card.

By the end of 2010, I upgraded my lens. I bought a telefoto but it was too heavy for travel and so for my 2010 Christmas gift, I bought an 18-200mm. Am I glad I'm the one giving presents for myself and not Santa? Definitely!!! LOL :o)

Here are my 2010 favorites. Enjoy!

This is my son and my hubby's co-worker during their company outing last summer. I hope I can take same photo years from now when Andrei is much taller than Jabs. :D

I love how the photo captured Ariane's "flipping" hair.

"Ang Bangkero (The Boatman)"...I took this photo from the bamboo float of a fish cage.

When I was roaming the streets of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, I saw this woman selling small yellowish variety of Rambutan. Our's was larger and red. I tried it and it was really sweet.

"Lovers". I was trying to picture flocks of flying doves, but amateur as I am, I was not able to capture moving subject. I ended taking photo of these kissing birds on Mother Mary's head in Notre Dame Church, HCM, Vietnam.

"Boracay Sunset". Just want to emphasize how lovely the sunset in my favorite island.

"Chillin'". My kids having their dip in the water of Bora.

Corridor of Summer Palace, Beijing

Neon Lights of Nanjing, Shanghai

Monks in the Cambodian border

Scavenger or Predator??. I'm wondering if this bird is waiting to catch a small tilapia from the cage or stealing a dead fish outside just like the hawks that fly the same route.

"My Perfect Beach"

Setting sun of Bulalacao

Resting monks in the moat-dike of Angkor Wat

My travel buddies

Watching tilapia


"Morning Dew"....